G/TFA/N/EGY/1  
 
20 June 2019  
(19-4217) Page: 1/7 
Committee on Trade Facilitation  Original: English  
 
NOTIFICATION OF CATE GORY COMMITMENTS  UNDER  
THE AGREEMENT ON TRA DE FACILITATION  
COMMUNICATION FROM EGYPT  
The following communica tion, dated  18 June 2019 , is being circulated at th e request of the 
delegation of  Egypt  for Members' informa tion. 
 
_______________  
 
 
Following up on the notification dated 7 January 2015 (WT/PCTF/N/EGY/1) , in which the Arab 
Republic of Egypt indicated its category A commitments, the Arab Republic of Egypt he reby makes 
the following notification of additional category A commitments as well as its category B and C 
commitments in response to  Articles 15 and 16 of the Trade Facilitation Agreement (WT/L/931).  
  
  G/TFA/N/EGY/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 2021  31 December 2025  − Training and use of international best 
practices in relation to publication . 
− Infrastructure Development for the relevant 
Agencies . 
− Training of the relevant agencies' staffs . 
Article 1.2  Information Available through Internet  C 31 December 2021  31 December 2025  − Creation of a comprehensive trade 
information portal with advanced 
Information and Communication 
Technology (ICT) infrastructure . 
− Website development and Setting criteria 
and procedures for monitoring & updating 
the data . 
− Training of the relevant agencies' staffs . 
− Technical & Financial support for Translation 
into one of the official languages of the 
WTO. 
Article 1.3  Enquiry Points C 31 December 2021  31 December 2025  − Development of the  TF Enquiry point  and 
Training of the staff . 
− Establishment of ICT infrastructure and 
acquisition of Equipment.  
Article 1.4  Notification  C 31 December 202 1 31 December 2025  − Training 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  B 31 December 2020  31 December 2025  - 
Article 2.2  Consultations  B 31 December 2020  31 December 2025  - 
Article 3  Advance Rulings  
 C 31 December 2021  31 December 2025  − Recognizing & Training on international best 
practices in the area of Advance rulings . 
− Training for Customs officers to provide 
Advance ruling service . 
− Development of the Information and 
Communication Technology (ICT) 
infrastructure . 
− Providing a software program for an 
advance ruling system through internet  
network , that enables the Traders  dealing 
with the customs Authority to obtain all the 
requested information .  
  G/TFA/N/EGY/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 4  Procedures for Appeal or Review  
 A - - - 
Article 5  Other Measures to Enhance Impartiality, Non -Discrimination and Transparency  
Article 5.1  Notification for Enhanced Controls or 
Inspections  C 31 December 2021 31 December 2025  − Establishment of electronic network that 
links all the border agencies to facilitate the 
flow of notifications . 
− Training of the Staff on risk analysis and 
dealing with such notifications . 
− providing ICT infrastructure for relevant 
agencies. 
Article 5.2  Detention  A - - - 
Article 5.3  Test Procedures  C 31 December 2022  31 December 2025  − Establishment of Laboratories to undertake 
testing at all the customs zones . 
− Development of the existing laboratories 
and acquisition of equipment . 
− Training of the Laboratories staff on the use 
of international best practices . 
− Establishment of an electronic networking 
that links all the laboratories to all the 
related agencies and to link them with the 
Customs Authority . 
Article 6  Disciplines on Fee s 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 2021  31 December 2025  − Development of the ICT infrastructure for 
the relevant agencies in order to be able to 
publish all fees & charges in Connection with 
Importation and Exportation . 
− Training of the concerned staff in all related 
agencies on publication and the use of 
international best prac tices. 
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 2021  31 December 2025  − Development of the ICT infrastructure for 
the border agencies and acquisition of 
equipment . 
− Establishment of logistics centres at all the 
border crossings to provide that service .  
  G/TFA/N/EGY/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)  
− Training of the border  agencies' staffs on 
the use of best practices in that area . 
− providing automated system for common 
risks for data processing before the arrival 
of the goods . 
Article 7.2  Electronic Payment  C 31 December 2021  31 December 2025  − Establishing of administrations in relation to 
electronic payment at all relevant agencies 
& establishing a securing system for these 
financial transactions . 
− Training of the staff to provide th is service . 
− Development of the ICT infrastructure for 
the administrations of th e electronic 
payment . 
Article 7.3  Separation of Release from Final 
Determination of Customs Duties, Taxes, 
Fees and Charges  A - - - 
Article 7.4  Risk Management  C 31 December 2021  31 December 2025  − Development of the Administration in 
relation to risk management at the Customs 
Authority and all the competent authorities 
and provide the necessary ICT 
infrastructure . 
− Training of the related staff to provide that 
service in accordance with international best 
practices . 
Article 7.5  Post-clearance Audit  C 31 December 2021  31 December 2025  − Training of the related staff on the latest 
systems on Accounting & Auditing in 
consistent with the updates of the             e-
commerce and transfer pricing . 
− Provide the necessary ICT infrastructure . 
Article 7.6  Establishment and Publication of Average 
Release Times  C 31 December 2021  31 December 2025  − Providing the programme for the release 
time measurement which is adopted by the 
WCO and Training of the staff.  
− Providing technical support according to the 
programm es of the WCO .  
  G/TFA/N/EGY/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)  
Article 7.7  Trade Facilitation Measures for Authorized 
Operators  C 31 December 2021  31 December 2025  − Recognizing and Training on international 
best practices in relation to Authorized 
operators  to expand the scope of the system 
and to  include the small & Medium 
enterprises . 
− Development of the necessary ICT 
infrastructure for the Authorized operator 
Administration at the Customs Authority.  
Article 7.8  Expedited Shipments  C 31 December 2021  31 December 2025  − Training of the related staff at the Customs 
Authority on the use of international best 
practices according to the programmes of 
the WCO . 
− Development of the ICT infrastructure & the 
X-ray machines . 
− Setting criteria/new frameworks to comply 
with the steady increase in the e -commer ce 
imports through expedited shipments . 
Article 7.9  Perishable G oods C 31 December 2021  31 December 2025  − Establishment of Laboratories to undertake 
testing for all Perishable G oods at all the 
customs zones . 
− Development of the existing laboratories 
and acquisition of equipment for the 
expedited release of those goods . 
− Training of the Laboratories staff on the use 
of international best practices . 
− Establishment of an electronic networking to 
link the laboratories with all the related 
agencies and to link  them with the Customs 
Authority . 
Article 8  Border Agency Cooperation  
 C 31 December 2021  31 December 2025  − Provide the necessary funds to establish an 
electronic networking for all the border 
agencies . 
− Provide the necessary funds to establish a 
unified system of procedures to be 
applicable on the border ports.  
Article 9  Movement of Goods Intended for I mport  under Customs Control  
 A - - - 
Article 10  Formalities Connected with Importation, Exportation and Transit  
Article 10.1  Formalities and Documentation 
Requirements  C 31 December 2021  31 December 2025  − Development of the ICT infrastructure for 
the relevant agencies .  
  G/TFA/N/EGY/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)  
Article 10.2  Acceptance of C opies C 31 December 2021  31 December 2025  − Recognizing &  Training on the international 
best practices in relation to the electronic 
signature & ratification to be able to use the 
electronic copies of the documents . 
− Development of the ICT infrastructure for 
the relevant agencies to enable  the usage of 
the electr onic copies of the documents . 
 
