G/TFA/N/FJI/1  
 
7 June 2018 
(18-3477) Page: 1/9 
Committee on Trade Facilitation  Original: English  
 
NOTIFICATION OF CATE GORY COMMITMENTS  UNDER  
THE AGREEMENT ON TRA DE FACILITATION  
COMMUNICATION FROM FIJI 
The following communica tion, dated  6 June 2018 , is being circulated at th e request  of the 
delegation of  Fiji for Members' informa tion. 
 
_______________  
 
 
Following up from the notification dated 23 January 2017 (WT/PCTF/N/FJI/1) and in accordance 
with Article 16.1(b) of the Agreement on Trade Facilitation,  the Republic of Fiji hereby ma kes the 
following notification of its definitive date s for implementation of its category  B provision s. 
 
Provision  Heading/Description  Definitive date for 
implementation  
Article 1.3 Enquiry points  31 December 2019  
Article 1.4  Notification  30 June 2017  
Article 2.1  Opportunity to Comment and Information Before Entry 
into Force  31 December 2018  
Article 2.2  Consultations  31 December 2019  
Article 5.1  Notification for Enhanced Controls or Inspections  31 December 2019  
Article 6.1  General Disciplines on Fees  and Charges Imposed on or 
in Connection with Importation and Exportation  31 December 2018  
Article 7.2  Electronic Payment  31 December 2019  
Article 8  Border Agency Cooperation  31 December 2018  
Article 10.3  Use of International Standards  31 December 2021  
Article  10.6 Use of Customs Brokers  31 December 2018  
Article 11.1 -
11.3 Freedom of Transit  31 December 2018  
Article 12  Customs Cooperation  31 December 2018  
 
For ease of reference, Fiji's full list of category commitments are summarized in the table as 
attached herewith . 
  
  G/TFA/N/FJI/1  
 
- 2 - Provision  Heading/Description  Category  Indicative date for 
implementation  
(for categories  
B and C)  Definitive date for 
implementation  
(for categories  
B and C)  Assistance and Support for Capacity 
Building Required for Implementation  
(for category C)  
Article 1  Publication and Availability of Information  
Article 1.1  Publication  C 31 December 2019  To be determined  Legal/Policy : 
 Technical expertise to develop user friendly 
publications. Technical expertise in 
translating information in other 2 official 
languages.  
Procedures : 
 Assistance is required to review the range 
of publications produced by border 
agencies and develop more for mal 
procedures in order to publish trade -
related information in easily accessible 
manner and to provide measures to ensure 
that relevant agency staffs are aware of 
the obligation.  
Human Resources/Training:  
 Training of all relevant border agency 
Officials t o have better understanding of 
Fiji's international obligations, relevant 
domestic laws and roles and 
responsibilities of other border agencies to 
facilitate trade.  
 The training will also include identification 
of type of information that the agencies 
need to publish.  
ICT: 
 To develop user friendly websites where all 
relevant information could be found easily.  
 Capacitate other border agencies with ICT 
systems.  
Article 1.2  Information Available through Internet  C 31 December 2019  To be determined  Legal/Policy : 
 Require assistance to develop relevant 
legislations and policies in order to have 
information available through the internet.  
Procedures:  
 To develop user friendly import and export 
checklist, guidelines on export and import 
fees and charges.  
Human R esources/Training:  
 Training of IT Staff to design, develop and 
maintain websites.   
  G/TFA/N/FJI/1  
 
- 3 - Provision  Heading/Description  Category  Indicative date for 
implementation  
(for categories  
B and C)  Definitive date for 
implementation  
(for categories  
B and C)  Assistance and Support for Capacity 
Building Required for Implementation  
(for category C)  
ICT: 
 Some agencies lack sufficient and 
competent technical staff required to 
maintain the relevant websites. There is a 
need in agencies for technical experts to 
incorporate and maintain the content on 
an existing internet site (or sites), and 
ultimately to design, develop and maintain 
a new website.  
 Assistance required to develop one stop 
shop online information centre for import, 
export and transit for all agencies.  
 Assistance required to develop multi -
language provision of information on 
government websites, including official 
languages.  
Infrastructure/Equipment : 
 Assistance required to assist border 
agencies with relevant equipment and 
software programs. Also require necessary 
website content management information 
technology typically used for rapid 
amendment to websites that allows 
communication of changes to all interested 
parties.  
Article 1.3  Enquiry Points B 31 December 2019  31 December 2019  - 
Article 1.4  Notification  B 30 June 2017  30 June 2017  - 
Article 2  Opportunity  to Comment, Information before Entry into Force and Consultations  
Article 2.1  Opportunity to Comment and Information 
Before Entry into Force  B 31 December 2017  31 December 2018  - 
Article 2.2 Consultations  B 31 December 2019  31 December 2019  - 
Article 3  Advance Rulings  
 C 31 December 2019  To be determined  Legal/Policy:  
 Fiji Revenue and Customs Authority 
(FRCA) needs technical assistance to 
develop relevant laws and policies in order 
to undertake advance ruling.  
Procedures:  
 Assistance to develop relevant procedures 
in order to implement and undertake 
advance rulings effectively.   
  G/TFA/N/FJI/1  
 
