RESTRICTED  
  
G/TFA/W/17  
 
8 October 2019  
(19-6503) Page: 1/ 7 
Committee on Trade Facilitation    
 
DRAFT 
 
ANNUAL REPORT (201 9) OF THE COMMITTEE O N TRADE FACILITATION  
TO THE COUNCIL FOR T RADE IN GOODS  
1. The Agreement on Trade Facilitation  (TFA)  entered into force on 22 February 2017. This report 
covers the period from 11 October  2018 to 16 October 2019.  
2. During the period under review, t he Com mittee on Trade Facilitation (TFC) held three formal 
meetings : on 12 to 13 February  (G/TFA/M/7) ; on 25 to  26 June  (G/TFA/M/ 8); and 15 to 16 October  
[G/TFA/M/ 9]. 
3. The meeting of 12 and 13 February was chaired by  Ambassador Dalia Kadišiene (Lithuania)  
and the remaining meetings were chaired by her successor Ambassador Mohammad Haqjo  
(Afghanistan) who was elected at the June meeting as Chair of the Committee for 2019.  
4. The work of the TFC focu sed on four mains areas: m atters relating to the implementation and 
administration of the TFA; experience sharing/thematic d iscussions ; updates on relevant activities 
from TFAF and other [organizations];  and the Committee's Rules of Procedures . 
Matters relating to the implementation and administration of the Trade Facilitation Agreement  (TFA)  
5. Under this item , the Committee's work  focused on notifications . Developing and least 
developed country Members invoking the special flexibilities of the TFA are required to notify their 
implementation commitments to the Committee i n accordance with Articles 15 and 16 of the TFA. 
Members discu ssed the implementation of the Agreement, analysed progress made and highlighted 
remaining work to be done, with some drawing attention to upcoming notification deadlines, related 
challenges and available support.  A significant milestone was passed on 22 A ugust 2019 as this was 
the date by which Members were required to notify their definitive dates for their category C 
provisions. A total of 7 8 notifications under Articles 15 and 16 were received during the period under 
review.  
6. A total of 40 transparency n otifications were received during  the period under review:  
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 ). 
7. In accordance with Article 22 .1 and 22.2 of the T FA which require d onor Members  to notify 
information regarding their technical assistance  arrangements and the process and mechanisms to 
receive assistance , 7 donor Members submitted notifications . Article 22.3  requires  beneficiary 
Members to notify contact details with regard to technical assistance  and 2 3 developing and least 
developed country Members submitted notifications  under this article . 
8. During the period under review, 8 further ratifications were received, bringing the total  
number of ratifications to 146 Members (8 9% of the Membership).  
Experience sharing/thematic discussions  
9. The Committee holds regular experience sharing and thematic discussions. During the period 
under review, Members shared their experiences on items such  as (i) National Trade Facilitation 
Committees, (ii) transit, (iii) inward and outward processing and temporary admission ; (iv) advance G/TFA/W/1 7 
 
- 2 - 
 
  rulings ; and (v) developing the  notification required under  Article 1:4 . More details on the 
information and experience sharing discussions can be found on the TFA database .1 
Rules of procedures of the Committee on Trade Facilitation  
 
10. At its meeting of 25 and 26 June, Members finalized work on the Committee's rules of 
procedur e (G/TFA/ W/14) and agreed to forward them to the Council for Trade in Goods for approval . 
Reporting by TFAF and other organizations  
 
11. The Committee received  regular updates from the WTO TFA Facility  at each of its meeting . 
The Facility's Annual Report for 2018 was introduced at the June meeting.2 The Committee was also 
updated on its work by the Global Alliance  for Trade Facilitation , OECD and UNCTAD  during the 
period under review . 
Dedicated session on assistance and capacity building  
 
12. In accordance with th e provision of Article 21.4 of the Agreement, the Committee held a n 
annual  dedicated session on assistance and capacity building on 16 October 2019 . The items 
discussed included : exchanges on any implementation problems;  a review of progress in the 
provision of assistance and support for capacity building to support the implementation of the Trade 
Facilitation Agreement;  sharing experiences and information on ongoing assistance and support for 
capacity building and implemen tation 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).  
Draft Annual Report to the Council for Trade in Goods.  
 
