G/TFA/N/ECU/1/Add.2  
21 January  2021 
(21-0636) Page: 1/8 
Committee on Trade Facilitation  Original:  Spanish  
 
  
NOTIFICATION OF CATEGORY COMMITMENTS UNDER  
THE AGREEMENT ON TRADE FACILITATION  
COMMUNICATION FROM ECUADOR  
Addendum  
The following communication, dated 1 5 January 2 021, is being circulated at the request of the 
delegation of Ecuador for Members' information.  
 
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Following up on the notification dated 2 6 September 2 019 (G/TFA/N/ECU/Add.1), Ecuador hereby 
notifies that the following provision has changed category in accordance with Article  19 of the 
Trade  Facilitation Agreeme nt (WT/L/931).  
 
Provision  Heading/Description  Category previously 
notified  Current category  
Article 11.7 -11.15  Freedom of Transit  C B 
 
For ease of reference, Ecuador's full list of category commitments is summarized in the table 
attached hereto.  
   
  G/TFA/N/ECU/1/Add.2  
- 2 - 
 
Provision  Heading/Description  Category  Indicative date  for 
implementation  
(for categories  
B and C)  Definitive date  for 
implementation 
(for categories  
B and C)  Assistance and Support for Capacity 
Building Required for Implementation  
(for category C)  
Article 1  Publication and Availability of Information  
Article 1.1  Publication  B 15 January 2 021 15 January 2 021 - 
Article 1.2  Information Available Through Internet  B 15 January 2 020 15 January 2 020 - 
Article 1.3  Enquiry Points  B 15 January 2 020 15 January 2 020 - 
Article 1.4  Notification  B 15 January 2 020 15 January 2 020 - 
Article 2  Opportunity to Comment, Information before Entry into Force and Consultations  
Article 2.1  Opportunity to Comment and Information before 
Entry into Force  A - - - 
Article 2.2  Consultations  C 15 January 2 022 15 January 2 022 Cooperation to establish an online 
consultation system allowing for 
interaction between government bodies 
and users . This system should collect 
and record comments made by natural 
and legal persons regarding regulations, 
legislation and other provisions is sued 
by the various bodies.  
Article 3  Advance Rulings  
 B1 15 January 2 020 15 January 2 020 - 
Article 4  Procedures for Appeal or Review  
 A - - - 
Article 5  Other Measures to Enhance Impartiality, Non -Discrimination and Transparency  
Article 5.1  Notifications for Enhanced Controls or Inspections  B 15 January 2 021 15 January 2 021 - 
Article 5.2  Detention  B 15 January 2 020 15 January 2 020 - 
Article 5.3  Test Procedures  C 15 January 2 024 15 January 2 024 Cooperation to strengthen diagnostic 
laboratories in the areas of plant health, 
animal health and food safety . This 
contribution will focus on establishing 
adequate infrastructure  in terms of 
appropriate control points for inspection 
and quarantine, laboratory equipment, 
and reagents, etc.  Staff training is 
required on new analytical 
methodologies. Cooperation is also 
required to help organize workshops on 
the following subjects:  
• Establishing methods to ensure the 
quality of activities carried out in 
customs laboratories.  
 
