The Role of Standards in the WTO Trade Facilitation Text

Tom Butterly

UN Economic Commission for Europe

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ARTICLE 10: FORMALITIES CONNECTED WITH

IMPORTATION AND EXPORTATION

(TN/TF/W/165/Rev.7 - Page 20)

10.3 Use of International Standards

3.1 Members [are encouraged to] [shall] use relevant international standards or parts thereof [[as a reference] [as a basis]] for their importation, exportation or transit p , pformalities and procedures, except as otherwise provided for in thisotherwise provided for in this Agreement.

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10.3 Use of International Standards …[3.2 Members are not required to use i t ti l t d d hinternational standards when:

the WTO Member is not a signatory to such standards;;these standards are not appropriate to their development, financial or trade needs;these standards would pose fundamentalthese standards would pose fundamental technological or infrastructural problems;these standards would be an ineffective or inappropriate means for the fulfilment of theinappropriate means for the fulfilment of the legitimate objective pursued.]

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10.3 Use of International Standards …

3.3 Members are encouraged to take part, within the limits of their resources, in the preparation and periodic review of relevant international standards by appropriate y pp pinternational intergovernmental organizations.organizations.

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10.3 Use of International Standards …3.4 The Committee shall develop procedures for the sharing by Members ofprocedures for the sharing by Members of relevant information, and best practices, on the implementation of international standards, as p ,appropriate. The Committee may also invite relevant international organizations to discuss their work on international standards Astheir work on international standards. As appropriate, the Committee may identify specific standards that are of particular value to Members.p

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10.3 Use of International Standards …

[3.5 For the purpose of this Agreement, the term "international standards" shall be understood to refer to standards for facilitating trade promulgated by the relevant p g yinternational intergovernmental organizations whose membership isorganizations whose membership is open to all WTO Members.]

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10.2 Reduction/Limitation of Formalities and Documentation Requirementsq

[2.5 Members [shall] [are encouraged to] use the following international trade facilitation standards:

UN layout key or its future updates developed by the WCO for national trade document formats;UN Trade Data Elements Directory and itsUN Trade Data Elements Directory and its future updates developed by the WCO for national data elements in trade

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documents]

Rec:19Mode of Transport

Rec:16UN/Locode ISO Country

Code

Rec: 17Payment

TermsTerms

Rec:9Currency Code

Commodity Code

UNECE9Rec:20 Units of

Measurement

Rec: 28Means of Transport

Rec: 21Package Codes

10.4 Single Window/One-time Submissiong

[4 5 M b h ll h ti bl[4.5 Members shall, where practicable, use relevant international standards [and practices] as a basis for the single window schemes [1]]a basis for the single window schemes.[1]]

[1] In case of being addressed as a cross-cutting issue, the bracketed wording will be deletedwill be deleted.

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10.10 Temporary Admission of Goods/Inward and Outward Processingg

(b) Inward and Outward Processing(i) E h M b h ll ll i d d(i) Each Member shall allow inward and outward processing of goods [in accordance with international standards [and practices]]with international standards [and practices]] [subject to terms and conditions as may be specified in the national legislation].

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ARTICLE 7: RELEASE AND CLEARANCE OF GOODS6. [Authorized [[Traders][Operators]]][ [[ ][ p ]]]

[6.5 Members shall develop authorized [[traders][operators]] schemes [[on the basis of][using as[[traders][operators]] schemes [[on the basis of][using as a reference]] international standards and instruments, where such standards and instruments exist, except when they would be an inappropriate or ineffective meanswhen they would be an inappropriate or ineffective means for the fulfilment of the legitimate objectives pursued.]6.6 In order to enhance the facilitation measures provided t [t d ][ t ] M b h ll ff d t thto [traders][operators] Members shall afford to other Members the possibility to negotiate mutual recognition of authorized [trader][operator] schemes [on the basis of i t ti l t d d d i t t ]international standards and instruments.]

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Trade Facilitation Committee10.3.4 The Committee shall develop procedures for the sharing by Members ofprocedures for the sharing by Members of relevant information, and best practices, on the implementation of international standards, as p ,appropriate. The Committee may also invite relevant international organizations to discuss their work on international standards Astheir work on international standards. As appropriate, the Committee may identify specific standards that are of particular value to Members.p

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UNECE - UNECE in UNCTAD,WB,UN/CEFACT partnership with

other organizationsUNIDO, etc

Recommendations/ Standards Development and

Capacity Building(Helping governments

Technical Assistance(Donors decide Development and

Maintenancegovernments elaborate a national TF strategy)

what is to be done) - UNECE does notprovide long term TATA

UNECE’s role is to create the standards through participation of UN member States and the business community

WTO

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g p p yin UN/CEFACT Working Groups. We engage in an active Capacity Building programme to help countries

understand how best to implement these standards, given their unique needs, priorities and resources while other organizations assist in long –term technical assistance (UNCTAD, WB etc). The WTO sets the rules

Questions or comments?Questions or comments?