G/TFA/W/ 94/Rev. 3 
 
9 February 2024  
(24-1151) Page: 1/3 
Committee on Trade Facilitation  Original: English  
 
 
FACILITATING HUMANITARIAN RELIEF IN EMERGENCY SITUATIONS  
COMMUNICATION FROM  CANADA, THE EUROPEAN UNION , HONDURAS, JAPAN, MONTENEGRO, 
THE SEPARATE CUSTOMS TERRITORY OF TAIWAN, PENGHU, KINMEN AND MA TSU,  
TONGA, TÜRKIYE , THE  UNITED  KINGDOM,  AND THE UNITED STATES  
Revision  
The following communication, dated 9 February  2024, is being circulated at the request of the 
delegations of  Canada, the European Union , Honduras, Japan, Montenegro, the Separate Customs 
Territory of Taiwan, Penghu, Kinmen and Matsu, Tonga, Türkiye , the United Kingdom  and the 
United  States.  
 
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1  FROM PANDEMIC RESPONSE TO EMERGENCY PREPAREDNESS  
1.1.  As an outcome of the Twelve Session of the Ministerial Confere nce, WTO Members affirmed the 
need to review the challenges experienced, and build on the lessons learned, during the COVID -19 
pandemic. The Committee on Trade Facilitation (CTF) produced in December 2021 a Compendium 
of WTO Members ' self-reported trade fa cilitative measures taken during the COVID -19 crisis.1  
1.2.  The WTO membership can utilize the lessons learned from the recent COVID -19 crisis to better 
address trade facilitation issues faced by countries affected by emergencies and disasters and the 
acute n eed to swiftly, safely, and effectively deliver humanitarian relief  in such situations.  
1.3.  To call attention to the topic of emergency response and preparedness, the CTF convened 
dedicated, informal sessions over the past year. These sessions provided the opportunity to hear 
from WTO Members, technical experts, non -governmental organizations (NGOs), and private sector 
donors about the challenges of moving humanitarian goods across international borders during 
natural disasters and other emergencies.  
1.4.  The importation of life -saving equipment and supplies are vital in the initial hours and days of 
every humanitarian emergency. Whereas international cooperation is often essential to meet the 
humanitarian needs of affected communities, a host country 's import system might not be positioned 
to handle a sudden surge in the volume of relief imports. Without protocols in place to ensure 
effective and timely clearance of goods on an emergency basis, the entry and distribution of 
humanitarian relief can be impeded or  blocked.  
 
1 "Compendium, Sharing Experiences Related to the COVID -19 Crisis as of July 1 2021," 
G/TFA/W/40/Rev.4  (16 December 2021).  G/TFA/W/94/Rev.3  
 
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  2  COMMON CHALLENGES AND OBSERVATIONS  
2.1.  This communication summarizes the common themes and core principles that emerged from 
the series of CTF dedicated sessions on humanitarian relief and offers a basis for: helping to identify 
gaps in capacity to manage the movement of humanitarian goods during times of disaster; 
strengthening cooperation among government authorities and donor and relief organizations ahead 
of and during disasters; and promoting best practices for facilitating the movement of human itarian 
goods.  
Four Core Principles Identified by WTO Members  
2.2.  WTO Members should maximize the benefits of these principles if work is undertaken during 
times of non -emergency. It is less ideal to implement these principles as new concepts at the onset 
of an emergency or disaster, when a Member is responding to events and resources are constrained.  
Principle 1: Simplification of Clearance Procedures  
2.3.  One of the essential actions a Member can take to prepare for an emergency is to develop 
beforehand  the legal framework that will facilitate the movement of humanitarian goods in response 
to a disaster or emergency. Simplified clearance procedures can be invoked in a variety of ways ‒ 
through a government decree, other ministerial decree, or a national emergency d eclaration ‒ and 
should be in place before there is a disaster or emergency.  
2.4.  Simplified clearance procedures for emergencies could, for example, address the nature and 
duration of exemptions from duties and taxes for relevant humanitarian organizations an d goods. 
The ability to immediately implement emergency plans and procedures mitigates instances of ad hoc  
decision -making and derogations that might cause delays and confusion.  
Principle 2: Border Agency Coordination  
2.5.  Members have observed that government  agencies should be assigned clearly defined roles for 
the duration of a crisis. In addition, at the onset of a crisis, establishing a designated task force 
enables clearer communication to all relevant government agencies of responses, decisions, rules, 
and guidelines. Such a task force can also seek regular input from and communicate with the private 
sector.  
2.6.  To effectively implement emergency preparedness plans, Members have identified the need to 
closely coordinate with partner government agencies, in so me cases sharing personnel and resources 
to meet surge capacity. This is especially important during a disaster, because humanitarian goods 
may require clearance from multiple agencies in one shipment. Members cite benefits of developing 
standard operating  procedures for processing relief consignments, providing training for personnel, 
practicing disaster response through simulations or tabletop exercises, and sharing best practices 
across partner agencies on a continuing basis.  
2.7.  National Trade Facilitation Committees are important for enhanced cooperation between border 
agencies. Committees established with a view to comprise all government agencies can play an 
important role for coordinating crucial resources, personnel and circulation of relief goods. Trai nings 
and preparations can also be more effectively planned and disaster plans can be easily developed 
with the support of Committees.  G/TFA/W/94/Rev.3  
 
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  Principle 3: Clear Communication to Traders and Interested Parties  
2.8.  Members have indicated it is essential to ensure that NGOs, donors, and even government 
border officials are apprised of the customs clearance procedures to be applied during an emergency. 
Members suggested employing several strategies to communicate procedures. First, have in place 
and publish import, export , and transit procedures for humanitarian goods before there is an 
emergency or disaster. Second, develop a system to regularly keep traders and NGOs informed of 
procedural changes during and immediately after an emergency or disaster, through a dedicated 
webpage, a 24/7 email box, or a combination of electronic communication means. Finally, some 
Members noted the importance of establishing a single point of contact to streamline communication 
between NGOs, shippers, and multiple government stakeholders (fo r example, via a national task 
force).  
Principle 4: Digitization  
2.9.  Digitization of customs formalities, document submission, and payments is a long -term 
investment in resilience. Providing enhanced access to customs clearance procedures, including for 
all im port forms, provides donors and importers with more flexibility to complete necessary 
procedures anywhere. Digitization eases the way for pre -clearance procedures and can consolidate 
data in a centralized single window to mitigate clearance times. Electron ic submissions and use of 
IT solutions can also enable customs to operate without requiring full teams on site. This is useful 
in an environment when customs staffing may be limited or physical infrastructure is incapacitated 
as the result of an emergency or disaster.  
3  PUTTING PREPAREDNESS INTO ACTION  
3.1.  Humanitarian relief delivered through fast, safe, and effective border procedures saves lives. 
As donors and recipients of humanitarian goods, the co -sponsors propose to continue examining the 
topics above thr ough experience sharing in informal mode within the CTF to allow the participation 
of NGOs, academics, donor organizations, and private sector stakeholders, to deepen meaningful 
collaboration among Members on the above concepts and core principles for faci litating the 
movement of humanitarian goods during emergencies and disasters.  
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