- 4 - Provision  Heading/Description  Category  Indicative date for 
implementation  
(for categories  
B and C)  Definitive date for 
implementation  
(for categories  
B and C)  Assistance and Support for Capacity 
Building Required for Implementation  
(for category C)  
Human Resources/Training:  
 Training and creating awareness of FRCA 
Officials on the importance of advance 
rulings and how it will be implemented.  
ICT: 
 Require technical assistance to integrate 
advance rulings into automated customs 
systems . 
Infrastructure/Equipment : 
 To support the classification ruling process 
ideally, assistance is required in terms of 
having  better laboratories to test for 
classification of products.  
Article 4  Procedures for Appeal or Review  
 C 31 December 2019  To be determined  Legal/Policy:  
 Fiji Revenue and Customs Authority 
(FRCA) needs technical assistance to 
develop relevant laws and policies in order 
to undertake advance ruling.  
Procedures:  
 Assistance to develop relevant procedures 
in order to implement and undertake 
advance rulings effectively.  
Human Resources/Training:  
 Training and creating awareness of FRCA 
Officials on the importance of advance 
rulings and how it will be implemented.  
ICT: 
 Require technical  assistance to integrate 
advance rulings into automated customs 
systems . 
Infrastructure/Equipment : 
 To support the classification ruling process 
ideally, assistance is requi red in terms of 
having better laboratories to test for 
classification of products.  
Article 5  Other Measures to Enhance Impartiality, Non -Discrimination and Transparency  
Article 5.1  Notification for Enhanced Controls or 
Inspections  B 31 December 2019  31 December 2019  - 
Article 5.2  Detention  A - - - 
Article 5.3  Test Procedures  C 31 December 2021  To be determined  Legal/ Policy:   
  G/TFA/N/FJI/1  
 
- 5 - Provision  Heading/Description  Category  Indicative date for 
implementation  
(for categories  
B and C)  Definitive date for 
implementation  
(for categories  
B and C)  Assistance and Support for Capacity 
Building Required for Implementation  
(for category C)  
 Develop relevant laws and policies for 
agencies such as FRCA and Biosecurity 
Authority of Fiji (BAF) to  ensure traders 
have access to second testing.  
Human Resources/Training:  
 Capacity building for relevant border 
agencies, laboratory technicians and 
academic institutions on secondary testing.  
Institutions:  
 Technical assistance and capacity building 
is nee ded for academic institutions, public 
and private laboratories to provide second 
testing.  
Infrastructure/Equipment:  
 Establishment of accredited 
laboratory/laboratories to undertake 
second testing.  
Article 6  Disciplines on Fees and Charges Imposed on or in Connection with Importation and Exportation and Penalties  
Article 6.1  General Disciplines on Fees and Charges 
Imposed on or in Connection with 
Importation and Exportation  B 31 December 2017  31 December 2018  - 
Article 6.2  Specific Disciplines on Fees and Charges for 
Customs Processing Imposed on or in 
Connection with Importation and 
Exportation  A - - - 
Article 6.3  Penalty Disciplines  A - - - 
Article 7  Release and Clearance of Goods  
Article 7.1  Pre-arrival Processing  A - - - 
Article 7.2  Electronic Payment  B 31 December 2019  31 December 2019  - 
Article 7.3  Separation of Release from Final 
Determination of Customs Duties, Taxes, 
Fees and Charges  A - - - 
Article 7.4  Risk Management  C 31 December 2019  To be determined  Legal/Policy : 
 Technical assistance required to develop a 
mechanism to ensure enhanced 
coordination and collaboration between 
border agencies on risk identification and 
application of risk management.  
Procedures:  
 Technical assistance to develop necessary 
procedures that ensures effective  
  G/TFA/N/FJI/1  
 
- 6 - Provision  Heading/Description  Category  Indicative date for 
implementation  
(for categories  
B and C)  Definitive date for 
implementation  
(for categories  
B and C)  Assistance and Support for Capacity 
Building Required for Implementation  
(for category C)  
implementation of risk management 
system.  
Human Resources/Training:  
 Technical assistance to develop capacity in 
relevant border agencies to have a full 
understanding and application of risk 
management system.  
ICT: 
 Assistance  required to acquire as well as 
enhance technological capabilities 
necessary to implement a proper risk 
management process.  
Infrastructure/Equipment:  
 Assistance to have relevant technology 
such as x -ray machines, scanners, 
laboratory testing facilities in order to 
implement a proper risk management 
system.  
Article 7.5  Post-clearance Audit  A - - - 
Article 7.6  Establishment and Publication of Average 
Release Times  C 31 December 2019  To be determined  Procedures:  
 Assistance need to put in place systems to 
meet TFA requirements to be able to 
regularly measure and publish average 
release times.  
Human Resources/Training : 
 Assistance to build capacity within relevant 
border agency officials to conduct TRS.  
ICT/Equipment : 
 Require assistance to develop and 
implement automated system to eliminate 
inaccuracies in the measurement of time 
taken for processes.  
Article 7.7  Trade Facilitation Measures for Authorized 
Operators  C 31 December 2019  To be determined  Legal/Policy:  
 Assistance required to develop a more 
open accredited client scheme (which is 
non-discriminatory e.g. Gold card Scheme) 
to comply with customs and other related 
laws and regulations.  
Procedures:  
 Assistance to develop proper procedures 
with transparent criteria to be applied to  
  G/TFA/N/FJI/1  
 
