G/TFA/N/COG/1  
15 August  2019 
(19-5310) Page: 1/7 
Committee on Trade Facilitation  Original:  French  
 
  
NOTIFICATION OF CATEGORY COMMITMENTS UNDER  
THE AGREEMENT ON TRADE FACILITATION  
COMMUNICATION FROM THE CONGO  
The following communication, dated 1 3 August 2 019, is being circulated at the request of the 
delegation of the Congo for Members' information.  
 
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Following up on the notification dated 6 August 2 014 (WT/PCTF/N/COG/1) in which it indicated its 
category A commitments, the Republic of the Congo  hereby makes the following additional 
notifications in accordance wi th Articles 15 and 16 of the Trade Facilitation Agreement (WT/L/931).  
   
  G/TFA/N/COG/1  
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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 1  Publication and Availability of Information  
Article 1.1  Publication  B 30 October 2 021 30 October 2 024 - 
Article 1.2  Information Available Through Internet  C 30 September 2 021 30 September 2 025 - Development and implementation 
of policy guidelines on publication 
of trade -related information;  
- Timely review and update of 
trade -related information on 
Internet by the relevant agencies;  
- Creation of a trade information 
portal;  
- Institutional capacity building.  
Article 1.3  Enquiry Points  B 30 July 2 020 30 July 2 022 - 
Article 1.4  Notification  B 30 July 2 020 30 July 2 022 - 
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 30 November 2 021 30 November 2 024 - 
Article 2.2  Consultations  C 30 November 2 020 30 November 2 025 - Technical assistance to develop a 
consultation policy, particularly 
with respect to developing skills in 
regulatory impact assessment;  
- Technical consultancy to develop 
the strategy/policy for 
consultations and designate unit 
for implementation;  
- Legal counsel to define a 
standardized approach to 
consultations.  
Article 3  Advance Rulings  
 A - - - 
Article 4  Procedures for Appeal or Review  
 A - - - 
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  A - - -   
  G/TFA/N/COG/1  
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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 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 30 September 2 020 30 September 2 024 - 
Article 6.2  Specific Disciplines on Fees and Charges 
for Customs Processing Imposed on or in 
Connection with Importation and 
Exportation  C 30 November 2 020 30 November 2 025 - Drafting/amending all applicable 
legislation, including the Finance 
Law, the Foreign Trade Law and 
the Customs and Excise 
Administration Law, in order to 
apply the customs user fee;  
- Assistance to develop relevant 
procedures in order to establish  
and effective ly apply the customs 
user fee.  
Article 6.3  Penalty Disciplines  B 30 July 2 020 30 July 2 024 - 
Article 7  Release and Clearance of Goods  
Article 7.1  Pre-arrival Processing  B 30 September 2 020 30 September 2 024 - 
Article 7.2  Electronic Payment  C 31 December 2 022 31 December 2 025 - Preparation of the strategic 
document for the development of 
e-payment;  
- Development of e -payment 
solutions (all banks);  
- Establishment of technical and 
financial support measures in 
digital sectors relating to 
e-commerce (training, research);  
- Enhancement of the current 
functionalities of the single win dow 
for cross -border operations 
(GUOT) or the single window for 
customs clearance (GUD);  
- Quality improvement of Internet 
connection;  
- Legislative drafting/amending of 
all e-legislation and the Finance 
Law in order to undertake 
electronic payment.    
  G/TFA/N/COG/1  
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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 7.3  Separation of Release from Final 
Determination of Customs Duties, Taxes, 
Fees and Charges  C 30 November 2 020 30 November 2 025 - Carrying out a technical/legal 
diagnosis;  
- Preparing regulations to enable 
application of this rule;  
- Adapting or developing the 
IT systems of relevant agencies ; 
- Defining procedures for users and 
implementing agencies;  
- Dissemination and training.  
Article 7.4  Risk Management  C  30 September 2 020 30 September 2 025 - Technical assistance required to 
develop a mechanism to ensure 
enhanced coordination and 
collaboration between border 
agencies on risk identification and 
application of risk management ; 
- Technical assistance to develop 
procedures required for effective 
implementation of risk 
management system;  
- Techn ical assistance to develop 
capacity in relevant border 
agencies to have a full 
understanding and application of 
risk management system;  
- Assistance required to acquire as 
well as enhance technological 
capabilities necessary to 
implement a proper risk 
manage ment process ; 
- Assistance to deploy technology 
required to implement a proper 
risk management system, such as 
