G/L/1514  
 
15 Novem ber 2023 
(23-7715) Page: 1/23 
   
 
REPORT (202 3) OF THE COMMITTEE ON TRADE FACILITATION  
TO THE COUNCIL FOR TRADE IN GOODS  
1. The Agreement on Trade Facilitation (TFA ) entered into force on 22 February 2017. This report 
covers the period  from 1 December 2022 to 5 October  2023. 
2. During the period under review, the Committee on Trade Facilitation (TFC) held three formal 
meetings: on 21-22 March 2023 (G/TFA/M/ 25); on 15-16 June (G/TFA/M/ 26); and on 3-5 October 
(G/TFA/M/ 271). 
3. The TFC also held one informal meeting  on 26 July 2023. As described in the Chair's S ummary 
Report (JOB/TF/235 ), the objective of the meeting  was to obtain the Committee's feedback on a 
number of items MC12 implementation matters; good practices and building blocks of successful 
National Trade Facilitation Committees; preparations for the dedicated session on technical 
assistance and capacity b uilding; and regularizing the Committee's experience sharing/thematic 
discussions.  
4. Mr. Carlos Guevara (Ecuador ) was elected Chairperson of the Committee for the period 
2023-2024 on 4 April 2023. 
5. During the period under review, the work of the TFC focused o n four main areas: matters 
relating to the implementation and administration of the TFA; experience sharing/thematic 
discussions ; drafting  of a document on Good Practices and Building Blocks of Successful NTFCS; 
MC12 Implementation Matters; Update of the 2015 World Trade Report  on the Benefits and 
Challenges of Implementing the WTO Trade Facilitation Agreement ; Dedicated Sessions on Transit 
Issues of Landlocked Country Members and on Assistance and Capacity Building ; Informal Sessions 
on Disaster Preparedne ss; and the work of the Trade Facilitation Agreement Facility  (TFAF) . Matters 
relating to the implementation and administration of the TFA . 
1  MATTERS RELATING TO THE IMPLEMENTATION AND ADMINISTRATION OF THE TRADE 
FACILITATION AGREEMENT (TFA)  
1.1.  The total number  of Members that have ratified the TFA remains at 156 (95% of the 
Membership)  as no further Member ratified the Agreement during the review period.  
1.2.  The Committee undertook a review of notifications received under the TFA at each of its 
meeti ngs during the period under review  and a  full list of notifications received is included in Annex  1.  
1.1  Transparency notifications  
1.3.  Under Section I of the Agreement, Members are required to submit a number of transparency 
notifications under Articles 1.4 (import, export and transit procedures); 10.4.3 (single window); 
10.6.2 (customs brokers) and 12.2.2 (exchange of customs information ). During the period under 
review, the Committee received 26 transparency notifications . 
 
1 To be issued.  G/L/1514  
 
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  1.2  Implementation notifications  
1.2.1   Articles 15 and 16  
1.4.  Developing and least developed country Members wishing to invoke the special flexibilities of 
the TFA are required to d o so under Section II of the Agreement ( Articles 13 to 22).  Under Section  II, 
Members are required to notify their implementation commitments to the Committee in accordance 
with Articles 15 and 16.  
1.5.  During the period under review, three Members (Guinea, Nepal, Tanzania) submitted 
notifications under Article 16 (category B and C designations)  of their definitive implementation 
dates for category C provisions.  These notifications were in accordance with  an extension approved 
at the Committee meeting of 15 August 2023 .2 Two further Members were provided with extensions 
up to 31 December 2023 to notify their definitive dates for their category C provisions, and 
one Member has a deadline of 31 December 202 3 to notify its definitive implementation dates for 
category B provisions.   
1.6.  Nine Members notified technical arrangements and progress  in the implementation of 
category  C provisions . 
1.2.2   Article 17  
1.7.  The Committee received 15 requests for an extension of definiti ve dates for implementation of 
category B and C commitments under article 17 of the TFA ("Early Warning Mechanism"). The 
Committee received four requests for a second extension to the notified implementation dates.  
1.2.3   Article 19  
1.8.  Article 19 of the TFA allows for developing and least developed country Members to shift 
notified provisions between categories B and C. During the period under review, the Committee 
received six notifications under Article 19, one of which reflected shift s of provisions from category  B 
to category C, five of which indicated shifts of provisions from category C to category B . 
1.2.4   Accelerated implementation  
1.9.  Three  Member s notified the accelerated implementation of a number of TFA provisions 
implementation  in documents G/TFA/N/MDV/3/ Add.2  and G/TFA/N/MDV/3/Add.3  for Maldives , in 
G/TFA/N/MMR/1/Add.4  for Myanmar , and G/TFA/N/KHM/1/Add.4  for Cambodia .3  
1.3  Notifications regarding technical assistance and capacity building support  
1.10.   In accordance with Article 22 and of the TFA, donor Members are requ ired to provide 
information regarding their provision of support for capacity building ( Article 22.1) as well as 
regarding their process and mechanisms through which to receive assistance ( Article 22.2). During 
the period under review, six donor Members su bmitted notifications in accordance with these articles. 
Article 22.3 requires Members seeking technical assistance and capacity building support to notify 
their contact points. Seventeen  developing Members and least developed country Members 
submitted not ifications under Article 22.3.  (Annex 1.5)  
2  EXPERIENCE SHARING/THEMATIC DISCUSSIONS  
2.1  Experience sharing presentations  
2.1.  During the period under review, the Committee heard the following experience -sharing 
presentations from WTO Members: at the 21-22 March meeting , "Digitization of border trade 
procedures " (Honduras and USAID); " Improving procedures for authorizations of exports and 
imports of processed food " (Peru); Advance rulings " (Madagascar); " Training clearing agents " 
 
2 G/TFA/M/ 23. 
3 The accelerated implementation was announced at the Committee meeting of 3 -5 October 2023  and 
the notification was circulated on 24 October 2023.  G/L/1514  
 
