G/TFA/N/ BLZ/4 
 
10 March 2023  
(23-1800) Page: 1/8 
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 BELIZE  
The following communication , dated 9 March 2023 , is being circulated at the request of the 
delegation of Belize .  
 
_______________  
 
 
Belize  hereby notifies information on the arrangements concluded and progress made in the 
provision of technical assistance and capacity building support of the following c ategory 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 1.1  Publication  C 22 February 2020  31 December 2023  
Article 1.2 Information Available 
through Internet  C 22 February 2020  31 December 2023  
Article 1.3 Enquiry Points  C 22 February 2020  31 December 2024  
Article 1.4 Notification  C 22 February 2020  31 December 2023  
Donor s / Agencies : Caribbean Development Bank 
 
Progress in the provision of technical assistance and capacity building support:  
 
Trade -related i nformation are accessible to traders on various national websites Belize , however, has not been 
able to secure donor assistances in the following areas:   
• To develop a trade portal within the website for the Directorate General for Foreign Trade.  
• In securing technical and financial assistance to develop and implement a wide -area network for 
BAHA.  
In addition, the Belize Customs  and Excise Department  require technical and financial as sistance to improve 
its website and build capacity in website design to support greater publication of trade 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 2020  31 December 2023  
Donor s / Agencies : to be determined   
 
Progress in the provision of technical assistance and capacity building support:  
 
Currently, t he features of the WTO SPS and TBT eping  platform that allows for private sector or other 
stakeholders to comment on draft regulations under the SPS and TBT are limited accessed in Belize. Belize 
appreciates any a dditional support from other development partners/WTO for national training on the use of 
the WTO SPS and TBT eping platform  to promote and accommodate  other stakeholders including the private 
sector access to  essential updates on product requirements in foreign markets . G/TFA/N/ BLZ/4 
 
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Provision  Heading/Description  Category  Indicative date for 
implementation  
 Definitive date for 
implementation  
 
Article 2.2 Consultations  
 C 22 February 2020  31 December 2024  
Donors / Agencies: to be determined   
 
Progress in the provision of technical assistance and capacity building support:  
 
To date no development partner has been identified . Assistance is required to employ  effective strategies to 
engage stakeholder in areas without access to internet and mobile communication.  
 
Provision  Heading/Description  Category  Indicative date for 
implementation  
 Definitive date for 
implementation  
 
Article 3  Advance Rulings  
 C 22 February 2020  31 December 2023  
Donors / Agencies : IMF Caribbean Regional Technical Assistance Centre ( CARTAC ) 
 
Progress in the provision of technical assistance and capacity building support:  
 
The Belize  Customs  and Excise Department  received technical assistance from CARTAC in the form of a 
workshop in 2020  that assisted  in the initial stage s of developing an adequate advance rulings  system . It built 
awareness and  pointed to  aspects  for Belize  to consider when designing an advance ruling system . The 
Customs and Excise Department currently  require a dditional technical support and capacity building  to: (i) 
further develop an advance ru ling system for cla ssification, and (ii) Train the trainer  on classification, valuation 
and origin of goods .  
 
Provision  Heading/Description  Category  Indicative date for 
implementation  
 Definitive date for 
implementation  
 
Article 4 Procedures for Appeal 
or Review  C 22 February 2022  31 December 2024  
Donors / Agencies : to be determined   
 
Progress in the provision of technical assistance and capacity building support:  
 
Currently  Belize requires development partner assistance  in: (i) Design ing and creat ing policy on appeals in 
accordance with the existing regulation and (ii) Design ing/creat ing standard operating procedure that 
compliments the Policy.  
 
Provision  Heading/Description  Category  Indicative date for 
implementation  
 Definitive date for 
implementat ion 
 
Article 5.1 Notification for 
Enhanced controls or 
Inspections  C 22 February 2019  31 December 2024  
Donors / Agencies : Organismo Internacional Regional de Sanidad Agropecuaria ( OIRSA ) and United 
States Department of Agriculture( USDA )  
 
Progress in the provision of technical assistance and capacity building support:  
 
Belize received assistance in the implementation of a nonintrusive system for inspection at the airport, 
including k9 and x -ray machines. Additional K9 units at the airport a nd other border points  are needed . Also, 
assistance with risk -based inspection, training and support  (financial support for appropriate inspection 
facilities)  at all points of entry are required.   
 G/TFA/N/B LZ/4 
 
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  Provision  Heading/Description  Category  Indicative date for 
implementation  
 Definitive date for 
implementation  
 
Article 5.2 Detention  
 C 22 February 2022  31 December 2030  
Donors / Agencies : to be determined   
 
Progress in the provision of technical assistance and capacity building support:  
 
To date no development partner has been identified  
 
Provision  Heading/Description  Category  Indicative date for 
implementation  
 Definitive date for 
implementation  
 
Article 5.3 Test Procedures  
 C 22 February 2020  31 December 2024  
Donors / Agencies : to be determined   
 
Progress in the provision of technical assistance and capacity building support:  
 
To date no development partner has been identified .  
 
