RESTRICTED  
  
G/TFA/W/27  
 
12 October 2020  
(20-7015) Page: 1/7  
Committee on Trade Facilitation    
 
 
DRAFT 
 
ANNUAL REPORT (20 20) OF THE COMMITTEE ON TRADE FACILITATION  
TO THE COUNCIL FOR TRADE IN GOODS  
1. The Agreement on Trade Facilitation  (TFA)  entered into force on 22 February 2017. This report 
covers the period from 17 October  2019 to 22 October 20 20. 
2. During the period under review, t he Com mittee on Trade Facilitation (TFC) held four formal 
meetings : on 1 1 February  (G/TFA/M/ 10); on 20 February (G/TFA/M/11); on 28 February  
(G/TFA/M/ 12) and on 20 to 22 October  (G/TFA/M/ 131). The TFC held an informal meeting on 
30 September . 
3. The meetings of 11, 20 and 28 of February were chaired by Ambassador Mohammad HAQJO  
(Afghanistan). The remaining me etings were chaired by his successor Ambassador Katrina NAUT  
(Dominican Republic)  who was elected on 30 July as Chair of the Committee for 2020.  
4. During the period under review, t he work of the TFC focu sed on three  mains areas: m atters 
relating to the implementation and administration of the TFA; experience sharing/thematic 
discussion s; and updates on relevant activities from TFAF and other organizations . 
Matters relating to the implementation and administration of the Trade Facil itation Agreement ( TFA) 
5. Seven  ratifications were received  during the period under review , bringing the total number 
of ratifications to 153 Members (93% of the Membership).  
6. With regard to the implementation and administration of the TFA,  the Committee's work was 
focused on notifications. Developing and least developed country Members invoking the special 
flexibilities of the TFA are required to notify their implementation com mitments to the Committee in 
accordance with Articles 15 and 16 of the TFA. The Committee  discussed the implementation of the 
Agreement , it analysed progress made , and highlighted  remaining work to be done . Some Members 
drew attention to the upcoming imple mentation notification deadlines  and to the challenges related 
to meeting those deadlines. They reminded Members of the availability of assistance to help address 
such challenges . A total of 59 notifications under Articles 15 and 16 were received during th e period 
under review.  
7. The meetings of the 20 and 28 February were convened under Rule 2 of the Rules of Procedure 
for meetings of the General Council, which through its own rules of procedure, apply mutatis mutandis  
to the TFC. In accordance with the TFA,  least developed countries must present their definitive dates 
for the implementation of category B provisions by 22 February 2020. However, under article 16.2 (b) 
of the TFA, least developed country Members may request the Committee to grant them an exten sion 
of that deadline. One least developed country Member notified the Committee on 13 February 2020 
that it wished to request an extension. Between 19 and 20 February, an additional six least developed 
country Members also submitted requests for an extens ion to the deadline. Accordingly, in order to 
make a decision before the 22 February 2020 deadline, the Committee met on 20 February.  
8. Subsequent to the meeting of 20 February, the Committee received two further notifications of 
request s for extension  on 21  February 2020 and the Committee held a second meeting under Rule 2 
of the Rules of Procedure on 28 February.  
 
1 To be issued.  G/TFA/W/27  
 
- 2 - 
 
  9. The Committee agreed to all nine requests for an extension of the deadline .2 During the period 
under review, t hree Members3 submitted their notifications in accordance with their extended 
deadlines. The remaining extensions were granted up to 22 February 2021.  
10.  The TFC held an informal meeting on 30 September to discuss the trade facilitation measures 
that Members had implement ed in the context of the COVID -19 pandemic. Twenty Members 
informed the Committee of the measures that they had implemented. In addition, at the invitation 
of the Chairperson, a number of other entities, the International Trade Centre, the World Bank, the 
World Customs Organization, the United Nations Conference for Trade and Development ( UNCTAD ) 
(which are Annex D trade facilitation partners) and the Global Alliance4 update d the membership on 
their COVID -19 trade facilitation work.  
11. During the period under  review, 56 transparency notifications were received  in accordance 
with the following provisions : Art.1.4  (import, export and transit procedures); Art.10.4.3  (single 
window); Art.10.6.2  (customs brokers) and Art.12.2.2  (exchange of customs information) . 
A number of  Members emphasised that transparency notifications must be notified in a timely 
manner, in accordance with Members' individual implementation plans . Those Members  also called 
for an improvement in the quality of the information no tified under the transparency notifications . 
12. In accordance with Article 22 (22.1 and 22.2 ) of the TFA which require s donor Members to 
notify information regarding their technical assistance  arrangements and the process and 
mechanisms to receive assistance , five donor Members submitted notifications . Article 22.3  requires  
beneficiary Members to notify contact details wit h regard s to technical assistance  and 18 developing 
and least developed country Members submitted notifications  under this article . 
13. During its meeting of 11 February, the Committee took note of its first trade concern. The 
Kyrgyz Republic raised concerns regarding the situation at its borders with Kazakhstan as a result 
of Kazakhstan's treatment of goods transiting through the Kyrgyz R epublic to the Russian Federation. 
As both countries are Members of the Eurasian Economic Union, Kazakhstan considered that the 
issue should be addressed within that framework.  
Experience sharing/thematic discussions  
14. The Committee holds experience sharing and thematic discussions  as part of its regular 
meetings . During the period under review, Members shared their experiences on items such as 
(i) National Trade Facilitation Committees, (ii) Article 3 – Advanced rulings , (iii) Article 7.6 - Average 
released  times ; (iv) Articles 1.1 and 1.2 - Publication and Information available through internet ; 
and (v) measures adopted by Members in response to C OVID -19. More details on the information 
and experience sharing discussions can be found on the TFA database .5 
Reporting by TFAF and other organizations  
 
