The Committee meeting featured a dedicated session on the particular challenges faced by landlocked developing countries (LLDCs) in the transit of goods. Speakers from Eswatini, Gabon, Pakistan and Zimbabwe presented outcomes of a workshop held earlier in the week amongst LLDC and transit members, together with WTO officials and development partners.

Concrete solutions were developed at the workshop to address challenges relating to customs formalities, transit guarantees, container seals and tracking, transit corridors and improving support to WTO members in TFA implementation relevant to transit activities. A number of international organizations — the Common Market for Eastern and Southern Africa (COMESA); the East African Community (EAC); the United Nations Conference on Trade and Development (UNCTAD); UN Office of the High Representative for the Least Developed Countries, Landlocked Developing Countries and Small Island Developing States (UN-OHRLLS); World Customs Organization (WCO); and the World Bank — also presented their work and support programmes for LLDCs. Mongolia highlighted its recent experience and work on transit coordination.

The United States moderated a discussion on trade facilitation issues relevant to disaster preparedness. Presentations were made by several WTO members — Cambodia, Nepal, Zambia — highlighting trade facilitation challenges they faced and addressed in responding to national emergencies and disasters. Several international organizations — International Medical Corps (IMC), United Nations Children's Fund (UNICEF), United Nations Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs Working Group “Importation and Customs Clearance Together” (IMPACCT) — also described their experiences during recent crises, including challenges faced in facilitating the delivery of vaccines and other medical materials during the COVID-19 pandemic.

Finally, several WTO members — Cambodia, El Salvador, Tunisia — shared recent information and experiences updating their status on TFA implementation. China continued to advance a proposal to promote TFA implementation through digital and other intelligence technologies.

The TFA entered into force in 2017 and contains provisions for expediting the movement, release and clearance of goods, including goods in transit. It also sets out measures for effective cooperation between customs and other appropriate authorities on trade facilitation and customs compliance issues. It further contains provisions for technical assistance and capacity building in this area.

The TFA is the first WTO agreement in which developing members and LDC members can determine their own implementation schedules and seek to acquire implementation capacity through the provision of related assistance and support. Developed members were required to implement all provisions of the TFA from its entry into force. As of 16 June 2023, notifications submitted by WTO members indicate that they have committed to implement 76.2% of TFA obligations.

During the meeting, the Committee Chairperson, Mr Carlos Guevara of Ecuador, indicated his intention to host an informal meeting of the Committee on 26 July to examine several Committee reform and experience sharing initiatives.