Provision  Heading/Description  Category  Indicative date for 
implementation  
 Definitive date for 
implementation  
 
Article 6.3  Penalty Disciplines  
 C 22 February 2020  31 December 2024  
Donors / Agencies : to be determined   
 
Progress in the provision of technical assistance and capacity building support:  
 
Belize would appreciate any opportunity from  among the  development partners for capacity development and 
training activities  on managing the disciplines on penalties  be available to Customs Officials .  
 
Provision  Heading/Description  Category  Indicative date for 
implementation  
 Definitive date for 
implementation  
 
Article 7.1 Pre-arrival Processing  
 C 22 February 2020  31 December 2026  
Donors / Agencies : to be determined  
 
Progress in the provision of technical assistance and capacity building support:  
 
Currently no development partner has been identified.     
Belize requires  assistance and support in upgrad ing and incorporating other agencies  (including Shipping 
Agents,  BAHA,  the Port Authority, BELTRAIDE,  Forest Department, Department of the Environment , Ministry 
of Finance, and Central Bank)  to a full electronic system suitable to  connect to the ASYCUDA World System. 
This process  will entail a revision of the current systems, updating existing ones and creation of new systems 
(Single -window approach) .  
Belize appreciates any opportunity from development partners for the relevant officials to participate in 
capacity development and training activities on Pre -Arrival Processing.   
 G/TFA/N/ BLZ/4 
 
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  Provision  Heading/ Description  Category  Indicative date for 
implementation  
 Definitive date for 
implementation  
 
Article 7.2 Electronic Payment  
 C 22 February 2020  31 December 2026  
Donors / Agencies : Caribbean Development Bank  
 
Progress in the provision of technical assistance and capacity building support:  
 
Currently the Belize Customs  and Excise Department utilizes an electronic payment system through the 
AYSCUDA World System  purchased from UNCTAD  with donor support from CDB . However, the Supplies 
Control Unit and other Border Agencies do not have in place such system. Belize would appreciate any 
assistance that would allow the accommodation of electronic payment through the ASYCUDA World system 
or another system for these agencies.  
 
Provision  Heading/Description  Category  Indicative date for 
implementation  
 Definitive date for 
implementation  
 
Article 7.4  Risk Management  
 C 22 February 2020  31 December 2024  
Donors / Agencies : Caribbean Development Bank , WCO Mercator Program , IMF CARTAC   
 
Progress in the provision of technical assistance and capacity building support:  
 
Belize Customs and Excise Department developed  internally, using WCO risk management compendium and 
RKC, a Risk  Management framework , Policy, Strategy and Plan .  
Under the Caribbean Development Bank Project: “Development of a Risk -based Sanitary and Phyo -sanitary 
Import and Export Control System for Belize”  (GA74/BZE ), the Belize Agricultural Health Authority (BAHA)  
will be conducting a  risk categorization of all products, establishments and eventually even Importers; and  
establish an e lectronic platform to facilitate import, export and transit , and conduct o n-going training in risk -
based inspection.  The project has been delayed.   
 
Belize will require a dditional technical support and capacity building in the following  areas :  
o Building and coding  of risk criteria  
o Data analysis and software analytical tool that can interface with ASYCUDA world for other 
border agencies.  
o e-platform to i nterface BAHA with ASYCUDA world system.  
 
Provision  Heading/Description  Category  Indicative date for 
implementation  
 Definitive date for 
implementation  
 
Article  7.5  Post-clearance Audit  
 C 22 February 2020  31 December 2024  
Donors / Agencies : CARTAC  and WCO  
 
Progress in the provision of technical assistance and capacity building support:  
 
Belize Customs and Excise Department received capacity building an d technical support in post -clearance 
audit from CARTAC (2017 -2020) . Belize benefited from the WCO Mercator Programme. A Diagnostic Scoping 
Mission was conducted in October 2018 for areas of risk management and post clearance audit. A risk 
assessment and selectivity workshop and post clearance audit mission were scheduled for Marc h 2020 but 
was disrupted by the COVID19 pandemic. B elize Customs Excise Department  have plans to reengage WCO to 
resume initiative.   
- Belize Customs  and Excise Department is  currently modelling the CARTAC P ost-Clearance Audit 
Procedure Manual .  
- Draft Customs Control and Management Bill and Regulations ( Harmonized Customs Bill) contains 
legal provisions for post -clearance audit. The Bill and Regulations are pending domestication . 
Belize would  appreciate a dditional Technical support and financial assistance to develop the 
Post-clearance Audit (PCA) unit in the following areas : 
o Analytical tool/software  
o Technical support to develop a plan for the specialization of the PCA unit  
o Specialized training - Auditing and accounting principles   
 G/TFA/N/B LZ/4 
 
