WT/PCTF/N/FJI/1  
 
23 January  2017 
(17-0404) Page: 1/10 
Preparatory Committee on Trade Facilitation  Original: English  
 
 NOTIFICATION OF CATE GORY A, B AND C COMMITMEN TS 
UNDER THE AGREEMENT ON TRADE FACILITATIO N 
COMMUNICATION FROM FIJI 
The following communication, dated 17 January  2017, is being circulated at the request of the 
delegation of Fiji. 
 
_______________  
 
 
Pursuant to the Ministerial Decision of 7 December 2013 contained in document (WT/MIN(13)/36) 
and Article 15 of Section II of the Agreement on Trade Facilitation,  the Republic of Fiji  hereby 
makes the following notifications in accordance with Articles 15 and 16 of  the Trade Fa cilitation 
Agreement (WT/L/931).  
 
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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 Ca pacity 
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  Assistance required:  
 
Legal/ Policy  - Technical expertise  to develop 
user fri endly publications. Technical expert ise 
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 formal 
procedures in order to publish tra de- 
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 to 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 f riendly websites where 
all relevant information could be found 
easily.  
 Capacitate  other border agencies with ICT 
system s.   
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- 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 Ca pacity 
Building Required for Implementation  
(for category C)  
   Article 1.2  Information Available through Internet  C 31 December 2019  To be determined  Assistance required:  
 
Legal/Policy  
 
 Requir e 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 Resources/ Training   
 
 Training of  IT Staff to design , develop  and 
maintain  websites.  
 
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 main tain 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 requi red 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 webs ite 
content management information 
technology typically used for rapid  
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- 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 Ca pacity 
Building Required for Implementation  
(for category C)  
amendment to websites that allows 
communication of changes to all interested 
parties.  
   Article 1.3  Enquiry Points  B 31 December 2019  To be determined  - 
   Article 1.4  Notification  B 30 June 2017  To be determined  - 
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  To be determined  - 
   Article 2.2  Consultations  B 31 December 2019  To be determined  - 
Article 3      Advance Rulings  C 31 December 2019  To be determined  Assistance Required:  
 
 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 import ance 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  Assistance Required:   
 
 Legal/ Policy  - technical assistance to 
relevant agencies to develop po licies and 
laws in order to put in place effective 
procedure for appeals and review . 
 Procedures  – require assistance to develop 
directives on appeals which is an 
information strategy to ensure the 
business community is fully aware of the  
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- 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 Ca pacity 
Building Required for Implementation  
(for category C)  
appeal s system.  
 Also requires assistance to bring the 
appeal and review  mechanisms/  
procedures within other border agencies.  
 Human Resources /Training  – technical 
assistance to develop capacity in relevant 
agencies to have a greater understanding 
of procedures for review and  appeal.  
 Develop publications to create awareness 
within the private sector of this particular 
provision.  
Article 5  Other Measures to Enhance Impartiality, Non -Discrimination and Transparency  
   Article 5.1  Notification for Enhanced Controls or 
Inspectio ns  B 31 December 2019  To be determined  - 
   Article 5.2  Detention  A - - - 
   Article 5.3  Test Procedures  C 31 December 2021  To be determined  Assistance Required:  
 
 Legal/ Policy  – develop relevant laws and 
policies for agencies such as FRCA and 
Biosecuri ty 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 assistan ce and 
capacity building is needed 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  To be determined  
 - 
   Article 6.2  Specific Disciplines on Fees and Charges for 
Customs Processing Imposed on or in 
Connection with Importation and 
Exportation  A - - -  
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- 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 Ca pacity 
Building Required for Implementation  
(for category C)  
   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  To be determined  - 
   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  Assistance Required:  
 
 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 implementation of risk 
management system.  
 Human Resources /Training  – technical 
assistance to develop capacity in relevant 
border agencies to have a full 
understanding and applic ation 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 - - -  
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- 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 Ca pacity 
Building Required for Implementation  
(for category C)  
   Article 7.6  Establishment and Publication of Average 
Release Times  C 31 December 2019  To be determined  Assistance Required:  
 
 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 offic ials 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 2 019 To be determined  Assistance Required:  
 
 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 assess authorised operators 
that meet specified criteria in a trusted 
trade program e.g . Gold card Scheme.  
 Human Resources/Training – capacity 
building for all border agencie s such FRCA 
and BAF is needed to ensure full 
compliance with this measure.  
   Article 7.8  Expedited Shipments  A - - - 
   Article 7.9  Perishable Goods  A - - - 
Article 8  Border Agency Cooperation  B 31 December 2017  To be determined  - 
Article 9  Movement of Goods Intended for Import  
under Customs Control  A - - -  
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- 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 Ca pacity 
Building Required for Implementation  
(for category C)  
Article  10      Formalities connected with Importation, Exportation and Transit  
   Article 10.1  Formalities and Documentation 
Requirements  C 31 December 2019  To be determined  Assistance Required:  
 
 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 process ing 
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 Resources /Training  – capacity 
building for relevant border agency 
Officials to ensure enhanced border 
coordination.  
 ICT – Assistance needed to c apacitate 
other agencies with ICT tools and enablers 
in order to meet international standards 
for computerised system as well as 
expedite clearance.  
   Article 10.2  Acceptance of Copies  A - - - 
   Article 10.3  Use of International Standards  B 31 December  2021 To be determined  -  
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- 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 Ca pacity 
Building Required for Implementation  
(for category C)  
   Article 10.4  Single Window  C 31 December 2021  To be determined  Assistance Required:  
 
 Legal/ Policy  - technical assistance to 
review relevant laws in order to develop 
comprehensive nation single window.  
 
Technical assistance need ed 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 Resou rces/Training  capacity 
building needed for relevant border 
agency Officials  and business community 
to be sensitised, equipped and trained in  
order to implement nati onal single 
window.  
 ICT –assistance to  ensure reasonable to 
high level access to IT equipment 's 
especially for other border agencies.  
 Infrastructure/ Equipment  – 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  To be determined  - 
   Article 10.7  Common Border Procedures and Uniform 
Documentation Requirements  A - - - 
   Article 10.8  Rejected Goods  A - - - 
   Article 10.9  Temporary Admission of Goods and Inward 
and Outward Processing  A - - -  
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- 10 - 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 Ca pacity 
Building Required for Implementation  
(for category C)  
Article 11  Freedom of Transit      
Transit Charges, Regulations and Formalities  (Paragraph 1 – 3)
  B 31 December 2017  To be determin ed - 
Strengthen Non -Discrimination (Paragraph 4)  A - - - 
Transit Procedures and Controls (Paragraph s 5-10) A - - - 
Guarantees (Paragraphs 11 - 15) A - - - 
Cooperation and Coordination (Paragraphs 16 – 17) A - - - 
Article 12  Customs Cooperation    B 31 December 2017  To be determined  -                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                     
 
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