13. The Committee [ adopted the Annual Report to the Council for Trade in Goods (G/ TFA/W/17) 
and requested the Secretariat to update it to take account of the October  meeting ]. 
 
                                                
1 https://www.tfadatabase.org/trade -facilitation -committee/experience -sharing/key -points  
2 http://www.tfafacility.org/annual -report -2018 G/TFA/W/1 7 
 
- 3 - 
 
  ANNEX I : NOTIFICATIONS FROM  MEMBERS SINCE THE  LAST ANNUAL REPORT UNTIL  
3 OCTOBER 2019 
1. Notifications under Articles 15 and 16 of the Trade Facilitation Agreement  
MEMBER  DOCUMENT SYMBOL  AREAS 
COVERED  DATE OF 
ISSUANCE  
Tonga  G/TFA/N/TON/1/Add.1  Categor y B 15/10/2018  
El Salvador  G/TFA/N/SLV/1  Categories A &  C 22/10/2018  
Grenada  G/TFA/N/GRD/1  Categories B & C  29/10/2018  
Viet Nam  G/TFA/N/VNM/1  Categories  A, B 
& C 16/11/2018  
Saudi Arabia, Kingdom 
of G/TFA/N/SAU/1  Category A  30/11/2018  
Armenia  G/TFA/N/ARM/1/Add.1  Categor y B 08/02/2019  
Bangladesh  G/TFA/N/BGD/1/Add.1  Categor y C 14/02/2019  
Ecuador  G/TFA/N/ECU/1  Categories B & C  14/02/2019  
Madagascar  G/TFA/N/MDG/1/Add.1  Categories B & C  22/02/2019  
Moldova, Republic of  G/TFA/N/MDA/1/Add.1  Categor y B 26/02/2019  
Barbados  G/TFA/N/BRB/1  Categories B & C  27/02/2019  
Dominica  G/TFA/N/DMA/1  Categories  A, B 
& C 27/02/2019  
Uruguay  G/TFA/N/URY/1  Categor y B 07/03/2019  
Oman  G/TFA/N/OMN/1  Categories A &  B 22/03/2019  
Mozambique  G/TFA/N/MOZ/3  Categories B & C  02/04/2019  
Mauritius  G/TFA/N/MUS/1/Add.1  Categories A &  C 05/04/2019  
Mauritania  G/TFA/N/MRT/1  Categories  A, B 
& C 26/04/2019  
Mozambique  G/TFA/N/MOZ/1/Add.1  Categories B & C  26/04/2019  
Panama  G/TFA/N/PAN/1  Categories  A, B 
& C 08/05/2019  
Papua New Guinea  G/TFA/N/PNG/1  Categories B & C  27/05/2019  
Senegal  G/TFA/N/SEN/1  Categories B & C  03/06/2019  
Central African Republic  G/TFA/N/CAF/1/Add.1  Categories B & C  04/06/2019  
Egypt  G/TFA/N/EGY/1  Categories  A, B 
& C 20/06/2019  
Djibouti  G/TFA/N/DJI/1  Categories  A, B 
& C 03/07/2019  
Malaysia  G/TFA/N/MYS/1/Add.1  Categor y B 03/07/2019  
Cameroon  G/TFA/N/CMR/1  Categories B & C  10/07/2019  
Liberia  G/TFA/N/LBR/1  Categories  A, B 
& C 23/07/2019  
Paraguay  G/TFA/N/PRY/1/Add.1  Categor y C 23/07/2019  
Kazakhstan  G/TFA/N/KAZ/2/Add.1  Categories  A, B 
& C 26/07/2019  
Dominican Republic  G/TFA/N/DOM/1/Add.1  Categories B & C  29/07/2019  
Cote d'Ivoire  G/TFA/N/CIV/1  Categories  A, B 
& C 30/07/2019  
Ghana  G/TFA/N/GHA/1  Categories  A, B 
& C 01/08/2019  
China  G/TFA/N/CHN/1/Add.3  Category B  07/08/2019  
Montenegro  G/TFA/N/MNE/1/Add.1  Categories  A, B 
& C 07/08/2019  G/TFA/W/1 7 
 