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  Provision  Heading/Description  Category  Indicative date for 
implementation  
 Definitive date for 
implementation  
 
Article 7.6  Establishment and 
Publication of Average 
Release Time  
 C 22 February 2020  31 December 2024  
Donors / Agencies : Caribbean Development Bank (current funding TRS)   
 
Progress in the provision of technical assistance and capacity building support:  
 
The C aribbean Development Bank is currently providing funding to conduct a Time Release Study anticipated 
to take about 7 -10 months. The WCO assist ing in this as well .  
Further technical assistance will be required  following the  launch of a TRS for additional training  and to conduct 
subsequent TRSs . 
 
Provision  Heading/Description  Category  Indicative date for 
implementation  
 Definitive date for 
implementation  
 
Article 7.8 Expedited Shipments  
 C 22 February 2020  31 December 2023  
Donors / Agencies : to be determined   
 
Progress in the provision of technical assistance and capacity building support:  
 
To date no development partner has been identified.  
 
Provision  Heading/Description  Category  Indicative date for 
implementation  
 Definitive date for 
implementation  
 
Article 7.9 
 Perishable Goods  
 C 22 February 2021  31 December 2030  
Donors / Agencies : to be determined   
 
Progress in the provision of technical assistance and capacity building support:  
 
To date no development partner has been identified.  
 
Provision  Heading/Description  Category  Indicative date for 
implementation  
 Definitive date for 
implementation  
 
Article 8.2 (b) 
– (e ) Border agency 
Cooperation  
 C 31 December 2030  31 December 2030  
Donors / Agencies : to be determined   
 
Progress in the provision of technical assistance and capacity building support:  
 
No development partner has so far been identified  in the following areas : 
1. Assistance to conduct feasibility study  on the establishment of a one stop border post. The study 
should include an analysis for  the alignment of procedures and formalities  using best practices and 
international standards.    
2. Technical assistance to learn best practices in countries that have introduced joint border controls 
and one -stop border post control.  
3. Financial assistance for facility , equipment and software.  
4. Technic al assistance for strengthening  of human resource  management  of border agencies.  
5. Technical assistance and cooperation for training and awareness building.   
 G/TFA/N/ BLZ/4 
 
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  Provision  Heading/Description  Category  Indicative date for 
implementation  
 Definitive date for 
implementation  
 
Article 10.1 Formalities and 
Documentation 
Requirements  
 C 22 February 2020  31 December 2023  
Donors / Agencies : Caribbean Development Bank  
 
Progress in the provision of technical assistance and capacity building support:  
 
Belize  is currently conducting a feasibility study for an Electronic Single Window system with funding from 
the Caribbean Development Bank which will:  
- further simpl ify, harmonize and standardize procedures for customs with other government 
agencies for import, export and transit;  
- use international best practices;  
- reduce transaction time and cost; and  
- promote involvement and buy -in from all government agencies and private sector.  
 
However, Belize appreciates any a dditional assistance and support from development partners to :   
- implement the electronic single window system; and  
- develop  the software, hardware and increase and build technical expertise . 
 
Provision  Heading/Description  Category  Indicative date for 
implementation  
 Definitive date for 
implementation  
 
Article 10.3  Use of International 
Standards  
 C 22 February 2020  31 December 2023  
Donors / Agencies: Caribbean Development Bank  and 11th EDF/European Funds  
 
Progress in the provision of technical assistance and capacity building support:  
 
Belize received  support  from the Caribbean Development Bank Standby Facility  under GA72/BZE,  to 
strengthen national quality infrastructure in Belize by building institutional technical capacity for improved 
Quality Management Systems in accordan ce with ISO 9001 and ISO/IEC 17025.  
 
Further  assistance  from development partners will be appreciated in the following  areas :   
- to develop  more national standards, regulations and policies for food and agriculture and food safety ; and   
-to have relevant officials  participate in meetings of the International Standard Setting Bodies and the 
WTO/SPS  and TBT  Committee Meetings.  
 
