G/TFA/N/TON/1/Add.1  
 
15 October  2018 
(18-6361)  Page: 1/5 
Committee on Trade Facilitation  Original: English  
 
 
NOTIFICATION OF CATE GORY COMMITMENTS  UNDER  
THE AGREEMENT ON TRA DE FACILITATION  
COMMUNICATION FROM TONGA  
Addendum  
The following communica tion, dated  11 October 2018, is being circulated at the request of the 
delegation of  Tonga for Members' informa tion. 
 
_______________  
 
 
Following up from the notification dated 1 3 April 2017 (G/TFA/N/ TON/1), in which the Kingdom 
of Tonga indicated its  category B and C commitments, t he Kingdom of Tonga he reby notifies its 
definitive implementation dates for its category B in response to  Article 16.1(b) of the Trade 
Facilitation Agreement (TFA).  
 
Provision  Heading/Description  Definitive date for 
implementation  
   Article 1.1 Publication  31 December 2020  
   Article 1.3  Enquiry Points  31 December 2020  
   Article 1.4  Notification  31 December 2020  
   Article 2.2  Consultations  31 December 2020  
   Article 4  Procedures for Appeal or Review  31 December 2020  
   Article 5.1  Notification for Enhanced Controls or  Inspections  31 December 2020  
   Article 5.3  Detention  31 December 2020  
   Article 6.1  General Disciplines on Fees and Charges Imposed 
on or in Connection with Importation and 
Exportation  31 December 2020  
   Article 7.1  Pre-arrival Processing  31 December 2020  
   Article 7.8  Expedited Shipments  31 December 2020  
   Article 7.9  Perishable Goods  31 December 2020  
   Article 9  Movement of Goods Intended for Import Under 
Customs Control  31 December 2020  
   Article 10.8  Rejected Goods  31 December 2020  
   Article 10.9  Temporary Admission of Goods and Inward and 
Outward Processing  31 December 2020  
   Article 11  Freedom of Transit  31 December 2020  
   Article 12  Customs Cooperation  31 December 2020  
 
In response to  Article 19.1 of the Agreement on Trade Facilitation, the Kingdom of Tonga also 
notifies that the following provisions have been shifted between categories:  
 
Provision  Heading/Description  Category previously 
notified as  Category shifted 
to 
   Article 7.4  Risk Management  B C 
   Article 8  Border Agency Cooperation  B C 
 