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  (Malawi), and " Trade facilitation reforms: TFA and beyond " (India) ; at the 15-16 June 2023 meeting  
"Improving Small Package E -Trade for SMEs " (Cambodia ); "Trade Facilitation Improvements Under 
the NTFC in El Salvador " (El Salvador ); and " Streamlining Agri -Food Export Control Certification " 
(Tunisia ); and at the 3-5 October meeting  "Cargo and Transit Control for Imports Via Air Mode " 
(Brazil ); "Trade Facilitation: The Digital Transformation " (India); "Increasing Transparency and 
Predictability for the Private Sector " (Jordan ); "Trade -Facilitating Agricultural Systems and 
Technology T -Fast" (Paraguay ), and "Progress Made By Peru's National Trade Facilitation 
Committee "(Peru) .  
2.2  Regularizing the Co mmittee's Experience Sharing/Thematic Discussions  
2.2.  At the informal meeting of 26 July 2023, the Committee considered  two possible 
forward -looking actions:  (i) to identify specific themes to be covered on an annual basis , and (ii) to 
identify tangible output s to capitalize on the information and experiences  shared in future 
experience -sharing sessions, such as a document similar to the one being prepared on "Good 
Practices and Building Blocks of Successful NTFCs ".  
2.3.  Following an exchange on the proposed forwar d-looking actions, t he Chair noted  that there 
was support to have a tangible outcome which could be a compilation document of the lessons 
learned and good practices identified as shared with the Committee. The compilation would also 
include information fro m beneficiary Members and donors , and it  would be updated on an annual 
basis.  
2.4.  The Chair invited the Committee to identify at least ten topics for experience sharing, which 
would cover a number of Committee meetings into 2024.  He subsequently circulated a list of the 
topic suggestions received from Members in document JOB/TF/238 .  
2.5.  At the meeting of 3 -5 October  2023, the Chair invited Members to submit their top five priories 
from JOB/TF/238  by Monday 30 October 2023. He would then circulate a compilation of the priorities 
and follow up with a short  and focused informal discussion by November 2023 to further clarify the 
priorities and the next steps . 
3  DOCUMENT CONTAINING GOOD PRACTICES AN D BUILDING BLOCKS OF SUCCESSFUL 
NTFCS  
3.1.  The Committee took a decision under the four -year review of the TFA carried out in 2021  
(G/TFA/2 , 9.3(v))  to draft a document that contains a series of good practices and building blocks 
of successful NTFCs drawing on experience -sharing sessions in the Committee since 2017 . 
3.2.  During the Committee meetings held on 21-22 March and 15-16 June 2023, as well as an 
informal meeting held on 26 July  2023, the Committee had exchanges on preparing a first draft of 
a Committee document that would be non -binding and consensual, and that identified such good 
practices and building blocks that could be of benefit to Members. S uch a draft would be based on 
input from Members, including suggested principles shared by the United States in document 
G/TFA/W/91 . At the 26 July 2023 informal meeting, the Secretariat was requested to circulate a 
first draft incorporating input received f rom Members and the draft was circulated in document 
G/TFA/W/ 96/Rev.1 . 
3.3.  At the meeting of 3 -5 October  2023, the Chair invited Members to submit written comments 
on G/TFA/W/96/Rev.1  by 30 October 2023. The Chair would then circulate a revised draft for future 
discussion within the Committee.  
4  MC12 IMPLEMENTATION MATTERS:  
4.1  Improving the Functioning of the Committee on Trade Facilitation (G/L/1474 ; 
G/TFA/W/88 ; G/C/W/824/Rev.1 ; JOB/TF/234 ; JOB/TF/237 ) 
4.1.  On 9 March 2023, the Chairperson of the Council for Trade in Goods (CTG) circulated a 
communication ( JOB/CTG/24 ) asking Chairpersons of the CTG's subsidiary bodies to organize 
discussions in their Committee to allow Members to identify possible areas for improvement in the 
functioning of the Committee. Possible areas of improvement were compiled by the Chairperson of G/L/1514  
 
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  the CTG in the document "Next steps proposed by the Chairperson following the informal meeting 
of 31 M arch 2023" ( JOB/CTG/27 ). A further update was circulated in document JOB/CTG/32 . 
4.2.  At its meeting of 21 -22 March  2023, the Committee held a first exchange on this issue. 
On 13 June 2023, ahead of the Committee meeting of 15 -16 June  2023, the Chair circulated 
document JOB/TF/23 4 which consolidated the list of suggestions for improving the functioning of the 
Committee as identified by Members  at the TF Committee meeting of 21-22 March 2023 plus 
follow -up written input from Members, the current practice in the Committee with regard to those 
suggestions, as well as a number of suggestions from the Chair on practices  that he considered 
would  be easy to implement in the short term .  
4.3.  Document JOB/TF/234  formed the basis of the discussion on the issue during the informal 
meeting of 26 July 2013. As a follow -up to the informal meeting and to the circulation of document 
JOB/TF/235  (the Chair's Summary Report),  and as  agreed at the meeting, the Chair circulated a 
subsequent communication JOB/TF/237  which set out the proposed course of action for each of the 
proposals put forward by Members on how to improve the functioning of the TF Committee . 
4.4.  As per the table contained in document JOB/TF/235 , there were two proposals for adoption by 
the Committe e through a written procedure, as follows: (1) The Secretariat is instructed to circulate 
an annotated agenda ahead of formal meetings of the Committee on Trade Facilitation, ten days in 
advance of the meeting. The document will describe each agenda item a nd provide relevant 
background to help the preparation by delegations; and (2) an eAgenda will be implemented on a 
trial basis, subject to budgetary and resource considerations. Subject to budgetary and resource 
considerations, the trial of the eAgenda wou ld be carried out for the first meeting of the CTF in 2024.  
4.5.  No objections to the propos als were submitted by the deadline of 20 September 2023 and 
consequently, the proposals  were considered to have been adopted by the Committee.  
4.6.  At the meeting of 3 -5 Octo ber 2023, the Chair invited delegations to submit any additional 
comments to the draft report JOB/TF/237  by 30 October 2023 after which it would be finalized and 
submitted to the CTG ahead of its meeting of 30 November 2023. 
4.2  WTO Response to the Pandemic ( G/L/1475 ; G/TFA/W/89 )(G/TFA/W/97/Rev.1 ) 
4.7.  The Chair of the TF Committee had submitted a report to the CTG on the response to the 
pandemic in document G/L/1475  dated 21 December  2022. That report stated that the major action 
of the TF Committee  had been  the compendium of trade facilitation measures implemented by 
WTO Members and observers in response to CO VID-19 as presented to the TF  Committee 
(G/TFA/W/40/Rev.4 ). 
4.8.  Following exchanges on the issue at the Committee meetin gs of 21-22 March 2023 and 
15-16 June 2023, at the informal meeting of 26 July  2023 the Secretariat was instructed to  draft a 
summary of the compendium summariz ing the actions taken under four thematic headings: 
"Publication and Availability of Information"; "Release and Clearance of Goods"; "Formalities 
connected with Importation, Exportation and Transit", and "Other Reported Trade Facilitation -related 
Measures".  The draft summary was circulat ed in document G/TFA/W/ 97/Rev.1 . 
4.9.  At the meeting of 3 -5 October  2023, the Chair invited delegations to submit any additional 
comments to document G/TFA/W/97/Rev.1  by 30 October 2023 with a view to finalizing it and 
submitting it to t he CTG ahead of its meeting of 30 November 2023.  
5  UPDATE OF THE 2015 WORLD TRADE REPORT ON THE BENEFITS AND CHALLENGES OF 
IMPLEMENTING THE WTO TRADE FACILITATION AGREEMENT   
5.1  WTO Economic Research and Statistics Division  (ERSD ) Working Paper on Trade and 
Welfare effects of the WTO Trade Facilitation Agreement  
5.1.  As part of its four -year review of the TFA concluded in 2021, the Committee requested that the 
WTO Economic Research and Statistics Division  update its "2015 World Trade Re port on the Benefits 
and Challenges of Implementing the WTO Trade Facilitation Agreement ", including the data G/L/1514  
 