- 4 - 
 
  MEMBER  DOCUMENT SYMBOL  AREAS 
COVERED  DATE OF 
ISSUANCE  
Saint Vincent and the 
Grenadines  G/TFA/N/VCT/1/Add.1  Categor y C 07/08/2019  
Tajikistan  G/TFA/N/TJK/1  Categories  A, B 
& C 12/08/2019  
Congo  G/TFA/N/COG/1  Categories  A, B 
& C 15/08/2019  
Ukraine  G/TFA/N/UKR/1/Add.2  Categories B & C  15/08/2019  
Tajikistan  G/TFA/N/TJK/1/Corr.1  Categories  A, B 
& C 19/08/2019  
Bangladesh  G/TFA/N/BGD/2  Progress & 
arrangements 
with donors  20/08/2019  
Kazakhstan  G/TFA/N/KAZ/2/Add.1/Corr.1  Categories  A, B 
& C 20/08/2019  
Barbados  G/TFA/N/BRB/1/Add.1  Categories B & C  22/08/2019  
Gabon  G/TFA/N/GAB/1  Categories  A, B 
& C 22/08/2019  
Ghana  G/TFA/N/GHA/1/Add.1  Categor y C 22/08/2019  
Grenada  G/TFA/N/GRD/1/Add.1  Categor y C 22/08/2019  
Moldova, Republic of  G/TFA/N/MDA/1/Add.2  Categor y C 22/08/2019  
Seychelles  G/TFA/N/SYC/1/Add.2  Categor y C 22/08/2019  
Antigua and Barbuda  G/TFA/N/ATG/1  Categories B & C  23/08/2019  
Dominica  G/TFA/N/DMA/1/Add.1  Categor y C 23/08/2019  
Guyana  G/TFA/N/GUY/1/Add.2  Categor y C 23/08/2019  
Nigeria  G/TFA/N/NGA/1/Add.1  Categories B & C  23/08/2019  
Saint Lucia  G/TFA/N/LCA/1/Add.1  Categor y C 23/08/2019  
Tonga  G/TFA/N/TON/1/Add.2  Categor y C 23/08/2019  
Papua New Guinea  G/TFA/N/PNG/1/Add.1  Categories  A, B 
& C 23/08/2019  
Costa Rica  G/TFA/N/CRI/1/Add.1  Categor y C 27/08/2019  
Pakistan  G/TFA/N/PAK/1/Add.2  Categor y C 27/08/2019  
Sri Lanka  G/TFA/N/LKA/1/Add.1  Categor y C 27/08/2019  
Belize  G/TFA/N/BLZ/1/Add.1  Categories  A, B 
& C 30/08/2019  
Cabo Verde  G/TFA/N/CPV/1  Categories  A, B 
& C 30/08/2019  
Fiji G/TFA/N/FJI/1/Add.1  Categor y C 30/08/2019  
Jamaica  G/TFA/N/JAM/1/Add.2  Categories  A, B 
& C 30/08/2019  
Kyrgyz Republic  G/TFA/N/KGZ/2/Add.1  Categories  A, B 
& C 30/08/2019  
Samoa  G/TFA/N/WSM/1/Add.1  Categories B & C  30/08/2019  
United Arab Emirates  G/TFA/N/ARE/1  Categories A &  B 09/09/2019  
Namibia  G/TFA/N/NAM/1  Categories B & C  10/09/2019  
Malawi  G/TFA/N/MWI/1  Categories B & C  12/09/2019  
Suriname  G/TFA/N/SUR/1  Categor y C 12/09/2019  
Costa Rica  G/TFA/N/CRI/1/Add.1/Corr.1  Categor y C 16/09/2019  
Lao People's Democratic 
Republic  G/TFA/N/LAO/1/Add.1  Categories B & C  16/09/2019  
Eswatini  G/TFA/N/SWZ/1/Add.2  Categories B & C  16/09/2019  
Tunisia  G/TFA/N/TUN/1  Categor y C 16/09/2019  G/TFA/W/1 7 
 
