. /.   WORLD TRADE  
ORGANIZATION  TN/TF/W/131/Rev.1 
14 December 2007 
 
 (07-5586) 
Negotiating Group on Trade Facilitation Original:   English 
  
 
COMMUNICATION FROM MONGOLIA, NORWAY, SOUTH AFRICA, AND 
SWITZERLAND 
 
Revision
 
 
 
 The following communication, dated 13 December 2007, is being circulated at the request of 
the Delegations of Mongolia, Norway, South A frica, and Switzerland. Mongolia, Norway, South 
Africa, and Switzerland reserve the right to revise, supplement or withdraw this proposal according to 
the results of further examinations. 
 
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THE USE OF INTERNATIONAL STANDARDS 
 
 
I. INTRODUCTION 
1. Below we suggest an Article setting out the gene ral principles and definitions.  This Article 
should be placed in the Agreement in a way which makes clear that it applies to all obligations 
covered by the new Agreement.  In addition, it wo uld seem appropriate to include a paragraph in the 
Preamble  describing the aim of using international standards, by stating their positive effect and 
importance to trade facilitation, and by recognizing  the work of those international organizations 
engaged in developing them (cf. the Mandate in the July-2004 Framework, paragraph 9).  
II. TEXTUAL PROPOSAL 
Article [Use of International Standards]  
1. Members shall use relevant international sta ndards or parts thereof as a basis for their laws, 
regulations and administrative procedures that lay down requirements for formalities and procedures 
in connection with importation, exportation or transit. 
2. If regional standards are a more efficient mean s to facilitate international trade, Members of 
that region are encouraged to use them or relevant parts thereof as a basis for their laws, regulations 
and administrative procedures as provided for in paragraph 11. 
3. Members are not required to use relevant inte rnational standards or relevant parts thereof 
which would pose fundamental technological problems  in a Member, or where they would be an 
ineffective or inappropriate means for the fu lfilment of the objectives of this Agreement. 
                                                      
1 In this case, these regional standards prevail over th e relevant international standards as provided for 
in paragraph 1. TN/TF/W/131/Rev.1 
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  4. With a view to facilitating international trade,  Members are encouraged to take part, within 
the limits of their resources, in the preparation and periodic review by appropriate international 
intergovernmental organization of standards rele vant to the operation of this Agreement.  
5. For the purposes of this Agreement, the term  "international standards" shall be understood to 
refer to International Conventions  or Agreements related to f acilitating international trade and 
administered by relevant internati onal intergovernmental organizations, [ inter alia ]: World Customs 
Organization (WCO) and United Nations Organisations  Centre for Trade Facilitation and Electronic 
Business. As appropriate, the list of relevant inte rnational organizations may be complemented by 
other relevant international organizations as identified by the Trade Facilitation Committee. 
[5. Alternative: For the purposes of this Agreemen t, the term "international standards" shall be 
understood to refer to Internati onal Conventions or Agreements re lated to facilitating international 
trade and administered by relevant internationa l intergovernmental organizations: World Customs 
Organization (WCO), United Nations Organisations  Centre for Trade Facilitation and Electronic 
Business, International Maritime Organisation (IM O) and International Civil Aviation Organisation 
(ICAO). In particular, the following conventions sha ll apply:  Convention (2005) on Facilitation of 
International Maritime Traffic, Convention (2006) on  International Civil Aviation, Convention (1990) 
on the Temporary Admission of Goods (Istanbul Conv ention), International Convention (1986) on the 
Harmonized Commodity Description and Coding Sy stem (HS Convention), General Annex of the 
International Convention (1999) on the Simplifi cation and Harmonisation of Customs procedures 
(Revised Kyoto Convention). As appropriate, the lis ts of relevant international organizations and 
conventions may be complemented  as iden tified by the Trade Facilitation Committee.] 
 
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