"Trade liberalization, which emphasizes improving market access and lowering both tariff and nontariff trade barriers, will play a vital role in global economic growth and poverty alleviation. Improved trade facilitation should complement this liberalization process for it to achieve its objectives. Increasing the effectiveness and efficiency of customs operations is a key component of this trade facilitation agenda." "The lessons learned from the eight case studies will be of particular interest to policymakers and development practitioners and will complement the broader scope of the companion book by the editors, Customs Modernization Handbook, to be published by the World Bank. Together these publications provide information, analyses, and insights that will make a contribution to the reform process and facilitate the progress of countries seeking to integrate into the global economy and alleviate poverty."--BOOK JACKET