G/TFA/N/ TON/4  
 
16 June 2022 
(22-4696) Page: 1/5 
Committee on Trade Facilitation  Original: English  
 
NOTIFICATION OF ARRANGEMENTS AND PROGRESS IN THE PROVISION OF TECHNICAL 
ASSISTANCE AND CAPACITY BUILDING SUPPORT OF CATEGORY C DESIGNATIONS  
COMMUNICATION FROM TONGA  
The following communication, dated 14 June  2022 is being circulated at the request of the delegation 
of Tonga  for Members ' information.  
 
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Tonga  hereby notifies information on the arrangements concluded and progress made in the 
provision of technical assistance and capacity building supp ort of the following category C 
designations, in response to Article 16 of the Trade Facilitation Agreement.  
 
Provision  Heading/Description  Category  Indicative date 
for 
implementation  
 Definitive date for 
implementation  
 
Article 1.2  Information Available 
through Internet  C 22 February 20 20 31 December 2029  
Donor s: Governments of Australia and New Zealand  
 
Progress in the provision of technical assistance and capacity building support:  
Tonga initially requested support to amalgamate all information into a trade portal for the purpose of complying 
with Article 1 sub articles 2.1 and 2.3 .  Tonga launched the Trade and Information Portal in 2019 with funding 
from the Governments of Australia and New Zealand and technical assis tance from UNCTAD through the PACER 
Plus Agreement.  
The Trade and Information Portal is an online system which allows all cross -border trade related information to 
be available. These cover applicable laws, administrative procedures, permits, forms and ta riff information.  
 
 
Provision  Heading/Description  Category  Indicative date 
for 
implementation  
 Definitive date for 
implementation  
 
Article 2.1 Opportunity to 
Comment and 
Information Before 
Entry into Force  C 22 February 2019  31 December 2024  
Donor s: To be determined  
 
Progress in the provision of technical assistance and capacity building support:  
The Tonga Attorney General 's office has published a Drafting Manual that requires consultation before 
implementing and enforcing new laws.  
TACB support is still required from Donors for the following : 
1. There is still a need for the development of a border agency guideline for formal and regular consultation 
mechanisms  that aligns  with the Attorney  General 's Drafting  Manual  G/TFA/N/ TON/4  
 
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  Provision  Heading/Description  Category  Indicative date 
for 
implementation  
 Definitive date for 
implementation  
 
Article 3 Advance Ruling  C 22 February 2019  31 December 2024  
Donor s: Governments of Australia and New Zealand  
Progress in the provision of technical assistance and capacity building support:  
Initial request: Customs need establishment of the Legal Framework and need Capacity Building for staff.  
The funding from the Governments of Australia and New Zealand through the PACER Plus Agreement .  The 
Oceania Customs Organisation provided technical assistance for the review of the Customs legislations and 
draft necessary  legislation to enable implementation of the Trade in Goods and Customs Procedures Chapters 
of the PACER Plus Agreement . 
TACB support is still required from Donors for the following : 
1. Policy and procedure for advance rulings (2024 -2025)  
2. Publish a Fact Sheet/General Procedure Guide for Advance Rulings (2025 -26) 
3. Train Customs staff (2025 -26) 
 
 
Provision  Heading/Description  Category  Indicative date 
for 
implementation  
 Definitive date for 
implementation  
 
Article 5.3 Test Procedures  
 C 22 February 2022  31 December 2029  
Donor s: To be determined  
 
Progress in the provision of technical assistance and capacity building support:  
The Ministry of  Fisheries  and the Ministry of Agriculture, Food and Forests (MAFF)  do not have sufficient 
laboratories for second  tests.  
TACB support is still required from Donors for the following:  
1. Develop a guideline for reque sting a second test for food safety, agriculture, or other regulatory purposes 
(2022)  
2. Establish lab testing facilities and train officials (2029)  
3. Train officials on HPLC machines (2022)  
 
 
Provision  Heading/Description  Category  Indicative date 
for 
implementation  
 Definitive date for 
implementation  
 
Article 7.4 Risk Management  
 C 22 February 2018  31 December 2024  
Donor s: World Customs Organisation (WCO), Government s of Australia and New Zealand  
 
