1. WCO Economic Competitiveness Package
“Expert Group Meeting on
Transport and Trade Facilitation in ESCWA region”
10-11 April 2013, Dubai

2. Economic Competitiveness Package
Background
Economic uncertainty due to ongoing Global Financial Crisis
WTO negotiations
Regional integration
Customs’ contribution
Promote Revised Kyoto Convention and other tools
Enhance cooperation among all stakeholders in international trade
Share best practices among Members
Develop new tools as appropriate
Capacity building

3. ECP: Economic effects ECP Poverty reduction/ Prosperity
Reduction of trade costs
Advantage for firms
Better export performance and more FDI
Job creation and increased government revenue
Economic growth and competitiveness
Poverty reduction/ Prosperity
WCO instruments
Customs in 21st Century
Revised Kyoto Convention
SAFE Framework of Standards, etc.
ECP
Examples of Trade Facilitation Interventions
Better border and Customs management
Improved infrastructure
Open and competitive market in logistics and service sector
Harmonized regional standards

4. Revised Kyoto Convention
ECP: Conceptual chart
SAFE Framework of Standards
Integrity
Risk Management Compendium
Transit
Authorized Economic Operator
Time Release Study Guide
Revised Kyoto Convention
SMEs
Informal Sector
Data Model
Globally Networked Customs
Single Window Compendium
Information Exchange
Coordinated Border Management

5. PC/Council recommendation: Way forward
Action Plan in December
Regional outreach to assess Members’ needs
Case studies to share best practices
Develop new or adapt existing tools as necessary
Capacity building
Promotion of Revised Kyoto Convention
Strategic discussion on the role of RKC Management Committee
Implementation, interpretation and systematic review

6. Kyoto Communiqué (WCO Policy Commission December 2012)
11. Policymakers worldwide have articulated the positive impact that international trade and trade facilitation have on economic recovery and sustainable growth. As the central public sector border agency, Customs administrations are integral to the smooth movement of goods, conveyances and people across borders.
12. To that end, the WCO has contributed - through its standards, tools, and technical assistance - support for increasing economic growth and competitiveness by Members. This culminated in the adoption of the innovative Economic Competitiveness Package (ECP) at the 119th/120th Council Sessions in June 2012.
13. The ECP assists Customs administrations with border management responsibilities and supports regional integration. The ECP could provide practical implementation guidance in preparation for any future WTO agreement on trade facilitation. Under the ECP, the WCO is collecting innovative and best practices on matters such as coordinated border management (CBM); IPR border enforcement; small and medium sized enterprises (SMEs); informal trade practices; and transit.
14. The Policy Commission endorsed the ECP Action Plan and urged its steady implementation through technical assistance, including needs assessment and gap analysis. The Policy Commission also encouraged regional entities to develop programmes to implement the ECP in co-operation with the WCO and regional development banks.

7. the enhancement of Economic Competitiveness
Action Plan
4 Areas and 21 Actions for
the enhancement of Economic Competitiveness
Awareness-raising and Member’s needs assessment
Regional seminars/workshops, Publication, Needs assessments, etc.
Promotion of existing instruments and Tools
Regional strategic plan, Capacity building, Donor coordination meeting,
Accreditation of more experts, E-learning for the RKC, etc.
Collection and dissemination of innovative and best practices
Collection and dissemination of innovative and best practices on existing tools and Informal trade, SMEs, CBM and Transit, etc.
Development and elaboration of the ECP
Development of new tools, Further research on ECP,
regular report to the PTC, etc.

8. Development of the ECP Council June 2012 PTC Nov 2012 PC Dec 2012
PC & Council
June 2013
Dec
2013
Dec 2014
ECP
Concept of ECP
List of components
Schedule of instruments and tools
(technical explanation)
List of tools for
accession to the RKC
Research Paper
Action Plan
Best practices
New instruments or tools for the ECP
Capacity Building
Adopted
Adopted
Discussion
Discussion
Discussion
Discussion
Adopted
Approval
Collecting Best Practices
Approval
Development of new tools
(where appropriate)

9. Schedule of existing instruments and tools
The Schedule provides technical details of all related instruments and tools.
It describes prime text and supporting instruments & tools in each area.
(Example)
2-4 Risk Management
Section 1 - PRIME TEXT
INSTRUMENT
DESCRIPTION AND AVAILABILITY
2-4-1
Revised Kyoto Convention (RKC)
Standards 6.3 to 6.5 of the General Annex to the Revised Kyoto Convention set out principles of Customs Risk management. The Guidelines to these Standards cover many aspects of risk management, including control method, supporting infrastructure and examples of a Customs control process.
The Legal Text is available here.
The Guidelines are available on the WCO online shop.
Section 2 - SUPPORTING INSTRUMENTS & TOOLS
INSTRUMENT/TOOL
DESCRIPTION AND AVAILABILITY
2-4-2 The Compendium on Risk Management
The Compendium was adopted by the Customs Co-operation Council in 2011
- The compendium contains the systematic application of management procedures and practices which provide Customs with the necessary information to address movements or consignments which present a risk.
The Compendium is available here.

10. 5 Areas and Examples of tools and instruments
1. Transparency & Predictability
Publication, Establishment of Official Website, Establishment of Enquiry Points, Advance Ruling, etc.
Revised Arusha Declaration
Recommendation on the use of world wide web sites by Customs
Recommendation on the application of HS Committee Decisions
Technical Guidelines on Binding Origin Information
2. Modernized Procedures & formalities
Formalities and Requirements, Simplified Procedures, Risk Management, Audit Based Control, AEO, etc.
SAFE Framework of Standard
AEO Guideline
Post Clearance Audit Guideline
Compendium on Risk Management
Customs Guidelines on Integrated Supply Chain Management
Istanbul Convention
ATA Convention
3. Use of Information and Communication Technology (ICT)
Standardization & harmonization of sets of data, Unique Consignment Reference, Single Window, etc.
WCO Data Model
WCO Unique Consignment Reference
WCO Single Window Compendium
4. Partnership and Cooperation
Customs to Customs Partnerships, Customs to Business Partnership, etc.
SAFE Framework of Standard
Model Bilateral Agreement
Nairobi Convention
5. Performance Measurement
Time Release Study, Customs International Benchmarking
TRS Guide
Customs International Benchmarking Manual

11. WTO TF measures referenced to WCO instruments and tools

12. Action Plan - Regional needs
Considering the fact that WCO Members’ needs in respect of the ECP are very different, the adequate assessment of such needs is definitely important for the implementation and the development of the ECP.
WCO will Organize regional workshops/seminars for the ECP in all WCO regions by June 2014

13. Thank you Milena Budimirović Technical Officer
Procedures and Facilitation Sub-Directorate
World Customs Organization (WCO)