Peru Launches Second Phase of Global Customs Improvement Program

By Espinosa Bellido Abogados

Peru officially kicked off the second phase of the SECO-WCO Global Trade Facilitation Programme (GTFP) on 28 March 2025. This initiative, supported by the Swiss government and the World Customs Organization (WCO), aims to improve the way Customs in Peru assesses the value of imported goods—making the process more transparent, fair, and resistant to fraud.

The main focus in this new phase is on upgrading and strengthening Peru’s national Customs valuation database, known as SIVEP. This tool helps SUNAT (Peru’s Customs and tax authority) determine the correct value of goods entering the country. By using reliable data, SIVEP helps avoid the use of made-up or deliberately low values that can lead to tax evasion and unfair trade practices.

The official launch event brought together key stakeholders, including the Swiss Ambassadors to Peru and Brazil, senior representatives from SECO (Switzerland’s State Secretariat for Economic Affairs), and high-ranking SUNAT officials. Together, they reviewed the goals and roadmap for the coming phase.

The first hands-on activity of this phase was a week-long technical workshop held from 31 March to 4 April. It brought together 20 SUNAT specialists to deepen their expertise in Customs valuation and to improve the functioning of the SIVEP system.

During the workshop, participants pinpointed areas where the valuation process could be improved—especially in checking the declared value of goods before they arrive in the country or at the time of import. Based on their findings, they came up with 14 specific recommendations, which will now guide the development of a detailed plan to strengthen Customs valuation practices in Peru.

The next steps are already in motion: SUNAT and its partners are working to turn those recommendations into concrete actions as part of a broader strategy to modernize and streamline the country’s trade procedures.