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

2. WTO Agreement on TF – How to Package UN/CEFACT Products for Implementation
Johan Pontén
4 April 2014

3. WTO Agreement on Trade Faciliation
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 Trade Faciliation
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
Customs cooperation
Technical assistance and support for capacity building

5. WTO Agreement on TF – Highlights 1
Timely publication on Internet of information on applicable rules and regulations for import, export and transit
Every country to instate contact points where authorities, companies and other interested can get information and relevant forms concerning import, export and transit.
Customs authorities to give binding advanced rulings on classification and origin of goods in a reasonable, time bound manner.
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 Authorised Economic 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 – Highlights 3
Accounting should be controlled after the release of goods (post- control) to speed up the process at the border
The fees for customs processing shall not be greater than the approximate cost of the actual customs processing, 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 Trade Facilitation Articles
Section I
Article 1. Publication and availability of information
Article 2. Opportunity to comment, information before entry into force and consultation
Article 3. Advance rulings
Article 4. Appeal or review procedures
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. Customs cooperation
Article 13. Institutional arrangement

9. WTO Agreement – CEFACT Deliverables in TFIG mapping 1
Article 1 - none
Article 2. 3 Consultations
Recommendations 4 on National Trade Facilitation Organs
Recommendations 33 on Single Window
Article 3 – 9, none
Article 10.1 Formalities and Documentation Requirements
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?
How can we otherwise package and market our products to help implementation of the WTO agreement?