Secretary General Kituyi,
Executive Director González,
Excellencies,
Ladies and gentlemen,

Good morning. I am very pleased to join you today, at this first International Forum for National Trade Facilitation Committees.

This Forum is a very important initiative for the entire trade facilitation community. It will help to improve dialogue and collaboration by bringing together the full range of perspectives: global, regional and domestic. And I am sure there will be some very useful exchanges over the next few days.

So I’d like to thank everyone involved in putting this initiative together.

The timing of this meeting could not be better. The WTO’s Trade Facilitation Agreement (TFA) will be coming into force very soon.

On Friday, I received the ratification of Nigeria from Minister Enelamah. This means that only three more ratifications are needed to bring this historic Agreement into force. And I know of at least one more which should be arriving imminently.

This is great news for a number of reasons.

• First, the TFA is the biggest global trade deal in two decades — and as such it is essential that it is delivered in full. By ratifying the agreement, members are showing their commitment to the trading system, and also following through on the promises made when this deal was struck in Bali in 2013.
• Second, bringing the deal into force means that we can turn its benefits into reality. 

The Agreement aims to streamline, simplify and standardise customs procedures, thereby reducing the time and cost of moving goods across borders.

By doing so, it will help to cut trade costs around the world.

Estimates show that the full implementation of the Agreement could reduce trade costs by an average of around 14.5 per cent. This would boost exports by up to 1 trillion dollars each year, with the biggest gains being felt in the poorest countries.

The impact would be greater than the elimination of all existing tariffs around the world.

The Agreement will also bring a higher level of predictability and transparency to customs procedures, making it easier for businesses — especially smaller enterprises — to trade and join global value chains.

Bringing the TFA into force may be the end of one journey — but it is also the start of another, as we move forward on implementation.

Our research shows that the manner of implementation is key. The more extensive and rapid the implementation is, the greater the benefits will be for everyone.

In fact, members are already implementing some of the measures involved. However, full implementation of the Agreement could be a challenge for some members.

Therefore, just as we all worked together to create this Agreement, we must work together to see it through to full implementation.

This was foreseen in the unique architecture of the Agreement. I would underline two key points.  

• First, the TFA provides developing and least developed countries with the flexibility to tailor their implementation schedules according to their specific needs, commensurate with their level of development.
• Second, it calls for the necessary practical support to help with countries’ implementation.

There are a number of support programmes available to help here, working with a range of donor members and partners. 

To advance this work and help connect donors and beneficiaries, we launched the WTO Trade Facilitation Agreement Facility. The Facility aims to ensure that everyone can access the resources and information needed to carry out the necessary reforms. Indeed, the Facility is already working on this front. And I’m happy to say that even though we’re working with donors, so far no demands made on the Facility have gone unmet.

Once the Agreement comes into force in the coming weeks, we can accelerate our work here and step up all these activities. 

And I think the partnership approach will be essential here.

Implementation is an area which relates to the work of a range of organisations, including those represented on this panel, the EIF, and many more.

So I am pleased that during this event you will have the chance to learn more about the work being done by all these organizations, and about other different types of support available.

I encourage you to use this opportunity to increase your knowledge and explore potential partnerships.

You have a very important role to play.

The TFA calls for each WTO member to establish a National Committee on Trade Facilitation.

The aim of these committees is to facilitate domestic coordination and implementation of the provisions of the Agreement.

So, as members of your national trade facilitation committee, you have a central role in driving these reforms in your own country. 

Your work will be crucial to ensure:

• that all voices are taken on board;
• that the national agencies get the assistance they need; and
• that the reforms that are delivered are truly meaningful and beneficial.

These tasks will be essential for the Agreement’s successful implementation.

This Forum will be a great help in this work. I hope that you will return home with a huge amount of new expertise and contacts. And I hope that you will share this knowledge, and put renewed energy into this work. 

If your country hasn’t yet ratified the Agreement, I would encourage you to call on your governments to act — to fast-track their ratification processes and to notify their implementation schedules.

Of course, the WTO Secretariat and the TFA Facility stand ready to assist you in all of these efforts.

To conclude, I think all see the potential of this Agreement. The benefits could be really transformative. So let’s work together to realize that potential, and implement the TFA for the benefit of all.

I look forward to working with you in this endeavour. And I wish you a very successful stay here in Geneva.

Thank you.