WTO Trade Facilitation Self Assessment of Needs

WTO Trade Facilitation Self Assessment of Needs – Bangladesh Needs for Implementing of WTO Trade Facilitation Agreement 21 July, 2008

Needs assessment Steps n n n n n Current Situation relative to basic standard Barriers to meet basic standard Actions needed Local Remedy/Action TA required Lead agency and stakeholders Priority of the identified TA/CB needs Stakeholders consulted Comments

contd. . MEASURES ALREADY COMPLIED Include the followingsn n n D. 1 Right Of Appeal E. 2 Detention Of Goods G. 1. (a) Periodic review of formalities and requirement G. 1. (g) Use Of Customs brokers H. 1 Consular Transaction Fees Requirement

MEASURES ALREADY COMPLIED n n n I. 1. Coordination of activities of border agencies J. 1 (e) Separating release from clearance procedure K. 1 Objective Criteria For Tariff Classification

CONTD. . PARTIALLY COMPLIANT Include the followingsn n A. 1 Publication and Notification of Trade Regulations And of Penalty Provisions A. 2 Internet Publication/Official website B. 1. Interval between publication and entry into force B. 2 Prior consultation and commenting on new and amended rules

PARTIALLY COMPLIANT n n n Continued B. 3 Regular consultation with traders E. 1 Import Alerts/Rapid Alerts E. 3 Test Procedure F. 1 Fees and Charges imposed in connection with importation /exportation G. 1 (b) Reduction/Limitation of formalities and documentation requirement G. 1. (c) Use of international standards

PARTIALLY COMPLIANT n n J. 1. (a) Pre arrival processing J. 1 (b) Expeditious shipments J. 1. (c) Risk management/Analysis, Authorized traders J. 1. (d) Post Clearance Audit

contd… NON COMPLIANT Include the followingsn n n A. 3 Establishment Of Enquiry Points/ information Centers A. 4 Notification of Trade Regulation C. 1 Advance Ruling G. 1. (d) Acceptance of commercially available copies G. 1. (e) Single Window/One time submission

NON COMPLIANT Include the followingsn n G. 1. (f) Elimination of Pre-shipment Inspection G. 1. (j) Option to return rejected goods to importer J. 1. (f) Establishment and publication of average release and clearance time M. Multilateral Mechanism for the exchange and handling of information

OVERALL RESULTS of the NEED ASSESMENT for TF • 64 proposed measures were considered in Oct 07 • 48 updated measures were considered in July 2008 Workshop. Preparedness- 4 Already Compliant with 8 (17%) 4 Partially compliant with 14 (29%) 4 Not compliant with 9 (19%) 4 Issues not included with 17 (35%)– i. e. All transit & customs union provisions

CONTD………. . Top Priorities for BANGLADESH n n INTERNET PUBLICATION/OFFICIAL WEBSITE ESTABLISHMENT OF ENQUIRY POINTS / INFORMATION CENTERS USE OF INFORMATION TECNOLOGY AND AUTOMATED SYSTEM FOR IMPORT EXPORT PROCEDURE IN ALL CUSTOMS STATIONS CREAT VALUATION DATABASE AND HARDWARE & SOFTWARE FACILITIES TO ELIMINATE PSI SYSTEM

Top Priorities for Bangladesh n n n PHYSICAL FACILITIES LIKE WEIGHBRIDGES, CONTAINER SCANNERS FOR MAJOR SEA PORTS , AIR PORTS PHYSICAL FACILITIES LIKE WAREHOUSES, WEIGHBRIDGES, SCALES, OFFICE FACILITIES, BUILDINGS AT LAND PORTS POST CLEARANANCE AUDIT, RISK MANAGEMENT SYSTEM, FACILITIES FOR SINGLE WINDOWS/ ONE STOP SUBMISSION, ADVANCE RULING FACILITIES FOR EXPEDITIOUS CARGO OTER MEASURES TO SIMPLIFY AND TO EXPEDITE CUSTOM RELEASE

Barriers n Funding • Fund constraint • Lack of commitment for allocation and utilization of budget n Infrastructure • Infrastructure in customs station, including land customs station, weigh bridges, scanning, warehouses and other port facilities • Lack of full automation in all customs stations (software, hardware, networking) • National website with interlinking other trade related agencies • Multi-agencies central testing laboratory • Road/Railway communication, Bridges • Power generation

Barriers n Continued Legislation and policy matters • • Awareness and consensus Active participation and feed back from stakeholders Review and monitoring mechanism Legislative barriers related to interpretation, enforcement and updating • Coordination among concerned agencies n Human Resources • • Lack of skilled/expert/technical manpower Lack of capacity building program Lack of administrative setup and expertise Insufficient IT related equipments Limited availability of proper information Lack of planning and utilization of human resources Lack of knowledge and experience on international standard

Technical Assistance and Capacity Building support contd… 1 Development of physical infrastructure and port facilities at sea custom stations including air and land custom stations (warehouses, weighing bridge, container scanners etc) 2 Development of Automation and ICT infrastructure (hardware, software, networking) at all custom station 3. Establishing multi-agency testing laboratories (international standard) at major custom stations 4. Development of Valuation data base with necessary hardware to eliminate PSI 5. Assistance in using international standards clearance procedure

Technical Assistance and Capacity building support 6. Assistance in facilitating single window, authorized trader, pre arrival processing in international standards 7. Development of human resources on PCA, Risk Management, Port management, ICT, Valuation, Advance ruling, other WCO programmes and standards, H. S. Classification, UCP, Freightforwarders etc through training 8. Web development, internet publication, hyperlinks with trade bodies 9. Construction of Road, Railways and bridges and Other physical facilities so far transit and easy transportation of goods is concern

WAY FORWARD and RECOMMENDATIONS contd. . 1. 2. 3. 4. 5. 6. 7. National TF working group to make more effective Take part in negotiation to be held on 3 rd generation proposals Flexibilities granted to LDCs be retained in future negotiations and no specific time frame for LDCs. Standards to be implemented subject to adequate and sufficient Technical Assistance and Capacity Building support Adequate TACB to be ensured Involve capital based experts both from public and private sector in Geneva negotiations Intensive survey on need assessments, Determination of Priorities, Implementation plan to be done with technical assistance

Way Forwarded and Recommendation 8. WCO Columbus program for Need Assessment for Customs Capacity Building can be consulted during next WTO/Donor Need Assessment 9. Donors to come forward to TA and CB supports 10. Coordination among trade related agencies and other stakeholders in capital followed by Ministry of Commerce 11. Geneva delegates to work as a link between WTO and capital 12. Recommendations of the needs assessments exercise to be shared in TF taskforce