Trade Facilitation Agreement Facility 21.10.15.FV...import and export Art. 7 Release and clearance...
Transcript of Trade Facilitation Agreement Facility 21.10.15.FV...import and export Art. 7 Release and clearance...
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
14
Category A notification: “Positive list” approach
15
Category A notification: “Negative list” approach
16
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
17
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.
18
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
19
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
20
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
22
• 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
24
How many acceptances have been received?
25
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
27
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
28
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
31
Component I• Provision of TACB with focus on assistance for needs assessment & development partner identification
32
Technical Assistance and Capacity Building (TACB)
Needs AssessmentsRegional workshops for ParliamentariansE-learning toolsThematic workshopsOutreachDissemination of information
33
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)
34
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
35
Component III• Provision of funds where countries failed to find assistance despite efforts to obtain it
36
Grants
37
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)
38
ActivitiesSupport/Assistance• Preparation of category ABC notifications• Information on support programsOutreach• National and regional activities• Geneva‐based activitiesPromoting Coherence
39
TFAF Webpage
40