WTO Trade Facilitation Agreement

Facility

Objectives of the TF AgreementClarifying and improving relevant aspects of Articles V, VIII and X of the GATT in order to boost global trade by:Expediting the movement, release and

clearance of goods, including goods in transit; Improving cooperation between customs

agents and other authorities; and Enhancing technical assistance and capacity

building for developing countries, especially LDCs.

Section I The TFA contains 12 Articles with approximately 40 “technical measures”

Section II Special provisions for developing and least-developed country Members

Section III Final provisions and institutional arrangements

Structure of the TF Agreement

Main provisionsGATT TF

Art. XTransparency

Art. 1 Publication and availability of information

Art. 2 Opportunity to comment, information before entry into force and consultation

Art. 3 Advance rulings

Art. 4 Appeal or review procedures

Art. 5 Other measures to enhance impartiality, non discrimination and transparency

Art. VIIIFees and formalities

Art. 6 Disciplines on fees and charges imposed on or in connection with import and export

Art. 7 Release and clearance of goods

Art. 8 Border agency cooperation

Art. 9 Movement of goods under customs control intended for import

Art. 10 Formalities connected with importation and exportation and transit

Art. V: Freedom of transit Art. 11 Freedom of transit

Art. 12 Customs cooperation

Nature and scope of obligations

Binding

Art. 1.1 (Publication): “Each Member shallpromptly publish …”

Best endeavour

Art. I.3 (Enquiry Points): Members

are encouraged not to require…”

Combination

Art. 1.2 (Information through internet): “Each

Member shall make available the

following…” “Members are encouraged to

make available”

General Principles:• Section I will be implemented by developing and

least developed country Members in accordancewith Section II: Special and DifferentialTreatment

• Based on the modalities agreed in:– Annex D of the July 2004 Framework Agreement

(WT/L/579)– Paragraph 33 and Annex E of the Hong Kong

Ministerial Declaration (WT/MIN(05)/DEC).

How will TF Agreement be Implemented

New approach to S&D treatment

1. Country-by-country vs groups of countries by level of development – better reflection of what happens in each country

2. Measure-by-measure depending on the language of each obligation in Section I: “shall”; “shall endeavour”; “where appropriate”

3. Link between existing implementation capacities and the need for technical assistance and capacity building

4. Choice of timing by specific WTO Members

Category A to date:1. Hong Kong China2. Mexico3. Costa Rica4. Korea5. Colombia6. Singapore7. Chinese Taipei 8. Paraguay9. China10. Nicaragua11. Mauritius12. Turkey13. Honduras14. Saudi Arabia15. Malaysia16. Kuwait17. Chile18. Qatar19. Thailand20. Peru

21. Uruguay22. El Salvador23. Brazil24. Mongolia25. Morocco26. Vietnam27. Tajikistan28. Dominican Republic29. Sri Lanka30. Israel31. Philippines32. Guatemala33. Ecuador34. Kyrgyz Republic35. Panama36. Indonesia37. Republic of Congo38. Cote d'Ivoire39. Ukraine40. Brunei Darussalam

41. Oman42. Albania43. Moldova44. Tunisia45. Jordan46. Montenegro47. Botswana48. Pakistan49. Senegal 50. Nigeria51. Macao, China52. Gabon53. Egypt54. Jamaica55. Rwanda56. Dominica57. St Vincent/Grenadines58. Burundi59. Kenya60. Tanzania61. United Arab Emirates8

62.  St. Kitts and Nevis63.Antigua & Barbuda64.Trinidad and Tobago65.St. Lucia66.Seychelles67.Barbados68.Belize69.Lao PDR70.Macedonia FYROM71.Grenada72.Uganda

A regional breakdown of the 72 Category A Notifications received to date

Among the 72 Category A Notifications received

Implementing the TF Agreement (1)

Developing Countries notification and implementation of all categories of measures

Implement Cat. A measures and

Notify indicative implementation dates for Cat. B

and C

Notify definitive implementation

dates or Request for additional time

for Cat. Bmeasures

Notify: 1) progress in provision of

TACB; 2) definitive implementation dates for Cat. C

EIF of the TFA (2/3 of Members

ratified)

