• International Commerce and Information Review
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• v.15 no.4
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• pp.267-286
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• 2013

The WCO Time Release Study (TRS) is a unique tool and method for measuring the actual performance of Customs activities. The ultimate aim of TRS is to improve the performance of the function being measured. To be more specific, TRS is used for identifying bottlenecks in the international supply chain and/or constraints affecting Customs release, assessing newly introduced and modified techniques, procedures, technologies and infrastructure, or administrative changes, establishing baseline trade facilitation performance measurement, identifying opportunities for trade facilitation improvements and estimating the country's approximate comparative position as a benchmark tool. The effective utilization methods of TRS for trade facilitation in Korea Customs Services are as follows ; Firstly, it is necessary to make every efforts to identify bottlenecks in border-related procedures and improve their procedures for continuous and more improved trade facilitation. Secondly, it is necessary to optimize and simplify export-related procedures using the TRS in exportation for efficiency of total international supply chain. Thirdly, it is necessary to make coordinated border management with main trading partners. Lastly, it is necessary to enhance Korea's international status to support underdeveloped countries in the field of trade procedures.