The progressive development and codification of international customs law

Abstract

In this article, the progressive development and codification of international customs law as a type of law-making activity in international customs relations is characterised and a new definition of this activity is proposed. It is demonstrated that the progressive development and codification of international customs law took place long before the establishment of the World Customs Organization (WCO) and the World Trade Organization, and that its implementation occurred within the framework of the League of Nations and the United Nations. The most common legal forms of regulatory consolidation resulting from the progressive development and codification of international customs law are identified. Using the example of five universal conventions of the WCO, indicators of recognition of the provisions of these conventions by its members, such as the number of WCO members, and the number of contracting and non-contracting parties, are analysed.