1 year 2 year 2.5 year

Member and donor inform of

TACB arrangements for

Cat. C

Implementing the TF Agreement (2)

LDCs notification and implementation of all categories of measures

Notify designation

for all categories

of measures and

indicative dates for

Cat. A and B

Confirm designation of measures and

definitive implementation dates for Cat. B or request for more time

Inform TF Committee of arrangements with donors &

indicative implementation dates for Cat. C

Inform TF Committee on

progress in provision of TACB and

notify definitive dates

EIF of the TFA (2/3 of Members

ratified)

1 year 2 year 3 year

Notify TA required for implementation

of Cat. C

4 year 5.5 year

Implementation by LDCs

• Analysis of national context against each substantial provision of the Agreement

• Commitment to customs modernization and reform

• Identification of reasons for non‐compliance and identification of required resources in order to bridge the gap – Needs Assessment

• Resources may be provided by the country itself or by external donors

3 categories of measures

Category A

Developing: To beimplemented at thetime the TFA entersinto force

LDCs: To beimplemented withinone year after the TFAenters into force

Category B

To be implementedafter a transitionalperiod following theentry into force of theTFA

Category C

To be implementedafter a transitionalperiod and requiringthe acquisition ofassistance and supportfor capacity building

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Category A notification: “Positive list” approach

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Category A notification: “Negative list” approach

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Entry into Force*

CAT A plus indicative implement. dates for Cats. B & C

Notifications represent the Member as a whole

CAT CMembers and Donors inform of Tech. Assist. & Cap. Build. (TACB)arrangements

CAT BNotify definitive datesfor implementation ofCat. B provisions

1 year CAT C1. Progress in provision of TACB

2. Definitive dates for implementation

2.5 years2 years

Example: Developing CountriesTimeline for notification for categories of provisions

* Entry into force of TFA when 2/3 of Members ratify. Obligations for an individual Member will only commence once it completes its ratification process as well.

LDCs have more time for all steps

and conclude after 5.5 years

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CAT A, B, C

CAT BMay notify indicativeImplement. dates for category B

CAT CNotify technical assistance requiredfor implementation of Cat. C

1 year 2 yearsyears s s

Example: Least-developed countriesTimeline for notification for categories of provisions

Entry into Force*

1 year* 2 years* 3 years* 4 years* 5.5 years*

CAT BNotify definitive datesfor implementation ofCat. B provisions

CAT C1. Progress in provision of TACB2. Definitive dates for implementation

CAT CMembers and Donors inform of Tech. Assist. & Cap. Build. (TACB)arrangements

Indicative dates forCat. C

* Entry into force of TFA when 2/3 of Members ratify. Obligations for an individual Member will only commence once it completes its ratification process as well.

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The TFA acknowledges the importance of assistance and support for capacity building to implement the Agreement

Article 13:2•Assistance and support for capacity building should be provided

•The requirement to implement the Agreement is directly linked to the capacity of the country to do so

Section II of TFA:Special provisions for developing and LDC Members

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Article 14:1(c): Principle of self-determination

Each developing and LDC Member can determine:

when it will implement each measure

which measures it can implement only after having received technical assistance

Section II of TFA:Special provisions for developing and LDC Members

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Art. 21: Provision of assistance and support for capacity building

1. Donor Members agree to facilitate TACB on mutually agreed terms

2. Focus is to implement TFA, Section I; sustainable capacity

3. Could be bilaterally or through appropriate international organizations

4. Provided in a way that does not compromiseexisting development priorities

5. Members shall endeavour to apply predefined principles (e.g. overall development framework, promote coordination, use of in-country structures, etc.)21

Section II of TFA:Special provisions for developing and LDC Members

Additional flexibilities for DCs and LDCs

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• Extend implementation period of Categories B and C provisions• Notify new date and reason for delay, as well as TA needed• Automatic extension for 1st request• “Sympathetic consideration” for further requests

Early Warning Mechanism (Art. 17)

• Assess country’s capacity to implement• Third-party review• Category C measures• No extension granted

Expert Group (Art. 18)

• Notify the Committee• Between Categories B and C• Provide info on TA and CB needed for shifting from B to C

Category Shifting (Art. 19)

• 2 years after entry into force for developing country Members – Category A• 6 years after entry into force for LDC Members – Category A• 8 years after implementation of Categories B and C measures by LDC

