Trade facilitation
Bureaucratic delays and “red tape” pose a burden for
moving goods across borders for traders. Trade facilitation—the simplification,
modernization and harmonization of export and import processes—has therefore
emerged as an important issue for the world trading system.
WTO members concluded negotiations at the 2013
Bali Ministerial Conference on the landmark Trade Facilitation Agreement
(TFA), which entered into force on 22 February 2017 following its ratification
by two-thirds of the WTO membership. The TFA 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.
