G/TFA/N/MDV/3/Add.4  
 
21 August  2023 
(23-5617) Page: 1/5 
Committee on Trade Facilitation  Original: English  
 
NOTIFICATION OF CATEGORY COMMITMENTS UNDER  
THE AGREEMENT ON TRADE FACILITATION  
COMMUNICATION FROM MALDIVES  
Addendum  
The following communication, dated 17 August 2023,  is being circulated at the request of the 
delegation of Maldives.  
 
_______________  
 
 
Following up from the notification G/TFA/N/MDV/3 /Add. 3, the Republic of Maldives hereby makes  
the following notifications  as set out in Articles 16 and 17 of the Trade Fa cilitation Agreement 
(WT/L/931) : 
 
1) Shifting of categories  with extended definitive date  
2) Extension of definitive implementation dates  
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
  
  G/TFA/N/MDV/3/Add.4  
 
- 2 - 1. Maldives hereby notifies that the following provision ha s been shifted between categories with an extended definitive date:  
2. At the same time, Maldives also notifies  the request for extension of its definitive implementation dates for the following provisions : 
Provision  Heading/  
Description  Category  Previously notified 
definitive date for 
implementation  New definitive date 
for implementation 
requested  Reason for extension  request  
Article 1.1  Publication  B 31 December 2023  31 December 2025  Border agencies are currently re -designing their website for the required 
information to be published . 
 
Border Agencies request an extension, as they are unable to  fulfil the 
requirements of the Article by the current deadline.  
 Provision  Heading/  
Description  Category 
previously 
notified as  Category 
shifted to  Previously notified 
definitive date  New definitive date 
for implementation 
requested  Reason for extension request  
Article 8  Border Agency 
Cooperation  C B 31 December 2023  31 December 2025  National Trade Facilitation Committee is already established, 
and this Committee is coordinating on matters relevant 
to WTO TFA.  
However, the Committee needs more focus in its coordination 
matters with border agencies.  
Provision of this Article requires coordinated flow of information 
between the border agencies.   
Furthermore, border agencies need to maintain and share up to 
date compliance information and logical alignment of procedures 
and formalities.  
Hence, a Sea Port Coordination Committee at Maldives Ports 
Limited (MPL) and an Airport Coordination Committee at 
Maldives Airports Company Limited (MACL) will be formally 
established to conduct regular meetings on coordination and 
cooperation matters.  
Hence, to ensure these Committees are properly set up, are 
activated, and the Coordination mechanism is put in place, an 
extension to implement the Article is requested.  
Maldive s request s an extension up to 31 December 2025.  
Furthermore, Maldives requests this Article is shifted from C 
to B.  
  G/TFA/N/MDV/3/Add.4  
 
- 3 - Provision  Heading/  
Description  Category  Previously notified 
definitive date for 
implementation  New definitive date 
for implementation 
requested  Reason for extension  request  
In order to implement the provisions of the Articles, (1.1 and 1.2), publication 
and information available through internet, all border  agencies discussed and 
agreed  to establish a Trade Inf ormation Portal (TIP) in order for effective and 
timely publication of trade information  and procedures.  
 
No donor has been identified to provide assistance to establish a Trade 
Information Portal . 
 
Hence, Maldives requests an extension up to  31 December 2025 to implement 
the Article and time to identify a donor . 
 
Maldives also requests donor assistance to establish such a  portal  in the 
country.  
Article 1.2  Information 
Available 
Through Internet  C 31 December 2023  31 December 2025  Border agencies have requested an extension to implement the Article as they 
are working on updating their website s to ensure guidelines, regulations and 
procedures are published .  
 
Border Agencies  agreed to establish a Trade Information Portal (TIP) where  
traders and the business community can avail all trade related information 
easily from one single portal.  
 
For effective and timely publication of trade information as prescribed in 
the TFA and as Maldives have not yet identified a  donor , Maldives requires and 
requests for donor assistance to establish  a Trade Information Portal  and 
requests that an extension is granted to implement this Article up to 
31 December 2025.  
Article 2.1  Opportunity to 
Comment and 
Information 
Before Entry into 
Force  C 31 December 2023  31 December 2025  Border agencies have requested an extension on the implementation date to 
ensure opportunity is provided for stakeholders  to comment and provide 
information before entry into force . 
 
