G/TFA/N/TTO/1  
 
27 November  2017 
(17-6466) Page: 1/7 
Committee on Trade Facilitation  Original: English  
 
NOTIFICATION OF CATE GORY COMMITMENTS  UNDER  
THE AGREEMENT ON TRA DE FACILITATION  
COMMUNICATION FROM T RINIDAD AND TOBAGO  
The following communica tion, dated 27 November 2017, is being circulated at the request of the 
delegation of Trinidad and Tobago for Membe rs' informa tion. 
 
_______________  
 
 
Following up on the notification dated 15 June 2015 (WT/PCTF/N/TTO/1), in which Trinidad and 
Tobago indicated its category A commitments, Trinidad and Tobago hereby makes the following 
additional notifications in accorda nce with Articles 15 and 16 of the Trade Facilitation Agreement 
(WT/L/931).  
 
 
 
 
 
 
  
  G/TFA/N/TTO/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 2023  To be determined   Legal/Policy  - Revision of  existing 
legislation or draft ing of new legislation  
to include Art. 1.1 provisions;  
 Human Resource  - Train personnel  to 
carry out Art. 1.1 provisions ; 
 ICT - Conduct a gap analysis . 
   Article 1.2  Information Available through Internet  C 31 December 2023  To be determined   ICT - Develop ment of content for a 
Trade Information Portal ; 
 Human Resource/ Training - Train 
personnel;  
 Equipment - Equipment for 
infrastructural upgrades . 
   Article 1.3  Enquiry Points C 31 December 2023  To be determined   Legal/ Policy - Revision of  existing 
legislatio n or drafting of new legislation 
to include Art. 1.1 provisions;  
 Procedures - Develop procedures for 
responding to requests;  
 Human Resource/ Training - Train staff 
in the management of an Enquiry Point 
for the Agreement.  
   Article 1.4  Notification  C 31 December 2023  To be determined   Human Resource/Training - Conduct 
awareness sessions on procedures for 
notifications and information to be 
notified.  
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 31 December 2023  To be determined   Policy - Develop policy to allow traders 
and other interested parties to 
comment on new and amended laws;   
 Legal - Legislative and institutional 
amendments  (legal consultancy).  
   Article 2.2  Consultations  A - - - 
Article 3       Advance Rulings  
 C 31 December 2023  To be determined   Legal/Policy - Legislative Drafting or 
amendment  of all legislation applicable 
to the issuance of Advanced Rulings;  
 Human Resources /Training - Train 
personnel to support th e issuance of 
Advanced Rulings (e.g. Rules of Origin 
and Classification ); 
 Procedural - Development of policy  
  G/TFA/N/TTO/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)  
procedures in line with requirements of 
this article.  
Article 4       Procedures for Appeal or Review  
 C 31 December 2023  To be determined   Human Resource/ Training - Train 
personnel;  
 Legal/Policy - Legislative  Drafting.  
Article 5  Other Measures to Enhance Impartiality, Non -Discrimination and Transparency  
   Article 5.1  Notification for Enhanced Controls or 
Inspections  C 31 December 2023  To be determined   Legal/ Policy - Revision of existing 
legislation that sets out procedures for 
enhanced controls or inspections for 
food, beverages or feedstuffs.  
   Article 5.2  Detention  B 31 December 2020  To be determined  - 
   Article 5.3  Test Procedures  C 31 December 2023  To be determined   Infrastructure/Equipment  - Funding  
accreditation of local labs;  
 Human Resources/Training  - Train 
personnel;  
 Legal/ Policy - develop laws and policy 
to ensure compliance with this article ; 
 Procedures - Development of policy 
procedures in line with requirements of 
this article.  
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 an d Charges 
Imposed on or in Connection with 
Importation and Exportation  C 31 December 2023  To be determined   Technical - Procure and fund a 
consultant to conduct a Time Releas e 
Study for Trinidad and Tobago;  
 Procedural - Develop and publish a 
single schedule  of all fees and charges 
related to imports and exports . 
   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  C 31 December 2020  To be determined   Legal/Policy - Legislative Drafting or 
amendment  of all legislation applicable 
to this article ; 
 Procedural - Develop and publish 
procedure s. 
   Article 7.2  Electronic Payment  C 31 December 2020  To be determined   Legal/Policy - Legislative Drafting  or 
amending of all legislation in order to  
  G/TFA/N/TTO/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)  
undertake Electronic Payment;  
 Equipment - Funding upgrades of the 
necessary infrastructure ; 
 Human Resou rces/Training  - Train 
personnel . 
   Article 7.3  Separation of Release from Final 
Determination of Customs Duties, Taxes, 
Fees and Charges  C 31 December 2023  To be determined   Legal/Policy - Development of policy on 
payment of guarantees for monetary 
penalt ies or fines  
   Article 7.4  Risk Management  C 31 December 2020  To be determined   Legal/Policy - Legislative amendments 
to the Customs Act;  
 Human Resources/Training  - Train 
personnel in risk management 
techniques; Periodic training in risk 
management;  
 ICT - Acquisition of risk management 
system software for Customs control; 
Design and i mplement Risk 
Management System;  
 Procedural - Develop risk registers for 
importers and other procedures . 
   Article 7.5  Post-clearance Audit  C 31 December 2020  To be determin ed  Legal/Policy - Legislative amendments 
to the Customs Act;  
 Legislative and institu tional;  
 Human resources/ Training - Train 
personnel and develop continuous work 
programs;  
 Implement auditing software;  
 Procedures - creation of a strategic 
plan in the area  of Post Clearance Audit 
and Risk Management.  
   Article 7.6  Establishment and Publication of Average 