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  projections, and report the results to the Trade Facilitation Committee no later than its first formal 
meeting of 2023.  
5.2.  Accordingly, ERSD presente d a working paper on " Trade and welfare effects of the WTO Trade 
Facilitation Agreement " as well as some initial results from work it ha d carried ou t on "The Impact 
of the TFA on Trade Costs". Among the main results, the study showed that the TFA led to a 
USD 231 billion increase in trade, with an average 5% increase in global agricultural trade, 1.5% 
increase in manufacturing trade and 1.17% increase in total trade. The increases were largely driven 
by the trade growth in least developed country Member s, where agr icultural exports rose by 17%, 
manufacturing exports by 3.1%, and total exports by 2.4% under the TFA. The estimates further 
point to a 16 -22% increase in agricultural trade between developing Members that have made TFA 
commitments. The study also showed t hat real GDP at the world level increased by 0.12%, with 
gains concentrated among least developed country Member s and developing Member s. 
The presentation s are available on the TFA Database : The impact of the TFA Trade Costs  and Trade  
and Welfare Effects on the TFA .  
5.2  The Evolving Contribution of Trade Facilitation Policies to Enhancing Trade   
5.3.  At the request of the United States, the OECD presented a first draft of an update of its work 
quantifying the impact of the TFA policy areas on trade, using the OECD Trade Facilitation Indicators 
(TFIs). Its main findings showed that t he impact of trade f acilitation reforms on trade flows had 
continued to grow over time; the trade cost -reducing impact of trade facilitation policies translated 
into a quantitatively significant trade flow -increasing effect across sectors; automating and 
streamlining border p rocedures had been contributing most to enhancing trade worldwide;  
improvements  in operational practices appeared to matter most going forward, and trade facilitation 
policies not only enhanced existing trade relationships but also helped develop new ones.  
The presentation is available  here: The Evolving Contribution of Trade Facilitation Policies to 
Enhancing Trade . 
5.3  Customs Procedures for Intangible Products  
5.4.  One Member  raised questions about another Member's Regulation entitled "The Transfer of 
Self-Consumed Goods" in document  G/TFA/Q/IDN/1 . Responses to the questions were circulated in 
document G/TFA/Q/IDN/2 . 
6  DEDICATED SESSION ON TRANSIT  ISSUES OF LANDLOCKED COUNTRY MEMBERS  
6.1.  Under the first four -year review of the TFA  (G/TFA/2 ), the Committee made a decision that  
each Spring meeting of the Committee would include  a discussion of transit issues of landlocked 
country Members , up to the conclusion of the next review of the TFA .  
6.2.  In the period under review, the dedicated session on transit issues took place (in informal 
mode) during the meeting of 15 -16 June  2023. It consisted of two programmes : (1) "Disaster 
Preparedness: A view from the Border of Landlocked Developing Countries",  which was sponsored 
by the United States, and (2) "Overcoming Challenges in Trade and Transit Operations", coordinated  
by the Landlocked Developing Countries (LLDC) Group.  
6.3.  Under the programme  organized by the LLDC Group, Kazakhstan moderated a discussion  on 
the particular challenges faced by LLDCs in the transit of goods.  Speakers from Eswatini, Gabon, 
Pakistan and Zimbabwe presented outcomes of a workshop , organized by TFAF, held earlier in the 
week amongst LLDC and transit Members, together with WTO off icials and development partners. 
Concrete solutions were developed at the workshop to address challenges relating to customs 
formalities, transit guarantees, container seals and tracking, transit corridors and improving support 
to WTO Members in TFA implem entation relevant to transit activities. In addition, a  number of 
international organizations  – COMESA , EAC, UNCTAD , UNOHRLLS , WCO,  and the World Bank  – 
presented their work and support programmes for LLDCs , and Mongolia highlighted recent 
experiences on t ransit coordination.  
6.4.  A number  of solutions had been developed at the workshop, including (i) coordinated and 
integrated border management mechanisms; (ii) joint control of the movement of people and goods 
across borders; (iii) capacity building initiatives  using international instruments to ensure the best G/L/1514  
 
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  and most efficient practices; (iv) harmonization of transit procedures; and (v) emphasizing the 
Vienna Programme of Action.  
6.5.  The C oordinator of the LLDC Group  (Botswana) made a report on the session to the TF 
Committee which  is contained in Annex 4 of this document . 
6.6.  All presentations  from the dedicated session on transit issues are available on the  TFA Database 
Website . 
7  DEDICATED SESSION ON ASSISTANCE AND CAPACITY BUILDING  
7.1.  In accordance with Article 21:4 of the TFA, the Committee held its annual dedicated session 
on assi stance and capacity building on 5 October 2023.  
7.2.  The session carried out : (i) a review of progress in the provision of assistance and support for 
capacity building to support implementation, including the top five provisions in category C, 
identified by no tified definitive dates, to be implemented in the two -year period 202 4 to 202 5; 
(ii) shared experiences and information on ongoing assistance and support for capacity building and 
implementation program mes, including challenges and successes; (iii) receive d a report by 
international and regional organizations and other agencies supporting the implementation of the 
TFA on the activities that they have delivered in the period October  2022 to October 202 3 
(G/TFA/TFAF/W/2 ). 
7.3.  Broader discussions were also held regarding wider on -going implementation support, as well 
as exploring avenues for further collaboration and cooperation. All presentations made during the 
session are available in the TFA Database .  
8  INFORMAL SESSIONS ON DISASTER PREPAREDNESS  
8.1.  The United States held an information session on disaster prep aredness  on the margins of the 
21-22 March 2023 meeting of the TF Committee . The objective of the panel discussion was to share 
experiences and highlight the challenges that WTO Members, humanitarian relief organizations, and 
other non -governmental organiz ations face in moving humanitarian aid and relief supplies across 
international borders during times of disaster . The United States reported to the Committee on the 
outcome of the session.4 
8.2.  On 16 June  2023, as part of the Dedicated Session on Transit Issu es of Landlocked Countries, 
the US organized a programme on "Disaster Preparedness: A view from the Border of Landlocked 
Developing Countries"  the United States moderated a follow -up panel discussion which examined 
the specific challenges LLDCs, aid agencies, and non -governmental  organizations face in moving 
humanitarian aid and relief supplies across international borders during times of disaster. 
The United  States made a re port on the session to the Committee .5 
8.3.  On 6 October 2023, the United States held a third informal session on "Disaster  Preparedness  
and Trade  Facilitation".  
8.4.  See Annex 5  for the programmes of the disaster preparedness sessions.  
9  "FACILITATING HUMANITARIAN R ELIEF IN EMERGENCY SITUATIONS" – 
COMMUNICATION FROM CANADA, THE EUROPEAN UNION, HONDURAS, THE SEPARATE 
CUSTOMS TERRITORY OF TAIWAN, PENGHU, KINMEN AND MATSU, TÜRKIYE AND THE 
UNITED STATES IN DOCUMENT G/TFA/W/94/REV.1  
9.1.  At the meeting of 3 -5 October 2023, the Committee took note of a communication entitled 
"Facilitating Humanitarian Relief in Emergency Situations " from Canada, the European Union, 
Honduras, the Separate Customs Territory of Taiwan, Peng hu, Kinmen and Matsu, Türkiye and the 
United States  in document  G/TFA/W/94/ Rev.1. 
 
