G/TFA/N/ATG/1  
 
23 August 2019  
(19-5429) Page: 1/8 
Committee on Trade Facilitation  Original: English  
 
 
NOTIFICATION OF CATE GORY COMMITMENTS  UNDER  
THE AGREEMENT ON TRA DE FACILITATION  
COMMUNICATION FROM ANTIGUA AND BARBUDA  
The following communica tion, dated  21 August 2019 , is being circulated at th e request of the 
delegation of  Antigua and Barbuda for Members' informa tion. 
 
_______________  
 
 
Following up from the notification dated 8 June 2015 (WT/PCTF/N/ATG/1), Antigua and Barbuda 
hereby makes the following notifications in accordance with Articles 15 and 16 of the Trade 
Facilit ation Agreement (WT/L/931).  
 
  
  G/TFA/N/ATG/1  
 
- 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  C 31 December 2025  1 January 2035  Legal expertise to update/draft relevant 
legislation  
• Assistance to formulate written policy 
between government departments that 
regulates the publication of information  
• Technical assistance to translate information 
into other WTO languages as well as 
Mandarin, as appropriate  
• Training of human resource in the relevant 
ministries and departments inclusive of the 
Ministry of Information  
• Develop a sustainable platform to address 
security concerns  
• Assistance to publish information in a timely 
manner; to be user friendly etc. rulings on 
the classification or valuation of products for 
customs purposes  
• Assistance to review Agreements or parts 
thereof with any country or countries 
relating to importation and exportation or 
transit  
• Develop administrative procedur es relating 
to the imposition on tariff quotas to be made 
readily available  
• Develop a strategic approach to the 
publication of trade related information to 
allow for access in an easy and reliable 
manner – Legislations (tariffs, fees, import 
and export pro cedure)  
• Coordinate an approach to disseminate 
information between relevant agencies in a 
timely manner  
Article 1.2  Information Available through Internet  C 31 December 2030  1 January 2035  • Legal expertise to develop legislations  
• Develop a comprehensive information 
technology (I T) strategy system  
• Technical assistance related to ITC hardware 
and software setting  
• Training of staff and additional human 
resource is required  to deal with the task of 
the issue of monitoring laws online   
  G/TFA/N/ATG/1  
 
- 3 - 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)  
• Assistance to create/update an information 
management system  
• Implement web -publication policy and 
guidelines  
• Assistance to develop security and 
protection of domain  
• Develop mechanism to determine funding 
for continuous hosting o f website  
Article 1.3  Enquiry Points C 31 December 2030  1 January 2035  • Establish a central enquiry  point 
• Designate satellite departments to act as 
representative disciplines such as: Ministry 
of Foreign Affairs, Bureau of Standards, 
Ministry of Trade, Ministry of Agriculture, 
Plant Protection Unit, Ministry of Health  
• Establish a sustainable network to receive 
and disseminate information  
• Develop a coordinated approach to handle 
enquir ies in a timely manner  
• Training of human resource to monitor and 
disseminate information to other 
government agencies  
• Financial assistance and technical advice for 
certain government agencies and 
departments with limited financial and 
human resources  
Article 1.4  Notification  B 1 January 2022  1 January 20 25 - 
Article 2  Opportunity  to Comment, Information before Entry into Force and Consultations   
Article 2.1  Opportunity to Comment and Information 
Before Entry into Force  B 1 January 2022  1 January 2025  - 
Article 2.2  Consultations  C 31 December 2025  1 January 2030  • Develop relevant Legal and Administrative 
document that deals with policy on 
consultation and procedures  
• Assistance to establish a formalised 
mechanism to facilitate consultations on a 
regular basis which involves ; 
1. Inviting the private sector into the NTFC  
2. Conduct ing surveys to collect information 
on trade -related procedures and sharing 
findings with the public and 
consultations; and   
  G/TFA/N/ATG/1  
 
- 4 - 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)  
3. Collaboration with the technicians as well 
as the legal team from different 
ministries.  
Article 3  Advance Rulings  
 C 31 December 2035  1 January 2038  • Assistance to develop relevant laws and 
administrative procedures  
• Establish a process to facilitate the 
continuous update of content  
• Technical assistance to regularly update 
tariff classification and valuation  
• Provide ICT technical support to ensure that 
publications are always accessible in an easy 
manner  
• Training of personnel assigned to the task  
• Establish procedure for making and 
processing request  
Article 4  Procedures for Appeal or Review  
 B 1 January 2025  1 January 2030  - 
Article 5  Other Measures to Enhance Impartiality, Non -Discrimination and Transparency  
Article 5.1  Notification for Enhanced Controls or 
Inspections  A - - - 
Article 5.2  Detention  A - - - 
Article 5.3  Test Procedures  C 31 December 2030  1 January 2034  • Develop required legislation  
• Review of administrative procedure  
• Draft legal or administrative procedure for 
second testing  
• Establish a laboratory accreditation program 
(human and financial resou rces) 
• Establish accredited list of laboratories  
• Training of human resource to build 
technical capacity  
• Financial assistance to allocate financial 
resources for infrastructure and equipment 
development for test ing facilities  
• Procedure to ascertain cost for services 
rendered  
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  C 31 December 2031  1 January 2035  • Technical assistance to update legislation  
• Policy guidance to analyse existing fees and 
reasons for adjusting   
  G/TFA/N/ATG/1  
 
