WTO agreement on Trade Facilitation – highlights for ITPD discussion

1. WTO agreement on TradeFacilitation – highlights for ITPD discussion Johan Pontén

2. WTO Agreement on TF – HowtoPackage UN/CEFACT Products for Implementation Johan Pontén

3. WTO Agreement on TradeFaciliation • The agreement aims at • decreased bureaucracy and costs for international trade • efficient, open and predictable border crossings • facilitated trade and decreased corruption by clarified and enhanced WTO regulations • Based on GATT Articles V, VIII and X

4. WTO Agreement on TradeFaciliation • Mandate: • Clarify and improve existing GATT Articles: • Article V: Freedom of transit • Article VIII: Fees and formalities connected with importation and exportation • Article X: Publication and administration of trade regulations • Customscooperation • Technical assistance and support for capacity building

5. WTO Agreement on TF – Highlights 1 • Timelypublication on Internet of information on applicablerules and regulations for import, export and transit • Every country toinstatecontactpointswhereauthorities, companies and otherinterestedcan get information and relevant forms concerning import, export and transit. • Customsauthoritiestogivebindingadvancedrulings on classification and origin of goods in a reasonable, timeboundmanner. • Administrative appeal to or review by an administrative authority higher than or independent of the official or office that issued the decision

6. WTO Agreement on TF – Highlights 2 • Goods should be controlled before and after the border crossing to avoid resources being focused at the border. Import documents can be sent in advance, and the goods can be released before duty paid if sufficient guarantees have been made. In this way, the goods can pass much easier. • Risk management systems should be in place to speed up the process at the border and focus inspection activities on identified items that are of high risk. • Each Member State shall have AuthorisedEconomic Operator-programmes, where further simplification will be given to companies that have shown that they meet the required standards and hence can get simpler customs procedures. • .

7. WTO Agreement on TF – Highlights3 • Accounting should be controlled after the release of goods (post-control) to speed up the process at the border • The fees for customsprocessingshall not be greater than the approximate cost of the actual customsprocessing, which means that no additional fees may be charged • Perishable goods should be cleared as soon as possible so that they will not be destroyed • Authorities at the border of a country should work together to streamline the border process. • Countries that share a common border shall cooperate to facilitate the import, export and transit through, for example, common controls and customization of business hours

8. Agreeement on TradeFacilitation Articles SectionI • Article 1. Publication and availability of information • Article 2. Opportunitytocomment, information beforeentryinto force and consultation • Article 3. Advancerulings • Article 4. Appealor reviewprocedures • Article 5. Other measures to enhance impartiality, non-discrimination and transparency • Article 6. Disciplines on fees and charges imposed on or in connection with importation and exportation • Article 7. Release and clearance of goods • Article 8. Border agency cooperation • Article 9. Movement of goods under customs control intended for import • Article 10. Formalities connected with importation and exportation and transit • Article 11. Freedom of transit • Article 12. Customscooperation • Article 13. Institutional arrangement http://wto.org/english/thewto_e/minist_e/mc9_e/balipackage_e.htm

9. WTO Agreement – CEFACT Deliverables in TFIG mapping 1 • Article 1 - none • Article 2. 3Consultations • Recommendations 4 on National TradeFacilitation Organs • Recommendations 33 on SingleWindow • Article 3 – 9, 11-13 none • Article 10.1 Formalitiesand DocumentationRequirements • Recommendation 1 on the UNLayoutKey • Recommendation 18 on Facilitation Measures related to International Trade Procedures

10. WTO Agreement – CEFACT Deliverables in TFIG mapping 2 • Article 10.3 Use of international standards • Recommendation 18 on Facilitation Measures related to International Trade Procedures • Recommendation 25 on use of UN/EDIFACT • Recommendation 26 on commercial use of interchange agreements for EDI • UN/TDED • UN/EDIFACT • Code Lists • Core Component Library (CCL)

11. WTO Agreement – CEFACT Deliverables in TFIG mapping 3 • Article 10.4 Single Window • Recommendation 25 on use of UN/EDIFACT • Recommendation 26 on commercial use of interchange agreements for EDI • Recommendation 33 and Guidelines on establishing a Single Window • Recommendation 34 Data Simplification and Standardization for International Trade • Recommendation 35 on establishing a legal framework for international Single Window for trade • UN/CCL • UN/EDIFACT • XML messages

12. Packaging of UN/CEFACT Products - discussion • Can the TFIG mapping be extended? • Howcanweotherwisepackage and market ourproductstohelp implementation of the WTO agreement?