4 G/TFA/M/25 . 
5 G/TFA/M/26 . G/L/1514  
 
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  10  PROMOTING THE IMPLEMENTATION OF WTO TRADE FACILITATION AGREEMENT 
THROUGH DIGITAL REVOLUTION AND INTELLIGENCE TECHNOLOGIES  
10.1.   At the Committee meetings of 21 -22 March 2023 and 15 -16 June 2023, the Committee took 
note of a communication from China entitled "Promoting  the Implementation of WTO Trade 
Facilitation Agreement through Digital Revolution and Intelligence Technologies " in d ocument 
G/TFA/W/90 . At the Co mmittee meeting of 3 -5 October 2023, the Committee took note of a revised 
communication, co -sponsored by China and Mongolia, in document G/TFA/W/90 /Rev.1 . 
11  ENHANCING THE ROLE OF THE WTO TRADE FACILITATION AGREEMENT IN 
PROMOTING FOOD SECURITY – COMMUNI CATION FROM THE UNITED STATES 
(G/TFA/W/ 95/REV.1 ) 
11.1.   At the meeting of 3 -5 October 2023, the Committee took note of a communication from the 
United States entitled " Enhancing the Role of the WTO Trade Facilitation Agreement in Promoting 
Food Security " in document  G/TFA/W/95 /Rev.1 . 
12  TRADE RELATED MEASURES TAKEN BY INDIA IN RESPONSE TO THE COVID -19 
PANDEMIC AND PREPAREDNESS FOR FUTURE PANDEMICS ( JOB/TF/236 )  
12.1.   At the meeting of 3 -5 October 2023, the Committee took note of a communication from India 
entitled " Trade Related Measures Taken by India in Response to the COVID -19 Pandemic and 
Preparedness for Future Pandemics " in document JOB/TF/236 .  
13  TRADE FACILITATION AGREEMENT FACILITY  
13.1.   During the period under review, the focus of the TFAF's work has been on capacity building 
support to developing Members  and least developed country Member s for enhancing the functioning 
of National Trade Facilitation Commit tees and strengthening their coordination capacities for the 
implementation of the TFA ; matchmaking for Members' Expression of Interests (EoI) ; TFAF grants ; 
and working with a representative group of Members of the TF Committee (Workplan Committee) 
to prep are the 2024 workplan.  
13.2.   One EoI was circulated on behalf of an LDC Member, and one project proposal grant (PPG) 
has been received from an LDC Member.  
13.3.   The following technical assistance activities were carried out: (i) A Regional workshop for the 
Pacific Is land Countries; (ii) A National Workshop with the Maldives; (iii) An online National Workshop 
with Egypt; (iv) Participation of Madagascar's NTFC Secretary in the March CTF meeting; 
(v) An online regional workshop with Economic Community of West African St ates (ECOWAS); 
(vi) A National workshop with El Salvador; (vii) Attendance at a Regional workshop for Central Asian 
NTFCs; (viii) Attendance at a Regional Workshop for the Balkans; (ix) A Regional Workshop with 
Association of Latin American Integration (AL ADI); (x) A thematic workshop for Land -Locked 
Developing Countries (LLDCs) and Transit countries ; and (xi) A Regional workshop for LLDCs in 
Eurasia . 
13.4.   Further details of the technical assistance activities carried out by TFAF are contained in 
Annex  6. 
13.5.   TFAF o rganized a retreat with the Annex D+ partners to discuss collaboration in the TFA 2023 
workplan, and to receive partners' suggestions on TFAF implementation of the independent 
evaluation report.  
13.6.   The independent review of TFAF, carried out pursuant to the T FAF's Operational Guidelines 
was completed in early 2023. TFAF has already implemented some of the recommendations, such 
as enhancing efforts to promote the E oI as a matchmaking tool. TFAF will identify additional changes 
and discuss them with Members afte r the Committee 3 -5 October 2023 meeting. The results will be 
reported to the Committee in early 2024.   
13.7.   In accordance with the new TFAF Framework, a draft workplan for 2024 (G/TFA/TFAF/W/ 3) 
was prepared in cooperation with the Workplan Committee that is made up of interested Members. G/L/1514  
 
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  At the 3-5 October 2023 Committee meeting , the Chair invited Members to submit any comments 
on the draft workplan in writing by 30 October  2023, following which the workplan would be finalized.  
13.1  Reporting by TFAF and other Annex D organizations  
13.8.   During the period under review, TFAF circulated an update to the Trade Facilitation Committee 
in document G/TFA/TFAF/3 . TFAF  also made an oral report to the Committee meeting of 
15-16 June 2023.6 
13.9.   A report from Annex D organizations had been circulated in document  G/TFA/TFAF/W/2 . 
14  DRAFT ANNUAL REPORT TO THE COUNCIL FOR TRADE IN GOODS  
14.1.   The Committee adopted  the draft Annual Report to the Council for Trade in Goods 
(G/TFA/W/ 93) and requested the Secretariat to update it to take account of the Committee's meeting  
on 3-5 October 2023 . 
 
 
6 G/TFA/M/26 . G/L/1514  
 
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  ANNEX 1 
NOTIFICATIONS FROM MEMBERS SINCE THE LAST  
ANNUAL REPORT  UNTIL 5 OCTOBER 2023  
1  NOTIFICATIONS UNDER ARTICLES 1:4, 10:4:3, 10:6:2 AND 12:2:2 OF THE TRADE 
FACILITATION AGREEMENT  
Member  Document symbol  
Armenia  G/TFA/N/AR M/2/Rev.1  
Belize  G/TFA/N/BL Z/2/Rev.1  
Brunei Darussalam  G/TFA/N/BRN/2  
Cambodia  G/TFA/N/KHM/5/REV.1  
Ecuador  G/TFA/N/ECU/2/Add.1/Rev.2  
European Union  G/TFA/N/EU/1/Add.1/Rev.3 ; G/TFA/N/EU/1/Rev.8  
The Gambia  G/TFA/N/GMB/2  
Guatemala  G/TFA/N/GTM/2/Add.1  
India G/TFA/N/IND/2/Rev.1  
Jamaica  G/TFA/N/JAM/3  
Japan  G/TFA/N/JPN/2/Rev.2  
Myanmar  G/TFA/N/MMR/2/Rev.1  
Nigeria  G/TFA/N/NGA/3  
Norway  G/TFA/N/NOR/2/Rev.3  
Panama  G/TFA/N/PAN/3  
Philippines  G/TFA/N/PHL/2/ Rev.1; G/TFA/N/PHL/2/ Rev.2 
Seychelles  G/TFA/N/SYC/2  
South Africa  G/TFA/N/ZAF/2  
Switzerland  G/TFA/N/CHE/2/ Rev.2 
Tonga  G/TFA/N/TON/3/ Rev.2 
Tunisia  G/TFA/N/TUN/3  
Ukraine  G/TFA/N/UKR/3/ Rev.2 
Uruguay  G/TFA/N/URY/2/ Rev.3 
Zimbabwe  G/TFA/N/ZWE/3  
2  NOTIFICATIONS UNDER ARTICLE 16 OF THE TRADE FACILITATION AGREEMENT  
Member  Document Symbol  
Albania  G/TFA/N/ALB/3  
Belize  G/TFA/N/ BLZ/4  
Ecuador  G/TFA/N/ECU/5  
Guatemala  G/TFA/N/GTM/5  
Guinea  G/TFA/N/GIN/1/Add.2  
Kenya  G/TFA/N/KEN/5  
Malawi  G/TFA/N/MWI/4/Rev .1 
Maldives  G/TFA/N/MDV/3/Add.2 ; G/TFA/N/MDV/3/Add.3 ;  
G/TFA/N/MDV/4/Rev.1  
Myanmar  G/TFA/N/MMR/1/Add.4  
Nepal  G/TFA/N/NPL/1/Add.4 ; G/TFA/N/NPL/1/Add.4/Corr.1  
Nicaragua  G/TFA/N/NIC/4/Rev.1  
Paraguay  G/TFA/N/PRY/4  
Tanzania  G/TFA/N/TZA/2/ Add.3; G/TFA/N/TZA/4  
Tunisia  G/TFA/N/TUN/1/Add.1  G/L/1514  
 
