unctad trade facilitation programme: ongoing and future projects

UNCTAD Trade Facilitation UNCTAD Trade Facilitation Programme:Programme:

Ongoing and future projects Ongoing and future projects

Symposium on WTO Trade Facilitation for African CountriesNairobi, Kenya

November 13-15, 2012

Azhar JaimurzinaArántzazu Sánchez BelasteguiUNCTAD Trade Facilitation Section

[email protected]@UNCTAD.org

I.I. UNCTAD’s Trade Facilitation ProgrammeUNCTAD’s Trade Facilitation Programme

II.II. Ongong activities: The UNCTAD project on Ongong activities: The UNCTAD project on

preparing national TF implementation preparing national TF implementation

plansplans

III.III. Upcoming UNCTAD activities in Trade Upcoming UNCTAD activities in Trade

FacilitationFacilitation

Content

Trade facilitation

Analysis and research Helping to build consensus Capacity building

UNCTAD’s Trade Facilitation Programme (1)UNCTAD’s Trade Facilitation Programme (1)

ResearchResearch

Basic data, annual and quarterly reports

Technical Notes

Guidelines for national TF committees

Regional aspects of TF

Multilateral negotiations

National Implementation plans

Quartely Transport Newsletter


Consensus buildingConsensus building

•Multilateral

•Regional

•National task forces


Technical Assistance and Capacity BuildingTechnical Assistance and Capacity Building

UNCTAD XIII, April 2012: “[UNCTAD should] continue technical assistance, research and analysis, and dialogue on trade facilitation, transport and related issues”

Donors for the UNCTAD TF TA programme: European

Union, Norway, Spain, Sweden, Switzerland, United Nations

Development Account, World Bank.

Current focus of the programme: Assisting countries in

preparing and developing national TF implementation plans –

UNCTAD projects on the TF Implementation Plans


Two UNCTAD projects on implementing TF :1.1. ““Strengthening capacities of developing countries in Africa and Strengthening capacities of developing countries in Africa and

Asia to support their effective participation in negotiating Asia to support their effective participation in negotiating bilateral, regional and multilateral trade facilitation bilateral, regional and multilateral trade facilitation arrangements“ arrangements“

2.2. ““IImplementation Plans for WTO Trade Facilitation Agreement in mplementation Plans for WTO Trade Facilitation Agreement in Developing Members”Developing Members”

Financed by the European Union, Norway and the United Nations Development Account

Duration: 2 years (2012–2013)

In cooperation with other Annex D organizations (IMF, OECD, WB and WCO)

Focus: TF Measures under negotiation in WTO

II. UNCTAD project on the TF UNCTAD project on the TF iimplementation Plans mplementation Plans

General (1)

The project’s outputs National implementation plans: plans for the

implementation of TF reforms (confidential) The UNCTAD consolidated report: implementation

challenges, including resource and time requirements and TACB needs

For the participating countries Increased knowledge of the TF measures under

consideration Mapping out the implementation status of trade

facilitation commitments Identification of the actions needed and resource

implications for full compliance Strengthening/Launching National TF Committees Discussion and identification of the regional activities

and implementation plans


General (2)

I. Fact finding mission by UNCTAD and/or Annex D and the official launch of the project during a special meeting of the national TF committee

II. Collection of information by the national consultant through individual interviews with the TF stakeholders and desk-research

III. Preparation of the draft implementation plan by the national consultant and UNCTAD

IV. National validation conference with the support and participation of UNCTAD/Annex D

Implementation plan on TF measures currently considered in WTO

II. UNCTAD project on the TF UNCTAD project on the TF iimplementation Plans mplementation Plans Methodology (1)

Questionnaire – Part A

For each measure,

• Text of current draft consolidation negotiation text (from Rev.11 to 13)

• Some background information, for example, from the '2008 Self Assessment of Trade Facilitation Needs and Priorities‘


Questionnaire – Part B

15-20 questions to determine implementation status and actions/resources required for each measure

• Principal questions (specific to each measure)• Secondary questions (same for every measure)


Two-three day meeting combining plenary sessions and work in groups

Analysis and validation of the conclusions on: Current status of implementation

of each of the 39 trade facilitation measures under the current draft TFA;

Action plans for the non- or partially implemented measures and needs for resources and TACB

Implementation priority and category for each measure.


