WTO Trade Facilitation Self WTO Trade Facilitation Self Assessment of Needs – LesothoAssessment of Needs – Lesotho

Needs and Prioritiesin the WTO

Trade Facilitation Negotiations

WorkshopMASERU

11 July 2008

Presentation outline

Background to Self assessmentBackground to Self assessment Workshop participationWorkshop participation Measures consideredMeasures considered

• Compliant measuresCompliant measures• Partially compliantPartially compliant• Not compliantNot compliant

Major Barriers to complianceMajor Barriers to compliance Top Technical assistance needs and Top Technical assistance needs and

prioritiespriorities Recommendations on the way forwardRecommendations on the way forward Commitments madeCommitments made

Background to SA of Needs and Background to SA of Needs and Priorities Priorities

Self assessment of needs and Self assessment of needs and priorities as a key element for priorities as a key element for technical assistancetechnical assistance

Determination of priorities for Determination of priorities for support during and after negotiationssupport during and after negotiations

Workshop participationWorkshop participation Pubic sectorPubic sector

• Ministry of Trade, Industry, Cooperatives Ministry of Trade, Industry, Cooperatives and Marketing and Marketing

• Ministry of Foreign affairsMinistry of Foreign affairs• Law of Office and Attorney generalLaw of Office and Attorney general• Customs and ExciseCustoms and Excise

Private sectorPrivate sector• Chamber of Commerce and industryChamber of Commerce and industry• Central bankCentral bank• Freight forwarders and clearing agentsFreight forwarders and clearing agents

Measures consideredMeasures considered

35 proposed measures were 35 proposed measures were consideredconsidered

Workshop proceeded with group workWorkshop proceeded with group work

Summary Findings Summary Findings

Already Compliant with (10,28%)Already Compliant with (10,28%) Partially compliant with (21, 60%)Partially compliant with (21, 60%) Not compliant with (3, 9%)Not compliant with (3, 9%) Not applicable with (1, 3%)Not applicable with (1, 3%)

Measures Lesotho Complies Measures Lesotho Complies withwith

Elimination of Pre-Shipment InspectionElimination of Pre-Shipment Inspection Pre-Arrival ProcessingPre-Arrival Processing Objective Criteria For Tariff Objective Criteria For Tariff

ClassificationClassification DetentionDetention Cross border coordination Cross border coordination Phasing Out Mandatory Use of Phasing Out Mandatory Use of

Customs BrokersCustoms Brokers Consular requirementsConsular requirements

Measures Lesotho Partially Measures Lesotho Partially complies withcomplies with

Publication and notification of Publication and notification of trade regulations and penalty trade regulations and penalty provisions; provisions;

Right of AppealRight of Appeal Use of International standards.Use of International standards. Acceptance of Commercially Acceptance of Commercially

available information and of available information and of copies. copies.

Strengthened non-discriminationStrengthened non-discrimination.. Expedited ShipmentsExpedited Shipments Authorized TradersAuthorized Traders

Measures Lesotho Partially Measures Lesotho Partially complies with (cont.)complies with (cont.)

Customs CooperationCustoms Cooperation Establishment of enquiry pointsEstablishment of enquiry points Test procedures Test procedures Single window/ one time submissionSingle window/ one time submission

Measures Lesotho does not Measures Lesotho does not comply withcomply with

Provision of Advance RulingsProvision of Advance Rulings Risk Management/AnalysisRisk Management/Analysis Establishment And Publication of Establishment And Publication of

Average Release and Clearance TimesAverage Release and Clearance Times Interval between publication and entry Interval between publication and entry

into force: publication for transitinto force: publication for transit

Major Barriers to ComplianceMajor Barriers to Compliance

Insufficient technical expertise, skill Insufficient technical expertise, skill base and competencybase and competency

Inadequate infrastructure and Inadequate infrastructure and equipment to support technologyequipment to support technology

No and/or Outdated legislationNo and/or Outdated legislation Limited awareness on WTO issues Limited awareness on WTO issues Limited implementation of Limited implementation of

international conventions international conventions

Top Priorities for Technical Top Priorities for Technical Assistance Assistance

Reforms and Restructuring Reforms and Restructuring One Stop Shop as a legal enquiry point One Stop Shop as a legal enquiry point Customs Trade Programme Customs Trade Programme

• Risk management, Risk management, • Anti- smuggling, Anti- smuggling, • Post clearance audit, Post clearance audit, • Policies and procedures Policies and procedures 

Establishment of legislative Establishment of legislative frameworksframeworks

Top Priorities for Technical Top Priorities for Technical Assistance Assistance

Training of PersonnelTraining of Personnel Officials at One Stop ShopOfficials at One Stop Shop Training on website development and support Training on website development and support

Establishment of Customs and trade Establishment of Customs and trade laboratory for goods analysislaboratory for goods analysis

Financial assistance Financial assistance Prompt publication and distribution of trade Prompt publication and distribution of trade

related laws and regulation and administrative related laws and regulation and administrative rulings rulings

Development of Customs Automated Development of Customs Automated SystemSystem  

Recommendations for the way Recommendations for the way forwardforward

The existing WTO National steering The existing WTO National steering Committee, particularly the Trade Committee, particularly the Trade Facilitation working group should be Facilitation working group should be strengthenedstrengthened

Establishment of mechanism for Establishment of mechanism for enactment of all agreementsenactment of all agreements

Sufficient internal consultation with all Sufficient internal consultation with all stakeholders during the negotiationsstakeholders during the negotiations

Customs expert participate in TF Customs expert participate in TF NegotiationsNegotiations

Commitments madeCommitments made

Circulate the draft report to all Circulate the draft report to all relevant stakeholders for comment relevant stakeholders for comment (within 3 weeks)(within 3 weeks)

Resuscitate WTO National Steering Resuscitate WTO National Steering committee to meet on quarterly committee to meet on quarterly basis (end of August)basis (end of August)

Trade facilitation working group to Trade facilitation working group to meet on monthly basismeet on monthly basis

To support the Geneva negotiationsTo support the Geneva negotiations