- 5 - 
 
  MEMBER  DOCUMENT SYMBOL  AREAS 
COVERED  DATE OF 
ISSUANCE  
Zimbabwe  G/TFA/N/ZWE/1  Categories B & C  16/09/2019  
Belize  G/TFA/N/BLZ/1/Add.1/Corr.1  Categories  A, B 
& C 19/09/2019  
United Arab Emirates  G/TFA/N/ARE/1/Corr.1  Categories A &  B 19/09/2019  
Lao People's Democratic 
Republic  G/TFA/N/LAO/1/Add.2  Categories B & C  24/09/2019  
Ecuador  G/TFA/N/ECU/1/Add.1  Categor y C 26/09/2019  
Cuba G/TFA/N/CUB/1/Ad d.1 Categor ies B & C  03/10/2019  
Cuba G/TFA/N/CUB/2  Progress & 
arrangements  03/10/2019  
 
2. Notifications under Articles 1:4, 10:4:3, 10:6:2 and 12:2:2 of the Trade Facilitation 
Agreement  
MEMBER  DOCUMENT SYMBOL  AREAS COVERED  DATE OF 
ISSUANCE  
Philippines  G/TFA/N/PHL/2  Art. 1.4, 10.6.2  & 
12.2.2 of the TFA  26/10/2018  
North Macedonia  G/TFA/N/MKD/1/Rev.2  Art. 1.4, 10.4.3, 10.6.2  
& 12.2.2 of the TFA  12/11/2018  
Pakistan  G/TFA/N/PAK/2  Art. 1.4 & 10.6.2 of the 
TFA 15/11/2018  
Pakistan  G/TFA/N/PAK/2/Rev.1  Art. 1.4  & 10.6.2. of 
the TFA  23/11/2018  
Peru G/TFA/N/PER/3  Art. 1.4, 10.4.3, 10.6.2  
& 12.2.2 of the TFA  27/11/2018  
Japan  G/TFA/N/JPN/2/Corr.1  Art. 1.4, 10.4.3, 10.6.2  
& 12.2.2 of the TFA  19/12/2018  
Chile G/TFA/N/CHL/2  Art. 1.4, 10.4.3, 10.6.2  
& 12.2.2 of the TFA  20/12/2018  
Lao People's Democratic 
Republic  G/TFA/N/LAO/2  Art. 1.4, 10.4.3  & 
10.6.2  of the TFA  17/01/2019  
Armenia  G/TFA/N/ARM/2  Art. 12.2.2 of the TFA 14/02/2019  
China  G/TFA/N/CHN/2/Rev.2  Art. 1.4 & 10.6.2 of the 
TFA 18/02/2019  
Russian Federation  G/TFA/N/RUS/1  Art. 1.4, 10.4.3, 10.6.2  
& 12.2.2 of the TFA  01/03/2019  
Bahrain, Kingdom of  G/TFA/N/BHR/3  Art. 1.4, 10.6.2  & 
12.2.2 of the TFA  04/03/2019  
Ukraine  G/TFA/N/UKR/3  Art. 1.4, 10.6.2  & 
12.2.2 of the TFA  05/03/2019  
Hong Kong, China  G/TFA/N/HKG/1/Rev.1  Art. 1.4  & 10.4.3  of the 
TFA 08/03/2019  
Guatemala  G/TFA/N/GTM/2  Art. 1.4 of the TFA  18/03/2019  
Saint Kitts and Nevis  G/TFA/N/KNA/3  Art. 1.4, 10.6.2  & 
12.2.2 of the TFA  01/04/2019  
Mozambique  G/TFA/N/MOZ/2  Art. 1.4 of the TFA  02/04/2019  
Mauritius  G/TFA/N/MUS/2  Art. 1.4, 10.4.3, 10.6.2  
& 12.2.2 of the TFA  09/04/2019  
India G/TFA/N/IND/2  Art. 1.4, 10.4.3, 10.6.2  
& 12.2.2 of the TFA  11/04/2019  
Thailand  G/TFA/N/THA/2  Art. 1.4, 10.4.3  & 
10.6.2  of the TFA  09/05/2019  
Turkey  G/TFA/N/TUR/2  Art. 1.4, 10.4.3, 10.6.2  
& 12.2.2 of the TFA  15/05/2019  G/TFA/W/1 7 
 