The Belize Customs and Excise Department is  currently : 
- Implementing  the HS2022 as per Harmonized Commodity Descri ption and Coding System 
(HS Convention ) which was approved on 4th January 2023 under Act No.1 of 2023 . CARTAC provided 
an expert on tariff classification to guide CARICOM Customs Committee working group in 2021.  
- Exploring donor/development assistance to ratify the RKC and Harmonized System.  Although not a 
signatory to the RKC, Belize  currently bases  its Customs procedures that are related to automated 
clearance system (the ASYCUDA world ) developed by UNCTAD on the RKC.  
- Belize Customs is currently upgrading ASYCUDA World to its latest version and will include new 
automated customs procedures such as: pre -clearance and post clearance audit modules, valuation 
database module, offense management module, improved select ivity criteria module, foreign 
exchange control module, and duty exemption management module . The upgrading  came from  a 
support extended contract stemming from the initial implementation of ASYCUDA World in 2008 
which was funded by CDB ; and   
- Belize is cur rently u sing the  WCO Risk Management Compendium for the development of a  National  
Risk Management Policy, Strategy and Plan. 
Belize would appreciate any opportunities from other development partners to assist with a dditional support 
and assistance in the following areas : 
- Scoping mission to assess the legal and administrative readiness to ratify the RKC and the 
HS Convention ; 
- Capacity building within Customs and Excise Department and other relevant agencies on Risk 
Management and HS . G/TFA/N/B LZ/4 
 
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Provision  Heading/Description  Category  Indicative date for 
implementation  
 Definitive date for 
implementation  
 
Article 10.4  Single Window  
 C 22 February 2020  31 December 2026  
Donors / Agencies : Caribbean Development Bank and IDB  
 
Progress in the provision of technical assistance and capacity building support:  
 
The Caribbean Development Bank is providing funding to conduct a feasibility study for an Electronic Single 
Window (ESW) to review the status of trade facilitation in Customs procedures, other regulatory stakeholders’ 
procedures, and review the legal and regulatory framework governing trade facilitation and clearance of  goods 
and make recommendations for the implementation for an ESW.  
Belize has secured funding through a loan from the IDB to conduct the first phase of implementation of a 
Foreign Trade Single Window. This component will finance: i) Gap analysis of the cur rent platform, and 
identification of barriers from a triple perspective: technology, usability, and integrating with existing systems 
and business process re -engineering to ensure that trade processes are optimized and aligned with 
international best pract ices, ii) deployment of a Licenses, Certificates, and Permits (LCP) module that will 
serve as the single -entry point and management system for all import and export LCPs issued by participating 
agencies, which will include the generation of gender disaggre gated reports. Project is delayed.  
The IDB consultancy for the ESW will elaborate on recommendations for medium and long -term financial 
sustainability of the ESW, both for operational costs and capital investments in accordance with the technical 
work dev eloped by the Caribbean Development Bank (Feasibility Study); and iii) enhancement of IT 
equipment to facilitate the migration to a paperless environment and use of the system. Belize will require 
further assistances.  
Time frame of Project: 18 months to c omplete.  
Belize will require additional support in the following areas:  
i. Technical assistance and training for relevant officials in establishing and managing a Single 
Window facility;  
ii. Equipment for the operational use of the Single Window  
iii. Capacity buildin g training for users of the Single Window  
iv. Building awareness among the private sector entities  
v. For the integration of other border agencies into the Single Window facility  
 
Provision  Heading/Description  Category  Indicative date for 
implementation  
 Definitive date for 
implementation  
 
Article 10.9 Temporary Admission 
of Goods and Inward 
and Outward 
Processing  
 C 22 February 2020  31 December 2023  
Donors / Agencies : to be determined   
 
Progress in the provision of technical assistance and capacity building support:  
 
Belize appreciates any opportunity from other development partners/WTO for the relevant officials to 
participate in specialized training in the supervision and audit of manufacturing operations.  
 
Provision  Heading/Description  Category  Indicative date for 
implementation  
 Definitive date for 
implementation  
 
Article 11.1 – 
11.3 Freedom of Transit  
 C 22 February 202 2 31 December 202 4 
Donors / Agencies : to be determined  
 G/TFA/N/ BLZ/4 
 
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  Progress in the provision of technical assistance and capacity building support:  
 
No development partner has so far offered any assistance in the area of transit charges, regulations, and 
formalities.  
Belize appreciates any opportunity from other developing partners to assist in providing t echnical assistance 
and capacity building to undertake periodic review of transit regulations and formalities to assess  the impact 
of trade .  
 
Provision  Heading/Description  Category  Indicative date for 
implementation  
 Definitive date for 
implem entation  
 
Article 11.16 
– 11.17  Freedom of Transit  
 C 22 February 2020  31 December 2024  
Donors / Agencies : to be determined  
 
Progress in the provision of technical assistance and capacity building support:  
 
To date no development partner has been identified  in the area of cooperation and coordination.  
Belize appreciates any opportunity from other developing partners to assist in providing t echnical assistance 
and capacity b uilding to undertake periodic review  of transit regulations and formalities to assess trade impact.  
 
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