G/TFA/N/RWA/4  
 
14 July 2021  
(21-5570) Page: 1/2 
Committee on Trade Facilitation  Original: English  
 
NOTIFICATION OF ARRANGEMENTS AND PROGRESS IN THE PROVISION OF TECHNICAL 
ASSISTANCE AND CAPACITY BUILDING SUPPORT OF CATEGORY C DESIGNATIONS  
COMMUNICATION FROM RWANDA  
The following communication, the first draft of which was received on 29 April,  is being circulated at 
the request of the delegation of Rwanda . 
 
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Rwanda  hereby notifies information on the arrangements concluded and progress made in the 
provision of technical assistance and capacity building suppo rt of the following category C 
designations, in response to Article 16 of the Trade Facilitation Agreement.  
 
Provision  Heading/Description  Category  Indicative date 
for 
implementation  
 Definitive date for 
implementation  
 
Article 1.3 Enquiry Points  C 31 August 2024  To be determined  
Donor s: TradeMark East Africa  (partial  support ) 
Progress in the provision of technical assistance and capacity building support:  
 
A One Stop Centre Enquiry Point has been established under the auspices of the National Trade Facilitation 
Committee (NTFC) and operates as a centralized body/secretariat that transmits requests, compiles replies and 
sends them back to the requesting parties, through the Trade Portal live chat or per email. The Trade Portal 
live chat is a poi nt of entry for enquiries on the homepage which go directly to the One Stop Centre Enquiry 
Point email.  
 
The coordination and communication mechanism of the One Stop Centre Enquiry Point were established 
together with Enquiry Points focal persons nominated  from private and public institutions involved in 
international trade. However, there is still a challenge for establishing a dedicated national enquiry point office. 
The office will  coordinate all the activities of the other enquiry points across the coun try and be responsible for 
all trade related notifications, including managing WTO notifications.  
 
Provision  Heading/Description  Category  Indicative date 
for 
implementation  
 Definitive date for 
implementation  
 
Article 3 Advance Rulings  C 31 August 2024 To be determined  
Donors: TradeMark East Africa (TMEA)  
Progress in the provision of technical assistance and capacity building support:  
 
The development of the Advance Ruling module was done through the Rwanda Electron ic Single Window 
(RESW)  in line with Arti cle 3 of WTO TFA (Advance Rulings) and the WCO Technical Guidelines on Advance 
Rulings for classification, Valuation and Origin.  
The module is  fully implemented in the RESW and  enhanced certainty and predictability of clearance process. 
Disputes on release or clearance with customs authority on tariff headings, valuation and origin, i.e eligibility 
to preferential tariff treatment will be reduced and delays minimised .  
 G/TFA/N/RWA/4  
 
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  Provision  Heading/Description  Category  Indicative date 
for 
implementation  
 Definitive date for 
implementation  
 
Article 5.3 Test Procedures  C 31 August 202 4 To be determined  
Donor s: To be determined  
Progress in the provision of technical assistance and capacity building support:  
 
To be determined  
 
Provision  Heading/Description  Category  Indicative date 
for 
implementation  
 Definitive date for 
implementation  
 
Article 7.4.3  Risk Management  C 31 August 202 4 To be determined  
Donor s: To be determined  
Progress in the provision of technical assistance and capacity building support:  
 
A Joint Risk Management Committee composed of key stakeholders involved in risk management for clearance 
of goods has been established and operationalized with clear Terms of Reference (ToRs ). Training needs have 
been identified, a workplan developed and the committee is developing a Risk Register.  
 
Provision  Heading/Description  Category  Indicative date 
for 
implementation  
 Definitive date for 
implementation  
 
Article 8  Border Agency 
Cooperation  C 31 August 202 4 To be determined  
Donor s: To be determined  
Progress in the provision of technical assistance and capacity building support:  
 
To be determined  
 
Provision  Heading/Description  Category  Indicative date 
for 
implementation  
 Definitive date for 
implementation  
 
Article 10.6  Use of Customs 
Brokers  C 31 August 2024  To be determined  
Donor s: To be determined  
Progress in the provision of technical assistance and capacity building support:  
 
To be determined  
 
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