Module 3. WTO Trade Facilitation Agreement (TFA) and the WCO’s role in implementation of TFA. (17-19 June 2015, 3 days)
Facilitator: Changsheng Li
After the adoption of the Agreement on Trade Facilitation at the WTO Ninth Ministerial Conference in Bali 2013, the WTO Members finally came into a decision that all will endorse the Protocol of the Amendment to the WTO Agreement as soon as they can. Full implementation of the TFA will contribute to economic growth and recovery, improved revenue collection and alleviation of poverty.
The World Customs Organization (WCO), as one of the Annex D Organizations, has long supported the conclusion of a WTO Agreement. Furthermore, the Ministerial Decision highlights the role of the WCO in implementation and administration of the TFA. As Customs is the key implementing agency of the TFA, it is essential that the WCO and its 179 Members collectively ensure smooth and effective implementation of the TFA, which will come into force as soon as two thirds of WTO Members have ratified it.
As a strategic initiative for Trade Facilitation to assist Members implementing TFA, the WCO launched Mercator Programme at the Council Session in June 2014. The majority of the TFA contents deals with Customs-related topics. Furthermore, the WCO has developed instruments and tools on trade facilitation and compliance, including the WCO Economic Competitiveness Package, the Revised Kyoto Convention, the Single Window Compendium, the Data Model, Guidance on Authorized Economic Operator programmes, the Coordinated Border Management Compendium, Transit Handbook and the Time Release Study, and many others which can be utilized as a useful and efficient means to assist Members.
Courses within this Module are focused on TFA concepts, analysis, and the way to implement TFA by using WCO tools. It will also provide examples of national practices and assistance available to support Member administrations.
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Day 1 – Wednesday,
17 June 2015 |
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Time |
Programme |
Speaker |
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9:30 – 10:00 |
Opening Remarks |
Gaozhang Zhu, Director Compliance &
Facilitation |
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10:00 – 10:15 |
Overview of
the Programme |
Milena
Budimirovic, WCO Technical Officer, Trade Facilitation Sub-directorate |
|
10:15 – 11:00 |
WCO’s role
in implementing the TFA including WCO Mercator Programme |
Heike
Barczyk, Deputy Director, Trade Facilitation Sub-directorate |
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11:00 – 11:30 |
Coffee Break |
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11:30-12:30 |
Agreement on Trade Facilitation ( TFA) - Overview |
Changsheng li, Technical Attaché, Procedures & Facilitation Sub-Directorate, WCO |
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12:30-14:00 |
Lunch Break |
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14:00-14:30 |
WCO Working Group on the TFA |
Theo Hesselink,
Technical Officer, Procedures & Facilitation Sub-Directorate, WCO |
|
14:30-15:00 |
Analysis on
Section I - Overview |
Milena Budimirovic,
WCO Technical Officer, Trade Facilitation Sub-directorate |
|
15:00-15:30 |
Revised Kyoto
Convention |
Samson Bilangna,
Technical Officer, Procedures & Facilitation Sub-Directorate, WCO |
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15:30-16:00 |
Coffee Break |
|
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16:00-16:30 |
WCO’s Implementation
Guidance for TFA – quick user guide |
Mr. Toshihiko
Osawa Technical Officer, Procedures
& Facilitation Sub-Directorate, WCO |
|
16:30-17:00 |
Article
23.2: National Committee on Trade Facilitation -WCO
Survey |
Mrs.Hermie
George , Technical Attaché, Procedures
& Facilitation Sub-Directorate |
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17:00-17:30 |
Analysis on Section II - Overview |
Ms. Milena Budimirovic, Technical
Officer, Procedures & Facilitation Sub-Directorate, WCO |
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Day 2 – Thursday,
18 June 2015 |
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Time |
Programme |
Speaker |
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9:30-10:30 |
WTO’s Needs
Assessments and Notification of Commitments by Members |
Changsheng Li, Technical Attaché, Procedures & Facilitation
Sub-Directorate, WCO |
|
10:30-11:00 |
Donor support for trade facilitation |
tbc |
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11:00-11:30 |
Coffee Break |
|
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11:30-12:00 |
WCO’s Capacity Building |
Capacity Building Directorate, WCO |
|
12:00-12:30 |
Article 3 : Advance Rulings |
Mette
Azzam, Technical officer, Tariff and Trade Affairs Directorate, WCO |
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12:30-14:00 |
Lunch Break |
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14:00-15:00 |
Article 8 : Coordinated Border Management |
Theo Hesselink, Technical Officer, Procedures & Facilitation
Sub-Directorate, WCO |
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15:00-15:30 |
Article 11
: Transit -WCO
Transit Handbook |
Toshihiko
Osawa, WCO, Technical Officer, Procedures & Facilitation Sub-Directorate,
WCO |
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15:30-16:00 |
Coffee Break |
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16:00-16:30 |
Article 10.3 : Use of International Standards |
Mr. Donald Tan, Technical Attaché, Procedures & Facilitation Sub-directorate, WCO |
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16:30-17:30 |
Article 10.4 : Single Window |
Mr. Donald
Tan, Technical Attaché, Procedures
& Facilitation Sub-directorate, WCO |
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Day 3 – Friday,
19 June 2015 |
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Time |
Programme |
Speaker |
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9:30-10:15 |
Article 7.4 : Risk Management |
Oguz Onal, Technical officer
Compliance & Enforcement Sub-Directorate, WCO |
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10:15-11:00 |
Article 7.5 : Post Clearance Audit |
Ian
Cremer, Technical officer, Tariff and
Trade Affairs Directorate, WCO |
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11:00-11:30 |
Coffee Break |
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11:30-12:00 |
Article 10.5 : Pre-Shipment Inspection |
Ian
Cremer, Technical officer, Tariff and
Trade Affairs Directorate, WCO |
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12:00-12:30 |
Article 7.6 : Establishment and Publication of Average Release Time; -WCO Time Release Study |
Oluimo Da Silva, Technical Attaché, Procedures &
Facilitation Sub-Directorate |
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12:30-14:00 |
Lunch Break |
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14:00-14:30 |
Article 7.7 Trade Facilitation Measures for the Authorized Operators -WCO AEO Compendium |
Pashupati Nath
Pandey, Technical Officer, Procedures & Facilitation Sub-Directorate, WCO |
|
14:30-15:00 |
Article 2.
2 Consultations -Customs
and Business Partnership Guide |
Pashupati Nath Pandey, Technical Officer, Procedures &
Facilitation Sub-Directorate |
|
15:00-15:30 |
CEN, CENcomm and nCEN -information
sharing |
François Remue,
Technical Attaché, Compliance & Enforcement Sub-Directorate, WCO |
|
15:30-16:00 |
Coffee Break |
|
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16:00-16:30 |
Article 12: Customs Cooperation |
Pashupati
Nath Pandey, Technical Officer, Procedures & Facilitation Sub-Directorate |
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16:35-16:45 |
Closing remarks by WCO |
Heike
Barczyk, Deputy Director, Procedures & Facilitation Sub-Directorate |
