. /.   WORLD TRADE  
ORGANIZATION  TN/TF/W/118 
7 June 2006 
 (06-2720) 
Negotiating Group on Trade Facilitation Original:   English 
  
 
COMMUNICATION FROM THE SEPARATE CUSTOMS TERRITORY OF  
TAIWAN, PENGHU, KINMEN AND MATSU 
  
 The following communication, dated 2 June 2006, is being circulated at the request of the 
Delegation of the Separate Customs Territo ry of Taiwan, Penghu, Kinmen and Matsu. 
 
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INSTITUTIONAL MATTERS RELATED TO TRADE FACILITATION 
 
 
I. INTRODUCTION 
1. The Separate Customs Territory of Taiw an, Penghu, Kinmen and Matsu recognizes the 
potential benefits of trade facilitation (TF) measure s with regard to the movement, clearance, and 
release of goods for all Members. At the same time  there are certain difficult issues and challenges to 
be faced by Members in the longer term when it comes to implementation of trade facilitation 
measures, including technical assistance, capacity-build ing and the use of international standards. We 
recognize, therefore, the need to set up an ins titution to ensure the smooth operation of the Trade 
Facilitation Agreement and to deal with  these future challenges for Members.
1 
II. PROPOSALS 
2. We propose the establishment of a Committee on  Trade Facilitation (CTF) composed of 
representatives from each of the Members. The Comm ittee shall select its own Chairman and meet 
periodically. The WTO Secretariat shall act as the secretariat to the CTF. A non-exhaustive list of 
responsibilities of the CTF, which is open for further discussion, may include the following: 
(i) To further the objectives of the Agreement; 
(ii) To afford Members the opportunity of consulting on any matters relating to 
the operation and implementation of the Agreement; 
(iii) To review periodically progress of implementation of the Agreement by 
Members; 
(iv) To provide Members with up-to-date information on the work of relevant 
international organizations, in particul ar on the establishment and adoption of 
international standards by these organizations; 
                                                      
1 This proposal provides further elaboration on the 19 September 2005 paper by the Separate  Customs 
Territory of Taiwan, Penghu, Kinmen and Matsu (TN/TF/W/62). TN/TF/W/118 
Page 2  
 
  (v) To encourage the use by all Members, to  the extent possible, of standards, 
guidelines or recommendations by international organizations;  
(vi) To review needs and priorities as notified by Members and any requests for 
technical assistance and special and differential treatment. 
III. ELEMENTS IDENTIFIED FOR FURTHER DISCUSSION 
• A technical committee to be established under the auspices of relevant international 
organizations
2 to deal with technical issues such as coordinating with relevant international 
organizations in the promotion of  international standards.   
 
• The private sector is encouraged to provide pr actical experience and expert advice through a 
channel deemed as appropriate. 
 
 
 
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2 See Agreement on Rules of Origin Article 4.2 an d Agreement on Implementation of Article VII of 
GATT 1994 (Customs Valuation) Article 18.2.