- 6 - 
 
  MEMBER  DOCUMENT SYMBOL  AREAS COVERED  DATE OF 
ISSUANCE  
Uruguay  G/TFA/N/URY/2  Art. 1.4, 10.4.3, 10.6.2  
& 12.2.2 of the TFA  17/05/2019  
Australia  G/TFA/N/AUS/1/Rev.1  Art. 1.4, 10.4.3, 10.6.2  
& 12.2.2 of the TFA  20/05/2019  
Eswatini  G/TFA/N/SWZ/2  Art. 10.6.2 of the TFA  23/05/2019  
El Salvador  G/TFA/N/SLV/2  Art. 1.4, 10.4.3, 10.6.2  
& 12.2.2 of the TFA  27/05/2019  
Chile G/TFA/N/CHL/2/Add.1  Art. 10.4.3 of the TFA  03/06/2019  
Montenegro  G/TFA/N/MNE/2  Art. 1.4, 10.6.2  & 
12.2.2 of the TFA  13/06/2019  
Israel  G/TFA/N/ISR/1  Art. 1.4, 10.4.3, 10.6.2  
& 12.2.2 of the TFA  18/06/2019  
Ecuador  G/TFA/N/ECU/2  Art. 10.6.2 of the TFA  20/06/2019  
Mongolia  G/TFA/N/MNG/2  Art. 1.4 of the TFA  12/07/2019  
Indonesia  G/TFA/N/IDN/2  Art. 1.4, 10.4.3, 10.6.2  
& 12.2.2 of the TFA  23/07/2019  
Maldives  G/TFA/N/MDV/1  Art. 1.4 of the TFA  23/07/2019  
Dominican Republic  G/TFA/N/DOM/3  Art. 1.4, 10.4.3, 10.6.2  
& 12.2.2 of the TFA  29/07/2019  
Grenada  G/TFA/N/GRD/2  Art. 12.2.2 of the TFA  07/08/2019  
Peru G/TFA/N/PER/3/Rev.1  Art. 1.4, 10.4.3, 10.6.2  
& 12.2.2 of the TFA  12/08/2019  
Brazil  G/TFA/N/BRA/2/Add.2  Art. 1.4 of the TFA  15/08/2019  
Morocco  G/TFA/N/MAR/2  Art. 1.4, 10.4.3, 10.6.2  
& 12.2.2 of the TFA  30/08/2019  
Malawi  G/TFA/N/MWI/2  Art. 1.4, 10.6.2  & 
12.2.2 of the TFA  12/09/2019  
Viet Nam  G/TFA/N/VNM/2  Art. 1.4, 10.4.3, 10.6.2  
& 12.2.2 of the TFA  25/09/2019  
Maldives  G/TFA/N/MDV/1/Add .1 Art. 10.6.2 & 12.2.2  03/10/2019  
 
