Results of WTO Trade Facilitation Self Assessment of

Results of WTO Trade Facilitation Self Assessment of Needs – Chinese Taipei – WTO/World Bank Workshop on Needs Assessments July 21, 2008 1

Background Information n n n Time: 31 March – 3 April, 2008 Venue: Taipei Facilitators: 2 Participants: 39 Participating parties: 14 Coordinating Agency: Bureau of Foreign Trade, MOEA Cost: USD 9, 100 (excl. airfares) 2

Participating Parties – Public Sector n n n Council for Economic Planning and Development Ministry of Transportation and Communications Council for Agriculture (Quarantine ) Department of Health (Food Safety) Ministry of Finance (Customs, Treasury) Ministry of Economic Affairs (Trade, Standards, Negotiating Office) 3

Participating Parties – Private Sector n n n Association of Importers & Exporters Customs Brokers Association Airfreight Forwarders Association Trade-Van Information Services Co. International Cooperation and Development Fund 4

Overview of Findings 44 proposed measures were considered (TN/TF/W 143/Rev. 1) Preparedness. Already Compliant with 22 (50%) Partially compliant with 15 (34. 09%) Not compliant with 0 (0%) Not applicable with 7 (15. 91%) 5

Most Difficult Measures USE OF INTERNATIONAL STANDARDS: n Lack of access to international standards n Not involved in the standard-setting process SINGLE WINDOW/ONE-TIME SUBMISSION: n Difficult to integrate the existing three systems n Difficult to harmonize data elements required by different agencies n n n EXPEDITED SHIPMENTS: Lack of facilities for non-intrusive inspections Doubts about fair competition between integrated express carriers and ordinary airlines 6

Other Trade Facilitative Measures Horizontal initiatives n n Centralized legislation database Single government Gazette De minimus threshold for imports Relief of petty duties IT Applications: n n Container tracking system Transaction-status tracing system Web-based declaration & payment system Mobile clearance and enforcement system 7

Make the Most of Our Taskforce Management and Operation n n Confirm coordinating agency and stakeholders Establish contact list with alternates Call on meetings regularly (three-tier system) Findings to be reviewed and updated Link between capital and Geneva n n n Sharing meeting conclusions and suggestions Direct contacts or via a domestic single window Timely Q&A via email, phone meeting, etc. 8

Few Suggestions n n n Identify measures needing Financial assistance Compile statistics of non-(partial) compliant items More experience sharing in addressing difficult measures 9

Thank you Arthur YANG arthur. yang@taiwanwto. ch 10