WORLD TRADE  
ORGANIZATION  TN/TF/W/70 
26 October 2005 
 (05-4959) 
Negotiating Group on Trade Facilitation Original:   Spanish 
  
 
COMMUNICATION FROM CHILE 
  
 The following communication, dated 26 Octobe r 2005, from the delegation of Chile, is being 
circulated in advance of the Negotia ting Group meeting of 8 and 9 November. 
 
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PROPOSAL BY CHILE 
 
Articles V, VIII and X of the GATT 1994
 
  
I. INTRODUCTION 
1. The elements explained below should, in Chile's  view, form part of an agreement for the 
current negotiations on trade facilitation.  Special  and differential treatment, as established in the 
negotiating mandate, is a key aspect that should be appropriately addressed under each element of the 
proposal. 
II. ARTICLE V:  FREEDOM OF TRANSIT 
A. T
RANSIT PERIODS AND ROUTES  
2. Transit should not be subject to any unnecessary  delays or restrictions.  The absence of 
prescribed routes and periods for transit constitutes a barrier to trade.  The establishment by Members 
of precise routes and periods for transit between an entry and an exit point would therefore increase 
the predictability and transparency of trade, while improving the ability to control cross-border 
smuggling. 
B. EXEMPTION FROM TRANSIT DUTIES :  ADMINISTRATIVE EXPENSES AND SERVICES RENDERED  
3. Transit should not be subject to fees or charges that  are not strictly related to transport costs or 
services rendered.  Any fee or charge that is not related to the above could constitute a disguised 
barrier to trade. 
4. Trade will become more predictable and transp arent if Members agree to implement a public 
register of all administrative costs and transpor t charges involved in transit and fees for services 
rendered.  Service fees should not be established on a ad valorem  basis. 
C. COORDINATION , COOPERATION AND ASSISTANCE AMONG AGENCIES INVOLVED WITH TRANSIT  
5. Coordination, cooperati on and assistance among Members' authorities – especially Customs – 
involved with transit are highly relevant for the efficient resolving of transit-related problems.  TN/TF/W/70 
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 Members should work to conclude internati onal cooperation and assistance agreements as a 
mechanism for achieving more efficient trade a nd increasing the ability to control illicit activities. 
III. ARTICLE VIII:  FEES AND FORMALITIES CONNECTED WITH IMPORTATION 
AND EXPORTATION 
A. F
EES AND CHARGES :  COST OF SERVICES RENDERED  
- Publication of fees connected with  importation and exportation increases the 
transparency and predictability of trade.  Members should publish on the Internet and 
notify to the WTO all import- and export-re lated fees, and prohibit the use of those 
that have not been duly published and notified. 
 
- Services should be directly related to th e goods being imported or exported, and fees 
and charges should be related to the approximate cost of the services rendered.  Members should agree to prohibit that  such services be calculated on an ad valorem  
basis. 
 
- The establishment of a register of all services connected with import and export 
operations would increase the transparency and predictability of trade.  The register 
would cover the objectives, criteria and administrative costs of such services and be subject to periodic review. 
 B. "S
INGLE WINDOW " FOR IMPORT /EXPORT PROCEDURES  
6. The use by Members of an electronic "single window" for submitting, once only and to a 
single authority, all documentation and data relati ng to import/export procedures is highly important 
for the smooth running of trade, since it increases inte r-agency coordination, allo ws more efficient use 
of public and private resources, and enhan ces the performance of government agencies. 
C. ADVANCE PROCESSING OF CUSTOMS DECLARATIONS  
7. Advance processing of customs declarations in creases the fluidity of trade by making goods 
ready for release on arrival in the country of des tination and avoiding unnecessary delays or lengthy 
storage in customs warehouses.  The understanding is  that there will be a pre-clearance procedure 
based on risk assessment and other factors which will determine whether incoming goods are subject 
to thorough, limited or no border control. 
D. FORMAT FOR DOCUMENTATION  
8. Chile considers it necessary to standardi ze and reduce the amount of documentation and 
information required for import and export operations.  This would fac ilitate and expedite trade, and 
would improve the exchange of informati on among Members' customs administrations. 
IV. ARTICLE X:  DISSEMINATION OF REGULATIONS AND REVIEW OF 
ADMINISTRATIVE ACTION 
A. DISSEMINATION AND PUBLICATI ON OF CUSTOMS REGULATIONS  
1. WEB page 
- The publication of regulations, procedures, documents, formats and rulings issued by 
Customs on classification, value, and orig in on an official web page and the  TN/TF/W/70 
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 establishment of a national coordination point to enable ag encies dealing with 
international trade to communicate more efficiently.  This would make it possible inter alia  to respond more efficiently to enqui ries concerning trade-related matters. 
 - The creation of an official WTO web page on trade facilitation, with links to 
Members' official pages, containing releva nt information on the subject would be an 
appropriate step. 
 
2. Comments and consultation 
9. Chile proposes the establishment of contact poi nts and consultation mechanisms laying down 
procedures and timeframes for response, including  the use of web pages.  The advantage of 
implementing such measures is to provide interested  parties with a forum to share their comments and 
views on decisions of general application issued by Customs. 
3. Confidentiality 
10. Chile proposes the establishment of a register wh ich should clearly specify the circumstances 
under which each Member's legislation establishe s a partial or complete ban on disclosure or 
publication of a trade-related regulation, including executive summaries that enable interested parties 
to understand the core elements of a specific trade regulation. 
B. A
DVANCE RULINGS  
11. Establish and make public mech anisms and procedures so that both domestic and foreign 
trade operators can seek rulings from customs admini strations on matters such as the classification, 
value and origin of imported goods.  This would improve the predictability and transparency of trade. 
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