G/TFA/N/ECU/5  
 
9 March 2023  
(23-1775) Page: 1/5 
Committee on Trade Facilitation  Original: Spanish  
 
  
NOTIFICATION OF ARRANGEMENTS AND PROGRESS IN THE PROVISION OF  
TECHNICAL ASSISTANCE AND CAPACITY BUILDING SUPPORT FOR  
CATEGORY C DESIGNATIONS  
COMMUNICATION FROM ECUADOR  
The following communication, dated 8 March 2023, is being circulated at the request of the 
delegation of Ecuador.  
 
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Ecuador hereby notifies information on the arrangements concluded and progress made in the 
provision of technical assistance and capacity building support for the following category  C 
designations, in accordance with Article 16.1(d) of the Agreement on Trade Facilitation (WT/L/931).  
Provision  Heading/Description  Category  Indicative date for 
implementation  Definitive date for 
implementation  
Article 2.2  Consultations  C 15 January 2022  15 July 2023  
Donors/Agencies: UNCTAD (sponsored by: United Kingdom and Germany); WCO; Others to be determined .  
Progress in the provision of technical assistance and capacity building support:  
 
1. Ecuado r-UNCTAD  technical cooperation  
Ecuador joined the UNCTAD Empowerment Programme for National Trade Facilitation Committees thanks to 
funding from the German Federal Ministry for Economic Cooperation and Development (BMZ). Members have 
participated in three online courses on the e -learning platform on the following topics: empowering 
committees, gender perspectives on trade facilitation reforms and how to use the UNCTAD Reform Tracker.  
UNCTAD also conducted  a consultancy exercise , with the aim of preparing a road map on the Reform Tracker 
platform, and produced a Rapid Scan of Trade Facilitation Preparedness in Times of Crisis.  
As a result, information has been incorporated into the Reform Tracker that allows agencies to identify the 
responsibilities assigned to each of them.    
Ongoing actions in cooperation with UNCTAD : 
From April 2022 to March 2025, technical assistance for Ecuador in the context of the "Accelerate Trade 
Facilitation" programme, financed by HM Revenue and Customs of the United Kingdom, inclu des: 
- Technical assistance for the National Trade Facilitation Committee on using and disseminating the Reform 
Tracker; and  
- Online training and coaching for members of the National Trade Facilitation Committee and the secretariat, 
according to the ident ified needs ( e.g. monitoring and evaluation, road map, resource mobilization, effective 
communication).  
2. Multi -annual Indicative Programme (MIP) 2021 -2027 and its components/European Union  
The National Trade Facilitation Committee will work on project pr oposals that can be framed within the 
European Union's Multi-annual Indicative Programme 2021 -2027 for Ecuador.  
3. Mercator Programme of the World Customs Organization  
The Mercator Programme is the WCO's flagship initiative that support s Members worldwide  in implementing 
the WTO Agreement on Trade Facilitation (TFA) in a uniform manner through the application of  WCO 
instruments and tools.  G/TFA/N/ECU/5  
 
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  In March 2021, the National Customs Service (SENAE ) expressed interest in being part of the Mercator 
Programme; its request was accepted by the WCO. As a result, in November 2021, the WCO carried out a 
diagnostic mission to support implementation of the TFA and made suggestions to be considered by the 
SENAE. Those suggestions are being reviewed and evaluated by the SENAE and will be addressed at a 
forthcoming meeting of the National Trade Facilitation Committee, in order to make its implementation 
activities viable.  
 
Provision  Heading/Description  Category  Indicative date for 
implementation  Definitive date for 
implementation  
Article 5.3  Test Procedures  C 15 January 2024  15 January 2024  
Donors/Agencies: UNCTAD (sponsored by: United Kingdom and Germany); WCO; Others to be determined . 
Progress in the provision of technical assistance and capacity building support:  
 
1. Ecuador -UNCTAD  technical cooperation  
The same information on technical cooperation provided by UNCTAD, given with respect to Art. 2.2 - 
Consultations, applies here.  
2. Mercator Programme of the World Customs Organization  
The Mercator Programme is the WCO's flagship initiative that supports Members worldwide in implementing 
the WTO Agreement on Trade Facilitation (TFA) in a uniform manner through the application of WCO 
instruments and tools .  
In March 2021, the National Customs Service (SENAE) expressed interest in being part of the Mercator 
Programme; its request was accepted by the WCO. As a result, in November 2021, the WCO carried out a 
diagnostic mission to support implementation of the TFA and made suggestions to be considered by the 
SENAE. Those suggestions are being reviewed and evaluated by the SENAE and will be address ed at a 
forthcoming meeting of the National Trade Facilitation Committee, in order to make its implementation 
activities viable.  
3. Request for cooperation made to the British Embassy in Ecuador  
In April 2022, a proposal was sent to the British Embassy i n Ecuador with the aim of facilitating assistance 
with regard to test procedure analysis methodologies.  
On 1 August 2022, the Embassy reported that the project, which focused on training on ISO Standard 17025 
on testing and calibration laboratories, had b een approved.  
However, in order to diversify its cooperation activities, on 14 November 2022, the Embassy reported that it 
had been decided to implement another project with those resources.  
In addition, the Embassy pointed to the need to take other steps  prior to training staff on ISO 17025. In this 
regard, it has been suggested to us that consideration be given to beginning analy tical/diagnostic work o n 
the state of laboratories in Ecuador, in preparation for a possible future project (subject to the ava ilability of 
funds).  
 