Article 10.3  Use of International Standards  C 31 December 2021  31 December 2025  − Training of the related agencies' staffs on 
the use of international best practices in 
relation to trade facilitation procedures and 
exchange  of experiences with other 
countries in that area . 
Article 10.4  Single Window  C 31 December 202 5 31 December 2030  − Establishment of systems for electronic 
networking  for all the border agencies to 
facilitate the operation of the single window  
− Providing  ICT infrastructure for the relevant 
agencies and the acquisition of necessary 
equipment . 
− Re-engineering of the procedures for the 
competent authorities and coordinating the 
relevant Data . 
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 A - - - 
Article 10.9  Temporary Admission of Goods and Inward 
and Outward Processing  A - - - 
Article 11  Freedom of Transit  
   Article 11.1  B 31 December 2020  31 December 2025  - 
   Article 11.2-
11.3  A - - - 
   Article 11.4 -
11.10   C 31 December 202 2  31 December 2025  − Provide the necessary funds to establish 
separate lanes for Transit in the Egyptian 
ports. 
− Providing x -ray machines at all customs 
borders related to Transit . 
− Establishment of a network to link x -ray 
machines at the national and international  
level to establish a mechanism for  
  G/TFA/N/EGY/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)  
cooperation between customs at borders to 
exchange the images of Trans it trucks . 
− Establish a GPS System for the Containers 
and trucks for securing the Transit system . 
− Providing Track and Trace devices  
− Recognizing and Training on international 
best practices in relation to the operation of 
the Transit system and the use of th e 
internationa l expertise especially European . 
   Article 11. 11-
11.16   A - - - 
   Article 11.17   C 31 December 2021  31 December 2025  − Establishment of an Administration for the 
response of enquiries in relation to Transit . 
− Development of the ICT infrastructure for 
that Administration and the acquisition of 
necessary equipment . 
Article 12  Customs C ooperation  
 C 31 December 2021  31 December 2025  − Development of the ICT infrastructure for 
the Customs Authority and establishing a 
system for securing  the information and 
maintain its confidentiality . 
− Training of the Staff on the mechanism of 
enforcing the Agreements on Administrative 
Assistance and exchanging information . 
 
__________