- 7 - Provision  Heading/Description  Category  Indicative date for 
implementation  
(for categories  
B and C)  Definitive date for 
implementation  
(for categories  
B and C)  Assistance and Support for Capacity 
Building Required for Implementation  
(for category C)  
assess authorise d operators that meet 
specified criteria in a trusted trade  
program e.g. Gold card Scheme.  
Human Resources/Training : 
 Capacity  building for all border agencies 
such FRCA and BAF is needed to ensure 
full compliance with this measure.  
Article 7.8  Expedited Shipments  A - - - 
Article 7.9  Perishable G oods A - - - 
Article 8  Border Agency Cooperation  
 B 31 December 2017  31 December 2018  - 
Article 9  Movement of Goods Intended for I mport  under Customs Control  
 A - - - 
Article 10  Formalities Connected with Importation, Exportation and Transit  
Article 10.1  Formalities and Documentation 
Requirements  C 31 December 2019  To be determined  Legal/Policy:  
 Technical assistance to review relevant 
laws in order to streamline import and 
export permits and other necessary 
requirements.  
 Assistance is needed to develop a 
government -wide strategy to replace all 
documentation with electronic processing 
especially in other border related agencies.  
Procedures:  
 Assistance needed to streamline 
procedures across border agencies to avoid 
duplication of both procedures and 
documentation in order to facilitate trade.  
Institutions:  
 Technical assistance needed to promote 
border coordination as well as assist other 
agencies to transition to electronic 
documents.  
Human Resource s/Training:  
 Capacity building for relevant border 
agency Officials to ensure enhanced border 
coordination.  
ICT: 
 Assistance needed to capacitate other 
agencies with ICT tools and enablers in 
order to meet international standards for  
  G/TFA/N/FJI/1  
 
- 8 - Provision  Heading/Description  Category  Indicative date for 
implementation  
(for categories  
B and C)  Definitive date for 
implementation  
(for categories  
B and C)  Assistance and Support for Capacity 
Building Required for Implementation  
(for category C)  
computerised system as w ell as expedite 
clearance.  
Article 10.2  Acceptance of C opies A - - - 
Article 10.3  Use of International Standards  B 31 December 2021  31 December 2021  - 
Article 10.4  Single Window  C 31 December 2021  To be determined  Legal/Policy:  
 Technical assistance to review relevant 
laws in order to develop comprehensive 
nation al single window.  
 Technical assistance needed leading to 
setting a clear time scale of single window 
role out and implementation.  
Procedures:  
 Development of efficient procedures and 
checklist in order to implement national 
single window effectively.  
Institutions:  
 Technical assistance to build capacity in 
relevant border agencies in order to 
implement national single window.  
Human Resources/Training:  
 Capacity building needed for relevant 
border age ncy Officials and business 
community to be sensitised, equipped and 
trained in order to implement national 
single window.  
ICT: 
 Assistance to ensure reasonable to high 
level access to IT equipment's especially 
for other border agencies.  
Infrastructure/Equip ment: 
 Assistance required in setting up and 
installing appropriate IT equipment's and 
systems in some agencies and at ports of 
entry.  
Article 10.5  Pre-shipment Inspection  A - - - 
Article 10.6  Use of Customs Brokers  B 31 December 2017  31 December 2018  - 
Article 10.7  Common Border Procedures and Uniform 
Documentation Requirements  A - - - 
Article 10.8  Rejected G oods A - - - 
Article 10.9  Temporary Admission of Goods and Inward 
and Outward Processing  A - - -  
  G/TFA/N/FJI/1  
 
- 9 - Provision  Heading/Description  Category  Indicative date for 
implementation  
(for categories  
B and C)  Definitive date for 
implementation  
(for categories  
B and C)  Assistance and Support for Capacity 
Building Required for Implementation  
(for category C)  
Article 11  Freedom of Transit  
   Article 11.1 -
11.3  B 31 December 2017  31 December 2018  - 
   Article 11.4 -
11.17   A - - - 
Article 12  Customs C ooperation  
 B 31 December 2017  31 December 2018  - 
 
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