DSU grace period (Art. 20)

Category A to date:1. Hong Kong China2. Mexico3. Costa Rica4. Korea5. Colombia6. Singapore7. Chinese Taipei 8. Paraguay9. China10. Nicaragua11. Mauritius12. Turkey13. Honduras14. Saudi Arabia15. Malaysia16. Kuwait17. Chile18. Qatar19. Thailand20. Peru

21. Uruguay22. El Salvador23. Brazil24. Mongolia25. Morocco26. Vietnam27. Tajikistan28. Dominican Republic29. Sri Lanka30. Israel31. Philippines32. Guatemala33. Ecuador34. Kyrgyz Republic35. Panama36. Indonesia37. Republic of Congo38. Cote d'Ivoire39. Ukraine40. Brunei Darussalam

41. Oman42. Albania43. Moldova44. Tunisia45. Jordan46. Montenegro47. Botswana48. Pakistan49. Senegal 50. Nigeria51. Macao, China52. Gabon53. Egypt54. Jamaica55. Rwanda56. Dominica57. St Vincent/Grenadines58. Burundi59. Kenya60. Tanzania61. United Arab Emirates 23

62.  St. Kitts and Nevis63.Antigua & Barbuda64.Trinidad and Tobago65.St. Lucia66.Seychelles67.Barbados68.Belize69.Lao PDR70.Macedonia FYROM71.Grenada72.Uganda

How to accept the Protocol of amendment?

www.wto.org/tradetopics/tradefacilitation

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How many acceptances have been received? 

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Thus far 50 WTO Members have accepted the TFA:

•Australia•New Zealand•EU•Nicaragua•Niger•Belize •Botswana•China•Switzerland•Chinese Taipei•Thailand•Trinidad and Tobago•Hong Kong, China •United States•Japan•Korea, Rep of•Lao DPR•Liechtenstein•Mauritius•Togo. Macedonia

www.TFAfacility.org

The WTOTrade Facilitation Agreement

Facility

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Main overall objective of  TFAF  

Support implementation of the TFA by

• Promoting coherence in the delivery of implementation support 

• Enhancing and complementing existing assistance programs 

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The Facility

1. Launched by the WTO Director General on 22 July 2014.

2. Became operational on 27 November 2014 (i.e. together with the Protocol)

3. The Facility will complement existing efforts by regional and multilateral agencies, bilateral donors, and other stakeholders to provide Trade Facilitation-related technical assistance and capacity-building support.

Main areas of work

Technical Assistance and Capacity Building (TACB)

Implementation Assistance

Grants

Main parameters

• Funded by donor Members on a voluntary basis

• Several components of activities, carried out in different stages

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Component I• Provision of TACB with focus on assistance for needs assessment & development partner identification

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Technical Assistance and Capacity Building (TACB)

Needs AssessmentsRegional workshops for ParliamentariansE-learning toolsThematic workshopsOutreachDissemination of information

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Component IICreation of information‐sharing platform for matching demand and supply of TFA‐related assistance

(Includes compilation of information on assistance providers, sharing of Implementation experience and collation of training materials)

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Implementation Assistance

• Assist in the match-making• Information about the Donors• Developing country contact

information• Database of TACB programs of

donors, WCO other international and regional organizations

• Case studies• Link to training materials

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Component III• Provision of funds where countries failed to find assistance despite efforts to obtain it

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Grants

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Project preparation (max $30,000)

Project implementation (max $200,000)

After entry into force and receipt of Category C notification

If can’t find assistance needed, the Facility will try to find donor

2 types of grants

Project preparation

• Designed for Members which identified a potential donor but were unable to develop a project for the donor’s consideration– (up to US$ 30.000)

• Project implementation

• Designed  for exceptional cases where country was not able to find donor despite efforts made 

• Covers “soft infrastructure projects

• (up to US$200.000)

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ActivitiesSupport/Assistance• Preparation of category ABC notifications• Information on support programsOutreach• National and regional activities• Geneva‐based activitiesPromoting Coherence 

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TFAF Webpage

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Thank you!

Xiaobing TangCounsellor Market Access DivisionWTO

Xiaobing.tang@wto.org