- 5 - 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)  
• Assistance to draft guidelines for levying 
charge  
• Categorizing of services charged  
• Procedure to asce rtain cost for each of these 
services rendered  
• Regularly update information  
Article 6.2  Specific Disciplines on Fees and Charges 
for Customs Processing Imposed on or in 
Connection with Importation and 
Exportation  C 31 December 2031  1 January 2035  • Reliable update mechanism to analyse 
existing fees and reasons for adjustment  
• Drafting guidelines for levying charge  
• Categorize services charged  
• Ascertain cost for each of these services 
rendered  
• Regular update of information  
Article 6.3  Penalty Disciplines  A - - - 
Article 7  Release and Clearance of Goods  
Article 7.1  Pre-arrival Processing  A - - - 
Article 7.2  Electronic Payment  A - - - 
Article 7.3  Separation of Release from Final 
Determination of Customs Duties, Taxes, 
Fees and Charges  A - - - 
Article 7.4  Risk Management  C 31 December 2031  1 January 2035  • Technical assistance to establish a 
framework that would encourage 
collaboration amongst relevant agencies 
such as the Bureau of Standards, Plant 
Protection, Ministry of Health and Customs 
Department and Custom Brokers  
• Technical assistance to develop a 
sustainable I CT framework such as portal  
• Training of human resource to improve 
Customs operations  
• Assistance to train and sensitize customs 
brokers  
• Technical assistance required for 
infrastructural and equipment upgrade to 
border  
Article 7.5  Post-clearance Audit  B 1 January 2021  1 January 2022  - 
Article 7.6  Establishment and Publication of Average 
Release Times  C 31 December 2030  1 January 2035  • Technical assistance to establish and have 
access to average release time  
• Training of human resource to improve 
capacity of borders agencies to accomplish 
task  
  G/TFA/N/ATG/1  
 
- 6 - 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)  
• Assistance to train and sensitize custom 
brokers  
• Establish a portal link to AS YCUDA WORLD, 
since multiple agencies are involved, 
verification must be done with all  
Article 7.7  Trade Facilitation Measures for Authorized 
Operators  C 31 December 2031  1 January 2035  • Legal expertise to update/draft the relevant 
legislation  
• Assistance required to develop accurate 
record keeping and readily availability of 
information  
• Establish a system to encourage 
coordination among stakeholders  
• Create a single window for declaration for all 
imports or exports in a given period; to 
encourage fewer physical inspections and 
examinations  
• Formalization of a regulatory framework for 
authorized operators  
• Establish mechanism o f specific warehouses 
that are secured  
• Develop criteria that would be designated 
specific to trusted trader  
• Training of human resource, to improve 
Customs operations  
Article 7.8  Expedited Shipments  A - - - 
Article 7.9  Perishable G oods A - - - 
Article 8  Border Agency Cooperation  
 A - - - 
Article 9  Movement of Goods Intended for I mport  under Customs Control  
 B 1 January 2030  1 January 2035  - 
Article 10  Formalities Connected with Importation, Exportation and Transit  
Article 10.1  Formalities and Documentation 
Requirements  A - - - 
Article 10.2  Acceptance of C opies A - - - 
Article 10.3  Use of International Standards  A - - - 
Article 10.4  Single Window  C 31 December 2031  1 January 2035  • Assistance to develop harmonize legislation  
• Establish coordination between border 
agency  
• Technical assistance to build capacity – 
training human resource   
  G/TFA/N/ATG/1  
 
- 7 - 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)  
• Identify and maintain a framework which 
encourage confidentiality  
• Develop and update of IT systems  
• Provide ICT technical support to en sure IT 
networking integration  
• Financial assistance to support 
infrastructure  
Article 10.5  Pre-shipment Inspection  A - - - 
Article 10.6  Use of Customs Brokers  A - - - 
Article 10.7 .1 Common Border Procedures and Uniform 
Documentation Requirements  A - - - 
Article 10.7.2  B 1 January 2022  1 January 2025  - 
Article 10.8 .1 Rejected G oods C 31 December 2031  1 January 2036  • Technical assistance to develop legal and 
regulatory framework to deal with rejected 
goods  
• Training of human resources technical 
capacity assigned to the task  
• Assistance to develop appropriate Customs 
procedure to build capacity to implement 
this measure  
Article 10.8.2  A - - - 
Article 10.9  Temporary Admission of Goods and Inward 
and Outward Processing  A - - - 
Article 11  Freedom of Transit  
 A - - -  
  G/TFA/N/ATG/1  
 
- 8 - 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 12  Customs C ooperation  
 C 31 December 203 0 1 January 2034  • Technical assistance to develop legal and 
regulatory policies to deal with Customs 
cooperate with each other in the region 
(required harmonized legislations ) 
• Assistance to develop a physical agreement 
to establish a formal system; among 
multiple border agencies  
• Training of human resource to promote 
border coordination  
• Assistance to develop appropriate Customs 
procedure  
• Provide  ICT technical support to ensure IT 
networking integration  
• This measure is currently being 
implemented (may be fully) as part of the 
WCO accession process  
• Financial assistance to support 
infrastructure and interconnectivity  
 
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