SEE
ALSO:
> Trade
facilitation work in 2002
> Trade
facilitation work in 2001
> Trade
facilitation in the preparatory work for the Doha Ministerial
Conference, (2001)
> Trade
facilitation work in 2000
> De-restricted
papers submitted until end of 2000
> Work
from mid-1998 until end of 1999
> Trade
Facilitation in the preparatory work for the Seattle Ministerial
Conference (1999)
> Work
in the WTO until mid-1998
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At the first meeting on 23 and 24 May 2002,
discussions of the first agenda item focussed on GATT Article X
(Publication and Administration of Trade Regulations). Several
delegations had submitted proposals (G/C/W/434) on how to improve and clarify this
provision, covering various means to improve transparency such as the
installation of enquiry points, the introduction of an advance ruling
system, the more systematic consultation between customs
administrations and traders and the establishment of effective appeal
procedures. Some delegations stressed the need for the proposed
measures to address issues such as implications for human and
financial resources as well as differences in levels of development
and corresponding different needs. Delegations also discussed ways to
identify their trade facilitation needs and priorities and highlighted
essential elements for the successful execution of assistance
activities including coherence, coordination and targeting of audience
and area covered.
A
second meeting on 22 and 23 July 2002 saw the
discussion of a number of proposals on how to clarify and improve GATT
Article VIII (Fees and Formalities connected with Importation and
Exportation). Among the suggestions were the simplification,
standardization and streamlining of import/export procedures, the use
of international standards and instruments, commitments on fees and
charges, the acceptance of relevant commercially available
information, the reduction of data requirements, the enhanced utilization
of automation and the use of risk-assessment, pre-arrival processing
and post-auditing and the incorporation of basic GATT/WTO principles
such as non-discrimination, transparency and proportionality to govern
the operation of relevant provisions of GATT Article VIII. During
the discussion, questions were raised relating to the implementation
of the proposed measures as well as to the challenges faced by many
Members in their efforts to facilitate trade, such as the need to
safeguard customs revenue, infrastructural deficiencies and security
concerns. Under the second core agenda item, the Council discussed
ways to advance the identification of Members' trade facilitation
needs and priorities. With respect to technical assistance and
capacity building, the Council was briefed on relevant activities of
donor Members, other international organizations and the WTO
Secretariat.
At
its third meeting on 1 and 2 October 2002, the
Council discussed several proposals on how to clarify and improve GATT
Article V (Freedom of Transit). There was broad agreement on the
existence of problems in the area of transit, especially for
landlocked countries. The proposals underlined the necessity of
strengthening and operationalizing Article V provisions by introducing
new binding rules. Some Members also made reference to the mutually
reinforcing nature of facilitation and better control/security, to
attracting investment and improving overall economic stability. Other
delegations questioned the need for a rule-making exercise and
underlined the limited implementation capacities of a number of
Members. Certain Members expressed a preference for trade facilitation
measures to be undertaken autonomously. Regarding the identification
of Members' trade facilitation needs and priorities, some delegations
referred to the need to complete the harmonization work programme on
non-preferential rules of origin as an important trade facilitation
measure. Regarding technical assistance and capacity building, Members
emphasized the importance they attached to this subject and to the
work being carried by bilateral donors and international organizations
in this area. It was stressed that work in this area should progress
in parallel with the substantive part of the discussions in the
Council, in order to develop a technical assistance work programme
directed both to providing guidance and to building capacity to
implement thereafter the eventual results.
A
final meeting on 6 December 2002 served as a forum for
an overall discussion of all three agenda items and to discuss the organization
of future work for the time until the Fifth Ministerial Conference in
September 2003. Members agreed on holding two additional CTG
meetings (March and June), with the possibility of a third session at
the end of July should that be considered necessary.
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