The Faculty of Law of the University of Buenos Aires —ranked among the best in the world according to the QS Ranking by subject— hosted the XI Conference on Customs Law “From Marrakech to the Customs of the 21st Century: 30 Years of the WTO and the Future of Customs Law”The event, held on Friday, October 31, brought together authorities, jurists, teachers, and students in a traditional gathering dedicated to recognizing those who have contributed to strengthening the study and practice of Customs Law in Argentina and the region.
A tribute that moved the audience
The day was entirely dedicated to honoring the legacy of the Dr. Catalina Garcia Vizcaino —a central figure in Tax and Customs Law, consulting professor at the Faculty and former head of the Customs Law Commission of the Center for Studies in Financial and Tax Law, who for 11 years uninterruptedly organized this Customs Law Conference—. Her intellectual and human trajectory left a mark on the discipline.
In that context, the Dr. Harry Schurig, current coordinator of the Customs Law CommissionHe opened the event by highlighting: «The Doctor left an indelible mark that inspires us to think about the future of the multilateral trading system. "
The most moving moment was the presentation of a plaque in his memory. Her husband, Alejandro Donzelli, He received the award and expressed deep gratitude to the University for honoring “a great person,” highlighting his discipline, honesty, and tireless work ethic:There are intelligent people and there are persevering people… in Catalina, both things came together.".
La Vice Dean Silvia Nonna He anticipated the spirit of the ceremony by noting:Catalina will always be a beacon for our academic community.For his part, the Dr. Miguel Licht, President of the Tax Court, She reflected on the human dimension of the customs judge, as Catalina was, recalling that she also served as a member of the National Tax Court, and also highlighted the impact of technological transformation on legal interpretation.On behalf of ARCA–DGA, María Carolina Caironi Corral He emphasized the importance of digitalization and continuous training as pillars of modern customs administrations.
Great masters of Customs Law, honored at the same ceremony
On the same day, the UBA awarded its institutional recognitions to three leading figures whose work was decisive for the construction of Customs Law in Argentina and Uruguay:
- Ricardo Xavier Basaldúa — Member of the Drafting Committee of the Customs Code and former President of the National Tax Court.
- Enrique Barreira — Member of the Drafting Committee of the Customs Code and former President of the IAEA.
- Pablo González Bianchi — A leading figure in International Trade Law in Uruguay and the region.
The messages from colleagues combined academic rigor and affection. Dr. Lorena Bartomioli presented the plaque to Dr. Basaldúa and added, moved:Thank you for inspiring me, for inspiring us, and for leaving us such a valuable work.”
Harry Schurig, speaking about Dr. Barreira, noted:Working alongside him was like sitting on the throne of the drafter of the Customs Code.”
Flavia Figueredo, regarding Dr. González Bianchi, stated: “It is our guiding light in Uruguay. It has changed and enhanced our Customs Law.”
Reflections for the Customs of the future
The organizers emphasized that the commemoration of the 30th anniversary of the World Trade Organization (WTO) invites us to rethink the multilateral system in a world undergoing profound changes: the reconfiguration of global value chains, growing geopolitical tensions, the rise of electronic commerce and the knowledge economy, the emergence of artificial intelligence, and the challenges facing the WTO Dispute Settlement Body.
Overcoming these challenges, they emphasized, requires a more modern, more humane, and better-prepared Customs Law, better equipped to face the challenges of the 21st century. In this context, the 11th Customs Law Conference solidified its position as a turning point in the institutional development of the discipline in Argentina and the region. Among the activities of the conference, the following stood out: Panel I – Background and relevant aspects of the WTO and the Panel II – Present and future of the WTO, which brought together experts from the region to discuss the current challenges and prospects of the multilateral system, reaffirming the relevance of a strong, innovative and ethical Customs Law.
One final detail that is not insignificant: the day was accompanied by Tarifar (Practical Guide SA – Iara Editions), an indispensable reference for foreign trade professionals.
In addition, the entire event can be viewed on the YouTube channel of the Tax Criminal Law Observatory: link
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