Provision  Heading/Description  Category  Indicative date for 
implementation  Definitive date for 
implementation  
Article 7.4  Risk Management  C 15 January 2022  15 July 2023  
Donors/Agencies:  UNCTAD (sponsored by: United Kingdom and Germany); WCO; Others to be determined . 
Progress in the provision of technical assistance and capacity building support:  
 
1. Ecuador -UNCTAD  technical cooperation  
The same information on technical cooperation provided by UNCTAD, given with respect to Art. 2.2 - 
Consultations, applies here.  
2. Multi -annual Indicative Programme (MIP) 2021 -2027 and its components/European Union  
The National Trade Facilitation Committee will work on project proposals t hat can be framed within the 
European Union's Multi-annual Indicative Programme 2021 -2027 for Ecuador.  
3. Mercator Programme of the World Customs Organization  
The Mercator Programme is the WCO's  flagship initiative that supports Members worldwide in implementing 
the WTO Agreement on Trade Facilitation (TFA) in a uniform manner through the application of WCO 
instruments and tools .  G/TFA/N/ECU/5  
 
- 3 - 
 
  In March 2021, the National Customs Service (SENAE) expressed int erest in being part of the Mercator 
Programme; its request was accepted by the WCO. As a result, in November 2021, the WCO carried out a 
diagnostic mission to support implementation of the TFA and made suggestions to be considered by the 
SENAE. Those sugge stions are being reviewed and evaluated by the SENAE and will be addressed at a 
forthcoming meeting of the National Trade Facilitation Committee, in order to make its implementation 
activities viable.  
4. Request for cooperation made to the British Embassy  in Ecuador  
In April 2022, a proposal was sent to the British Embassy in Ecuador with the aim of initiating  a consultancy 
exercise on risk management in the country, which includes assistance with and experience -sharing  
concerning  the exchange of informat ion with other customs and control bodies on the creation of statistical 
and forecasting models, and best practices on the topic.  
However, in order to diversify its cooperation activities, on 14 November 2022, the Embassy reported that it 
had been decided to implement another project with those resources.  
 
Provision  Heading/Description  Category  Indicative date for 
implementation  Definitive date for 
implementation  
Article 7.7  Trade Facilitation Measures 
for Authorized Operators  
 C 15 January 2022  15 July 2023  
Donors/Agencies:  UNCTAD (sponsored by: United Kingdom and Germany); WCO; United Kingdom; Others 
to be determined . 
Progress in the provision of technical assistance and capacity building support:  
 
1. Ecuador -UNCTAD  technical cooperation  
The same information on technical cooperation provided by UNCTAD, given with respect to Art. 2.2 - 
Consultations, applies here.  
2. Multi -annual Indicative Programme (MIP) 2021 -2027 and its components/European Union  
The National Trade Facilitation Committee will work on project proposals that can be framed within the 
European Union 's Multi-annual Indicative Programme 2021 -2027 for Ecuador.  
3. Mercator Programme of the World Customs Organization  
The Mercator Programme is the WCO's flagship initiative that supports Members worldwide in implementing 
the WTO Agreement on Trade Facilitation (TFA) in a uniform manner through the applica tion of WCO 
instruments and tools .  
In March 2021, the National Customs Service (SENAE) expressed interest in being part of the Mercator 
Programme; its request was accepted by the WCO. As a result, in November 2021, the WCO carried out a 
diagnostic mission  to support implementation of the TFA and made suggestions to be considered by the 
SENAE. Those suggestions are being reviewed and evaluated by the SENAE and will be addressed at a 
forthcoming meeting of the National Trade Facilitation Committee, in order to make its implementation 
activities viable.  
4. Request for cooperation made to the British Embassy in Ecuador  
In September 2021, the British Embassy approved funding for a consultancy exercise  to evaluate Ecuador's 
first Authorized Economic Operator Programme (AEO). The final report submitted in March 2022 contains 
recommendations that are being incorporated into the National Trade Facilitation Committee's roadmap, 
namely:  
- Establishment of an A EO Committee  
- Development of a communication/marketing strategy  
- Preparation  of a training strategy  
- Identification of opportunities for fast -track membership  
- Identification of new and improved benefits for members  
An AEO sub -working group was created to help implement  the recommendations made.  
 
