United Nations Economic Commission for Europe (UNECE)

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United Nations Economic Commission for Europe
(UNECE)

• Single Window
• for
• Trade Facilitation
• Tom Butterly
• Deputy Chief, Global Trade Solutions Branch
• Workshop on Trade Facilitation
• Moscow
• 22-23 November 2004

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UNECE Global and Regional perspective

• Global level - development and maintenance of
  international standards through UN/CEFACT -
  United Nations Centre for Trade Facilitation and
  Electronic Business
• UNECE regional level - implementation in member
  states especially in transition economies
• Implementation in other regions - cooperate
  extensively with other UN Regional Commissions
  and other multilateral organisations

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UN CEFACT International Trade Procedures Working
Group (TBG15)

• Single Window Recommendation developed by
  UN/CEFACT International Trade Procedures Working
  Group (ITPWG), with representation from
  governments, trade and international
  organisations
• All welcome to participate in UN/CEFACT work
  (next Forum in Malaysia in March 05)

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Meeting regulatory requirements and exchanging
information with government
The current situation

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A single window

• The new approach - a simple, one-stop solution
  offering official control with trade
• facilitation.

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The UN/CEFACT Single Window Recommendation

• Analysis of existing and planned Single Windows
  in 12 countries to determine
• current practices
• structures
• products and services and
• funding mechanisms.
• On the basis of this analysis, we developed a
  Recommendation and Guidelines - Extensive review
  process finally approved in September 2004

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UN/CEFACT Recommends that governments and those
involved in international trade should

• Proceed with the setting up of a Single Window
  facility at the national level through a
  collaborative effort with all relevant
  governmental authorities and the business
  community
• Give full consideration to the guidelines
  attached to the present recommendation in the
  establishment of their Single Window facility

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The Single Window facility should allow

• Lodgement of standardised information and
  documents with a single entry point (to fulfil
  all export, import and transit related regulatory
  requirements)
• if the information is electronic, then individual
  data elements should only be submitted once

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The Single Window facility should

• Support the sharing of information by a legal
  framework that provides privacy and security in
  the exchange of information
• Co-ordinate the controls of the various
  governmental authorities, where appropriate
• Provide facilities to receive payment of duties
  and other charges
• Provide access to trade related government
  information

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The Guide on the establishment of a Single Window

• The Guidelines
• Overview description of a Single Window
• Common models for a Single Window
• Benefits of a Single Window
• Practical steps in planning and implementing a
  Single Window
• Key factors for a successful Single Window

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Key factors

• Political will
• Strong lead agency
• Partnership between government and trade (need
  for dialogue)
• Establish clear and measurable objectives
• Phased approach
• Use of international standards
• Legally enabling environment
• User friendliness, accessibility and training
• Financial model
• Promotion and communications

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The Guide on the establishment of a Single Window

• The Annexes
• Annex A Single Window Models - examples of
  existing or planned Single Windows
• Annex B Practical Steps for Planning
  Implementation
• Annex C Components of a Feasibility Study
• Annex D Tools Techniques
• Annex E Signposts - contact details for
  operational Single Windows and international
  organisation projects

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The most common models
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A Single Authority that receives information,
either on paper or electronically, disseminates
this information to all relevant governmental
authorities, and co-ordinates controls to prevent
undue hindrance in the logistical chain (e.g.
Sweden)
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A Single Automated System for the collection and
dissemination of information (either public or
private) that integrates the electronic
collection, use, and dissemination (and storage)
of data related to trade that crosses the border
(e.g. Unites States).
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An automated Information Transaction System
through which a trader can submit electronic
trade declarations to the various authorities for
processing and approval in a single application.
In this approach, approvals are transmitted
electronically from governmental authorities to
the traders computer. (e.g. Mauritius, Singapore)
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Single Window Examples

• Sweden
• United States
• Germany
• Mauritius

• (From 3 day workshop on documents, edocuments and
  Single Windows)

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Single Window in Sweden

• Information is gathered by Swedish Customs on
  behalf of more than 30 different authorities
  (import VAT, trade statistics, monitoring of
  licenses, pets, weapons etc.)
• Swedish Customs Single Window solutions are
  available using different technologies
• EDIFACT
• Internet
• Mobile solutions

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Participants

• Swedish importers, exporters and brokers.
• National Board of Taxation.
• Statistics Sweden.
• National Board of Agriculture.
• National Board of Trade.
• European Union.
• Annually 94 of all Customs declarations are
  submitted using a Single Window solution.

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Business model

• The Virtual Customs Office, including Single
  Window solutions, is financed within existing
  budgetary means of Swedish Customs.
• eServices of Swedish Customs is free of charge
  and no user fees are applied.
• However, clients are charged for submitting paper
  documents .

