G/TFA/W/46  
 
21 June 2021  
(21-5063) Page: 1/2 
Committee on Trade Facilitation  Original: English  
 
 
PROPOSAL TO FOLLOW UP ACTUAL STATUS OF IMPLEMENTATION OF THE WTO 
AGREEMENT ON TRADE FACILITATION AS PART OF ITS FOUR -YEAR REVIEW  
COMMUNICATION FROM JAPAN  
The following communication, dated 18 June 2021, is being circulated at the request of the 
delegation of Japan.  
 
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1  BACKGROUND  
1.1.  The WTO Trade Facilitation Agreement (TFA) is expected to reduce trade costs in terms of 
either money or time for border procedures. According to the 2015 World Trade Report, developing 
countries where trade costs remained relatively high were considered to best benefit from swift and 
full implementation of the TFA. In this regard, Japan has actively provided technical assistance 
especially on customs matters for developing and least develope d country Members to help them to 
gain such benefits. The information on Japan's assistance and support for capacity building 
conducted in 2019 can be found in its relevant notification (G/TFA/N/JPN/6).  
1.2.  Japan believes that this year's Review of the TFA is providing a good opportunity to further 
facilitate its implementation. In regard to the progress towards full implementation of the TFA to 
date, Japan appreciates the efforts made by Members to notify the WTO Committee on Trade 
Facilitation of categories a nd indicative/definitive dates regarding provisions in Section I of the TFA. 
Japan welcomes the fact that the factual report prepared by the WTO Secretariat (G/TFA/W/41) 
indicates that most Members submitted their notifications by the respective deadlines,  most of which 
fall within the period of four years after entry into force of the TFA.  
1.3.  Based on the notified definitive dates, many Members now seem to be at the stage of 
implementation of the provisions in Section I. Thus, Japan considers it of great impo rtance to 
establish a mechanism to follow -up on how the provisions are actually implemented by Members so 
that the Committee can properly address any problems that may arise during the implementation 
of the TFA. Japan hopes that the following proposal coul d contribute to the discussion on follow -up 
methods.  
2  PROPOSAL  
2.1.  Japan would like to propose the following two ideas for consideration in the Committee during 
the Review.  
2.2.  First, in order to provide support for Members to better manage their implementation plans, 
Japan proposes that the Committee review the effectiveness of the list of definitive dates prepared 
by the WTO secretariat (G/TFA/INF/1) on a regular basis (e.g. once a year). The list aims to remind 
Members of their own definitive da tes so that those Members who face difficulties in implementing 
category B or C provisions can take appropriate actions as stipulated in Articles 17, 18 and 19 of the 
TFA. It is expected that the Committee could improve the list and the methods for circula ting the 
list by reflecting feedback from Members in order for the list to further contribute to this purpose. 
Japan believes this would promote better self -management by Members of their own implementation 
status.  G/TFA/W/46  
 
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  2.3.  Second, Japan proposes that the Committee  decide to make the following recommended 
practice for Members who have successfully implemented category B or C provisions. That is, to 
submit subsequent follow -up notifications to confirm their actual implementation dates as seen in 
some Members' notific ations, or to share their implementation experiences with the Committee while 
explicitly mentioning the provision they implemented, the notified definitive date and the actual 
implementation date. It should be noted that in contrast to category C provision s, the 
implementation of category B provisions is handled by a notifying Member itself and it is difficult for 
other Members to know whether category B provisions have been implemented properly within a 
notified timeframe. Therefore, the Committee should e ncourage those Members who have 
successfully implemented category B provisions in particular to take the actions above, including 
submission of subsequent notification.  
2.4.  Japan expects that these can be effective ways to enhance transparency and contribute t o 
better follow -up on actual implementation status of the TFA.  
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