G/TFA/N/CPV/1/Add.1  
 
14 September  2023 
(23-6130) Page: 1/8 
Committee on Trade Facilitation  Original: French  
 
  
NOTIFICATION OF CATEGORY COMMITMENTS UNDER  
THE AGREEMENT ON TRADE FACILITATION  
COMMUNICATION FROM CABO VERDE  
Addendum  
The following communication, a first draft of which was received on 31 July 2023, is being circulated 
at the request of the delegation of Cabo Verde.  
 
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Following up on the notification G/TFA/N/CPV/1, dated 30 August 2019, Cabo Verde hereby submits 
a request for an extension of implementation dates for provisions in  Categor ies B and C, in the light 
of Article 17 of the Agreement on Trade Facilitation (WT/L/931), as follows:  
   
  G/TFA/N/CPV/1/Add.1  
 
- 2 - Provision  Heading/Description  Category  Previously notified 
definitive date for 
implementation  New definitive 
date for 
implementation 
requested  Reasons for extension  request  
Article 2.1  Opportunity to Comment 
and Information before 
Entry into Force  B 1 January 2024  1 January 2028  In order to comply with this measure, it is necessary to extend the implementation 
period , as a communication and interaction tool will need to be put in place  at 
government level ; this tool  will serve as a space for public consultation.  
On this site, trad ers and other stakeholders  may submit their comments on the 
proposed introduction or amendment of laws and regulations relating to the 
movement, authorization for release , and clearance of goods, including goods in 
transit.  
The ultimate objective would be to collect subsidies and suggestions from society 
for the normative act  improvement process , promoting greater predictability and 
stability of standards.  
Article 5.3  Test Procedures  C 1 January 2025  1 January 2030  In order to comply with this measure, it is necessary to extend the implementation  
period since the following will be required:  
• Technical assistance and financial support to set up  and/or equip  the existing 
laboratory or to set up  another  laboratory , in order to make it a reference at 
the national level for conducting sample tests upon the arrival of goods; and  
• Retraining  of laboratory staff to ensure compliance with international best 
practices.  
Article 6.2  Specific Disciplines on 
Fees and Charges  C 1 January 2024  1 January 2030  Additional time is being requested to implement  this measure because  all the 
necessary conditions have not been met in this respect  and because  the 
implementation  of the measure requires  the following : 
 
• Legislative amendments, which fall within the competence of the National 
Assembly; and  
• Technical assistance and financial support to conduct  a study on the 
procedures for setting import and export fees and charges , based on good 
practices , with the customs administrations of member States that have 
already implemented th e measure.    
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- 3 - Provision  Heading/Description  Category  Previously notified 
definitive date for 
implementation  New definitive 
date for 
implementation 
requested  Reasons for extension  request  
Article 7.5  Post-clearance Audit  C 1 January 2024  1 January 2026  Cabo Verdean legislation provides the legal basis and procedures necessary for 
the implementation of post -clearance audits, in accordance with TFA 
requirements.  
These audits are intrinsically linked to the development of an effective risk 
management and an alysis mechanism, for which the Anti -Fraud Division  (Decree -
Law No. 76/2021 of 2 November , attached hereto ) of the General Directorate of 
Customs and other entities involved in the clearance process  are responsible . 
Although customs officers have previously been trained in some areas of post -
clearance audit, the dynamics of international trade, coupled with the growth of 
our market, require further  initiatives, namely:  
• Retraining  of staff on the latest accounting and auditing systems, in 
accordance with e -commerce and transfer pricing developments, in order to 
enhance skills and strengthen the learning of new audit tools , since fraud and 
organized crime are constantly evolving;  
• The provision of  training to a larger num ber of employees, given  our 
archipelagic country status and staff turnover  needs ; and  
• The need to progressively reduce immediate audits , in favour of post -
clearance audits, by allocating resources to higher -risk transactions, using  
new information technolo gies and digital opportunities.  
Article 7.7  Authorized Operators  C 1 January 2024  1 January 2030  The existing Customs Code does not provide for the status of Authorized Economic 
Operator (AEO ); however, there are plans to  include  this aspect  in the Code during  
the ongoing revision process . 
Its implementation requires  the following : 
• The a doption and regulation  of Authorized Economic Operator  status ;  
• Support and technical assistance for training customs officers and other 
stakeholders on the functioni ng of the Authorized Economic Operator 
programme, i.e. on the selection, monitoring and audit for accreditation of 
the enterprises  concerned ; 
• Development of the ICT infrastructure for authorized operator administration  
within the customs authority; and  
• Introduction  of awareness -raising activities for customs officers  and economic 
operators.    
  G/TFA/N/CPV/1/Add.1  
 
