G/TFA/W/46/Rev.1  
 
25 October  2021 
(21-8080) Page: 1/2 
Committee on Trade Facilitation  Original: English  
 
TRADE FACILITATION AGREEMENT FOUR YEAR REVIEW  
ARTICLE 23.1.6 OF THE TFA  
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  
Revision  
The following communication, dated 18 October  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 developed 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 it s 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 and 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/TF A/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 importance 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 tha t may arise during the implementation 
of the TFA. Japan hopes that the following proposal could 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 Re view.  
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. T he list aims to remind Members of their G/TFA/W/46/Rev.1  
 
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  own definitive dates for category B and C 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 circulating 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  and allow adequate monitoring by the TFC . 
2.3.  Second, Japan pro poses that the Committee recommend  the following practice for Members 
whose implemen tation dates have passed for their  category B or C provisions. That is, on a voluntary 
basis and for informational purposes only , to: (i) confirm the passing of implementation dates in any 
form or reporting (orally or in writing); [and/]or (ii) share their implementation experiences with the 
Committee while explicitly mentioning the provision they have implemented. Category B and 
category C provisions shall  be implemented on the definitive dates as notified by Members  as per 
Article 16.5 of the Agreement . The Committee could  encourage those Members who have 
implemented category B provisions in particular to take the actions above.  It should be noted that 
this proposal never intends to modify the Members ' obligations under the TFA.  
2.4.  Japan expects that these can  be effective ways to enhance transparency and contribute to 
better follow -up on implementation status of the TFA.  
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