It was immediately followed by XXIV Regional Conference of Customs Directors General of the Americas and the Caribbean (CDRGA) and preceded by the Second Forum of Customs of the Americas and the Caribbean with the Private Sector, which was held on the 4th of May.

The Second Forum of Customs of the Americas and the Caribbean with the Private Sector, Fabian Villarroel, representing CLADEC, moderated a panel on trade facilitation.

The Multilateral Customs Convention of Latin America, Spain and Portugal (COMALEP) was signed in Mexico City in 1981 and ratified in 1999 as a useful instrument to strengthen mutual assistance in the fight against fraud and cooperation, as well as the increase and development of trade between the parties. The member countries are Argentina, Bolivia, Brazil, Chile, Colombia, Costa Rica, Cuba, Ecuador, El Salvador, Spain, Guatemala, Honduras, Mexico, Nicaragua, Panama, Paraguay, Peru, Portugal, the Dominican Republic, Uruguay and Venezuela.