Progress in the provision of technical assistance and capacity building support:  
Procedures for risk management for customs control are in place. The Customs Automation System (CMS)  
selectivity criteria is used for the requisite assessment and compliance management thereof. WCO commenced 
a Mercator diagnostic assessment of Customs as part of its capacity building assistance under the Mercator 
Programme. This assistance stands to cont inue with in -country support missions once restrictions on 
international travel are lifted. This assistance with include RKC (Revised Kyoto Convention) Support.  
Under the PACER Plus ASYCUDA Project, Customs is receiving technical assistance from UNCTAD to enable the 
migration from  the use of the CMS to the ASYCUDA World system.  
TACB support is still required from Donors for the following : 
1. Develop Border Risk Management Strategy agreed between all border agencies (2022)  
2. Undertake a risk management gap analy sis (based on the Border Risk Management Strategy by agency) 
(2022)  
3. Develop regulations (if applicable), policies and procedures based on the Border Risk Management  
Strategy (example of possible need for regulation could be access and sharing of information)  
4. Create an operational common risk register and mitigation strategy (2023)  
5. Identify technologies and interfaces to ASYCUDA World (e.g., x -ray) (2022)  G/TFA/N/ TON/4  
 
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  6. Training to develop capacity in relevant border agencies to ensure understanding and application of  
border risk assessment and risk management (2024)  
 
 
Provision  Heading/Description  Category  Indicative date 
for 
implementation  
 Definitive date for 
implementation  
 
Article 7.5 Post-clearance Audit  
 C 22 February 2022  31 December 2024  
Donor s: World Customs Organisation (WCO)  
 
Progress in the provision of technical assistance and capacity building support:  
Policies and procedures to manage customs risks through a post clearance audit process are operational, and 
the audit process has been automated within the customs system. The same principles were envisaged to be 
applied across all border agencies to ease border congestion and improve regulatory compliance across 
multiple border agencies. WCO to undertake diagnostic of Customs and pilot of advanced systems -based 
auditing package . 
TACB support is still required from Donors for the following : 
1. Support to revie w draft legislation including harmonization with legal framework of all relevant 
institutions  
2. Capacity building in post clearance audit in all relevant agencies  
3. Develop an audit programme for desktop and in -premises audit  
4. Train on audit skills (e.g., WCO e -click) 
5.  Provide briefing sessions to trading community on the role of PCA and legislative requirements related to 
PCA  
6. Train Quarantine staff on analysing available transaction data from ASYCUDA World and identifying 
criteria for high -risk cargo and post clearance audit techniques  
 
 
Provision  Heading/Description  Category  Indicative date 
for 
implementation  
 Definitive date for 
implementation  
 
Article 7.6 Establishment and 
Publication of Average 
Release Times  C 22 February 2022  31 December 2024  
Donor s: World Customs Organisation (WCO)  and the World Bank Group (WBG)  
 
Progress in the provision of technical assistance and capacity building support:  
World Customs Organisation (WCO) and  the World Bank Group (WBG) provided technical assistance to 
conduct Tonga 's Time Release Study in 2020 which has been completed and is a baseline to measure the 
impact of reforms and initiatives.  What remains is to a dopt the recommendations of the Time Release Study 
(2021), schedule the reform actions (2021) and undertake the TRS after the implementation of  the ASYCUDA 
World (2024) . 
TACB support is still required from Donors for the following : 
1. Capacity building on designing, planning, and implementing Time Release Study for all relevant agencies  
2. Stakeholder engageme nt to disseminate the results of the study  
 
 
Provision  Heading/Description  Category  Indicative date 
for 
implementation  
 Definitive date for 
implementation  
 
Article 7.7 Trade Facilitation 
Measures for 
Operators  C 22 February 2022  31 December 2024  
Donor s: World Bank Group (WBG)  
 G/TFA/N/ TON/4  
 
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  Progress in the provision of technical assistance and capacity building support:  
The Heilala Programme (Authorised Operators)  of the Ministry of Revenue and Customs ( Customs)  provides 
facilitated procedures  for selected importers . With the assistance of the World Bank Group, the Customs 
Division of Customs  is seeking to expand i ts Authorised Operator program by developing an AEO Programme 
targeting exporters.  
Customs  had previously received assistance from the Oc eania Customs Organisation  (OCO)  to develop draft 
legislation to enable the implementation of an AEO Programme for exporters. This program was to be based 
on New Zealand 's Approved Secure Export Scheme.  
The World Bank Group is currently assisting Customs  and Ministry of Trade and Economic Development 
(MTED) with the review of the draft AEO Policy.  
TACB support is still required from Donors for the following:  
1. Conduct Time Release Study for Export (2022)  
2. Develop Customs AEO Policy and Guidelines for exporter s (2022)  
3. Review Customs Bill to ensure alignment with this article (2022)  
4. Train Customs and Quarantine staff on implementation of a risk -based approach in the clearance of 
import & export cargo including measures for authorised operators (2023)  
5. Publish transparent guidelines for Heilala Programme participation (2024)  
 