3. Notifications under Article 22  of the Trade Facilitation Agreement by Donor 
Members  
MEMBER  DOCUMENT SYMBOL  AREAS COVERED  DATE OF 
ISSUANCE  
FROM DONOR MEMBERS  
Japan  G/TFA/N/JPN/4  Art. 22:1 & 22.2 of the 
TFA 07/03/2019  
Switzerland  G/TFA/N/CHE/3  Art. 22:1 & 22.2 of the 
TFA 26/03/2019  
United States  G/TFA/N/USA/3  Art. 22:1 & 22.2 of the 
TFA 13/05/2019  
Australia  G/TFA/N/AUS/3  Art. 22.1 & 22.2 of the 
TFA 14/06/2019  
European Union  G/TFA/N/EU/2/Add.2  Art. 22:1 & 22.2 of the 
TFA 14/06/2019  
Norway  G/TFA/N/NOR/3  Art. 22:1 & 22.2 of the 
TFA 23/07/2019  
Chinese Taipei  G/TFA/N/TPKM/2  Art. 22:1 & 22.2 of the 
TFA 02/09/2019  G/TFA/W/1 7 
 
- 7 - 
 
  MEMBER  DOCUMENT SYMBOL  AREAS COVERED  DATE OF 
ISSUANCE  
FROM DEVELOPING AND LDC MEMBERS SEEKING TECHNICAL ASSISTANCE FOR 
CAPACITY BUILDING  
Tonga  G/TFA/N/TON/2  Art. 22.3 of the TFA  15/10/2018  
Ukraine  G/TFA/N/UKR/2  Art. 22.3 of the TFA  23/11/2018  
Peru G/TFA/N/PER/2  Art. 22.3 of the TFA  27/11/2018  
Guyana  G/TFA/N/GUY/3  Art. 22.3 of the TFA  04/12/2018  
Saint Vincent and the 
Grenadines  G/TFA/N/VCT/2  Art. 22.3 of the TFA  19/02/2019  
Tonga  G/TFA/N/TON/2/Rev.1  Art. 22.3 of the TFA  25/02/2019  
Bahrain, Kingdom of  G/TFA/N/BHR/2  Art. 22.3 of the TFA  01/03/2019  
Peru G/TFA/N/PER/2/Rev.1  Art. 22.3 of the TFA  07/03/2019  
Saint Kitts and Nevis  G/TFA/N/KNA/2  Art. 22.3 of the TFA  01/04/2019  
Belize  G/TFA/N/BLZ/3  Art. 22.3 of the TFA  03/04/2019  
Trinidad and Tobago  G/TFA/N/TTO/3  Art. 22.3 of the TFA  18/04/2019  
Fiji G/TFA/N/FJI/2  Art. 22.3 of the TFA  10/07/2019  
Paraguay  G/TFA/N/PRY/2  Art. 22.3 of the TFA  23/07/2019  
Dominican Republic  G/TFA/N/DOM/2  Art. 22.3 of the TFA  29/07/2019  
Mauritius  G/TFA/N/MUS/3  Art. 22.3 of the TFA  01/08/2019  
Grenada  G/TFA/N/GRD/3  Art. 22.3 of the TFA  07/08/2019  
Sri Lanka  G/TFA/N/LKA/2  Art. 22.3 of the TFA  12/08/2019  
Maldives  G/TFA/N/MDV/2  Art. 22.3 of the TFA  04/09/2019  
Mongolia  G/TFA/N/MNG/3  Art. 22.3 of the TFA  04/09/2019  
Sri Lanka  G/TFA/N/LKA/2/Corr.1  Art. 22.3 of the TFA  09/09/2019  
Malawi  G/TFA/N/MWI/3  Art. 22.3 of the TFA  12/09/2019  
Paraguay  G/TFA/N/PRY/2/Rev.1  Art. 22.3 of the TFA  20/09/2019  
Ecuador  G/TFA/N/ECU/3  Art. 22.3 of the TFA  26/09/2019  
 
__________