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  Donor arrangements and progress in the provision of Technical Assistance and capacity 
building support  
Member  Document symbol  
Cambodia  G/TFA/N/KHM/4/Rev.1  
Costa Rica  G/TFA/N/CRI/3  
Lao People's Democratic Republic  G/TFA/N/LAO/3/Rev.1  
Liberia  G/TFA/N/LBR/4  
Myanmar  G/TFA/N/MMR/3  
Rwanda  G/TFA/N/RWA/4/Rev.1  
Sierra Leone  G/TFA/N/SLE/2  
Solomon Islands  G/TFA/N/SLB/2  
Tonga  G/TFA/N/TON/4  
3  NOTIFICATIONS UNDER ARTICLE 17 OF THE TRADE FACILITATION AGREEMENT  
Member  Document Symbol  
Angola  G/TFA/N/AGO/4  
Cabo Verde  G/TFA/N/CPV/1/Add.1  
Costa Rica  G/TFA/N/CRI/4  
Cuba G/TFA/N/CUB/1/Add.2  
Ecuador  G/TFA/N/ECU/1/Add.5 ; G/TFA/N/ECU/1/Add.6  
Guatemala  G/TFA/N/GTM/1/Add.3  
Maldives  G/TFA/N/MDV/3/Add.4  
Namibia  G/TFA/N/NAM/1/Add.3 ; G/TFA/N/NAM/1/Add.4  
Nicaragua  G/TFA/N/NIC/1/Add.4  
Saint Lucia  G/TFA/N/LCA/1/Add.4  
Seychelles  G/TFA/N/SYC/1/Add.3  
Togo G/TFA/N/TGO/1/Add.3 ; G/TFA/N/TGO/1/ Add.4 
Trinidad and Tobago  G/TFA/N/TTO/2/Add.1  
4  NOTIFICATIONS UNDER ARTICLE 19 OF THE TRADE FACILITATION AGREEMENT  
Member  Document Symbol  
Guinea  G/TFA/N/GIN/1/ Add.2 
Maldives  G/TFA/N/MDV/3/ Add.4 
Myanmar  G/TFA/N/MMR/1/ Add.3 
Namibia  G/TFA/N/NAM/1/ Add.4 
Nepal  G/TFA/N/NPL/1/ Add.4; G/TFA/N/NPL/1/ Add.4/Corr.1 
Saint Lucia  G/TFA/N/LCA/1/ Add.4 
5  NOTIFICATIONS UNDER ARTICLE 22 OF THE TRADE FACILITATION AGREEMENT BY 
DONOR MEMBERS  
Article 22.1 and 22.2  
Member  Document symbol  
Australia  G/TFA/N/AUS/6 ; G/TFA/N/AUS/7  
Canada  G/TFA/N/CAN/5  
European Union  G/TFA/N/EU/2/Add.4  
Japan  G/TFA/N/JPN/8  
United Kingdom  G/TFA/N/GBR/4  
United States  G/TFA/N/USA/7  G/L/1514  
 
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  Article 22.3  
Member  Document symbol  
Belize  G/TFA/N/BL Z/3/Rev.1  
Democratic Republic of the Congo  G/TFA/N/COD/2/Rev.1 ; G/TFA/N/COD/2/Rev.2  
The Gambia  G/TFA/N/GMB/3  
Guatemala  G/TFA/N/GTM/4  
Kyrgyz Republic  G/TFA/N/KGZ/3  
Myanmar  G/TFA/N /MMR/4     
Nepal  G/TFA/N/NPL/3/Rev.1  
Nicaragua  G/TFA/N/NIC/2/Rev.1 ; G/TFA/N/NIC/5 ; 
G/TFA/N/NIC/5/Corr.1  
Nigeria  G/TFA/N/NGA/2  
Paraguay  G/TFA/N/PRY/2/Rev.2  
Senegal  G/TFA/N/SEN/2/Rev.1  
Tajikistan  G/TFA/N/TJK/3  
Tonga  G/TFA/N/TON/2/Rev.3  
Tunisia  G/TFA/N/TUN/4  
Zimbabwe  G/TFA/N/ZWE/2/Rev.1  
 
 G/L/1514  
 
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  ANNEX  2 
EXPERIENCE SHARING AND THEMATIC DISCUSSIONS   
IN THE WTO COMMITTEE ON TRADE FACILITATION  
The following table offers an overview of the experience -sharing/thematic discussions that take place 
in the WTO Committee on Trade Facilitation.  
 
A dedicated webpage has been created on the TFA Database where all referenced presentations and 
related documents  can be easily accessed under the following link: https://tfadatabase.org/trade -
facilitation -committee/experience -sharing  
 
 
Committee on Trade Facilitation meeting 21-22 March 2023  
Presentation  Presenter  
The implementation of Advance Ruling Mechanism in Madagascar  Madagascar  
Proposal on the six principles of shared practice of successful NTFCs 
G/TFA/W/91 United States  
Trade Facilitation during a crisis lessons learnt from Covid -19 United Kingdom  
Improving procedures for authorization of exports and imports of processed 
food  Peru  
Support to the National Service of Agrifood Health and Service SENASA of 
Honduras  USAID  
Malawi trade facilitation project  Malawi  
Promoting implementation of the TFA through digital revolution and 
intelligent technologies  China  
Trade Facilitation reforms beyond the WTO Trade Facilitation Agreement  India 
Natural Disaster Relief and Turkish Customs Administration  Türkiye  
IMPAC CT - Disaster Preparedness A View from the Border  IMPAC CT 
MEDAIR presentation  MEDAIR  
IFRC presentation  IFRC 
Tonga statement  Tonga  
 
Committee on Trade Facilitation meeting 15-16 June 2023  
Presentation  Presenter  
Trade Facilitation improvements under the NTFC in El Salvador in Spanish  El Salvador  
USAID  
Transit coordination  UNCTAD  
Workshop results on transit issues  Eswatini, Kingdom of - Gabon 
- Pakistan  
Regional Electronic Cargo Tracking System  EAC 
Transit corridors  World Bank  
Mongoli a sharing of experience on transit coordination  Mongolia  
Vienna Programme of Action for Landlocked Developing Countries for the 
Decade 2014 -2024  UNOHRLLS  
Promoting the Construction of Smart Customs by Innovating Regulatory 
Measures through Digitalization and New Technologies  China  
Streamlining agri -food export control certification  Tunisia  
Improving small package e -Trade for SMEs  Cambodia  
Disaster preparedness a view from the border of LLDCs  IMC 
COMESA RCTG CARNET  COMESA  
Statement  (Paraguay)  Paraguay  
 G/L/1514  
 
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  Committee on Trade Facilitation meeting 3 -5 October 2023  
Presentation  Presenter  
Progress made by Peru's National Trade Facilitation Committee (In Spanish)  Peru 
Trade Facilitation - the digital transformation  India 
Trade facilitation in Jordan - increasing transparency and predictability for 
the private sector  Jordan  
Trade facilitating agricultural systems and technology T FAST (in Spanish)  Paraguay  
Cargo and transit control for imports via Air Mode  Brazil  
 
 
 
 
 
  G/L/1514  
 
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  ANNEX  3 
MC12 IMPLEMENTATION MATTERS  
Improving the functioning of the Committee on Trade Facilitation ( JOB/TF/235 ) 
 
