The U.S. Trade and Development Agency is rolling out a customs training program aimed at promoting trade with developing countries in Asia.

On a visit to Hanoi to attend the 17th Asia Pacific Economic Cooperation Forum Summit, USTDA Director Thelma J. Askey and U.S. Trade Representative Susan Schwab jointly announced the $4-million Global Customs Initiative.

Askey said that the initiative will address critical customs training requirements in developing and middle income economies and "incorporate proactive private sector-driven approaches to customs-related technical assistance."

The initiative will create a series of training sessions, orientation visits, and workshops for emerging nations that address such topics as port and supply chain security, IPR licensing and enforcement, anti-counterfeiting and anti-piracy measures, customs valuation, rules of origin, and compliance with bilateral and multilateral trade agreements.

The broader goal is to promote, expand, and further liberalize trade among APEC economies and to reinvigorate global trade talks, said USTDA officials.

In a related initiative, the USTDA announced that a delegation of Vietnamese officials will visit the U.S. Dec. 6-15 for meetings with U.S. companies and government agencies, as well as visits to key border sites. The visit will assist the delegates as they develop Vietnam's customs modernization plan.

The trip is part of a larger effort to advance Vietnam's global competitiveness while helping Vietnam to meet its international commitments for membership in the World Trade Organization.