WTO TRADE FACILITATION Self Assessment of Needs and Priorities

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WTO TRADE FACILITATIONSelf Assessment of Needs
and Priorities

Conducted In cooperation with Annex D
Organizations and WTO Members
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Self Assessment Objectives

• Identify TA/CB needs for the implementation of
  proposed measures
• Better determination of national negotiation
  position for each proposed measure
• Develop capacity to continue assessment of needs
  and priorities
• Be better prepared for implementation

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Other benefits

• Better understanding of role and status of
  various border agencies
• Better understanding of WTO TF and possible
  results of negotiations
• Better understanding of the proposed measures
• New personal relationships which will promote
  better cooperation

Based on evaluations of needs assessments.
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Self Assessment Guide

• Part A- explains use of Guide
• Part B- needs assessment standards and texts of
  proposals
• Chart for each proposal
• Follows Secretariat Compilation A-M format
  (TN/TF/W/43 (as revised))

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The Guide provides for each proposed measure
TN/TF/W/143/Rev

• Heading/subheading (A-M IM)
• General description
• Basic standard- based on essence of the proposals
  
• Text of Proposals
• Requirements to meet the Basic standard
• What needed to implement
• A chart form, Assessment tool

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TN/TF/W/143/Rev.

• Basic Standard
• A standard based on Members' proposals developed
  as a common standard to measure against for the
  needs assessment.
• Members should assess their current situation
  and needs in relation to this standard.

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First steps

• Step 1 read general description, basic
  standard, text of the proposals and requirements
  to meet basic standard.
• Step 2 discuss current situation in relation to
  this standard
• Step 3 fill in first column of chart with
  complete details including eg. name of
  legislative acts, etc.
• Step 4 determine current compliance with standard

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A.2 Internet Publication/ Establishment of
Official Website General Description The
publication of relevant information on an
official website provides particularly high
levels of both transparency and accessibility.
It also allows timely publication of new and
amended information. These proposals seek to
provide greater transparency of and accessibility
to trade regulations by making available to
interested parties, via the internet, all
legislation and trade-related procedures relating
to or affecting the international trade in
goods. Basic Standard A Member shall publish all
trade related legislation, procedures and
documents on a national official internet site or
sites. Text of the Proposal(s) United States,
TN/TF/W/145 "Internet Publication Each Member
shall make available and keep current, on a
publicly accessible Internet website A full and
precise description of its customs procedures,
including procedures for the appeal of customs
determinations and The forms and documents
required for importation into or exportation from
the territory of that Member." Hong Kong, China,
Japan, Mongolia, Norway, Switzerland and Turkey,
TN/TF/W/155 "Recognizing that electronic means of
publication would be the most cost effective and
easily accessible format for publication of
information, each Member shall make available and
keep current on one or more publicly accessible
official websites an outline of its border
agencies' procedures, including their appeal
procedures, as well as its import, export or
transit restrictions, in such a manner as to
enable interested parties to become acquainted
with them. all forms and documents required for
importation, exportation or transit. The outline
referred to in paragraph (a) shall also include
references to the relevant trade-related
legislation as well as the titles of and
electronic links to all forms and documents as
provided for in paragraph (b). The language of
publication for the outline referred to in
paragraph (a) shall, whenever practicable, be one
of the official languages of the
WTO." Requirements to Meet the Basic Standard The
Member has organizational and other mechanisms in
place to ensure that the information which it
makes available is complete, accurate, relevant
and timely. This may include the establishment
of a national coordination point.
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A.2 INTERNET PUBLICATION/ ESTABLISHMENT OF
OFFICIAL WEBSITE Basic Standard A Member shall
publish all trade related legislation, procedures
and documents on a national official internet
site or sites. COMPLY Yes No
Partially Not applicable National
Priority High Medium Low
None __
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A.2 INTERNET PUBLICATION/ ESTABLISHMENT OF
OFFICIAL WEBSITE Basic Standard A Member shall
publish all trade related legislation, procedures
and documents on a national official internet
site or sites.
5. Determine priority last
2. Then determine status
COMPLY Yes No Partially
Not applicable National Priority High
Medium Low None .

3. Work across line by line
1. Complete this column first
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A.2 INTERNET PUBLICATION/ ESTABLISHMENT OF
OFFICIAL WEBSITE Basic Standard A Member shall
publish all trade related legislation, procedures
and documents on a national official internet
site or sites.
COMPLY Yes No Partially
Not applicable National Priority High
Medium Low None .

