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More Countries Ratify WTO Trade Facilitation Agreement Wednesday, November 23, 2016 Sandler, Travis & Rosenberg Trade Report Chile and Swaziland recently became the 97th and 98th members of the World Trade Organization to ratify the WTO’s Trade Facilitation Agreement, the latest step toward the 109 (two-thirds of WTO membership) that must formally accept the TFA before it enters into force. Other notable WTO members that have already ratified the TFA include the U.S., Hong Kong, Japan, Australia, South Korea, Taiwan, China, the European Union, Turkey, Brazil, Russia and India. The TFA aims to standardize, streamline and accelerate customs processes around the world, thus helping to expedite the movement, release and clearance of goods. Specific disciplines in the TFA relate to the publication and availability of information, the opportunity to comment before entry into force of new and amended laws and regulations, advance rulings, procedures for appeal, non-discrimination and transparency, fees and charges, the release and clearance of goods, border agency cooperation, the movement of goods, import/export/transit formalities, freedom of transit and customs cooperation. The WTO has reported that full implementation of the TFA could reduce WTO members’ trade costs by an average of 14.3 percent, including 18 percent for manufactured goods and 10.4 percent for agricultural products. Goods exports could rise by up to $1 trillion per year, including $730 billion for developing economies alone, resulting in the creation of between 20 and 30 million new jobs. Perishable agricultural goods and intermediate manufactured goods are likely to see the biggest boost.
More Countries Ratify WTO Trade Facilitation Agreement
Wednesday, November 23, 2016 Sandler, Travis & Rosenberg Trade Report Chile and Swaziland recently became the 97th and 98th members of the World Trade Organization to ratify the WTO’s Trade Facilitation Agreement, the latest step toward the 109 (two-thirds of WTO membership) that must formally accept the TFA before it enters into force. Other notable WTO members that have already ratified the TFA include the U.S., Hong Kong, Japan, Australia, South Korea, Taiwan, China, the European Union, Turkey, Brazil, Russia and India.
The TFA aims to standardize, streamline and accelerate customs processes around the world, thus helping to expedite the movement, release and clearance of goods. Specific disciplines in the TFA relate to the publication and availability of information, the opportunity to comment before entry into force of new and amended laws and regulations, advance rulings, procedures for appeal, non-discrimination and transparency, fees and charges, the release and clearance of goods, border agency cooperation, the movement of goods, import/export/transit formalities, freedom of transit and customs cooperation.
The WTO has reported that full implementation of the TFA could reduce WTO members’ trade costs by an average of 14.3 percent, including 18 percent for manufactured goods and 10.4 percent for agricultural products. Goods exports could rise by up to $1 trillion per year, including $730 billion for developing economies alone, resulting in the creation of between 20 and 30 million new jobs. Perishable agricultural goods and intermediate manufactured goods are likely to see the biggest boost.