G/TFA/W /14 
14 June 2019  
(19-4140) Page: 1/3 
Committee on Trade Facilitation  Original: English  
 
  
RULES OF PROCEDURE O F THE COMMITTEE ON T RADE FACILITATION  
COMMUNICATION FROM  ARGENTINA , JAPAN , NORWAY AND PARAGUAY  
 
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Following up on the joint proposal submitted by Argentina and Norway on 28 June 2017 (G/TFA/W/ 2, 
subsequently co -sponsored by Japan in G/TFA/W/2/Add.1 ) and an addendum circulated on 24 
January 2019 (G/TFA/W/2/Add.2, subsequently co -sponsored by Paraguay in G/TFA/W/2/Add.3)  the 
proponents would like to share a revised version of the proposal  with the aim of reaching a  common  
understanding in the Trade Facilitation Committee on its Rules of Procedure,  thereby complying with 
the requirement set out in the last sentence of Article 23.1. 2 of the TFA, calling for the Committee 
to "establish its own rules of procedure".  
 
It reflects the outcome of constructive  consultations with Members that had taken place in response 
to views expressed on the earlier version of the document at the previous meeting of the Trade 
Facilitation Committee . In particular, the current draft includes some simplifications  and 
clarifications . These are:  
 
• A footnote explaining the non -application of Rule 5 of the General Council Rules of Procedure . 
• Keeping the original Rules 6 and 16 of the General Council Rules of Procedure . 
 
Acknowledging  the important consultations that have been conducted throughout the drafting of this 
document, the proponents would like to underline that the agreed text on Rule 11 remains 
unchanged.  
 
Thus, and keeping the original spirit of the proposal, Argentina, Nor way, Japan and Paraguay  suggest 
that the Rules of Procedure for meetings of the General Council (WT/L/161) be applied mutatis 
mutandis  to meetings of the C ommittee on Trade Facilitation , except as follows : 
 
Chapter I — Meetings  
 
(a) Rule 1 should be amended in line with paragraph 1.2 of Article 23 of the Agreement on Trade 
Facilitation  to provide  that: 
 
"The Committee shall meet as needed and envisaged by the provisions of the Agreement on 
Trade Facilitation, but no less than once a y ear." 
 
(b) The first sentence  of Rule 2 should be amended to read as follows : 
 
"Meetings of the Committee shall be convened by the Direc tor-General by a notice issued 
preferably three weeks, and in any event not less than ten calendar days, prior to the da te 
set for the meeting ." 
 G/TFA/W/14  
 
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  Chapter II — Agenda  
 
(c) Rule 5 should not be applied .1 
 
(d) Rule 6 should be amended so that both the representatives and the Chairperson  of the 
Committee can suggest  amendments to the ag enda or additions under "Other B usiness". Thus, the 
relevant sentence of Rule 6 should read as follows : 
 
"Representat ives or the Chairperson may suggest amendments to the proposed agenda, or 
additi ons to the agenda under 'Other B usiness'."  
 
(e) Rule 11 should be modified to read as follows:  
 
"Representatives of international intergovernmental organizations may attend the meetings 
as observers on the invitation of the Committee on Trade Facilitation in accordance with the 
guidelines in Annex 3 to the Rul es of the General Council.  
 
Furthermore, in accordance with Article 23:1:5 of the Agreement on Trade Facilitation, the 
Committee may invite representatives of other international organizations with competence 
in the field of trade facilitation or their sub sidiary bodies to:  
 
(a) attend meetings of the Committee; and  
 
(b) discuss specific matters related to the implementation of this Agreement. " 
 
 
Chapter V — Officers  
 
(f) Rules 12, 13 and 14 should be amended to authorize the Committee to elect a Vice -Chairperson. 
Accordingly, Rules 12, 13 and 14 should  read as follows:  
 
"Rule 12 . The Committee shall elect a Chairperson2 and may elect a Vice -Chairperson from 
among the representatives of Member s. The election shall take place at the first meeting of 
the year and shall take effect at the end of the meeting.  The Chairperson and Vice -Chairperson 
shall hold office until the end of the first meeting of the following year.  
 
Rule 13 . If the Chairperson  is absent from any meeting or part thereof, the Vice -Chairperson 
shall perform the functions of the Chairperson.  If no Vice -Chairperson was elected or if the 
Vice-Chairperson is not present, the Committee shall elect an interim Chairperson for that 
meetin g or that part of the meeting.  
 
Rule 14 . If the Chairperson can no longer perform the functions of the office, the Committee 
shall designate the Vice -Chairperson referred to in Rule 12 or, if no Vice -Chairperson was 
elected it shall elect an interim Chairperson to perform those functions pending the election 
of a new Chairperson."  
 
Chapter VI — Conduct of business  
 
(g) Rule 16 should not be applied.  
 
(h) The first sentence  of Rule  24 should be amended to read as  follows : 
 
"In order to expedite the conduct of business, the Chairperson may invite representatives that 
wish to express their support for a given proposal to show their hands, in order to be duly 
recorded in the records as supporting statements …. " 
 
 
                                                
1 Sufficient  preparation and circulation of the agenda is secured by the GC Rules of Procedure through 
Rules 2, 3 and 6.  
2 The Committee shall apply the relevant guidelines contained in the "Guidelines for Appointment of 
Officers to WTO Bodies" (WT/L/31 , dated 7 Febru ary 1995).  G/TFA/W/14  
 
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  Chapter VII — Decision -Making  
 
(i) Rule 33 should be amended to read as follows : 
 
"Where a decision cannot be arrived at by consensus, the matter at issue shall be referred to 
the Council for Trade in Goods ." 
 
(j) Rule 34 should not apply . 
 
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