- 4 - Provision  Heading/Description  Category  Previously notified 
definitive date for 
implementation  New definitive 
date for 
implementation 
requested  Reasons for extension  request  
Article 10.1  Formalities  B 1 January 2025  1 January 2026  Despite significant progress in terms of computerization, simplification of 
procedures , and alignment with international practices and standards, not all 
entities involved in the customs clearance process are at the same level as regards  
computerization and document  simplification .  
The establishment of the Trade Portal will address the identified gaps that hinder 
full compliance with this measure.  
Cabo Verde has already adopted certain measures that have contributed to the 
reduction and simplification of documentation requirements f or import, export,  
and transit, including:  
• Use of the ASYCUDA World computer  system for clearing  goods at customs, 
which has almost eliminated the use of paper;  
• Electronic payment of declarations - Single invoice document (DUC) - Service 
Order no. 18/2022;  
• Online a pplication for sanitary and phytosanitary certificate s, 
https://inspeccao -dgasp.gov.cv  ; 
• Online  application for foreign trade authorization document s, 
https://nosiapps.gov.cv/ ; and  
• Integration between  the global customs clearance system  ASYCUDA  and JUP 
(Port Single Window  System) in the initial phase.  
https://jup.enapor.cv/login/login.jspx . 
Essentially , this measure  determines that Members shall verify the formalities and 
documentation required for import, export,  and transit, with a view to expediting 
customs clearance  by reducing the time and cost of com plying with the legislation.  
This commitment is a task already carried out by customs on a daily basis ; in 
practice it is difficult to measure its implementation.  
Article 10.4  Single Window  C 1 January 2026  1 January 2032  The JUCE (Single Window of Foreign Trade ) Project aims to establish a single 
window in Cabo Verde, with oversight  at ministerial level and monitored by the 
National Trade Facilitation Committee. It is a macro -project that is conducted  
through the implementation of sub -projects.  
Studies on the operation of the single window have already been conducted  and 
the JUCE Impl ementation Master Plan has been prepared.    
  G/TFA/N/CPV/1/Add.1  
 
- 5 - Provision  Heading/Description  Category  Previously notified 
definitive date for 
implementation  New definitive 
date for 
implementation 
requested  Reasons for extension  request  
The sub -projects mainly  cover other aspects of the TFA , which must be 
implemented urgently prior to the implementation of the single window  and which 
form part of all the reforms recommended in the master plan  document. 
The respective studies present a vision whereby  a single window system is not 
only limited to a computer platform, and indicate  a range of activities that must 
be carried out prior to the development of the platform itself, including : 
• Legislative amendments; and  
• The s implification and harmonization of processes, among other ongoing 
activities.  
Within this framework, t he developmen t of the Trade Portal is currently under 
way. The Portal  will be the focal point for the future single window platform. In 
this first phase, in addition to the informative aspect relat ed to processes and 
procedures inherent to import, export and transit tr ansactions  involving goods , it 
will also provide two services, namely customs clearance screening and customs 
tariff simulation .  
Additionally , in the coming months the customs system will begin to be upgraded, 
in order to ready it  for integration with the  single window platform during its 
development.  
Similarly, all organizations involved in foreign trade processes will upgrade their 
systems.  
The next step is to revise  the Customs Code, as well as other foreign trade 
legislation.  
As mentioned above, the single window project still has some sub -projects that 
must be conducted  prior to the implementation of the platform itself, in order to 
ensure alignment across all sectors. This  takes into account  the fact that the single 
window will be the focal point through which  economic operators conduct  all 
foreign trade -related formalities, regardless of the sector involved in the process.    
  G/TFA/N/CPV/1/Add.1  
 