 G/TFA/N/ECU/5  
 
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  Provision  Heading/Description  Category  Indicative date for 
implementation  Definitive date for 
implementation  
Article 8  Border Agency 
Cooperation  C 15 January 2024  15 January 2024  
Donors/Agencies: UNCTAD (sponsored by: United Kingdom and Germany); WCO; Others to be determined . 
Progress in the provision of technical assistance and capacity building support:  
 
1. Ecuador -UNCTAD  technical cooperation  
The same information on technical cooperation provided by UNCTAD, given with respect to Art. 2.2 - 
Consultations, applies here.  
2. Support for IDB and LAIA consultancies  
The IDB, using non -repayable technical cooperation resources, conducted an initial feasibility analysis for the 
creation  of a Port Community System (PCS) at the port of Guayaquil in Ecuador; the importance of conducting  
a National Logistics Survey was also established.  
Ongoing acti ons: 
The Ministry of Production, Foreign Trade, Investment and Fisheries created a logistics c luster and requested 
that the Ministry of Finance allocate budgetary resources to the conducting of  the National Logistics Survey. 
The project proposal was developed in cooperation with the private sector.  
The agreement between the cluster and the Ministr y of Finance will be signed at the beginning of December.  
The IDB is helping to prepare  the terms of reference for the project.  
In addition, LAIA concluded a consultancy exercise for the development of the Logistics Observatory, the 
outcomes of which also reflected the importance of conducting a National Logistics Survey in order to establish 
a centralized  and up-to-date IT tool that is available 24/7.  
A proposal is currently being developed for LAIA with a view to establishing the tool for which the inform ation 
obtained through the work carried out with the cluster will be useful.   
3. Multi -annual Indicative Programme (MIP) 2021 -2027 and its components/European Union  
The National Trade Facilitation Committee will work on project proposals that can be frame d within the 
European Union 's Multi-annual Indicative Programme 2021 -2027 for Ecuador.  
4. Mercator Programme of the World Customs Organization  
The Mercator Programme is the WCO's flagship initiative that supports Members worldwide in implementing 
the WTO Agreement on Trade Facilitation (TFA) in a uniform manner through the application of WCO 
instruments and tools .  
In March 2021, the National Customs Service (SENAE ) expressed interest in being part of the Mercator 
Programme; its request was accepted by the WCO. As a result, in November 2021, the WCO carried out a 
diagnostic mission to support implementation of the TFA and made suggestions to be considered by the 
SENAE. Those suggestions are being reviewed and evaluated by the SENAE and will be addressed at a 
forthcoming meeting of the National Trade Facilitation Committee, in order to make its implementation 
activities viable.  
 
Provision  Heading/Description  Category  Indicative date for 
implementation  Definitive date for 
implementation  
Article 10.4  Single Window  C 15 January 2023  15 July 2024  
Donors/Agencies: Global Alliance for Trade Facilitation (sponsored by: Canada, Germany and the 
United  States (through USAID); UNCTAD (sponsored by: United Kingdom and Germany); WCO; Others to be 
determined . 
Progress in the provision of technical assistance and capacity building support:  
 
1. Ecuador -UNCTAD  technical cooperation  
The same information on technical cooperation provided by UNCTAD, given with respect to Art. 2.2 - 
Consultations, applies here.  
2. The Global Alliance for Trade Facilitation  (GATF)  
In March 2021, this agency approved the implementation of the "Project to Strengthen  the Ecuadorian Single 
Window and Modernize Sanitary Procedures", which has three components:  
a. Strengthening of the Ecuadorian Single Window (VUE)  
b. Modernization of sanitary procedures within the AGROCALIDAD laboratory network  G/TFA/N/ECU/5  
 
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  c. Modernization of sanitary procedures on the ARCSA IT technological platform and re -engineering of 
processes  
This will contribute to increasing VUE coverage and reducing the costs/time involved in complying with business 
operation requirements.  
It should be noted that the support provided by the GATF covers part of what is required for compliance with 
this Article.  
3. Mercator Programme of the World Customs Organization  
 
The Mercator Programme is the WCO's flagship initiative that supports Membe rs worldwide in implementing 
the WTO Agreement on Trade Facilitation (TFA) in a uniform manner through the application of WCO 
instruments and tools .  
In March 2021, the National Customs Service (SENAE) expressed interest in being part of the Mercator 
Progr amme; its request was accepted by the WCO. As a result, in November 2021, the WCO carried out a 
diagnostic mission to support implementation of the TFA and made suggestions to be considered by the SENAE. 
Those suggestions are being reviewed and evaluated b y the SENAE and will be addressed at a forthcoming 
meeting of the National Trade Facilitation Committee, in order to make its implementation activities viable.  
 
__________