G/TFA/N/TON/1  
 
13 April 2017  
(17-2045) Page: 1/4 
Committee on Trade Facilitation  Original: English  
 
NOTIFICATION OF CATE GORY  COMMITMENTS UNDER  
THE AGREEMENT ON TRA DE FACILITATION  
COMMUNICATION FROM TONGA  
The follo wing communication, dated  11 April 2017  is being circulated at th e request of the 
delegation of Tonga for Members' infor mation.  
 
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The Government of Tonga  hereby makes the following notifications in accordance with Articles 15 
and 16 of the Trade Fa cilitation Agreement (WT/L/931).   
  G/TFA/N/TON/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 1 year  To be determ ined - 
   Article 1.2  Information Available through Internet  C 2 years  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 2 year s To be determined  - 
   Article 1.4  Notification  B 1 year 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  C 3 years  To be determined  Support to establish a consultation 
mechanism and provide with legal basis 
e.g. legislation . 
   Article 2.2  Consultations  B 1 year  To be determined  - 
Article 3       Advance Rulings  
 C 2 years  To be determined  Customs need establishment  of the Legal 
Framework and need Capacity Building for 
staffs . 
Article 4       Procedures for Appeal or Review  
 B 1 year To be determined  - 
Article 5  Other Measures to Enhance Impartiality, Non -Discrimination and Transparency  
   Article 5.1  Notification f or Enhanced Controls or 
Inspections  B 1 year  To be determined  - 
   Article 5.2  Detention  B 1 year  To be determined  - 
   Article 5.3  Test Procedures  C 5 years  To be determined  Customs Discussed and agreed to C as 
there is no procedures set in place for t hat 
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 6 months  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 - - - 
   Article 6.3  Penalty Disciplines  A - - - 
Article 7       Release and Cleara nce Goods  
   Article 7.1  Pre-arrival Processing  B 1 year  To be determined  - 
   Article 7.2  Electronic Payment  A - - - 
   Article 7.3  Separation of Release from Final 
Determination of Customs Duties, Taxes, 
Fees and Charges  A - - -  
  G/TFA/N/TON/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 7.4  Risk M anagement  B 1 year  To be determined  - 
   Article 7.5  Post-clearance Audit  C 5 years  To be determined  Support as per Note 1 below.  
   Article 7.6  Establishment and Publication of Average 
Release Times  C 5 years  To be determined  Technical assistance to be provided to 
Customs to develop capacity to undertake 
periodic T ime Release Studies (TRS) . 
   Article 7.7  Trade Facilitation Measures for 
Authorized Operators  C 5 years  To be determined  Support as per Note 1 below . 
   Article 7.8  Expedited Shipments  B 6 months  To be determined  - 
   Article 7.9  Perishable G oods B 6 months  To be determined  - 
Article 8  Border Agency Cooperation  
 B 1 year  To be determined  - 
Article 9  Movement of Goods Intended for Import under Customs Control  
 B 6 months  To be determined  - 
Article 10     Formalities Connected with Importation, Exportation and Transit  
   Article 10.1  Formalities and Documentation 
Requirements  C 3 years  To be determined  Support to develop p olicy and legislative 
framework.  
   Article 10.2  Acceptance of C opies C 1 year  To be determined  Support to develop p olicy and legislative 
framework.  
   Article 10.3  Use of International Standards  C 5 years  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 5 years  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 1 year  To be determined  - 
   Article 10.9  Temporary Admission of Goods and 
Inward and Outward Processing  B 1 year To be determined  - 
Article 11  Freedom of Transit  
  B 1 year  To be determined  - 
Article 12  Customs Cooperation  
  B 1 year  To be determined  - 
  
  G/TFA/N/TON/1  
 
- 4 - 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 position description for staff involved in risk management and set up a risk management unit  
o Train Custom s and Quarantine staff on analys ing available transaction data from CMS and identifyin g criteria for high risk cargo  
o Develop risk profiles using available 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 PCA:  
o Draft position description for staff involved in PCA and strengthen the PCA unit  
o Train Custom s and Quarantine staff on analys ing available transaction data from CMS and selecting entries /companies for desk audits and field audits  
o Train Customs and Quarantine staff on PCA  
o Draft and implement an awareness program to educate the trading community on the role of PCA and legislat ive requireme nts related to PCA  
 
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