INF/ECOM/27/Rev.1/Add.1  
 
7 October  2019 
(19-6470) Page: 1/4 
  Original: English  
 
JOINT STATEMENT ON ELECTRONIC  COMMERCE  
COMMUNICATION FROM BRAZIL  
Addendum  
The following communication, dated 4 October  2019, is being circulated at the request of the 
delegation of  Brazil . 
 
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Brazil presents this communication as an addendum to document INF/ECOM/27/Rev.1 with further 
text-based proposals on aspects related to digital trade facilitation. Suggestions are not exhaustive 
and may be further revised, without prejudice to contributions or positions that B razil may submit 
at a later stage.  
DIGITAL TRADE FACILI TATION  
Article 1. Electronic trade administration documents  
1.1. Use of electronic trade administration documents  
1.1.1. Each member shall, whenever feasible, issue and accept electronic trade administ ration 
documents.  
1.1.2. Whenever there is a viable electronic or digital version or copy of a paper trade administration 
document, Members shall, to the extent possible, accept it as a legal equivalent of the paper version.  
1.2. Use of international standards for electronic trade administration documents  
1.2.1. Members shall endeavor to adopt relevant international standards, whenever available, for 
issuing, accepting and exchanging electronic trade administration documents, inter alia:  
a. Electronic phytosanitary certificate (e -Phyto), as defined in the International Standard for 
Phytosanitary Measures 12 of the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations;  
b. Electronic CITES permit (eCITES), for the implementation of the Conventio n on 
International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora;  
c. International Air Transport Association (IATA) Electronic Air Waybill (e -AWB) and Cargo 
XML; 
d. United Nations Centre for Trade Facilitation and Electronic Business (UN/CEFACT) Data 
Interchange for Administration, Commerce and Transport (UN/EDIFACT), Electronic SPS 
Certificate (eCERT).  
1.2.2. Members are encouraged to, whenever practical, employ the WCO Unique Consignment 
Reference for the identification of consignments in trade administra tion documents.  INF/ECOM/27/Rev.1/Add.1  
 
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  Article 2. Single  window’s data exchange and system interoperability  
2.1. Data exchange solutions  
2.1.1. Members shall provide, on their national foreign trade single window systems, to the extent 
practicable, electronic interfaces for the exchange of data, including electronic trade administration 
documents, with traders, international trade logistic service providers, governmental agencies and 
other relevant stakeholders.  
2.1.2. The electronic interface referred on paragraph 2.1.1 shall, a t the minimum, provide for the 
exchange of data relevant for custom’s clearance.  
2.1.3. Whenever possible, the electronic interface shall allow the submission of data in advance in 
order to begin processing information prior to the arrival of goods with a view to expediting the 
release of goods upon arrival.  
2.2. Single window internal interoperability  
2.2.1. Members shall endeavor to establish arrangements by which authorized private entities, such 
as port community systems, logistic service providers and e-commerce platforms, may exchange 
data with the single window system in lieu of traders and other trade stakeholders under an 
agreement to use this private solution.  
2.2.2. The arrangements referred on paragraph 2.2.1 shall, whenever possible, favor priva te 
solutions designed to provide international trade services to small and medium enterprises.    
2.3. Interoperability between national single windows  
2.3.1. Members are encouraged to develop interoperability solutions for their single window systems 
to exchange data, including electronic trade administration documents, with the single windows of 
other Members with the purpose of expediting the clearance and release of goods and implementing 
cooperation arrangements between Customs and between other borde r agencies.  
2.4. Guidelines for data exchange and interoperability  
2.4.1. Members shall endeavor to adopt the WCO Data Model or other compatible relevant 
international standard for the exchange of information with their single windows.  
2.4.2. Members shall determine what data should be exchanged with their single windows . 
2.4.3. The interoperability and data exchange solutions shall, to the extent possible, employ 
technologies, such as blockchain, that ensure the compliance with all international and internal legal 
requirements related to the protection and confidentialit y of the exchanged information.  
2.4.4. Members shall determine the operational conditions for the exchange of information between 
their single windows and other systems.  
2.5. Whenever a national single window is not available or not integrated with Customs  or other 
relevant governmental agencies, this article applies to customs management systems or other 
relevant governmental electronic systems used for processing trade.  INF/ECOM/27/Rev.1/Add.1  
 
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  Article 3. Electronic  availability of trade related information  
3.1. Members are encouraged to maintain a publicly accessible official website containing information 
regarding:  
a. the items (a) to (j) of the article 1.1 of the Agreement on Trade Facilitation;  
b. electronic trade adm inistration documents accepted or issued by the Member;  
c. instructions for the submission of electronic trade administration documents;  
d. requirements for system interoperability with the national single window, when available;  
3.2 Members shall endeavor to pr ovide, to the extent possible and practicable, on an official website 
a database that is electronically searchable by tariff nomenclature code and other relevant 
information, and that includes the following information with respect to access to its market:  
a. rates of most -favored nation (MFN);  
b. preferential customs duties and quotas;  
c. rules of origin;  
d. customs or other fees at the border;  
e. excise duties;  
f. taxes (value added tax / sales tax);  
g. other tariff measures;  
h. deferral, or other types of relief that reduce, re fund, or waive customs duties;  
i. criteria used to determine the customs value of the good;  
j. if applicable, country of origin marking requirements, including placement and method of 
marking;  
k. information needed for import procedures;  
l. information related to non-tariff measures or regulations.  
Article 4. Use of technology  for the release and clearance of goods  
4.1. Use of embedded technology  
4.1.1. Members are encouraged to use, whenever possible, available data provided by information 
technology systems or sensors embedded on vehicles, shipping containers, packing materials or 
others to:  
a. perform risk analysis for customs and other border controls;  
b. expedite the release of goods.  
4.1.2. Members are encouraged to cooperate with the private sector to use data provided by 
embedded technology to expedite the processing of trade operations.  INF/ECOM/27/Rev.1/Add.1  
 
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  4.2. Risk management technologies  
4.2.1. Members shall, to the extent possible and practicable, apply data analytics methodologies 
within their risk management systems  for customs control.  
4.2.2. Members customs administration risk management systems shall endeavor to provide for the 
regular updating of risk profiles, taking into consideration the dynamics of trade operations and the 
results of previous customs control  activities.  
4.2.3. Members shall endeavor to employ machine learning and other artificial intelligence 
technologies to improve the efficiency of their customs administration risk management systems.  
4.2.4. Members shall endeavor to apply the measures prov ided in this article in risk management 
systems for trade related controls performed by other governmental agencies, such as those in 
charge of sanitary, phytosanitary and quality and technical regulation conformity controls.  
4.3. Non -intrusive and remote inspections  
4.3.1. When physical inspections of cargos are deemed necessary by customs or other governmental 
agencies, Members shall, whenever practicable, employ non -intrusive or remote technologies in 
order to avoid damages and expedite the release of go ods. 
4.3.2. Members shall preferably use, to the extent possible, non -intrusive technologies for 
processing expedite shipments and other small consignments.  
4.3.3. Nothing in paragraphs 4.3. 1 and 4.3.2 shall affect the right of a Member to use traditional  
physical inspections when non -intrusive technologies are impracticable or ineffective.  
4.3.4. Members are encouraged to cooperate with private sector stakeholders, such as authorized 
economic operators and customs warehouses, on the use of non -intrusive or remote technologies 
cargo inspections performed by customs or other governmental agencies.  
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