15. The Trade Facilitation Agreement Facility (TFAF) and Annex D organizations updated the 
Committee on their activities at the meetings of 11 February and 20 to 22 October meetings. They 
provided oral reports to the February meeting  while their reports to the Committee's October 
meeting  were circulated ahead of the meeting in a written document. The reason for the change in 
format was to allow f or great er discussion on the item at the TFC meeting.  The TFAF Annual Report 
for 201 9 was introduced at the October  meeting.6 TFAF also circulated its workplan for 2020 ahead 
of the October meeting. At the October meeting [the Committee [discussed the following items ...].  
 
2 Afghanistan, Burkina Faso, Chad, Djibouti, Lao PDR, Mauritania , Senegal, Sierra Leone and Solomon 
Islands.  
3 Afghanistan, Senegal and Solomon Islands.  
4 The Global Alliance for Trade Facilitation is a public -private partnership dedicated to international trade 
facilitation. led by the  Center for International Private Enterprise, the  International Chamber of Commerce  and 
the World Economic Forum, in cooperation with  Gesellschaft für Internationale Zusammenarbeit (GIZ). It is 
funded by the governments of the United States, Canada, Germany, Denmark, the United Kingdom and  
Australia.  
5 https://www.tfadatabase.org/trade -facilitation -committee/experience -sharing/key -points  
6 https://www.tfafacility.org/annual -report -2019 G/TFA/W/27  
 
- 3 - 
 
  Dedicated session on assistance and capacity building  
 
16. In accordance with the provision of Article 21.4 of the A greement, the Committee held a n 
annual  dedicated session on assistance and capacity building on 22 October 20 20. The items 
discussed included : exchanges on any implementation problems;  a review of progress in the 
provision of assistance and support for cap acity building to support the implementation of the T FA; 
sharing experiences and information on ongoing assistance and support for capacity building and 
implementation programs, including challenges and successes;  review ing donor notifications as set 
forth in Article 22 of the TFA; and  review ing the operation of Article 21:2 (assistance and support 
for LDCs  [Members raised the following issues during the Dedicated session: [   ]. 
Draft Annual Report to the Council for Trade in Goods.  
 
17. The Committee [adopted  the Annual Report to the Council for Trade in Goods (G/TFA/W/ 27) 
and requested the Secretariat to update it to take account of the October meeting].  
 G/TFA/W/27  
 