National Validation Conference


Geographical coverage (1) A selection of the least developed countries,

middle income developing countries, landlocked countries and small island economies

Three continents and twenty countries


Progress and results (1)INTERVIEW AND DRAFTING

Angola: May 12 -> Dec. 12

Bangladesh (OECD): July 12 -> Nov.12

Burundi: Aug.12 -> Nov. 12

Bhutan: May 12 -> Dec.12

OECS: Aug. 12 -> Feb.13

Rwanda: June 12 -> Nov.12

PREPARATION

Sudan: Dec. 12 -> Feb. 13

Suriname (WB): Dec.12 -> Feb.13

Jordan(TBC): Nov.12->March 13

VALIDATION/ FINALIZING

Benin: March 12 -> June 12

Burkina Faso: Feb. 12-> June 12

Dom. Rep (WB): April 12 -> Sept.12

Gabon (WCO): March 12 -> May 12

Guatemala: March 12 -> July 12

Nepal: April 12 -> Sept. 12

Paraguay: June 12 -> Oct.12

Tanzania: Jan. 12 -> June 12

Uganda: June 12 -> Oct.12

National implementation

plans

UNCTAD/Annex D

Report

National implementation

plans

Measure Article Is this measure implemented?

Details on the current situation

Publication Article 1, para.1 NO. YES. PARTLY.Source: Primary questions (question B)

1- Details on the current situation

2- National law and/or administrative instructions that correspond to this measure

3. Main reasons behind the partial or complete non-compliance

4. Other

Source : Primary questions (from Question B to the second to the last question)

1. 1. Detailed description measure per measure: the current Detailed description measure per measure: the current situationsituation


Progress and results (2)

Implementation plan for each Implementation plan for each measuremeasure

Measure N° X : TITLE

Category

Priority LOW HIGH 1 2 3 4 5

Implementation Actions required Already planned (Y/N)

Resources Required

Details on technical assistance

Needs for assistance (yes, no)

Type of Assistance Potential donors Agency which could deliver technical assistance

Time required for implementation

Leading implementation agency



Lessons learned The strong commitment from the country is a

must A WTO Needs Assessment - a good basis but not

always enough Positive impact of using national consultants Need for regular feedback and advisory on all

stages Need for training/information session before the

validation Need for flexibility on behalf of both UNCTAD and

the countries Ensuring sustainability means continuous support

for the TF committees



Upcoming UNCTAD activities in Trade

Facilitation

A. Follow up to the national implementation plans: integrating regional and inter-regional components

B. UNCTAD study on national trade facilitation committees

Upcoming TF activitiesUpcoming TF activities

Objectiveso Identify incompatibilities and synergies in

bilateral and regional trade facilitation commitments, and adapt accordingly the national TF implementation plans

o Identify national best practices that could be applied in other countries

o Highlight needs for regional cooperation

A. Follow up to the national implementation plans: regional component

Activities: 4-5 regional TF ForumsLogistics:

– To be organized in 2013 in EAC, in Western Africa, in Latin America, South Asia and in the Caribbean (TBC).

– Invitation of two/three experts per country and international experts

– Organizational costs to be covered by UNCTAD

Content:– Selection of 5-10 measures requiring regional cooperation– Presentation of best TF practices and lessons learned– Presentation of challenges for TF identified, specially in

connection with the regional initiatives and projects

A. Follow up to the national implementation plans: regional component

Activities: Inter-Regional TF ForumLogistics:

– To be organized in the second quarter of 2014 in Geneva

– Countries from Africa and Asia (UNDA project)– Invitation of two/three experts per country– Organizational costs to be covered by UNCTAD

Content:– Presentation of best TF practices and lessons learned– Enhancing South South cooperation

A. Follow up to the national implementation plans: inter-regional component

UNCTAD long-standing support to the establishment of the national TF committees (NGTF) in developing countries: from a recommendation to a possible legal obligation in WTO

UNCTAD approach: Analyze best practices for setting up and operating a NTFC UNCTAD TF Handbook Part I UNCTAD Technical Note 18 UNCTAD online repository of national cases

throughout the world

2013: An in-depth study of the NTFC together with the United Nations Economic Commission for Europe (ongoing) Possible intergovernmental meeting in 2013 on the NTFC

B. UNCTAD Study on National TF Committee

Thank you for your attention!

Questions?

Azhar JaimurzinaArántzazu Sánchez BelasteguiUNCTAD Trade Facilitation [email protected]@UNCTAD.org

mailto:[email protected]

mailto:[email protected]

unctad trade facilitation programme: ongoing and future projects

Documents