X-ray machines, scanners and 
laboratory testing facilities ; 
- Technical assistance required to 
train customs personnel in 
imaging.  
Article 7.5  Post-clearance Audit  B 30 June 2 020 30 June 2 024 -   
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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 7.6  Establishment and Publication of Average 
Release Times  C 30 October 2 021 30 October 2 025 - Preparation of a study on average 
release times (guide to measure 
the average time required for the 
release of goods).  
Article 7.7  Trade Facilitation Measures for 
Authorized Operators  B 12 October 2 017 12 October 2 017 - 
Article 7.8  Expedited Shipments  C 30 September 2 020 30 September 2 025 - Support to review the legislation 
on urgent consignments and 
extend its scope to other goods;  
- Support for capacity 
building/coaching of border 
agency officials.  
Article 7.9  Perishable Goods  A - - - 
Article 8  Border Agency Cooperation  
 C 31 December 2 020 31 December 2 025 - Revision of current goods import, 
export or transit formalities and 
procedures at border crossings;  
- Preparation of a harmonized 
border procedures manual;  
- Interconnection of other customs 
units (customs posts and brigades 
in the interior) with the customs 
systems;  
- Training border agency officials in 
and raising their awareness of new 
cooperation practices.  
Article 9  Movement of Goods Intended for Import under Customs Control  
 B 30 November 2 020 30 November 2 022 - 
Article 10  Formalities Connected with Importation, Exportation and Transit  
Article 10.1  Formalities and Documentation 
Requirements  C 30 October 2 021 30 October 2 025 - Assistance to analyse and simplify 
documentation requirements and 
procedures;  
- Capacity building and training in 
formalities and required 
documents in line with 
international best practices.  
Article 10.2  Acceptance of Copies  B 30 September 2 020 30 September 2 023 - 
Article 10.3  Use of International Standards  B 30 September 2 020 30 September 2 023 -   
  G/TFA/N/COG/1  
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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 10.4  Single Window  C 30 September 2 021 30 September 2 025 - Technical assistance required to 
recast the operations of the single 
window for cross -border 
operations (GUOT);  
- Technical assistance required to 
unify the two single windows (GUD 
and GUOT);  
- Development of  efficient 
procedures and a checklist in order 
to implement a national single 
window effectively;  
- Technical assistance to build 
capacity in relevant border 
agencies in order to implement a 
national single window;  
- Capacity building assistance to 
raise the a wareness of officials of 
relevant border agencies and 
businesses and to equip and train 
them in order to implement a 
national single window;  
- Assistance to ensure reasonable - 
to high -level Internet access and 
access to ICT equipment, 
especially for other bo rder 
agencies;  
- Technical assistance required to 
train agents involved in managing 
juxtaposed offices at the borders.  
Article 10.5  Preshipment Inspection  C 31 December 2 021 31 December 2 025 - Assistance to train customs 
officers in scanner management 
techniques;  
- Assistance to transfer 
responsibility from preshipment 
inspection agencies to customs 
officers;  
- Assistance to train customs 
personnel in valuation and rates.  
Article 10.6  Use of Customs Brokers  A - - - 
Article 10.7  Common Border Procedures and Uniform 
Documentation Requirements  A - - -   
  G/TFA/N/COG/1  
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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 10.8  Rejected Goods  B 31 August 2 020 31 August 2 024 - 
Article 10.9  Temporary Admission of Goods and 
Inward and Outward Processing  A - - - 
Article 11  Freedom of Transit  
Article 11.1 -
11.3  C 30 December 2 020 30 December 2 024 - Technical assistance and capacity 
building support are required to:  
▪ ensure proper allocation of 
costs 
▪ train personnel . 
Article 11.4   B 30 December 2 020 30 December 2 024 - 
Article 11.5 -
11.10   C 30 December 2 020 30 December 2 026 - Technical assistance required to 
set up infrastructure to facilitate 
the movement of goods:  
▪ Support for corridor 
monitoring exercises  
▪ Training on treatment of 
goods in transit  
▪ Analysis of an efficient 
transit syst em 
▪ Construction of a dry port for 
transit purposes  
▪ Construction of warehouses 
for goods in transit  
▪ Construction of parking 
areas for vehicles in transit . 
Article 11.11   C 30 December 2 020 30 December 2 025 - Training in cooperation and 
coordination among regulatory 
agencies;  
- Customs transit procedures.  
Article 11.12 -
11.17   B 31 December 2 020 31 December 2 025 - 
Article 12  Customs Cooperation  
 B 31 December 2 020 31 December 2 025 - 
 
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