G/TFA/N/TTO/2  
 
28 September  2018 
(18-5993) Page: 1/7 
Committee on Trade Facilitation  Original: English  
 
NOTIFICATION OF CATE GORY COMMITMENTS  UNDER  
THE AGREEMENT ON TRA DE FACILITATION  
COMMUNICATION FROM TRINIDAD AND TOBAGO  
The following communica tion, dated  27 September 2018 , is being circulated at th e request of the 
delegation of  Trinidad and Tobago for Members' informa tion. 
 
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Following up on the notification dated 27 November 2017 (G/TFA/N/TTO/1), in which Trinidad and 
Tobago provided indicative dates for its category  B and C commitments, Trinidad and Tobago 
hereby makes the following additional notifications in accordance with Articles 15 and 16 of the 
Trade Facilitation Agreement (WT/L/931).  
 
  
  G/TFA/N/TTO/2  
 
- 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  31 December 2027  • Legal/Policy - Revision of  existing 
legislation or drafting of new legislation  to 
include Art. 1.1 provisions  
• Human Resource - Train personnel t o 
carry out Art. 1.1 provisions  
• ICT - Conduct a  gap analysis  
   Article 1.2  Information Available through Internet  C 31 December 2023  31 December 2027  • ICT - Development of content  for a Trade 
Information Portal  
• Human Reso urce/Training - Train 
personnel  
• Equipment - Equipme nt for infrastructural 
upgrades  
   Article 1.3  Enquiry Points C 31 December 2023  31 December 2023  • Legal/ Policy - Revision of  existing 
legislation or drafting of new legislation  to 
include Art. 1.1 provisions  
• Procedures - Develop proced ures 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  31 December 2023  • 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  31 December 2027  • 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  31 December 2027  • 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 )  
  G/TFA/N/TTO/2  
 
- 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)  
• Procedural - Development of policy 
procedures in line wi th requirements of 
this article  
Article 4       Procedures for Appeal or Review  
 C 31 December 2023  31 December 2027  • Human Reso urce/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  31 December 2027  • Legal/Policy - Revision of existing 
legislation  that sets out procedures for 
enhanced controls or inspections fo r food, 
beverages or feedstuffs  
   Article 5.2  Detention  B 31 December 2020  31 December 2020  - 
   Article 5.3  Test Procedures  C 31 December 2023  31 December 2027  • 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 wi th 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 and Charges 
Imposed on or in Connection with 
Importation and Exportation  C 31 December 2023  31 December 2027  • 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  31 December 2020  • Legal/Policy - Legislative Drafting or 
amendment  of all legislation applicable to 
this article  
• Procedural - Develop and publish 
proced ures  
  G/TFA/N/TTO/2  
 
- 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 7.2  Electronic Payment  C 31 December 2020  31 December 2027  • Legal/Policy - Legislative Drafting  or 
amending of all legislation in order to 
undertake Electronic Payment  
• Equipment - Funding upgrades of the 
necessary infrastructure  
• Human Resources/Training  - Train 
personnel  
   Article 7.3  Separation of Release from Final 
Determination of Customs Duties, Taxes, 
Fees and Charges  C 31 December 2023  31 December 2027  • Legal/Policy - Development of policy on 
payment of guarantees for monetary 
penalties or fines  
   Article 7.4  Risk Management  C 31 December 2020  31 December 2027 • Legal/Policy - Legislative amendments to 
the Customs Act  
• Human Resources/Training  - Train 
personnel in risk management 
techniques; Perio dic training in risk 
management  
• ICT - Acquisition of risk management 
system software for Customs control; 
Design an d implement Risk Management 
System  
• Procedural - Develop risk registers for  
importers and other procedures  
   Article 7.5  Post-clearance Audit  C 31 December 2020  31 December 2027  • Legal/Policy - Legislative amendm ents to 
the Customs Act  
• Legislative and institu tional  
• Human resources/ Training - Train 
personnel and d evelop 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 Pu blication of Average 
Release Times  C 31 December 2020  31 December 2023  • Legal/Policy - Legislative amendments to 
the Customs Act  
• Technical Assistance - needed to conduct 
a Time Releas e Study for Trinidad and 
Tobago  
   Article 7.7  Trade Facilitation Measures for Authorized 
Operators  C 31 December 2023  31 December 2027  • Procedures - Develop a n Authorized 
Operator Programme  
• Legal/Policy - assistance with policy 
developm ent and drafting of regulations   
  G/TFA/N/TTO/2  
 
- 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)  
• Human Resource/Training - capacity 
building for all border agencies is needed 
to ensure fu ll compliance with this 
measure  
   Article 7.8  Expedited Shipments  C 31 December 2020  31 December 2027  • Human Resou rces/Training - Train 
personnel  
• Legal/Policy - Legislative amendmen ts 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  31 December 2023 - 
Article 9  Movement of Goods Intended for Import under Customs Control  
 C 31 December 2023  31 December 2023  • Legal/Policy - Legislative amendments to 
the Customs Act (legal 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 2020  31 December 2023  - 
   Article 10.3  Use of International Standards  C 31 December 2020  31 December 2023  • Procedures - Assess the testing, 
certification, inspection and accreditation 
capabilities of food safety regulatory 
agencies and provide assistance for 
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  31 December 2023  • Technical - Develop information security 
plan, Business Continuity System; 
Develop change management strategy; 
Develop capacity building program and 
knowledge management strategy and 
Service Oriented Architecture   
  G/TFA/N/TTO/2  
 
- 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)  
• 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; Unde rtake 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 Architecture  
   Article 10.5  Pre-shipment Inspection  A - - - 
   Article 10.6  Use of Customs Brokers  B 31 December 2020  31 December 2023  - 
   Article 10.7  Common Border Procedures and Uniform 
Documentation Requirements  B 31 December 2023  31 December 2023  - 
   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  31 December 2023  • Policy - Development of a Policy for  the 
Enhancement of Customs Control  
   Article 12.2  Exchange of Information  C 31 December 2023  31 December 2023  • Policy - Development of a Policy for the  
Enhancement of Customs Control  
   Article 12.3  Verification  C 31 December 2023  31 December 2023  • Policy - Developm ent of a Policy Customs 
Control  
   Article 12.4  Request  C 31 December 2023  31 December 2023  • Policy - Development of a Policy for the 
Enhancement of Customs Control and for  
information requests  
   Article 12.5  Protection and Confidentiality  C 31 December 2023  31 December 2023  • Policy - Development of a Policy for the 
Enhancement of Customs Control and for  
information requests  
   Article 12.6  Provision of Information  C 31 December 2023  31 December 2023  • Policy - Development of a  Policy for the 
Enhancement of Customs Control and for  
information requests   
  G/TFA/N/TTO/2  
 
- 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 12.7  Postponement or Refusal of a Request  C 31 December 2023  31 December 2023  • Legal/ Policy – Revision of Customs Act 
and Data Protection 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  31 December 2027 • Legal/ Policy – development of a Policy for 
the Enhancement 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  31 December 2027  • Legal/ Policy – development 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  31 December 2023  • 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  31 December 2027  • Policy - Development of a Policy for the 
Enhancement of Customs Control and for 
verification procedures  
   Article 12.12  Bilateral and Regional Agreements  A - - - 
 
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