G/TFA/W/74  
 
15 November 2021  
(21-8641) Page: 1/2 
Committee on Trade Facilitation  Original: English  
 
COMMENTS ON THE FIRST REVIEW OF THE OPERATION AND IMPLEMENTATION  
OF THE TRADE FACILITATION AGREEMENT (G/TFA/W/41/REV. 4) 
COMMUNICATION FROM TRINIDAD AND TOBAGO  
The following communication, dated 15 November  2021, is being circulated at the request of the 
delegation of Trinidad and Tobago . 
 
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Trinidad and Tobago  suggests the following factual edits to the First Review of the Operation and 
Implementation of the Trade Facilitation Agreement (G/T FA/W/41/Rev.4):  
1. As a small island developing state, Trinidad and Tobago believes that trade facilitation plays 
a critical role in the development of its economy. Trinidad and Tobago therefore considers the First 
Review of the Trade Facilitation Agreement ( TFA) as an important mechanism through which World 
Trade Organization (WTO) Member States are able to measure the impact of their efforts in 
implementing the TFA. Additionally, the First Review provides the opportunity for all WTO Members 
of varying levels  of development, particularly Small and Vulnerable Economies (SVEs), to contribute 
to the drafting of the document which will inform future operations for the TFA implementation.  
2. Trinidad and Tobago thanks the WTO Secretariat for preparing the documents and is pleased 
to transmit its comments on the First Review of the TFA ( G/TFA/W/41/Rev.4) for the consideration 
of WTO Committee on Trade Facilitation.   
3. The Draft First Review provides useful information on notifications made by Member States, 
however it may be prudent if the Secretariat can include a brief analysis of the charts utilized. This 
will provide the reader with a greater appreciation and understanding of what is being presented. In 
this regard, Trinidad and Tobago is in agreement with the comments made by the LDC Group as 
cited in G/TFA/W/59/Rev.1, para. 2.2. 
4.  Under Section II of the draft First Review, Trinidad and Tobago believes that in order to 
provide a more holistic and transparent picture of the TFA implementation, it will be use ful to include 
the constraints faced by developing countries and SVEs like Trinidad and Tobago. While Trinidad and 
Tobago remains committed to actively implementing its commitments under the TFA, the natural 
dynamics of being a small island developing stat e stymies implementation. In this regard, it may be 
useful to include some challenges faced by SVEs, including:  
a. Lack of human resources and capacity to prepare project proposals for 
Category C commitments.  
Many SVEs lack  the human resource capacity to p repare project proposals for 
presentation to donors. Staff of agencies are predominantly focused on key day -to-day 
functions, which compete for priority. While officials in the respective organizations may 
possess the technical knowledge on the country’s  systems and processes and the 
relevant gaps, they do not all possess the capacity to prepare effective project proposals. 
As such, the issue is both a human resource and capacity constraint.  G/TFA/W/74  
 
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  b. Limited opportunities for  funding given that some SVEs  are classified as high -
income developing countries  
SVEs that are classified by the United Nations as high -income developing countries  have 
somewhat limited access  to assistance available  from donors. As a result, loan funding 
may be  pursued as opposed to grant  funding. It is to be noted however that this 
contributes to the  debt-to-GDP ratio of those SVEs. This therefore contributes to the 
development dilemma , where the income earned by the country has to be utilized to pay 
off debt  rather than address developme nt goals . 
c. Lack of funding in one area is causing delays in implementation in other areas  
It is to be noted that fulfilment of the provisions of one Article of the TFA may impact or 
delay the implementation of another. For example, without the implement ation of a 
proper risk management system, an effective system for expedited shipments cannot 
be implemented. Problems with accessing funding or implementing one may impact the 
other.  
5. As it relates to formalizing the engagement with the private sector as pr esented under Section 
III, Trinidad and Tobago wishes to highlight that the private sector is a critical stakeholder for trade 
facilitation in Trinidad and Tobago. The private sector are not only the end -users of the trade 
facilitation measures being adopt ed and implemented but they are key resources when it comes to 
developing trade facilitation measures and the ultimate implementation of the TFA.  
6. In this regard, Trinidad and Tobago is in agreement with the proposal put forward by Brazil 
and the United St ates as cited in G/TFA/W/42 , particularly as engaging the private sector will:  
a. assist them, particularly those in developing countries, to better understand the TFA 
and what is required for implementation; and  
b. allow them to provide feedback on the ef ficacy of the TFA implementation and the trade 
facilitation measures adopted.  
7. Finally, Trinidad and Tobago is of the view that the National Trade Facilitation Committees 
(NTFCs) are crucial mechanism through which the TFA is implemented. As such, it will b e prudent 
to have a guiding document for all Member States that elaborates on the essential building blocks 
for successful NTFCs. This is particularly important for SVEs that are characterised by limited human, 
financial and institutional resources. In thi s regard, Trinidad and Tobago is in agreement with the 
proposal put forward by Turkey and the United States cited in G/TFA/W/56,  paragraph 5. Trinidad 
and Tobago wishes to note that in preparing the consensus document, the limitations of the SVEs 
should be  taken into consideration.  
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