Anti-Illicit Trade Expert Group


Chair
David Luna
Global Networks Convergence Strategies LLC (United States)

Lead
Jacobo Ramos-Folch
Policy Manager
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01.
Overview
Our Anti-Illicit Trade Expert Group (AITEG) allows the Business at OECD national federations and its business members to provide evidence-based and structured input to OECD activities on illicit trade. It provides business leadership and market insights through written comments on related OECD policy drafts, active participation in meetings of the OECD Task Force on Countering Illicit Trade (TFCIT) and relevant OECD conferences, and co-hosts events and projects on key issues for members. The COVID-19 pandemic led to unanticipated demand surges and supply chain disruptions for certain goods; in turn, this resulted in unprecedented opportunities for criminals to increase their already significant illicit activities. We believe additional measures are essential to address illicit trade and illicit markets related to COVID-19, with an important role for the OECD Task Force on Countering Illicit Trade to play.
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03.
Business engagement at OECD
OECD work focuses on evidence-based research and advanced analytics to assist policy-makers to map and understand the market vulnerabilities created and exploited by illicit trade. Recent work has examined governments’ institutional capacities to counter illicit trade and promote transparency in free trade zones (FTZs), and it has also looked into exploring institutional gaps that enable illicit trade in small parcels, FTZs, e-commerce, and across vulnerable sectors.The Anti-Illicit Trade Expert Group contributes to the work of the following OECD bodies:
- OECD Task Force on Countering Illicit Trade (TFCIT)
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02.
2023 priorities
- Promote policies to address illicit trade and illicit markets in relation to the COVID-19 pandemic
- Promote the OECD Task Force on Countering Illicit Trade to external stakeholders as a trusted source of reference on illicit trade
- Assist governments in implementing OECD Recommendations on Enhancing Transparency in Free Trade Zones (FTZs)
- Develop guidance for addressing “Small Parcels” trade in contraband and illicit commodities and the role of e-commerce and on-line markets in fueling illicit trade
- Work with critical sectors, governments, non-governmental organizations (NGOs) and other key players to counter illicit trade and harness blockchain, AI and other technologies
- Support continued research and analytical papers on counterfeit (e.g. pharmaceuticals, alcohol, tobacco, food, toys and apparel as initial sectoral focus) and other illicit products
- Integrate convergence crime elements into work of the OECD Task Force on Countering Illicit Trade including corruption, money laundering, etc.
- Support regional OECD Task Force on Countering Illicit Trade dialogues in strategic markets (e.g., UAE, APEC, Panama)
- Leverage our Anti-Illicit Trade Expert Group and the work of the OECD Task Force on Countering Illicit Trade through public-private partnerships to elevate the global fight against illicit trade, counterfeits, consumer fraud