G/TFA/N/PRY/1/Add.3  
19 April 2024  
(24-3257) Page: 1/1 
Committee on Trade Facilitation  Original: Spanish  
 
NOTIFICATION OF CATEGORY COMMITMENTS UNDER  
THE AGREEMENT ON TRADE FACILITATION  
COMMUNICATION FROM PARAGUAY  
Addendum  
The following communication, dated 18 April 2024, is being circulated at the request of the 
delegation of Paraguay.  
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Paraguay hereby notifies the extension of its definitive implementation date for the following 
provision based on Article 17 of the Trade Facilitation Agreement.  
Provision  Heading/  
Description  Previously notified 
definitive date for 
implementation  New definitive date for 
implementation requested  
Article  8 Border Agency Cooperation  1 September 2024  1 September 2030  
Reason for extension  
 
The reason for the extension stems in the difficulty that Paraguay is experiencing in fully implementing a 
measure aimed at coordinating procedures at border crossings with a view to facilitating cross -border trade. 
This difficulty is  due in part to the need to strengthen cooperation with neighbouring countries with whom it 
shares a common border. It is essential to commit to mutually agreed terms of collaboration with these 
countries in order to comply with the requirements under para graph  8.2 of the Agreement. However, 
insufficient progress has been made in this area.  
A gap has also been identified in the physical and technological infrastructure of the national agencies 
operating at the borders. To address this shortcoming, increased  capacity building and technical assistance, 
which may include financial resources, is needed.  
Despite these obstacles, it is important to highlight the internal progress that Paraguay has made through the 
National Trade Facilitation Committee to promote c ooperation between the national border agencies. This 
includes examples of successful initiatives to establish public -private partnerships to improve existing 
infrastructure. In turn, a number of schemes have been implemented that facilitate cross -border t rade, such 
as the full deployment of electronic phytosanitary certificates (ePhyto) with Argentina, Chile and the 
United  States — with a pilot project currently underway with Bolivia — the development of electronic animal 
health certificates with Chile and  Uruguay, and the introduction of electronic procedures for imports under 
special regimes. The Single Window for Foreign Trade (VUE/VUI) and the Integrated Phytosanitary Control 
between the National Plant and Seed Quality and Health Service (SENAVE) (Parag uay) and the Ministry of 
Agriculture and Livestock (MAPA) (Brazil) have also been introduced at the Ciudad del Este/Foz de Iguaçu 
border. Progress has also been made in the implementation of the Authorized Economic Operator programme 
(AEO), and electronic processing has been introduced for the inspection and issuance of animal health 
certificates by species and for the inspection and shipment of forestry products. At the same time, the website 
for advance consultations, the digital platform for laboratories  and the Paraguay National Network of Food 
Testing Laboratories (RENLAP) are currently being developed.  
Lastly, it is worth mentioning that the implementation of the Article has been further delayed because of the 
COVID -19 health emergency.  
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