Release Times  C 31 December 2020  To be determined   Legal/Policy - Legislative amendments 
to the Customs Act;  
 Technical Assistance - needed to 
conduct a Ti me Release Study for 
Trinidad and Tobago.  
   Article 7.7  Trade Facilitation Measures for 
Authorized Operators  C 31 December 2023  To be determined   Procedures - Develop an Authorized 
Operator Programme;  
 Legal/ Policy - assistance with policy 
development and  drafting of 
regulations ; 
 Human Resource/ Training - capacity  
  G/TFA/N/TTO/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)  
building for all border agencies is 
needed to ensure full compliance with 
this measure.  
   Article 7.8  Expedited Shipments  C 31 December 2020  To be determined   Human Resources/ Training - Train 
personnel;  
 Legal/Policy - Legislative amendments 
to the Customs Act;  
 Procedures - Development of 
procedures for the operation of the 
programme and provide advice on the 
criteria to be used to determine 
companies which qualify.  
   Article 7.9  Perishable G oods A - - - 
Article 8  Border Agency Cooperation  
 B 31 December 2023  To be determined  - 
Article 9  Movement of Goods Intended for Import under Customs Control  
 C 31 December 2023  To be determined   Legal/Policy - Legislative amendments 
to the Customs Act (l egal consultancy) 
inclusive of regulations and policy.  
Article 10     Formalities Connected with Importation, Exportation and Transit  
   Article 10.1  Formalities and Documentation 
Requirements  A - - - 
   Article 10.2  Acceptance of C opies B 31 December 2 020 To be determined  - 
   Article 10.3  Use of International Standards  C 31 December 2020  To be determined   Procedures - Assess the testing, 
certification, inspection and 
accreditation capabilities of food safety 
regulatory agencies and provide 
assistance f or upgrading facilities and 
achieving compliance with relevant 
standards;  
 Human Resources/ Training - Develop 
and implement a training and 
certification program to assist 
exporters to meet relevant standards  
awareness session on the importance 
of the  use of  international standards.  
   Article 10.4  Single Window  C 31 December 2020  To be determined   Technical - Develop information 
security plan, Business Continuity 
System; Develop change management 
strategy; Develop capacity building 
program and knowledge mana gement  
  G/TFA/N/TTO/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)  
strategy and Service Oriented 
Architecture ; 
 Legal/Policy - technical assistance to 
modernize  legislative and institutional 
framework and institutional 
governance of the Single Electronic 
Window ; 
 Procedural - Conduct business process 
reengineering;  
 Human Resource/ Training - Train 
personnel; Undertake public awareness 
campaign ; 
 ICT - Develop a Trade Data 
Information System, an Integrated 
Multimodal Logistics Module, 
Information Security Plan, Business 
Continuity System an d Service 
Oriented Architectur e. 
   Article 10.5  Pre-shipment Inspection  A   - 
   Article 10.6  Use of Customs Brokers  B 31 December 2020  To be determined  - 
   Article 10.7  Common Border Procedures and Uniform 
Documentation Requirements  B 31 December 2023  To be determined  - 
   Article 10.8  Rejected G oods A - - - 
   Article 10.9  Temporary Admission of Goods and 
Inward and Outward Processing  A - - - 
Article 11  Freedom of Transit  
 A - - - 
Article 12  Customs Cooperation  
Article 12.1  Measures Promoting Compliance and 
Cooperation  C 31 December 2023  To be determined   Policy - Development of a Policy for the 
Enhancement of Customs Control.  
Article 12.2  Exchange of Information  C 31 December 2023  To be determined   Policy - Development of a Policy for the 
Enhancement of Customs Control.  
Article 12.3  Verification  C 31 December 2023  To be determined   Policy - Development of a Policy 
Customs Control.  
Article 12.4  Request  C 31 December 2023  To be determined   Policy - Development of a Policy for the 
Enhancement of Customs Control and 
for informati on requests.  
Article 12.5  Protection and Confidentiality  C 31 December 2023  To be determined   Policy - Development of a Policy for the 
Enhancement of Customs Control and 
for information requests.   
  G/TFA/N/TTO/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)  
Article 12.6  Provision of Information  C 31 December 2023  To be determined   Policy - Development of a Policy for the 
Enhancement of Customs Control and 
for information requests.  
Article 12.7  Postponement or Refusal of a Request  C 31 December 2023  To be determined   Legal/ Policy - Revision of Customs Act 
and Data Prot ection Act to ensure TFA 
provisions are covered; development of 
a Policy for the  Enhancement of 
Customs Control and for  information 
requests.  
Article 12.8  Reciprocity  C 31 December 2023  To be determined   Legal/Policy - development of a Policy 
for the  Enhan cement of Customs 
Control and for  information requests;  
 Human Resource/ Training – fill staff 
vacancies ; 
 Procedural - Revision  of Business 
Process Management.  
Article 12.9  Administrative Burden  C 31 December 2023  To be determined   Legal/ Policy - developmen t of a Policy 
for the  Enhancement of Customs 
Control and for  information requests;  
 Human Resource/ Training - Train 
personnel ; 
 Procedural - Revision of Business 
Process Management . 
Article 12.10  Limitations  C 31 December 2023  To be determined   Policy - Development of a Policy for the 
Enhancement of Customs Control and 
for information requests.  
Article 12.11  Unauthorized Use or Disclosure  C 31 December 2023  To be determined   Policy - Development of a Policy for the 
Enhancement of Customs Control and 
for verif ication procedures.  
Article 12.12  Bilateral and Regional Agreements  A - - - 
 
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