 
 NEXT STEPS PROPOSED BY CTF1 Status of discussions at CTF informal meeting  
26 July 2023  
1. Assistance to capital -based and Geneva -based officials  
a) Organization of introductory sessions (in a 
hybrid format) or pre -recorded introductory 
tutorial for interested Geneva and capital -
based delegates  Support for organizing periodic introductory sessions 
twice a year about the TFA, the TFA database, and 
update on the work of the CTF.  
b) Development of a written manual on the 
functioning of the Committee, covering its 
operation, rules of procedures, reg ular 
activities, commitments, notification 
processes, and the digital tools used.  Support for drafting a manual describing the main 
procedural and substantive aspects of the work of the CTF. 
An outline will be shared with Members in advance.  
c) Organizati on of capacity building sessions 
on notification submissions  Support for organizing capacity building sessions on TFA  
notification submissions on an annual basis, in the context 
of informal meetings. Additional sessions to be held on and 
ad hoc basis as requested by Members. Participation of 
capital -based officials in the sessions will be considered.  
d) Availability on line of training materials for 
delegates plus material for external 
stakeholders.  Support for the Secretariat uploading the training 
materials used in the periodic introductory capacity 
building sessions to the Trade Facilitation webpage of the 
WTO website  and to the TFA database website.  
2. Planning and organization of meetings  
a) Annual planning and scheduling of meetings 
to allow sufficient planning time  No specific follow -up in CTF  at this time with discussions 
continuing in CTG.  
b) Avoiding overlapping of meetings and 
re-scheduling  No specific follow -up in CTF at this time with discussions 
continuing in CTG.  
c) Introduction of an automated alert system 
to the WTO calendar of meetings  No specific follow -up in CTF at this time with discussions 
continuing in CTG.  
3. Work Procedures  
a) Introduction of an annotated agenda 
(document providing background 
information about the issues that will be 
discussed at a meeting)  Support for the Secretariat to circulate an annotated 
agenda ahead of formal meetings of the CTF, ten days in 
advance of the meeting. The document could describe each 
agenda item and provide relevant background to help the 
preparation by delegations  
b) Timel y circulation and uploading on digital 
platforms of materials for the meeting well 
in advance, including the minutes from the 
last meeting, Secretariat oral reports, 
presentations, and documents.  Support for circulating documents with a document 
symbol sufficiently in advance of meetings so that they 
could be translated and made available through 
Documents Online, (Reference: JOB/CTG/32  item f.1.1) 
Both Members and the Secretariat will make their best 
efforts to ensure that all presentations are circulated and 
made available online (i.e. under the RD document 
series) prior to the meetings, (Reference: JOB/CTG/32  
item f.1.2).  
c) Improvements to the preparation of 
minutes of formal meetings  Further analysis and sharing of views needed regarding the 
format and preparation of the minutes of the CTF and 
discuss any possible recommendations in this area.  
d) Circulation of summary notes after the 
meetings Support for the Secretariat circulating the Chairperson's 
written reports or statements when this can be useful or 
when it is requested by delegations.  
 
1 At the TF Committee meeting of 21 -22 March 2023 and in response to a communication from the 
Chair of the Committee on Trade Facilitation dated 3 April 2023.  G/L/1514  
 
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   NEXT STEPS PROPOSED BY CTF1 Status of discussions at CTF informal meeting  
26 July 2023  
4. Use of digital tools  
a) Implementation of an eAgenda  Support for implementing the eAgenda on a trial basis, 
subject to budgetary and resource considerations.  
b) eRegistration  No specific follow -up in CTF at this time with discussions 
continuing in CTG.  
c) Adoption of the trade concerns database  No action required at this time  
d) Establishment of a Notifications portal as a 
single window for notifications  No specific follow -up in CTF at this time with discussions 
continuing in CTG.  
 
 
 
  G/L/1514  
 
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  ANNEX 4  
DEDICATED SESSION ON TRANSIT FOR THE LANDLOCKED DEVELOPING COUNTRIES  
 
"Overcoming Challenges In Trade And Transit Operations"  
 
Programme  
 
16 June 2023  
 
 
 
  AGENDA ITEM  
Welcome remarks  
• Mr. Carlos S. Guevara  (Ecuador), Trade Facilitation Committee Chairperson  
• H.E Ms . Zhanar Aitzhanova, Ambassador of Kazakhstan  
Presentation of the outcomes of the Workshop on Transit for Landlocked Developing and Transit 
WTO Members that was held on June 13 -14 
• Key findings and solutions for the priority issues identified : 
- Ms Khetsiwe Khumbuzile Marina Makhanya, Eswatini, Mr Gildas Kevin Assambou, 
Gabon and Mr Ashfaq Ahmad, Pakistan  
• Recommendations for Taking Transit Issues Forward in the Trade Facilitation Committ ee:  
-  Ms. Constance Zhanje, Zimbabwe  
Presentations by International Organizations on an overview of their support programmes for 
LLDCs and sharing of experience by an LLDC transit Member  
• Vienna Programme of Action  - Ms. Gladys Mutangadura, UNOHRLLS  
• Guarantees  - Mr. Berhane Giday Kassa, COMESA  and Mr. Charles Chaitezvi, COMESA  
• Tracking  - Mr. Evariste Munyampundu, EAC 
• Transit Corridors  - Mr. William Gain, World Bank  
• Transit Coordination  - Ms. Ariunaa Adiya, Department of Foreign Trade and Economic 
Cooperation - Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Mongolia  
• Formalities  - Mr. Phuntsho Dorji, WCO 
• Coordination  - Mr. Poul Hansen, UNCTAD  
Closing  
• H.E Mr . Raul Cano Ricciardi, Ambassador of Paraguay  G/L/1514  
 
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  REPORT BY BOTSWANA, COORDINATOR OF THE LLDC GROUP  ON THE DEDICAT ED 
SESSION ON TRANSIT ISSUES  FOR LANDLOCKED COUNTRIES  
1. The WTO group of landlocked developing country Members, in cooperation with the TFAF, 
organized a workshop on 13 to 14 June 2023 to bring together landlocked developing and transit 
country Members to identify key transit issues and possible solutions to pr epare for the second WTO 
Trade Facilitation Committee dedicated session on transit under the theme "Overcoming Challenges 
in Trade and Transit Operations". The workshop was attended by capital -based officials from 
26 landlocked developing and transit count ry Members and included speakers and presentations 
from the WTO Secretariat and expert facilitators from UNCTAD , the World Bank Group , COMESA , 
EAC, OECD , WCO, and UNOHRLLS .  
2. The specific topics covered during the workshop included transit coordination, corridors, 
guarantees, tracking and formalities. During the dedicated session held this morning, the 
participants of the workshop on transi t issues presented the outcomes, key findings, and solutions 
for transit issues, discussed during the workshops. Many thanks to the Chairperson of the Trade 
Facilitation Committee, Mr. Carlos Guevara, for delivering the welcome remarks, the Ambassador of 
Kazakhstan, H.E. M s. Aitzhanova, for moderating the session, and the Ambassador of Paraguay for 
his closing remarks. A more detailed report on the workshop will be shared at a later date.  
3. On transit coordination, participants identified varying procedures a nd formalities with 
neighbour Members, limited collaboration across borders and capacity development as key issues. 
Other issues identified were the lack of dedicated transit coordinators and a trans -coordination 
network, solutions for addressing these iss ues included simplification, standardization and 
harmonization of procedures and working hours, establishing cross -border working groups for 
enhanced cooperation between neighbours and the creation of a transit coordinator in customs and 
all National Trade  Facilitation Committees. The absence of regional or international guidelines on 
guarantees, including the lack of harmonization between neighbours, calculation and timely release 
of guarantees were identified as key issues on the topic of guarantees. Prop osed solutions for 
addressing these issues included, joint advocacy with the private sector, developing specific regional 
regulations and guarantees necessary for transit operations along the lines developed by COMESA , 
digitalization and automation of customs procedures concerning guarantees to include cross -border 
connectivity and harmonize the methods of calculating guarantees. Key issues relating to tracking 
and sealing included in ternal road checkpoints; the vulnerability of conventional seals to tampering 
and high costs. In order to overcome these challenges, the implementation of technology -based 
solutions, capacity building and effective management were recommended.  
4. By utilizing  technology, such as electronic tracking systems, the need for checkpoints and 
convoys can be eliminated, resulting in more efficient transit. Furthermore, it was suggested to 
explore the removal of fees associated with freedom of transit under Article 11 of the TFA to 
streamline logistics operations. However, caution was advised regarding the use of regional, 
affordable bonds a solution. At the border corridors, predominant issues included the interoperability 
and interconnectivity of transit data which id entified the needs to have consistent assistance to share 
data across corridors. Various formalities and procedures in countries in the corridor route were 
inadequate with no mutual recognition of controls resulting in the delays in increasing cost of trad ing. 
Introducing international standards such as authorized economic operators, mutual recognition for 
customs and SPS, and digitalization of information are vital.  
5. The challenges posed by complex burdensome and excessive border formalities included 
unnece ssary inspections at the border, lack of risk management in transit, lack of transparency on 
formalities for multimodal transport, other than road, coordination controls, and special formalities 
in respect of special cargo, such as live animals, over dimen sioned cargo, is lacking. Solutions to 
mitigate these burdensome formalities included enhanced coordination, cooperation, harmonization 
and simplification of inspections and documentation, whereby encouraging the implementation of a 
one-stop-border facilit y, the use of non -intrusive inspection equipment, coupled with the utilization 
of digital and automated means leading to less time in transit and trade more facilitative. 
The recommendations from the workshop stressed the need for finding implementation su pport for 
LLDCs, including enhanced donor coordination through NTFCs and the TFAF, developing and using 
monitoring tools and conducting training for those tools and developing a nationally coordinated 
approach to ensure prioritization of implementation of TFA commitments. Another important point G/L/1514  
 