1 With regard to the origin of goods, advance rulings refer to documentary verification of compliance with rules of origin.    
  G/TFA/N/ECU/1/Add.2  
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Provision  Heading/Description  Category  Indicative date  for 
implementation  
(for categories  
B and C)  Definitive date  for 
implementation 
(for categories  
B and C)  Assistance and Support for Capacity 
Building Required for Implementation  
(for category C)  
• Optimizing the proces s for meeting the 
necessary requirements for compliance 
with ISO standards.  
• Evaluation, verification and control of 
laboratory conditions and the methods 
used.  
To this end, it is suggested that trainers 
have experience of the following:  
• Preparation of a laboratory 
management model; instructions and 
procedures; equipment maintenance 
and calibration plans; and analytical 
instruments.  
• Implementation of quality systems in 
customs laboratories.  
• Implementation and use of 
methodologies.  
• Physico -chemical analysis of samples 
of goods for tariff classification 
purposes.  
Safety measures to protect facilities, 
equipment and instruments assigned to 
the division.  
Article 6  Disciplines on Fees and Charges Imposed on or in Connection with Importation and Exportation and Penalties  
Article 6.1  General Disciplines on Fees and Charges Imposed 
on or in Connection with Importation and 
Exportation  B 15 January 2 020 15 January 2 020 - 
Article 6.2  Specific Disciplines on Fees and Charges for 
Customs Processing Imposed on or in Connection 
with Importation and Exportation  B 15 January 2 020 15 January 2 020 - 
Article 6.3  Penalty Disciplines  B 15 January 2 020 15 January 2 020 - 
Article 7  Release and Clearance of Goods  
Article 7.1  Pre-arrival Processing  A - - - 
Article 7.2  Electronic Payment  B 15 January 2 020 15 January 2 020 - 
Article 7.3  Separation of Release from Final Determination of 
Customs Duties, Taxes, Fees and Charges  B 15 January 2 020 15 January 2 020 - 
Article 7.4  Risk Management  C 15 January 2 022 15 January 2 022 Cooperation for training and technical 
assistance with a view to implementing 
systems for the exchange of information 
between countries on levels of risk .   
  G/TFA/N/ECU/1/Add.2  
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Provision  Heading/Description  Category  Indicative date  for 
implementation  
(for categories  
B and C)  Definitive date  for 
implementation 
(for categories  
B and C)  Assistance and Support for Capacity 
Building Required for Implementation  
(for category C)  
Better practices and new procedures are 
needed to deal with high - and low -risk 
goods.   
A risk management assessment is 
required, which takes into account all 
the parameters of the bodies involved in 
trade in goods.  
Cooperation is also requested to ensure 
the exchange of information (creation of 
statistica l models, forecasts and better 
risk management practices) between 
other customs offices and control bodies.  
Article 7.5  Post-clearance Audit  C 15 January 2 022 15 January 2 021 Cooperation for training and technical 
assistance with a view to creating 
statistical models and improving 
methodology for the assignment of post -
control audits, non -participatory reviews 
and implementation.  
Article 7.6  Establishment and Publication of Average Release 
Times  A - - -   
  G/TFA/N/ECU/1/Add.2  
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Provision  Heading/Description  Category  Indicative date  for 
implementation  
(for categories  
B and C)  Definitive date  for 
implementation 
(for categories  
B and C)  Assistance and Support for Capacity 
Building Required for Implementation  
(for category C)  
Article 7.7  Trade Facilitation Measures for Authorized 
Operators  C 15 January 2 022 15 January 2 022 1. Technical assistance to establish a 
road map before introducing new 
links into the programme.  
2. Technical assistance to devise 
strategies to establish mutual 
recognition agreeme nts between 
SENAE and other customs 
administrations with regard to AEO 
programmes.  
3.  Technical assistance and funding to 
develop the connectivity of the 
SENAE customs computer system 
and the systems of other customs 
administrations for the purposes of 
information exchange, risk 
management and the mutual 
recognition of AEO programmes.  
4. Funding to systematize the process 
for applying for, renewing and 
revalidating AEO status.  
5. Funding to participate in the 
validation or revalidation (in situ) of 
applicant companies in other 
countries, with a view to 
incorporating new international 
practices into the Ecuador AEO 
programme.  
6. Funding for internships relating to 
the implementation of  the AEO 
programme, and training on issues 
linked to international logistics chain 
security.  
7. Funding to allow for participation in 