Remember this is a living document that you
will continue to use and improve so details are
important.
General Description provide background
information of your situation to assist your
negotiator and any other stakeholder that might
review the results. (by agency where
appropriate) Specific to the proposal
No need to complete the rest of chart if current
situation complies
Analyse how the basic standard is currently
implemented. Provide complete details. Provide
legislation
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Multiple Agencies
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A.2 INTERNET PUBLICATION/ ESTABLISHMENT OF
OFFICIAL WEBSITE Basic Standard A Member shall
publish all trade related legislation, procedures
and documents on a national official internet
site or sites.
2. Then determine status

COMPLY Yes No Partially X Not
applicable National Priority High
Medium Low None .
1. Publicly accessible Internet website E.G. -
Customs has a publicly accessible internet
website. www.customs.com Ministry of Trade
does not have a publicly internet website
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A.2 INTERNET PUBLICATION/ ESTABLISHMENT OF
OFFICIAL WEBSITE Basic Standard A Member shall
publish all trade related legislation, procedures
and documents on a national official internet
site or sites.
2. Then determine status

COMPLY Yes No Partially X Not
applicable National Priority High
Medium Low None .
1. Complete this column first
3. Work across line by line
1. Publicly accessible Internet website E.G. -
Customs has a publicly accessible internet
website. www.customs.com Ministry of Trade
does not have a publicly internet website
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A.2 INTERNET PUBLICATION/ ESTABLISHMENT OF
OFFICIAL WEBSITE Basic Standard A Member shall
publish all trade related legislation, procedures
and documents on a national official internet
site or sites.
COMPLY Yes No Partially
Not applicable National Priority High
Medium Low None .

1. Publicly accessible Internet website E.G. -
Customs has a publicly accessible internet
website. www.customs.com Ministry of Trade
does not have a publicly internet website
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A.2 INTERNET PUBLICATION/ ESTABLISHMENT OF
OFFICIAL WEBSITE Basic Standard A Member shall
publish all trade related legislation, procedures
and documents on a national official internet
site or sites.
COMPLY Yes No Partially
Not applicable National Priority High
Medium Low None .

• What can be done locally to overcome the barriers
• Be specific
• 1. awareness training for 100 officials in the
  Ministry of Trade
• 2. Set up an IT unit to regularly load and update
  information on internet site

• TA needed to overcome the barriers
• Be specific
• 2. Equipment (PCs, IT network) for IT unit at
  Ministry of Trade

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A.2 INTERNET PUBLICATION/ ESTABLISHMENT OF
OFFICIAL WEBSITE Basic Standard A Member shall
publish all trade related legislation, procedures
and documents on a national official internet
site or sites.
2. Then determine status
COMPLY Yes No Partially
Not applicable National Priority High
Medium Low None .

3. Work across line by line
1. Complete this column first
4
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A.2 INTERNET PUBLICATION/ ESTABLISHMENT OF
OFFICIAL WEBSITE Basic Standard A Member shall
publish all trade related legislation, procedures
and documents on a national official internet
site or sites.
COMPLY Yes No Partially
Not applicable National Priority High
Medium Low None .

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A.2 INTERNET PUBLICATION/ ESTABLISHMENT OF
OFFICIAL WEBSITE Basic Standard A Member shall
publish all trade related legislation, procedures
and documents on a national official internet
site or sites.
COMPLY Yes No Partially
Not applicable National Priority High
Medium Low None .

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A.2 INTERNET PUBLICATION/ ESTABLISHMENT OF
OFFICIAL WEBSITE Basic Standard A Member shall
publish all trade related legislation, procedures
and documents on a national official internet
site or sites.
5. Determine priority last
2. Then determine status
COMPLY Yes No Partially
Not applicable National Priority High X
Medium Low None .

3. Work across line by line
1. Complete this column first
4
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NEEDS ASSESSMENT PROCESS

• Working groups 8-10 people
• Each group
• Assesses part of the proposals
• Representatives of all agencies/private sector
• Facilitator spot
• Records findings on laptop
• Periodically provides work to secretary for
  compilation

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Role of the Facilitator

• Explain proposals
• Explain Guide
• Oversee process and provide feedback
• Sit with working groups but dont lead
• Keep on track
• Ensure all stakeholders consulted
• Draw out shy people

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CONFIDENTIAL RESULTS
The results are only for you and your
negotiators
Be detailed and honest
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Thank you