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  that came out of the workshop was to enhance the sustainability of the implementation support that 
was provided by the donors.  
6. Further experience sharing was also envisaged as a way to take transit issues forward in  the 
Trade Facilitation Committee. This included experience sharing on specific issues such as transit 
coordination cooperation, corridors, and formalities and on cross -cutting issues such as rules of 
origin and sanitary and phytosanitary measures applicab le to goods in transit. On technical 
assistance, the recommendations included, conducting needs assessments for Members 
implementing the TFA, especially category C measures and encouraging the submission of technical 
assistance requests to the TFAF by Memb ers through their permanent missions.  
7. Further, on donor support, the workshop recommendations included encouraging donors to 
support monitoring and evaluating tools and provide more information on support provided on transit 
issues. Finally, other recommen dations included establishing sub -committees on transit as part of 
NTFCs, conducting dedicated sessions and transit at the national and regional levels, encouraging 
capital -based officials to share experiences through their missions, as well as leveraging and learning 
from experiences of Members that have successfully implemented transit reforms.  
8. Following the presentation by participants on key findings and recommendations coming out 
of the workshop, we heard presenters from several regional and international organizations, provide 
an overview of their support programmes for LLDC Members. The sess ion included presentations by 
UNOHRLLS  and the Vienna Programme of Action  by COMESA  on guarantees, the EAC on tracking, 
the World Bank on transit corridors, by the Minister of Foreign  Affairs of Mongolia on transit 
coordination, the WCO on formalities, and UNCTAD on coordination. We are thankful to these 
organizations for participating in the workshop and for the ir continued support to the LLDCs as they 
tackle the transit issues. Follow -up work is necessary to explore how the Trade Facilitation 
Committee can best support the uptake of the recommendations made today. Findings from the 
workshop are available upon th e request at the TFAF website . Our aim is for the outcome of this 
session to make a valuable contribution to the upcoming Third Uni ted Nations Conference on 
Landlocked Developing Countries , which is set to take place from 18 to 22 June 2024 in Kigali, 
Rwanda. The Conference aims to formulate and adopt a renewed framework for international support 
to address the special needs of LLDCs and to strengthen partnership between LLDCs and transit 
countries and their development partners. The Conference will adopt a decade long Programme of 
Action for LLDCs and it is key that solutions to transit and trade facilitation are an integral part of 
this programme of action. Botswana feels highly honoured t o be Chair of the Conference and look 
forward to further engage with member countries, international organizations, and partners to 
ensure a successful Conference. We also wish to take this opportunity to thank the Secretariat for 
its assistance with the p reparation of the report.  
 
   G/L/1514  
 
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  ANNEX 5 
DISASTER PREPAREDNESS: A VIEW FROM THE BORDER  
 
21 March 2023  
 
Programme  
 
WELCOME REMARKS  
H.E. (Dr) Adamu Mohammed ABDULHAMID, Ambassador, Permanent Representative of Nigeria to the WTO, 
Chairman of the Committee on Trade Facilitation  
VIEW FROM THE WORKING GROUP ON CUSTOMS AND HUMANITARIAN RELIEF (IMPACCT)  
10:15 – 10:30  
Presenter   
Ms. Virginie Bohl, Coordinator, IMPACCT Working Group  
 
PANEL 1 – DISASTER PREPAREDNESS AMONG LITTORAL STATES  
10:30 – 11:45  
Moderator: Christina Kopitopoulos, Deputy Assistant U.S. Trade Representative for WTO and Multilateral 
Affairs  
 
Panel discussion  
• H.E. Jose Valencia, Permanent Representative to the WTO, Ecuador  
• Mr. Onur Yengil, Trade Expert at the Ministry of Trade, Türkiye  
• [Speaker tbc], Mozambique  
• Ms. Corinna Drechsel, Senior Global Logistics Advisor, Medair  
• Ms. Danielle Jurman, Humanitarian Supplies Analyst, Humanitarian Response Division, UN Popula tion 
Fund (UNFPA)  
PANEL 2 - DISASTER PREPAREDNESS AMONG ISLAND STATES  
11:45 – 13:00  
Moderator Christina Kopitopoulos, Deputy Assistant U.S. Trade Representative for WTO and Multilateral 
Affairs  
 
Panel discussion   
• H.E. Sumbue Antas , Permanent Representative to the WTO, Vanuatu  
• Mr. Raymond Batac, Commercial Counsellor, Permanent Mission of the Philippines  
• Mr. Olivier Andriakaja E lack, Directeur Général du Bureau national de gestion des risques et des 
catastrophes (BNGRC), Madagascar  
• Ms. Esterlina Alipate, WTO Netherlands Trainee, (formerly Ministry of Trade and Economic 
Development), Tonga  
• Ms. Mulki Fozia Abdullah, Field Supply Referent, Medecins sans Frontieres  
• Mr. Nelson Castano, Manager, Operations Coordinator, Disaster  and Crisis (Prevention, Response and 
Recovery), International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies  
 
WRAP -UP AND NEXT STEPS  
 
  G/L/1514  
 
- 20 - 
 
  DISASTER PREPAREDNESS: A VIEW FROM THE BORDER  
OF LAND -LOCKED DEVELOPING COUNTRIES  
DEDICATED SESSION OF TRANSIT ISSUES OF LANDLOCKED COUNTRY MEMBERS  
 
16 June 2023  
 
Programme  
 
 AGENDA ITEM  
Welcome remarks and introduction of panellists  
 
Ms. Christina Kopitopoulos , Deputy Assistant U.S. Trade Representative for WTO and 
Multilateral Affairs (Moderator)  
 
Panel discussion on Disaster Preparedness among LLDCs to identify future work the TFC could 
undertake to streamline and expedite humanitarian shipments.  
 