- 4 - 
 
  ANNEX I : NOTIFICATIONS FROM  MEMBERS SINCE THE  LAST ANNUAL REPORT UNTIL  
22 OCTOBER 2020 
1  NOTIFICATIONS UNDER ARTICLES 15 AND 16 OF THE TRADE FACILITATION 
AGREEMENT  
1.1  Implementation notifications (categories A, B, C)  
Member  Document symbol  Date  of 
issuance  Area covered  
Cat. A Cat. B Cat. C 
India G/TFA/N/IND/1/Add.1  08/10/2020   
X  
Saint Kitts and Nevis  G/TFA/N/KNA/1/Add.1  08/10/2020   
X X 
Tanzania  G/TFA/N/TZA/2  05/10/2020   
X X 
Senegal  G/TFA/N/SEN/1/Add.2  03/09/2020   
X  
Philippines  G/TFA/N/PHL/1/Add.1  28/08/2020    
X 
Lao People's 
Democratic Republic  G/TFA/N/LAO/1/Add.4  05/08/2020   
X  
Solomon Islands  G/TFA/N/SLB/1/Add.1  09/07/2020   
X X 
Pakistan  G/TFA/N/PAK/1/Add.3  30/06/2020    
X 
Samoa  G/TFA/N/WSM/1/Add.2  30/06/2020   
X  
Macao, China  G/TFA/N/MAC/1/Add.2  26/05/2020   
X  
Afghanistan  G/TFA/N/AFG/1/Add.2  18/05/2020   
X X 
Rwanda  G/TFA/N/RWA/1/Add.2  30/04/2020    
X 
Angola  G/TFA/N/AGO/1/Add.1/Corr.1  10/03/2020   
X X 
Burundi  G/TFA/N/BDI/1/Corr.1  03/03/2020  X X X 
Angola  G/TFA/N/AGO/1/Add.1  28/02/2020   
X X 
Bahrain, Kingdom of  G/TFA/N/BHR/1/Add.1  28/02/2020    
X 
Mauritania  G/TFA/N/MRT/1/Add.1/Corr.1  27/02/2020   
Y  
Benin  G/TFA/N/BEN/2  21/02/2020  X X X 
Cambodia  G/TFA/N/KHM/1/Add.1  21/02/2020  X X X 
Lesotho  G/TFA/N/LSO/1/Add.1  21/02/2020   
X X 
Madagascar  G/TFA/N/MDG/1/Add.2  21/02/2020   
X X 
Mauritania  G/TFA/N/MRT/1/Add.1  21/02/2020   
X  
Myanmar  G/TFA/N/MMR/1/Add.1  21/02/2020   
X  
Sierra Leone  G/TFA/N/SLE/1/Add.1  21/02/2020   
X  
Burkina Faso  G/TFA/N/BFA/1/Add.2  20/02/2020   
X  
Djibouti  G/TFA/N/DJI/1/Add.1  20/02/2020   
X  
Nepal  G/TFA/N/NPL/1/Add.1  20/02/2020   
X  
Senegal  G/TFA/N/SEN/1/Add.1  20/02/2020   
X  
Solomon Islands  G/TFA/N/SLB/1  20/02/2020   
X  
Togo G/TFA/N/TGO/1/Add.1  20/02/2020   
X  
Vanuatu  G/TFA/N/VUT/1/Add.1  20/02/2020  X X X 
Afghanistan  G/TFA/N/AFG/1/Add.1  19/02/2020   
X  
Bangladesh  G/TFA/N/BGD/1/Add.3  19/02/2020   
X  
Burundi  G/TFA/N/BDI/1  19/02/2020  X X X 
Chad G/TFA/N/TCD/1  19/02/2020   
X  
Niger  G/TFA/N/NER/2/Add.1  19/02/2020   
X X 
Rwanda  G/TFA/N/RWA/1/Add.1  19/02/2020   
X  G/TFA/W/27  
 
- 5 - 
 
  Member  Document symbol  Date  of 
issuance  Area covered  
Cat. A Cat. B Cat. C 
Guinea  G/TFA/N/GIN/1  13/02/2020  X X X 
Lao People's 
Democratic Republic  G/TFA/N/LAO/1/Add.3  13/02/2020   
X  
Gambia, The  G/TFA/N/GMB/1/Add.1  05/02/2020   
X  
Brunei Darussalam  G/TFA/N/BRN/1/Add.2  30/01/2020   
X  
Bangladesh  G/TFA/N/BGD/1/Add.2  15/01/2020   
X X 
China  G/TFA/N/ CHN/1/Add.5  15/01/2020   
X  
Uganda  G/TFA/N/UGA/1  15/01/2020  X X X 
China  G/TFA/N/CHN/1/Add.4  10/01/2020   
X  
Central African 
Republic  G/TFA/N/CAF/1/Add.2  20/12/2019   
X X 
Maldives  G/TFA/N/MDV/3  09/12/2019  X X X 
Burkina Faso  G/TFA/N/BFA/1/Add.1  03/12/2019  X X X 
Mali G/TFA/N/MLI/1/Add.1  28/11/2019   
X X 
Morocco  G/TFA/N/MAR/1/Add.1  28/11/2019   
X X 
Zambia  G/TFA/N/ZMB/1/Corr.1  04/11/2019   
X X 
Zambia  G/TFA/N/ZMB/1  23/10/2019   
X X 
Kenya  G/TFA/N/KEN/1  22/10/2019   
X X 
Albania  G/TFA/N/ALB/1/Add.1  18/10/2019   
X X 
Democratic Republic 
of the Congo  G/TFA/N/COD/1  18/10/2019   
X X 
 
