Geneva, November 2012 Negotiations on Trade Facilitation: Priorities and Needs

Priorities, Needs, and negotiating positions 1)Priorities 2)Needs 3)Negotiating positions 4)Linking Geneva and the Capital 5)Making the Support Group work

Priorities, Needs, and negotiating positions 1)Priorities 2)Needs 3)Negotiating positions 4)Linking Geneva and the Capital 5)Making the Support Group work

Priorities Imports/ Exports Trade partners Commodities Mode of transport User / provider Transit / land-locked

Trade and Transport Facilitation is “good business” for the countries It tends to have a high rate of return However, it requires: –Infrastructure –Capacities –Initial investment... Which developing countries may not necessarily be able to assume easily

1)Priorities 2)Needs 3)Negotiating positions 4)Linking Geneva and the Capital 5)Making the Support Group work Priorities, Needs, and negotiating positions

Needs Capacity Building Technologies Financial assistance Institutional change Time

Priorities, Needs, and negotiating positions 1)Priorities 2)Needs 3)Negotiating positions 4)Linking Geneva and the Capital 5)Making the Support Group work

Negotiating position Depends on: prioritiesThe priorities of my own trade and service providers needsThe needs to receive assistance or special and differential treatment Taking into account Annex D

Costs of implementation, Needs Country priorities

Costs of implementation Country priorities + + Pro-active Pro-active

Costs of implementation Country priorities - - Passive subj. to S&D - - Passive subj. to S&D

Costs of implementation Country priorities - + Accomodate Accomodate

Costs of implementation Country priorities + - Active subj. to. T.A., S&D + - Active subj. to. T.A., S&D

Costs of implementation Country priorities - + Accomodate Accomodate + - Active subj. to. T.A., S&D + - Active subj. to. T.A., S&D + + Pro-active Pro-active - - Passive subj. to S&D - - Passive subj. to S&D

Priorities, Needs, and negotiating positions 1)Priorities 2)Needs 3)Negotiating positions 4)Linking Geneva and the Capital 5)Making the Support Group work

WTO Negotiator

WTO Negotiator Ministry of Foreign Affairs Proposal Response

Support Group WTO Negotiator Proposal Response Ministry of Foreign Affairs Member

Support Group WTO Negotiator Proposal Response Ministry of Foreign Affairs Member Direct Consultation

Priorities, Needs, and negotiating positions 1)Priorities 2)Needs 3)Negotiating positions 4)Linking Geneva and the Capital 5)Making the Support Group work

Initial Difficulties Integration of the Group Knowledge of the negotiations Understanding of the methodology Duration Trust

Benefits National Negotiating Position Coordination btw. Public and Private Sector Personal relations Exchange of Ideas Interest in expanding the mandate Increase of knowledge of Customs issues Develop trust between the stakeholders Promotes institutional change

Lessons Transparency Constructive Attitude Patience Financing

Priorities, Needs, and negotiating positions 1)Priorities 2)Needs 3)Negotiating positions 4)Linking Geneva and the Capital 5)Making the Support Group work