- 6 - Provision  Heading/Description  Category  Previously notified 
definitive date for 
implementation  New definitive 
date for 
implementation 
requested  Reasons for extension  request  
     However, the implementation dates for the measures need to be extended so that 
the end product is consistent  with the recommendations and all basic reforms 
have been  implemented, in order to ensure  a streamlined  business environment 
without bureaucracy.  
As such, it became  necessary to request the extension of the date proposed 
initially, so that  the result of this Art icle's implementation  would have the  
recommended scope in terms of reducing time and cost s and improving  the 
service s rendered in relation to  import, export,  and transit  processes  for goods . 
In parallel with the challenges listed above, the country must prepare the 
assistance request process , as specified in the categorization of Article 10.4 
(Category C), so that its implementation is consistent with international good 
practice s:  
• Development  of the single window platform and computer  network for all 
foreign trade  stakeholders ; 
• Creation/ improvement  of the network for all foreign trade stakeholders ; 
• Training for technicians on the appropriate use of  the single window;  
• Establishment of the ICT s ystem required for the single window, and 
purchasing of the computer equipment necessary to ensure its proper 
functioning (servers, computers, laptops, tablets, PDA s, etc.);  
• Benchmarking with  countries with established single windows in order to gain 
aware ness of  good practices that can be applied to Cabo Verde's own system;  
• Support  to define a national IT risk analysis system for implementation at the 
national level;  
• Re-engineering of current foreign trade processes;  
• Adoption of good  practices for the configuration  of a single window ( training ); 
and 
• Paperless customs to ensure trade facilitation and efficien t customs controls, 
thereby reducing costs for businesses and the risks to society.    
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- 7 - Provision  Heading/Description  Category  Previously notified 
definitive date for 
implementation  New definitive 
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requested  Reasons for extension  request  
Article 11  Freedom of Transit  C 1 January 2024  1 January 2028  As an archipelag ic country, Cabo Verde does not have any international routes for 
land/road transit. However, customs authorize the transit and transhipment of 
goods, in international transhipment operations, by air and sea.  
Cabo Verde has already implemented some of the proposed measures, such as:  
• The installation of X-ray scanners  at the main sea and air borders;  
• At the ECOWAS level, a regional transit project ( Sealink ) provides for the 
participation of all member States, with the exception of Cabo Verde as it is 
an archipelag ic country . The inclusion of Cabo Verde is planned in a second 
phase; and  
• Transit traffic is not  subject to any fees or charges imposed in transit , except 
for administrative expenses resulting from transit or the cost of services 
rendered.  
There are , however,  plans for a specific assessment of Cabo Verde's degree of 
compliance with the transit measures provided for in the TFA, in respect of aspects 
related to prior declarations, customs fees and charges, and the reduction or 
elimination of unnecessary trade restrictive measures.  
The computerization of manifests for goods in international transit is also under 
way. 
Article 12  Customs Cooperation  C 1 January 2024  1 January 2026  Article 12 encourages Members to establish mutual administrative assistance 
agreements on customs matters a nd regulates the conditions for  the exchange of  
information, such as protection and confidentiality, postponement or refusal, 
limitations , and unauthorized use or disclosure.  
With regard to advice on the implementation of bilateral agreements between the 
customs authorities of countries where we have t he largest import and export 
flows, please note the following :  
• Cabo Verde's customs are part of the regional information exchange network 
for West African customs administrations, known as the Regional Intelligence 
Liaison Office for West Africa  (RILO -WA); 
On the basis of the recommendation of the Customs Co -operation Council on 
Mutual Administrative Assistance of 5 December 1951, assistance may be sought 
from any customs administration of the m ember States forming the WCO;    
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- 8 - Provision  Heading/Description  Category  Previously notified 
definitive date for 
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requested  Reasons for extension  request  
     • At the CPLP level, a mutual administrative assistance agreement has been 
signed between the customs administrations of member States;  
• Bilaterally, we promote the signing of agreements with Portugal, France,  and 
the Netherlands, thus covering the country's main trading partners ; and  
• Also at the bilateral level, the Ministry of Finance of the Portuguese Republic 
and the Ministry of Finance and Enterprise Development  of the Republic of 
Cabo Verde signed a technical cooperation protocol  on 20 June 2023.  
Customs authorities must inc reasingly rely on mutual administrative assistance, 
which allows  them to cope with the globalization of trade, markets , and fraud, 
and which is based on the principle of the continuous exchange of information in 
international trade.  
Members are encouraged to share information on good practices  and cooperate 
regarding  guidance or technical assistance in order to ensure compliance with 
requirements and improve their effectiveness.  
Regarding  this Article, there are some provisions  that allow for cooperation 
between customs administrations ; however , their implementation  has not been 
effective due to the time taken by some customs administrations to respond to 
the various  requests for collaboration in terms of assistance.  
Despite Cabo Verde's achievements in this regard, we still need to : 
• Extend the Mutual Administrative Assistance Agreement with our main 
trading partners;  
• Creat e tools that allow information to be exchange d electronically  between 
import and export partner countries;  
• Provide t raining  for customs staff on data protection and confidentiality, as 
provided for in Article 12; and  
• Provide t raining in the official languages of the WTO, in order to enable us to 
comm unicate with our partners effectively , with ease and clarity , since most 
Members have English or French as their official language.  
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