 
Provision  Heading/Description  Category  Indicative date 
for 
implementation  
 Definitive date for 
implementation  
 
Article 8 Border Agency 
Cooperation  C 22 February 2018 31 December 2024  
Donor s: World Customs Organization (WCO)  
 
Progress in the provision of technical assistance and capacity building support:  
WCO to support Customs by facilitating an interactive stakeholder engagement workshop, focusing on 
effective and meaningful private sector engagement . 
TACB support is still required from Donors for the following : 
1. Develop a framework and strategy for border agency cooperation (2022)  
2. Implement one -stop-shop clearance Customs, MAFFF, and Port Authority (2022)  
3. Implement a virtual one -stop-shop for customs, quarantine, and food clearances in ASYCUDA World 
(2023) - see Art. 10.1  
4. Implement joint inspection procedures at the approved warehouses based on joint risk management 
(2024)  
 
 
Provision  Heading/Description  Category  Indicative date 
for 
implementation  
 Definitive date for 
implementation  
 
Article 10.1 Formalities and 
Documentation 
Requirements  C 22 February 202 0 31 December 2024  
Donor s: Governments of Australia and New Zealand  
 
Progress in the provision of technical assistance and capacity building support:  
The Governments of Australia and New Zealand will fund e -phyto training and will be facilitated by the SPC.  
Phase 1 of e-phyto  TACB  involves staff training and the test run to be completed by the end of June 2022 . 
TACB support is still required from Donors for the following : 
1. Review documentary requirements as part of the Trade Facilitation Strategy and in preparation for 
implementing automation   
2. Implement a virtual one -stop-shop for customs, quarantine, and food clearances in ASYCUDA World (2023) 
- As per Art. 8  
3. Undertake a legal analysis and implement any required changes to enable offshore payment of duties, fees, 
and charges (2023)  
 
 G/TFA/N/ TON/4  
 
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  Provision  Heading/Description  Category  Indicative date 
for 
implementation  
 Definitive date for 
implementation  
 
Article 10.2 Acceptance of Copies  C 22 February 20 18 31 December 2024  
Donor s: To be determined  
 
Progress in the provision of technical assistance and capacity building support:  
Yet to be provided . 
TACB support is still required from Donors for the following : 
1. Review documentary requirements as part of Trade Facilitation Strategy and in preparation for 
implementing automation   
2. Implement a virtual one -stop-shop for customs, quarantine and food clearances in ASYCUDA World (2023) 
- As per Art. 8  
3. Undertake a legal analysis and implement any required changes to enable offshore payment of duties, 
fees, and charges (2023)  
 
 
Provision  Heading/Description  Category  Indicative date 
for 
implementation  
 Definitive date for 
implementation  
 
Article 10.3 Use of International 
Standards  C 22 February 2022  31 December 2024  
Donors: World Customs Organisation (WCO)  
 
Progress in the provision of technical assistance and capacity building support:  
As abovementioned, the assistance offered to Customs  through the WCO Mercator Programme will also include 
RKC Accession Support. This will see Customs adopting Customs interna tional standards and best practices of 
the Revised Kyoto Convention on the simplification and harmonisation of custom procedures.  
TACB support is still required from Donors for the following : 
1. Capacity building for agencies on relevant international standa rds, testing procedures and international 
best practices  
2. Awareness campaigns on use of international standards  
 
 
Provision  Heading/Description  Category  Indicative date 
for 
implementation  
 Definitive date for 
implementation  
 
Article 10.4 Single Window  C 22 February 2022  31 December 202 9 
Donor s: Governments of Australia and New Zealand  
Progress in the provision of technical assistance and capacity building support:  
Tonga has yet to implement and set up a single window system, this will be considered upon when the 
ASYCUDA World is fully stood up and operational. ASYCUDA World is funded through the Governments of 
Australia and New Zealand and technical assistance from UNCTAD through the PACER Plus Agreement.  
TACB support is still required from Donors for the following : 
1. Implement one -stop-shop clearance Customs, MAFFF, and Port Authority (2021) - as per Art 8  
2. Undertake a Single Window Visioning Worksop with public and p rivate sector (2023)  
3. Undertake a Single Window Feasibility Study (to be reviewed as a result of the visioning workshop) 
(2024)  
4. Prepare a Single Window Blueprint (to be reviewed as a result of the Single Window Feasibility Study) 
(2026)  
 
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