Panellists  
 
• Ms. Lydia MATAPO , Deputy Permanent Representative to the WTO, Zambia  
• Mr. Gobinda Bahadur KARKEE , Joint Secretary, Ministry of Industry, Commerce and 
Supplies, Nepal  
• Mr. Samnang CHEA , Head of International Affairs  at the General Department of Customs 
and Excise of Cambodia, and a member of Cambodia's National Trade Facilitation 
Committee Secre tariat  
• Ms. Virginie BOHL , Working Group on Customs and Humanitarian Relief (IMPACCT)  
• Mr. Jean -Cedric MEEUS , Chief Global Transport, United Nations International Children’s 
Emergency Fund (UNICEF) Supply Division  
• Mr. Sebastien CAZENAVE , Senior Director, Global Logistics & Supply Chain, 
International Medical Corps  
 
Key findings and solutions for the issues discussed  
 
Audience Q&A  
 
Closing: Wrap up and next steps  
 G/L/1514  
 
- 21 - 
 
  DISASTER PREPAREDNESS: INTERNATIONAL DONOR COOPERATION TO FACILITATE THE 
MOVEMENT OF HUMANITARIAN GOODS DURING EMERGENCIES AND DISASTERS  
6 October 2023  
 
Programme  
 
Overview:   This is the third in a series of panel discussions to share experiences and highlight the 
challenges WT O Members, donor agencies, NGOs, and private -sector stakeholders face in moving 
humanitarian aid and relief supplies across international borders during times of disaster, whatever 
form it may take.  The intent of these panel discussions is to identify fut ure work the TFC could 
undertake to streamline and expedite humanitarian shipments.   
 
In March 2023, the WTO Secretariat with assistance from the United States organized a panel to 
share experiences among littoral and island states and included the partic ipation of several 
humanitarian organizations and NGOs.  In June 2023, the United States organized a panel discussion 
to examine the specific challenges of Land -Locked Developing Countries (LLDCs) as part of the 
Dedicated Session on Transit Issues of Landl ocked Country Members.  
 
This third panel discussion (in hybrid mode) will examine the role that international donors and 
development banks play in working with WTO Members to help move humanitarian goods and 
supplies across international borders during ti mes of disaster.  This session is meant to complement 
the TFC dedicated session on technical assistance and trade capacity building.  
 
10:00   Welcome remarks and introduction  (10 min)  
Ambassador Maria Pagan , United States Permanent Representative to the WTO  [confirmed]  
 
10:10   Introduction of panelists  (5 min)  
Moderator, Alan Treat, Attache, U.S. Mission to the WTO  
 
10:15   Panel and Moderated Discussion  (60 min)  
1. Mr. Jaime Granados , Chief, Trade and Investment Division, Integration and Trade Sector, 
Inter-American Development Bank [confirmed]  
2. Mr. William Gain , Global Product Specialist for Trade Facilitation & Border Management, 
World Bank [confirmed]  
3. Mr. Youssouf Kone, Regional Integration Coordinator for West and Central Africa,  African 
Development Bank Group [confirmed]  
4. Ms. Kanya Sasradipoera , Principal Regional Cooperation Specialist, Asian Development 
Bank [confirmed]  
5. Mr. John David , Information Systems Officer, ASYCUDA Programme, UNCTAD, [confirmed]  
 
Format:   Panel presentations with a moderated discussion.  Each panelist will give a 7 -10 minute 
presentation highlighting the following:  
1) Role the int’l donor and brief overview of the programming activities  
2) How int’l donor works with WTO Member to implement acti vities pre -, during, and/or post -
disaster to move humanitarian goods across borders  
3) Role of other external stakeholders (eg, private sector, civil society, humanitarian 
organizations)  
4) Experiences and lessons learned  
5) potential future work the WTO TFC could undertake to streamline procedures and expedite 
humanitarian shipments.   
 
Moderator Discussion Questions for Panelists:  
 
1. In your experience what are the three or four steps that Members need to take to utilize your 
resources to prepare for a future disast er? 
2. What are the common actions of Members that are most successful in navigating through, and 
recovering from, a disaster or crisis?  
3. The WTO Trade Facilitation Committee has been working towards developing universal 
principles for all Members to prepare f or future pandemics. Do your organizations agree that 
uniform implementation of these principles is important? Can you support Members in 
adopting and implementing these principles and practices?  G/L/1514  
 
- 22 - 
 
  11:15   WTO Member partner perspectives  (30 min) [short inter ventions from the floor]  
WTO Members that are highlighted in the above presentations and that have partnered with these 
regional development banks and donors on disaster preparedness are invited to shared their 
perspectives on lessons learned and potential  future work of the WTO TFC.  
 
11:45   Audience Q&A  (30 min)  
 
12:15   Wrap up and next steps  (15 min)  
  Moderator, USTR  
 
12:30   Session ends  
 
  G/L/1514  
 
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  ANNEX 6 
TECHNICAL ASSISTANCE ACTIVITIES CARRIED OUT BY TFAF  
FROM  1 DECEMBER 2022  TO 30 OCTOBER 2023  
Activity and date  Desired outcome  
(From TFAF logframe)  No. of 
participants  
Regional Workshop for Pacific Islands Countries – 
13-16 December 2022   Enhance the operation of the 
national trade facilitation committee.  
Find assistance for implementation 
of the provisions of the TFA . 65 
Maldives National workshop –  
22-25 January 2023  Enhance the operation of the 
national trade facilitation committee . 40 
Annex D retreat – 27-28 February 2023  Enhance the operation of the 
national trade facilitation 
committees . 10 
Egypt National Workshop for TFA Delivery Unit – 
15 March 2023  
(Online)  Find assistance for implementation 
of the provisions of the TFA .  12 
Madagascar NTFC Secretary participation in CTF – 
21-22 March 2023  Enhance the operation of the 
national trade facilitation committee . 
Find assistance for implementation 
of the provisions of the TFA.  1 
Regional workshop with Economic Community of 
West African States (ECOWAS) – 27-29 March 
2023 
(Online)  Enhance the operation of the 
national trade facilitation  
committees.  
Find assistance for implementation 
of the provisions of the TFA.  60 
El Salvador National workshop –  
15-17 April 2023  Enhance the operation of the 
national trade facilitation committee.  20+ 
Regional Workshop of National trade Facilitation 
Committees, Uzbekistan -  
25-26 April 2023  Enhance the operation of the 
national trade facilitation 
committees.  20+ 
Regional workshop on NTFC  Maturity and Capacity 
Building for the Balkans and other neighbouring 
economies – 16-17 May 2023  Enhance the operation of the 
national trade facilitation 
committees.  20 
Regional workshop with Latin American  
Integration Association (ALADI) –  
23-26 May 20 23 Enhance the operation of the 
national trade facilitation 
committees.  50 
Transit workshop, Geneva – 13-14 June 2023  Enhance the operation of the 
national trade facilitation 
committees.  
Find assistance for implementation 
of the provisions of the TFA  28 
UNOHRLLS Regional Activity in Eurasia –  
24-25 August 2023  Enhance the operation of the 
national trade facilitation 
committees.  
Find assistance for implementation 
of the provisions of the TFA.  100+  
 
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