1.2  Donor arrangements and progress in the provision of Technical Assistance and 
capacity building support  
Member  Document symbol  Date  of 
issuance  Notification type  
Nicaragua  G/TFA/N/NIC/4  12/08/2020  Donor Arrangements + Progress  
Ukraine  G/TFA/N/UKR/4  18/02/2020  Donor Arrangements + Progress  
Maldives  G/TFA/N/MDV/4  16/01/2020  Donor Arrangements + Progress  
Bangladesh  G/TFA/N/BGD /2/Rev.1  15/01/2020  Donor Arrangements + Progress  
 
2  NOTIFICATIONS UNDER ARTICLES 1:4, 10:4:3, 10:6:2 AND 12:2:2 OF THE TRADE 
FACILITATION AGREEMENT  
Member  Symbol  Date  of 
issuance  Areas covered  
1.4 10.4.3  10.6.2  12.2.2  
Switzerland  G/TFA /N/CHE/2/Rev.1  08/10/2020  X X X X 
Thailand  G/TFA/N/THA/2/Rev.1  08/10/2020  X X X X 
Argentina  G/TFA/N/ARG/2/Rev.3  05/10/2020  X X X X 
Armenia  G/TFA/N/ARM/3  23/09/2020    
X  
China  G/TFA/N/CHN/2/Rev.4  18/09/2020  X  
X  
Antigua and 
Barbuda  G/TFA/N/ATG/3  17/09/2020    
X  
Vanuatu  G/TFA/N/VUT/2/Rev.1  15/09/2020  X    
Norway  G/TFA/N/NOR/2/Rev.1  09/09/2020  X X X X 
Senegal  G/TFA/N/SEN/3  07/09/2020   
X X X 
Ecuador  G/TFA/N/ECU/2/Add.1/Rev.1  26/08/2020  X    
Chile G/TFA/N/CHL/2/Rev.2  24/08/2020  X X X X G/TFA/W/27  
 
- 6 - 
 
  Member  Symbol  Date  of 
issuance  Areas covered  
1.4 10.4.3  10.6.2  12.2.2  
Mauritius  G/TFA/N/MUS/2/Rev.1  18/08/2020  X X X X 
Uruguay  G/TFA/N/URY/2/Rev.1  18/08/2020  X X X X 
Honduras  G/TFA/N/HND/3/Rev.1  12/08/2020  X X X X 
Moldova, Republic of  G/TFA/N/MDA/2/Rev.1  04/08/2020  X  
X X 
North Macedonia  G/TFA/N/MKD/1/Rev.3  31/07/2020  X X X X 
Kyrgyz Republic  G/TFA/N/KGZ/1/Rev.1  21/07/2020  X X X X 
Israel  G/TFA/N/ISR/1/Rev.1  15/07/2020  X X X X 
Cote d'Ivoire  G/TFA/N/CIV/3  10/07/2020  X X X X 
Korea, Republic of  G/TFA/N/KOR/1/Rev.1  10/07/2020  X X X X 
Macao, China  G/TFA /N/MAC/2/Rev.1  10/07/2020  X X X X 
Chinese Taipei  G/TFA/N/TPKM/1/Rev.2  10/07/2020  X X X X 
Tajikistan  G/TFA/N/TJK/2  10/07/2020  X X X X 
European Union  G/TFA/N/EU/1/Rev.4  09/07/2020  X X X X 
Australia  G/TFA/N/AUS/1/Rev.2  29/06/2020  X X X X 
Guyana  G/TFA /N/GUY/2/Rev.1  29/06/2020  X X X X 
Argentina  G/TFA/N/ARG/2/Rev.2  22/06/2020  X    
Turkey  G/TFA/N/TUR/2/Rev.1  10/06/2020  X X X X 
Dominican Republic  G/TFA/N/DOM/3/Rev.1  05/06/2020  X X   
Chinese Taipei  G/TFA/N/TPKM/1/Rev.1  26/05/2020  X    
Sri Lanka  G/TFA/N/LKA/3  08/05/2020    
X  
European Union  G/TFA/N/EU/1/Rev.3  08/05/2020  X    
Cambodia  G/TFA/N/KHM/2  30/04/2020    
X X 
China  G/TFA/N/CHN/2/Rev.3  30/04/2020  X  
X  
European Union  G/TFA/N/EU/1/Rev.2  09/04/2020  X    
Central African 
Republic  G/TFA /N/CAF/2  04/03/2020    
X  
Vanuatu  G/TFA/N/VUT/2  02/03/2020  X    
Honduras  G/TFA/N/HND/3  28/02/2020  X    
Thailand  G/TFA/N/THA/3  26/02/2020     
X 
Guatemala  G/TFA/N/GTM/3  05/02/2020   
X X X 
Saudi Arabia, 
Kingdom of  G/TFA/N/SAU/2  23/01/2020  X X X X 
Chile G/TFA/N/CHL/2/Rev.1  20/01/2020  X X X X 
China  G/TFA/N/CHN/4  10/01/2020   
X  
X 
Ecuador  G/TFA/N/ECU/4  09/01/2020     
X 
Nicaragua  G/TFA/N/NIC/3  06/01/2020  X X X X 
Ecuador  G/TFA/N/ECU/2/Add.1  20/12/2019  X    
Tunisia  G/TFA/N/TUN/2  17/12/2019    
X  
Mongolia  G/TFA/N/MNG/2/Add.1  12/12/2019    
X X 
Argentina  G/TFA/N/ARG/2/Rev.1  11/12/2019  X X X X 
Saint Lucia  G/TFA/N/LCA/3  02/12/2019     
X 
Oman  G/TFA/N/OMN/2  07/11/2019  X X X X 
Pakistan  G/TFA/N/PAK/2/Add.1  04/11/2019     
X 
Colombia  G/TFA/N/COL/2  30/10/2019  X X X X 
Botswana  G/TFA/N/BWA/2  22/10/2019    
X X G/TFA/W/27  
 