conferences, seminars and/or 
national and international fairs 
relating to the AEO programme.  
Article 7.8  Expedited Shipments  B 15 January 2 022 15 January 2 022 - 
Article 7.9  Perishable Goods  B 15 January 2 024 15 January 2 024 - 
Article 8  Border Agency Cooperation  
  C 15 January 2 024 15 January 2 024 Cooperation for the creation of a single 
digital platform that provides border   
  G/TFA/N/ECU/1/Add.2  
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Provision  Heading/Description  Category  Indicative date  for 
implementation  
(for categories  
B and C)  Definitive date  for 
implementation 
(for categories  
B and C)  Assistance and Support for Capacity 
Building Required for Implementation  
(for category C)  
agencies with access to information on 
trade operation requirements and 
audits . Equipment is needed for 
buildings housing Bi -National Border 
Service Centres (CEBAF) on trunk roa d 
No. 3 from Macará to La Tina (Ecuador - 
Peru) . These centres are expected to 
provide around 120 jobs for the two 
countries and will facilitate trade . 
Cooperation for the hiring of professional 
chemists to work 24 hours a day, seven 
days a week in substan ce-control 
activities at the border crossings of 
Rumichaca, San Miguel, Huaquillas and 
Macará, and at ports and airports 
(Guayaquil and Quito) . Standards are 
required for these substances for 
quantitative and qualitative analysis 
purposes (approved prelimi nary 
identification tests - PIPH) . Technology 
and infrastructure are also required for 
diagnosis with a view to quarantine 
treatments ; incinerator facilities are 
required, as well as quarantine areas 
and border point transport facilities .  
Cooperation to p rovide laboratories with 
Raman technology, infrared, and mass 
gas chromatography equipment, digital 
potentiometers, refractometers and 
dosimeters, etc.  Ongoing training is also 
needed for border control staff, with an 
emphasis on the sharing of experiences  
with other countries in the region; issues 
covered should include container control, 
new psychoactive substances, synthetic 
drugs, new camouflage techniques, and 
new chemical analysis techniques, 
amongst others.  In order to ensure and 
protect the integrit y of the country, 
electronic security systems are required,   
  G/TFA/N/ECU/1/Add.2  
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Provision  Heading/Description  Category  Indicative date  for 
implementation  
(for categories  
B and C)  Definitive date  for 
implementation 
(for categories  
B and C)  Assistance and Support for Capacity 
Building Required for Implementation  
(for category C)  
such as perimeter fences, cameras, 
sensors, scanners for persons and 
vehicles, etc.  In addition, personal 
protective equipment is required for the 
handling of controlled drugs  
Article 9  Movement of Goods Intended for Import under Customs Control  
 A - - - 
Article 10  Formalities Connected with Importation, Exportation and Transit  
Article 10.1  Formalities and Documentation Requirements  B 15 January 2 022 15 January 2 022 - 
Article 10.2  Acceptance of Copies  B 15 January 2 022 15 January 2 022 - 
Article 10.3  Use of International Standards  A - - - 
Article 10.4  Single Window  C 15 January 2 023 15 January 2 023 Cooperation for an electronic automated 
registration system that covers all 
entities responsible for issuing 
resolutions, permits, certificates, 
automatic and non -automatic licences, 
and accompanying documents 
(preshipment) and supporting 
documents that are required for 
importing and exporting.  
Cooperation for streamlining the 
incorporation into the Single Window of 
new control measures involving 
certificates and other documents that are 
required for the shipment of imports and 
exports.  
Acquisition of technological components 
and restructuring of the internal systems 
of entities is suing control documents 
that are not linked to Ecuador's single 
window.  
Article 10.5  Preshipment Inspection  A    
Article 10.6  Use of Customs Brokers  A - - - 
Article 10.7  Common Border Procedures and Uniform 
Documentation Requirements  A - - - 
Article 10.8  Rejected Goods  A - - - 
Article 10.9  Temporary Admission of Goods and Inward and 
Outward Processing  A - - -   
  G/TFA/N/ECU/1/Add.2  
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Provision  Heading/Description  Category  Indicative date  for 
implementation  
(for categories  
B and C)  Definitive date  for 
implementation 
(for categories  
B and C)  Assistance and Support for Capacity 
Building Required for Implementation  
(for category C)  
Article 11  Freedom of Transit  
 Article 11.1 -11.6  A - - - 
 Article 11.7 -11.15   B 15 January 2 021 15 January 2 021 - 
 Article 11.16 -11.17   A - - - 
Article 12  Customs Cooperation  
 B 15 January 2 020 15 January 2 020 - 
 
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