The legal requirement s need to be further strengthened to ensure that  the 
public and stakeholders can comment on the  laws, regulations and procedures , 
before it is published  and its entry into force.  
 
Border Agencies need  time to introduce and set up administrative procedures 
to publish on their website s or facilitate other means to provide opportunity to 
comment to ensure compliance to this article.   
 
Maldives request s that an extension is granted to implement this Article up 
to 31 December 2025.   
  G/TFA/N/MDV/3/Add.4  
 
- 4 - Provision  Heading/  
Description  Category  Previously notified 
definitive date for 
implementation  New definitive date 
for implementation 
requested  Reason for extension  request  
Article 2.2  Consultations  B 31 December 2023  31 December 2025  Border agencies  and the National Trade Facilitation Committee need time to 
establish Border Coordination Committees and implement the mechanisms to 
carry out regular consultations and  has requested an extension to establish a  
consultation mec hanism among  stakeholders in compliance to this Article.  
 
Maldives request s that an extension is granted to implement this Article up 
to 31 December 2025.  
Article 6.1  General 
Disciplines on 
Fees and 
Charges 
Imposed on or in 
Connection with 
Importation and 
Exportation  B 31 December 2023  31 December 2025  Border agencies have requested an extension to allow fees and charges to be 
published , as they require additional time to review their fee structure to 
ensure  that it is consistent and is published on the website s as per the  
requirements of this Article . 
 
Maldives requests that an extension is granted to implement this Article up 
to 31 December 2025.  
Article 7.4  Risk 
Management  C 31 December 2023  31 December 202 8 Maldives lacks provision and i mplementation capacity , due to limited IT 
resources and shortage in ICT technical expertise  at Customs.   
 
As most of the Risk Management related ICT projects are pending, Maldives 
need TA for  the establishment of the ICT infrastructure , expert support on 
business processes development, software  development as well as application 
development, including  system s upport and technology for an automated risk 
management system.  
 
Maldives requests donor assistance  in terms of such expert support on the 
design and establishment of an integrated holistic risk management system , 
as various  modules need to be incorporated .  
 
An extension for implementation is requested  up to 31 December 2028, as  
Maldives have not yet identified a donor  and requests donor  assistance to fulfil 
the requirements of this article.  
Article 7.6  Establishment 
and Publication 
of Average 
Release Times  C 31 December 202 3 31 December 2025  Maldives Customs Service  (MCS)  conducted a pilot T ime Release Study (TRS)  
in 2021 and the result of it is yet to be published.  
 
During the pilot study,  it was identified that , MCS has challenges in data 
assimilation and merging, which is sourced from multiple border agencies. 
Therefore, MCS needs time to standardize the Cargo Manifest Process in order 
to conduct TRS periodically and in a consistent manner.   
 
MCS needs donor ass istance and guidance of an expert to conduct advice on 
how to overcome the issues identified in the pilot study and conduct a  
  G/TFA/N/MDV/3/Add.4  
 
- 5 - Provision  Heading/  
Description  Category  Previously notified 
definitive date for 
implementation  New definitive date 
for implementation 
requested  Reason for extension  request  
comprehensive TRS with the MCS team, so that a system would be established 
to conduct such periodic Time Release Studies.  
 
Maldive s Customs Services (MCS) requests for an extension up 
to 31 December  2025 to implement this Article.  
Article 10.3  Use of 
International 
Standards  C 31 December 2023  31 December 2025  Maldives Ports Limited specifically requires assistance in implementing this 
provision and requests for an extension up to 31 December 2025 to implement 
this Article .  
 
Maldives requests donor assistance to implement the provisions of this Article.  
Article 10.9  Temporary 
Admission of 
Goods and 
Inward and 
Outward 
Processing  C 31 December 2023  31 December 2025  Maldives Customs Services  (MCS)  is in the process of implementing ATA 
Carnet Convention and requires additional time to implement  and comply with 
this Article.  
 
Maldives National Chamber of Commerce and Industry will be the national 
guarantor for ATA Carnet . 
 
A working group has been es tablished at MCS to commit to this task.  
 
As accession is a lengthy legal process , MCS expects implementation of this 
provision by 2025 , hence, requests for an extension to implement the  Article 
up to 31 December 2025 . 
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