For ease of reference, Tonga's full list of category commitments are summarized in the table as 
attached herewith.   
  G/TFA/N/TON/1/Add.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  B 22 February 2018  31 December 2020  - 
Article 1.2  Information Available through Internet  C 22 February 2019  To be determined  Support to amalgamate all information into a 
trade portal for purpose of complying with 
Article 1 sub articles 2.1 and 2.3.  
Article 1.3  Enquiry Points B 22 February 2019  31 December 2020  - 
Article 1.4  Notification  B 22 February 2018  31 December 2020  - 
Article 2  Opportunity  to Comment, Information before Entry into Force and Consultations   
Article 2.1  Opportunity to Comment and Information 
Before Entry into Force  C 22 February 2020  To be determined  Support to establish a consultation 
mechanism and provide with legal basis e .g. 
legislation . 
Article 2.2  Consultations  B 22 February 2018  31 December 2020  - 
Article 3  Advance Rulings  
 C 22 February 2019  To be determined  Customs need establishment  of the Legal 
Framework and need Capacity Building for 
staffs . 
Article 4  Procedures for Appeal or Review  
 B 22 February 2018  31 December 2020  - 
Article 5  Other Measures to Enhance Impartiality, Non -Discrimination and Transparency  
Article 5.1  Notification for Enhanced Controls or 
Inspections  B 22 February 2018  31 December 2020 - 
Article 5.2  Detention  B 22 February 2018  31 December 2020  - 
Article 5.3  Test Procedures  C 22 February 2022  To be determined  Customs Discussed and agreed to C as there 
is no procedures set in place for that 
requirement . 
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 22 August 2017 31 December 2020  - 
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  B 22 February 2018  31 December 2020  - 
Article 7.2  Electronic Payment  A - - -  
  G/TFA/N/TON/1/Add.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)  
Article 7.3  Separation of Release from Final 
Determination of Customs Duties, Taxes, 
Fees and Charges  A - - - 
Article 7.4  Risk Management  C 22 February 2018  To be determined  Legal/Policy:  
• Technical assistance 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 implement ation of risk 
management system.  
Human Resources/Training:  
• Technical assistance to develop capacity 
in relevant border agencies to ensure 
understanding and application of risk 
assessment and risk management to 
allow for better risk identification, 
analysis, assessment and treatment.   
ICT: 
• Enhance technological ca pacity for 
border agencies necessary to implement 
the risk management system.  
Infrastructure/Equipment:  
• Provision of appropriate technology and 
equipment to support the 
implementation of a proper risk 
management system.  
Article 7.5  Post-clearance Audit  C 22 February 2022  To be determined  Support as per Note 1 below.  
Article 7.6  Establishment and Publication of Average 
Release Times  C 22 February 2022  To be determined  Technical assistance to be provided to 
Customs to develop capacity to undertake 
periodic Time Release Studies (TRS) . 
Article 7.7  Trade Facilitation Measures for Authorized 
Operators  C 22 February 2022  To be determined  Support as per Note 1 below.  
Article 7.8  Expedited Shipments  B 22 August 201 7 31 December 2020  - 
Article 7.9  Perishable G oods B 22 August 201 7 31 December 2020  -  
  G/TFA/N/TON/1/Add.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)  
Article 8  Border Agency Cooperation  
 C 22 February 2018  To be determined  Procedures:  
• Support on developing a framewor k for 
border agency cooperation; draw up of a 
harmonized border procedures manual 
for border agencies.  
• Preparation of texts establishing and 
organizing joint controls and one -stop 
border post control.  
Human Resources/Training:  
• Support for staff on border agency 
cooperation.  
• Training in and awareness -raising of 
new cooperation practices for border 
agency officials.  
Article 9  Movement of Goods Intended for I mport  under Customs Control  
 B 22 August 2017 31 December 2020  - 
Article 10  Formalities Connected with Importation, Exportation and Transit  
Article 10.1  Formalities and Documentation 
Requirements  C 22 February 2020  To be determined  Support to develop p olicy and legislative 
framework.  
Article 10.2  Acceptance of C opies C 22 February 2018  To be determined  Support to develop p olicy and legislative 
framework.  
Article 10.3  Use of International Standards  C 22 February 2022  To be determined  Support to develop policy or procedure on 
the examination of relevant international 
standards and to enable Tonga to meet the 
recommendation of WCO to become RKC 
compliant.  
Article 10.4  Single Window  C 22 February 2022  To be determined  Support to for a  feasibility study to 
investigate viability of a Single Window 
system and based on results further support 
to implement  - if viable.  
Article 10.5  Pre-shipment Inspection  A - - - 
Article 10.6  Use of Customs Brokers  A - - - 
Article 10.7  Common Border Procedures and Uniform 
Documentation Requirements  A - - - 
Article 10.8  Rejected G oods B 22 February 2018  31 December 2020  - 
Article 10.9  Temporary Admission of Goods and Inward 
and Outward Processing  B 22 February 2018  31 December 2020  - 
Article 11  Freedom of Transit  
 B 22 February 2018  31 December 2020  -  
  G/TFA/N/TON/1/Add.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)  
Article 12  Customs C ooperation  
 B 22 February 2018  31 December 2020  - 
 
Note 1:  
 
• Technical assistance will be needed to develop processes and procedures that incorporate the following in all aspects of risk management:  
o Draft a cargo clearance policy and process incorporating a risk based framework and PCA using the RKC as a guide  
o Draft terms of reference for the risk management committee  
o Draft p osition description for staff involved in risk management and set up a risk management unit  
o Train Customs and Quarantine staff on analysing available transaction data from CMS and identifying criteria for high risk ca rgo 
o Develop risk profiles using availab le transaction data from CMS  
o Train Customs and Quarantine staff on implementation of a risk based approach in the clearance of cargo  
 
• Technical assistance will be needed to develop processes and procedures that incorporate the following in all aspects of P CA: 
o Draft position description for staff involved in PCA and strengthen the PCA unit  
o Train Customs and Quarantine staff on analysing available transaction data from CMS and selecting entries/companies for desk audits and field audits  
o Train Customs and Quar antine staff on PCA  
o Draft and implement an awareness program to educate the trading community on the role of PCA and legislative requirements rel ated to PCA  
 
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