- 7 - 
 
  Member  Symbol  Date  of 
issuance  Areas covered  
1.4 10.4.3  10.6.2  12.2.2  
Paraguay  G/TFA/N/PRY/3  22/10/2019   
X X X 
Albania  G/TFA/N/ALB/2  18/10/2019  X  
X X 
 
3  NOTIFICATIONS UNDER ARTICLE 22  OF THE TRADE FACILITATION AGREEMENT BY 
DONOR MEMBERS  
Donor  
Member  Document symbol  Date  of 
issuance  Notification type  
Canada  G/TFA/N/CAN/4  08/10/2020  (Articles 22.1 and/or 22.2)  
United States of America  G/TFA/N/USA/4  08/10/2020  (Articles 22.1 and/or 22.2)  
Australia  G/TFA/N/AUS/4  21/07/2020  (Articles 22.1 and/or 22.2)  
Japan  G/TFA/N/JPN/5  27/03/2020  (Articles 22.1 and/or 22.2)  
China  G/TFA/N/CHN/3  18/10/2019  (Articles 22.1 and/or 22.2)  
 
Developing and least developed country Members  
Member  Document symbol  Date  of 
issuance  Notification type  
Antigua and Barbuda  G/TFA/N/ATG/2  17/09/2020  Article 22.3  
Honduras  G/TFA/N/HND/2/Rev.1  15/09/2020  Article 22.3  
Senegal  G/TFA/N/SEN/2  07/09/2020  Article 22.3  
Cote d'Ivoire  G/TFA/N/CIV/2  10/07/2020  Article 22.3  
Tanzania  G/TFA/N/TZA/1  01/07/2020  Article 22.3  
Sri Lanka  G/TFA/N/LKA/2/Rev.1  08/05/2020  Article 22.3  
Cambodia  G/TFA/N/KHM/3  30/04/2020  Article 22.3  
Jamaica  G/TFA/N/JAM/2/Rev.1  02/04/2020  Article 22.3  
Tonga  G/TFA/N/TON/2/Rev.2  19/03/2020  Article 22.3  
Eswatini, Kingdom of  G/TFA/N/SWZ/3  17/03/2020  Article 22.3  
Honduras  G/TFA/N/HND/2  28/02/2020  Article 22.3  
Angola  G/TFA/N/AGO/2  19/02/2020  Article 22.3  
Nepal  G/TFA/N/NPL/3  19/02/2020  Article 22.3  
Jamaica  G/TFA/N/JAM/2  13/02/2020  Article 22.3  
Benin  G/TFA/N/BEN/1  30/01/2020  Article 22.3 
Burkina Faso  G/TFA/N/BFA/2  04/12/2019  Article 22.3  
Nicaragua  G/TFA/N/NIC/2  20/11/2019  Article 22.3  
Pakistan  G/TFA/N/PAK/3  04/11/2019  Article 22.3  
 
__________