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Results

• Major benefit automatic clearance of Customs
  declarations
• For trade release times 90 seconds
• For trade no requirements for supporting
  documents
• For trade one interface regarding all
  information related to international trade.
• For Customs reallocation of resources
• For Customs improved collection

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United StatesSingle Window

• International Trade Data System (ITDS)

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ITDS/Single Window Processing
USDA
(operational)
Truck Driver Goods
FWS
(interfaced)
CBP
FDA food
CPSC
ACE/ITDS Single Window
arrive/depart CBP ACE/ITDS
INS immigration
DOT transport
USTR
(periodic)
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Process

• Survey of all relevant Government Agencies
  involved in trade
• Revealed that over 300 forms consisting of
  approx. 3000 data fields
• Over 90 of information redundent
• Through harmonisation and standardisation reduced
  this to 200 data elements

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Participants/Clients

• Federal Trade Agencies
• Admissibility and export control
• Statistical and analytical
• Trade promotion
• Trade Community
• Importers
• Exporters
• Customs Brokers
• Carriers
• Port Authorities

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Single Window in Germany Port of
HamburgExperience of DAKOSY AG
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Participants / Clients
UNIX and IBM AS/400
IBM AS/400
DAKOSY DPC
IBM AS/400
IBM AS/400
IBM AS/400
IBM AS/400
IBM AS/400
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Examples
Volume(daily)
Business data
between and
Quay Order 600 Forwarders gt 30 Quay
operators 3.400
Bills of Lading 150 Forwarders gt 50 LA /
Shipping L. 1.500
Transport Order gt 75 Forwarders German Rail
/ 1.600 Rail LA / Shipping L.
Private Rail Operators
Export Declaration 750 Forwarders Customs
Hamburg 4.900 LA / Shipping L.
Import Release gt 870 Forwarders German
Customs 9.500
- ATLAS
Dangerous Goods 90 Quay Operator River
Police 1.250Announcement LA / Shipping L.
LA Liner Agent, Shipping L. Shipping Line
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Participants / Clients
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Business model

• Shareholders to pay a yearly fee for the so
  called traditionell EDI-Business within the port
  - community
• Each participant has to sign a contract with one
  of the shareholders and has to pay to them for
  the usage of the EDI-Network of DAKOSY
• Additional services of DAKOSY (EDI, ASP and IT-
  Services) are charged byDAKOSY directly

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Lessons learned

• 90 Talking, 10 Doing
• Most important All people to tow one rope in the
  same direction!
• Eat the elephant piece by piece

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Single Window MauritiusMauritius TradeNet
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Services

• Submission, processing and approval of
  declarations to Customs within a 15-minute
• Access to air and sea cargo manifests, ships
  arrivals and departures, movement of containers,
  etc.
• Notice of release of consignments
• Payment of duties by electronic means
• Contributions Network Project has been launched,
  allowing the payment of various fees taxes

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TradeNet Access

• PC, a modem, a telephone line and a Declarant ID
• Documents and trade information entered into the
  system transmitted between all parties involved
  in the movement of goods (imports and exports)
  and the Customs Department
• Links with Customs Management System for
  automatic processing and approval of Customs
  declarations

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Participants

• Customs Excise Department
• Importers, exporters and re-exporters
• Freight forwarders
  
• Port Authority and its cargo handling agency
  
• Shipping/airline companies and their agents
  
• Ministry of International Trade
• Chamber of Commerce Industry
• Over 1000 declarations on average are received
  and processed every working day by the
  countrys Customs Excise Department

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Business model

• Joint-venture functioning 100 as a private
  concern
• Equity ( USD 1 million) provided by shareholders
• Self-sustainability perspective right from the
  start
• Activities financed from 2 sources
• - a software single-user licence of 1300 at
  the outset - a service fee of USD 5.-
  per declaration sent thru MNS
• Highly successful and profitable activity
• - share value multiplied by eight since
  1994
• - yearly dividends 90 of funds
  invested

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Results

• Reduction in processing time of Customs
  declarations from days/several hours to 15 min.
• Declarations sent/information retrieved from
  ones office
• Enhancement of transparency and productivity
• Conclusive public/private sector collaboration
• The Mauritian CMS is now used by the Ghana
  Customs

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UN CEFACT Recommendation 33Next Steps

• Establish repository on existing Single Windows
• Meeting in 2005 of all existing Single Windows to
  discuss standards and interoperability
• Encourage implementation by developing Business
  Cases for the three Single Window models
• Promotion at Capacity Building Workshops for
  Trade Facilitation Implementation and
  presentations to interested organisations

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Further Information

• Tom Butterly
• Deputy Chief
• Global Trade Solutions Branch
• UNECE
• E-mail tom.butterly_at_unece.org
• Website www.unece.org/trade