1. WTO Trade Facilitation Self Assessment of Needs – (country name)
Needs and Priorities
in the WTO
Trade Facilitation Negotiations
Workshop
(CITY)
(DATE) 2008

2. The Geneva NGTF (Geneva delegate provides overview of negotiation process and importance of needs assessment)
(Provide examples such as:
important so COUNTRY gets what wants in negotiations
So negotiators understand what is important
Negotiate for TA SDT
Resolve a problem with importers from X country or transit through Y country)

3. The Guide 46 proposed Measures examined Basic Standard
Scope of Proposals
Requirements to meet the Basic Standard
Detailed answers for each measure in chart
46 proposed Measures examined

4. Needs Assessment Chart
OFFICIAL FROM customs describes in general the process
used during the NA
Needs Assessment Chart
Current Situation relative to basic standard
Barriers to meet basic standard
Local Actions needed
Technical Assistance required
Agency responsible
Stakeholder not participating
Priority:
of the measure for our country
for TA
This is a rough history of the WTO trade facilitation work.
Trade facilitation was put on the WTO agenda at the1st WTO Ministerial Conference in Singapore in 1996.
Then, mainly work was done by the WTO Council for Trade in Goods, namely, CTG.
New Round, so called, Doha Development Agenda, was launched in Nov 2001, where the launch of trade facilitation negotiations was agreed subject to the consensus on the modalities of negotiations.
Just some minutes past the midnight, very early morning of 1 August, the WTO agreed the modalities of negotiations on trade facilitation.
Real negotiations have not started yet; the chairperson was appointed just two weeks ago.
Probably, some of you are not familiar with the WTO decision making structure; I will show it to you.

5. TRADE FACILITATION OVERVIEW OF FINDINGS
[46] proposed measures were considered
Preparedness-
Already Compliant with # (?%)
Partially compliant with # (?%)
Not compliant with # (?%)
Not applicable with # (?%)

6. COMPLIANT MEASURES Include the following-
(list some of the measures with which you are in compliance)

7. PARTIALLY COMPLIANT
Include the following-

8. NON COMPLIANT
Include the following-

9. Top 10 Negotiation Priorities for (COUNTRY).
Determine and list the top 10

10. Reasons for Non- Compliance/Barriers
Representative of private sector presents
1 Infrastructure
Infrastructure includes (i) telecommunications (ii) roads/bridges (iii) power
1 The information technology in place at the moment has some problems, limiting its effectiveness. However, the main problems lie in the inadequate infrastructure. E.g. with regard to the proposals on automation, internet publication, reducing officer discretion
For the WTO proposals to be fully effective a country wide improvement in infrastructure is required.
Limited improvements/investment in infrastructure from user fees is also a barrier to improving the system. Government commitment is critical to achieving national infrastructure sustainability
2 Institutional Culture/Change Management
3 Limited dissemination o information - e.g. right of appeal, publishing information on the internet.
The distribution of Parliamentary regulations/acts is limited. The public find it difficult to acquire this information.

11. Reasons for Non- Compliance/Barriers
Institutional Cooperation:
High staff turnover in Ministries impeding smooth coordination with implementing agencies,
Poor management of national enquiry points owing to limited staff
4 National legislation
There are concerns on national security on publishing information on the internet. This is due to there being no IT policies/laws in place to prevent fraudulent use of the internet.
One of the proposals relating to this barrier is Internet Publication of information and documents
Negative perception of Customs Brokers on proposal. The general worry is job losses, especially that number of brokers in the country is high
5 Awareness
Justification - Lack of awareness of information will reduce the effectiveness of the WTO proposals. With regard to the proposal on Information on Policy Objectives this is an important issue
Availability – Awareness to the Private Sector on procedures, fees, appeals, etc will increase effectiveness of trade. At present there is limited use of the available information on the internet. There is still a cultural tendency to get information face to face, rather than remotely from a computer

12. Local Action
List some examples of the local action needed

13. Top 10 Priorities for Technical Assistance
List

14. The Workshop (OVERVIEW/SUMMARY OF RESULTS OF NA WORKSHOP)

15. Recommendations [Examples:
Continued review an update of needs assessment findings
Stakeholders continue to meet
Establish better communication between capital and Geneva]

16. Commitments we can make today (WHILE HIGH LEVEL OFFICIALS ARE THERE GET A COMMITMENT TO CONTINUE MEETINGS OF TASK FORCE, TO CONTINUE WORK ON NEEDS ASSESSMENT AND SUPPORT FOR NEGOTIATIONS )
[Examples:
Review of text by all stakeholders within 2 weeks
Next meeting of stakeholders]