1. UN/CEFACT Recommendation Number 4 National Trade Facilitation Bodies Tom Butterly, Trade Division United Nations Economic Commission for Europe (UNECE)

2. Evolution of Recommendation Number 4 1960 – UNECE Working Party - simplification and standardization of international trade documents 1974 – UNECE Recommendation Number 4 – National Trade Facilitation Organs – focus on trade procedures, document alignment, use of codes, and EDI 1999 – Recommendation 4 revised by UN/CEFACT (publication in 2001 – ECE/TRADE/242) – National Trade Facilitation Bodies – stronger focus on EDIFACT 2000 - Guidelines to Recommendation Number 4 – Creating an Efficient Environment for Trade and Transport – UNCTAD and CEFACT. National Trade and Transport Facilitation Committees (NTTFCs)

3. Pro Orgs World Wide EuropeAsiaAfrica South America North AmericaTotal Central Asia Transition Economies 281621148718

5. ProOrg Survey 2004 Structure and staff Number of staff TF body TF committee OtherTotal 1-32327 4-102013 > 102226 Total65516 1

6. ProOrg Survey 2004 Financing Government ~ 100% Government > 50% Private sector > 50% Private sector 100% 8332 3

7. ProOrg Survey 2004 Current funding Excellent (1) Very good (1) Good (8) Poor (1) Very poor (3) No data given (2) 4

8. ProOrg Survey 2004 Main obstacles Lack of funding and ressources (10) Lack of knowledge/information (8) Lack of cooperation between government and business (8) Lack of political will, adversing political structure and corruption (7) Poor infrastructure (6) 8

9. ProOrg Survey 2004 Main opportunities International cooperation and facilitation of procedures and documents (6) Publications, information, seminars and forums (4) Introduction/extension of eCommerce (3) 7

10. New Opportunities ”today” Possible new areas:  WTO Trade Facilitation Negotiations  New Models – Single Window  Paperless Trade – cross border data exchange  Security and Trade Facilitation  Other … Needs Analysis – National/Regional trade (and Transport) facilitation stratagies  example of APEC  the business case  driving technical assistance projects  public/private partnerships How best to respond to these opportunities …