IT connectivity: new WCO e-learning course introduces standardized approach to the design of systems automating origin data exchange

• More and more Customs administrations and economic communities are developing IT systems supporting the exchange of electronic Certificates of Origin (COs).
• The WCO has developed the Interconnectivity Framework for Certificates of Origin to facilitate connectivity between these systems.
• By applying the Framework protocols, standards and guidelines, government agencies will save time and effort.

The WCO has released a new e-learning course on establishing a mechanism between parties to an FTA/PTA to automatically exchange electronic Certificates of Origin (COs) for goods being imported into, or exported from, their respective countries under a preference claim. The new e-learning course introduces the various components of the Framework in an interactive and engaging way and is now available to Customs officers on the WCO CLiKC! learning platform under the title "Certificate of Origin Interconnectivity". The course was developed based on the WCO Interconnectivity Framework for Certificate of Origin , which aims at ensuring that IT systems supporting the exchange of COs are aligned through a set of protocols, standards, and guidelines.

Standards-based interoperability is central to ongoing COs digitalization

The digitalization of origin-related procedures is a critical element in ensuring efficient, transparent, and secure trade under Free Trade Agreements (FTAs). In recent years, some countries and regional entities have created national and regional IT platforms to manage CO-related processes and exchange electronic data on proofs of origin. Such mechanisms have shortened CO issuance time, eliminated the need for traders to submit the certificates to the importing country, removed the burden on Customs to verify scanned documentary copies, and allowed authenticity checks to be performed in real time at the moment Customs declarations are submitted.

However, each party often has a different mechanism, with its own technical standards and specifications, dataset for e-COs, data structures, message formats and information flows. This lack of harmonization hinders the transmission of electronic data on COs between two or more governments through the interconnection of computerized systems. Therefore, there is a need for a common reference to enable seamless exchange of CO data under bilateral or multilateral FTAs, as well as guidance on the development of a technological solution for CO interconnectivity between parties.

An Interconnectivity Framework providing a set of protocols, standards, and guidelines

With a view to facilitating the establishment of smoother and more efficient exchanges of data related to COs, in September 2023 the WCO launched a project to develop an interconnectivity framework for the certificate of origin. In June 2025, the WCO successfully concluded the work and published the Interconnectivity Framework for Certificates of Origin, reflecting its commitment to supporting Members in the digitalization of origin-related procedures. The Framework provides guidance for government agencies involved in establishing the legal, informatics, and communication systems necessary to support electronic data exchange for Certificates of Origin.

Leveraging e-learning to make the Framework accessible to all

To enable Customs officials who are not familiar with the issues at hand to easily understand the various elements of the Framework, the WCO Secretariat developed an e-learning course thanks to the financial support of the Customs Cooperation Fund of Korea (CCF/Korea).

The course is for officials in charge of designing strategies and policies, as well as those in charge of developing and managing an efficient and sustainable IT system for the exchange of COs.

It consists of five modules and takes approximately two hours to complete. It explains how data exchange operates within an interconnected system in the context of international trade. It also presents the dataset to be exchanged and highlights the importance of standardization to ensure harmonized communication between systems. It includes the examination of legal frameworks and key compliance considerations, as well as the technological requirements and specifications that enable secure, efficient, and practical information exchange.

By the end of the course, officials will be better equipped to develop and implement secure and harmonized origin data exchanges, contributing to making Customs procedures set out in Free Trade Agreements more efficient and transparent.