. /.   WORLD TRADE  
ORGANIZATION  TN/TF/W/144/Rev.3 
29 October 2009 
 
 (09-5375) 
Negotiating Group on Trade Facilitation Original:   English 
   
COMMUNICATION FROM THE UNITED STATES 
 
Revision
 
 
 
 The following communication, dated 23 October 2009, is being circulated at the request of 
the Delegation of the United States.  
_______________ 
 
 
REVISED DRAFT TEXT ON EXPEDITED SHIPMENTS 
 
In previous communications (TN/TF/W/15, 4 Fe bruary 2005;  TN/TF/W/91, 5 April 2006; 
TN/TF/W/144, 21 May 2007;  TN/TF/W/144/Rev. 1, 20 July 2007;  and TN/TF/W/144/Rev.2, 
15 February 2008) the United States submitted a proposal  to "provide specific expedited procedures 
for expedited shipments".  The following revised draft text, aimed at addressing the comments and 
concerns expressed by Members, is submitted for renewed consideration by the Negotiating Group. 
Textual Proposal
: 
 
Customs Procedures for Expedited Shipments  
 
1. Each Member shall adopt or maintain proce dures allowing for expedited release of goods to 
persons that apply for such service, while maintain ing customs control and selection.  A Member may 
require that an applicant shall, as a condition fo r the application of the procedures described in 
paragraph 2 to its expedited shipments:   
(a) provide adequate infrastructure to a llow for the processing of its expedited 
shipments; 
 
(b) submit the information necessary for release in advance of the arrival of an 
expedited shipment;  
 
(c) be assessed fees limited in amount to the approximate cost of services rendered 
in providing the customs procedures in paragraph 2; 
 
(d) maintain a high degree of control over expedited shipments through the use of 
internal security, logistics, and tracking technology from pick-up to delivery; 
and 
 
(e) assume liability to the customs authority for the articles. 
 TN/TF/W/144/Rev.3 
Page 2  
 
  2. Subject to paragraphs 1 and 3,
1 the expedited release procedures shall: 
 
[(a)  allow for the submission and processing, including through electronic means, of 
information necessary for the release of an expedited shipment prior to its arrival;]2  
 
 (b) minimize the documentation required for the release of expedited shipments, 
including, to the extent possible, providing for release based on a single submission of information on all goods in the expedited shipment;  
 
(c) provide for expedited shipments to be released under normal circumstances within 
3 hours after arrival, provided the information necessary for release has been 
submitted; 
 
(d) apply without regard to weight or value;  
 
(e) [allow for the release of expedited shipme nts before and without prejudice to the final 
determination of the applicable customs du ties, taxes, and fees owed, if, where so 
required, the importer provides sufficient guara ntee in the form of a surety, a deposit, 
or some other appropriate instrument, c overing the ultimate payment of the customs 
duties, taxes, and fees in connection with the importation of the expedited shipment;]
3 
and  
(f) provide for a de minimis  shipment value for which customs duties and taxes will not 
be assessed.4 
 3. Nothing in these provisions shall prevent a Me mber from obtaining additional information, 
conducting screenings, or examining goods, where neces sary to maintain appropriate border control, 
including through the use of systems that distinguish  between low-risk and high-risk goods.  Further, 
for goods subject to licensing or similar regulator y requirements, nothing in this proposal shall 
prevent a Member from assessing customs duties or taxes or from requiring as a condition for release 
the submission of information additi onal to that in paragraph 2(b). 
 
__________  
                                                     
 
1 Note to the reader:   This addition is intended to make clear that the treatment in paragraph 2 need not 
be provided if the conditions in paragraph 1 have not been met or, as provided in paragraph 3, if authorities 
consider it necessary to obtain additional information or conduct screenings or examine goods.  Also, Paragraph 3 has been modified to confirm that expedited treatment need not be provided to restricted goods.    
2 Note to the reader:   This language may be dropped from the proposed article should it be adequately 
addressed in the context of the proposal on  release and clearance (TN/TF/W/117/Rev.1). 
3  Note to the reader:   This language may be dropped from the proposed article should it be adequately 
addressed in the context of the proposal on  release and clearance (TN/TF/W/136/Rev.2). 
4  Note to the reader:  By virtue of the fact that the goods described in the last sentence of paragraph 3 
need not be provided expedited treatment, the de minimis  provision would not interfer e with collection of taxes 
on such goods (e.g., liquor).