Sheri Rosenow WTO Trade Facilitation Section 1 WTO

Sheri Rosenow - WTO Trade Facilitation Section 1

WTO Technical Assistance for National SELF Assessmentof Needs and Priorities on the Trade Facilitation Negotiations • 94 self-assessments of needs & priorities (20072010) • July 2012 -Members request new needs assessment project • WTO Members and Observers • Update results or first time • Funded by Trust Fund • Project Description (WTO TF TACB website) 2

WHAT is a needs assessment? Situational Analysis- where stand Gap analysis- needed for compliance A. 2 INTERNET PUBLICATION COMPLY: Yes: No: Partially: Not applicable: National Priority: High: Medium: Low: None___

Self Assessment Objectives ü Identify TA/CB needs/priorities for the implementation of proposed measures ü Identify SDT ABC categories ü Better determination of national negotiation position for each proposed measure ü Be better prepared for implementation ü Develop capacity to continue assessment of needs and priorities - support negotiators 4

WHY have new needs assessment? Update results from 1 st assessment Reforms made Changes in negotiations Determine Special & Differential Treatment ABC Categories

Benefits: ü X-Ray of country situation ü Better understanding of role and status of various border agencies and private sector ü Better understanding of WTO TF and possible results of negotiations ü Better understanding of the proposed measures ü New personal relationships which will promote better cooperation ü provides transparency to the process Based on evaluations of needs assessments. 6

WHERE is assessment conducted? National- in your country

HOW is assessment conducted? • Updated Guide • Follows Negotiating Text (W/165) • +/- 40 proposed measures • Charts • Review results of 1 st assessment

WHO will conduct assessment? Countries that make a request 45 to date National taskforce Geneva delegate Facilitators to guide the process Others: regional organizations, donor projects, etc.

Stakeholders – about 30 • Geneva/Brussels/Capital negotiators • Implementing agencies (Customs (5 or 6), Quarantine, Standards Board, Port Authority and Airport Authority, etc. ) • Attorney General/ Legal Department (legal reform, appeal) • Ministry of Commerce (negotiations, competitiveness, trade flow, industry protection, consumer protection) • Foreign Affairs (negotiations) • Economy and Finance (trade flow, controls budget) • Ministry of Agriculture and Animals (controls requests for SPS) • Ministry of Food and Drugs (human health issues) • Ministry of Environment (human health and wildlife conservation) • Central Bank (foreign currency controls) • Private sector (big/small, importer/exporter, carrier, cargo forwarders and owner, Chamber of Commerce, shippers association, cargo forwarders association, main industries, etc. ) • Negotiation Support Guide TN/TF/W/51 10

Facilitators WTO Secretariat International and Regional organizations Experts from national customs administrations In-country donor projects 11

Role of Geneva/Brussels Delegate Importance of TF and NA Coordinate with capital, WTO, facilitators Presentation on WTO and TF Encourage work groups – get what need Work with facilitators/coordinators Report to NGTF Follow-up questionnaire Ensure maximum results! 12

Path to Implementation Situation Analysis Identify the measures with which you already comply, and those with which you will need to become compliant Gap Analysis Identify the specific legal, procedural, and organizational changes that need to be made and the timeframe for implementation. Identify Resources Identify persons, resources, deliverables, and deadlines to resolve each of the identified gaps. Implementation Reform: • Legislation • Regulations • Organization • etc.

Stages SITUATIONAL ANALYSIS GAP ANALYSIS SPECIFIC ACTIONS REQUIRED RESOURCES NEEDED COST OF REQUIRED RESOURCES We have. . . We don’t have. . . Legal provision missing… Amend X articles of law n lawyer(s) Daily Rate (range) x Days (range) We do this. . . No understanding of requirements… Training n trainer(s) Daily Rate (range) x Days (range) n business analysts n software engineers n testers Daily Rate (range) x Days (range) We don’t do this. . . We do this. . . We don’t do this. . . Declaration processing 1. Analyze system needs to be 2. Develop Software changed… 3. Test software 4. Roll out Not part of WTO Assessment etc.

Calculation of Needed Resources Proposals more focused Improve on experience of first assessments Guide More guidance on what might be needed to implement Correct stakeholders Encourage accuracy of details

Results of the Week Chart for each measure with: v Situational and Gap analysis v Resources needed v Implementation/TA needs v Overall compliance level v SDT ABC category v Estimated time needed to implement v Executive report compile/analyze results Results are confidential- for your use only 16

When? Provide preferred time period Appropriate facilitators available LDC priority

What WTO provides: @ Logistical/administrative arrangements @ Training for Geneva delegates @ Facilitators @ Guide and other Materials @ Complete kit: Model invitation letters, Powerpoint slides, instructions for secretary, certificates for participants. . . @ Quality control 18

COST$ Can you provide? ? Participation of Geneva Delegate ? Meeting room ? Coffee breaks and lunches You Shall provide: 8 Meeting equipment, laptops, projector, etc. 8 Secretary You provide if necessary: Interpretation Sit-in fees Travel of participants Secretary fees 19

How to Request Official letter requesting a WTO trade facilitation needs assessment Notification - electronic – Geneva delegate – Capital coordinator 20

When to Request? Now! J Preparation time J Better overall plan J trust fund J facilitators J Get in queue But can apply anytime! 21

Status of Requests from Africa: Angola Lesotho Botswana Malawi Burkina Faso Mauritius Cape Verde Morocco Central African Republic Mozambique Democratic Republic of Congo Namibia Egypt Nigeria Ethiopia Sudan Gabon Swaziland Ghana Zambia Kenya Zimbabwe 22

www. wto. org – (easily found through A-Z list on main webpage) 23

Sheri Rosenow - WTO Trade Facilitation Section 24

National Needs Assessment Agenda Advance meeting- hi-level officials/private sector Day 1: facilitator & Geneva delegate presentations Background WTO and TF negotiations Guide Divide into working groups Day 2 -4: Needs assessment in working groups Day 4: Review of initial assessment in plenary Day 5: analyze results & present to high-level officials and private sector 25

Results of the Week v Completed chart for each proposal v Summary report v Powerpoint presentation Results are confidential- for your use only 26

Calculation of cost$ of implementation? Self Assessment Invite government specialists in costing Invite your donors Send results to your donors

Preparation • • • Official request Notify WTO Identify Coordinators & Stakeholders Set dates Coordinate with WTO and facilitators 28

C. 1 PROVISION OF ADVANCE RULINGS Basic Standard: COMPLY: Yes: A Member shall issue legally binding rulings in a timely manner, and in advance of the relevant trade transaction, at the request of an interested person who has provided the Member with all necessary information No: Partially: Current situation relative to the Basic Standard. Describe in detail. Not applicable: National Priority: High: Barriers to meeting Basic Standard Medium: Low: None: Actions needed to meet basic standard (Consider needs in legal framework, administrative policy, human resources, training, equipment, organization, change management. If possible include estimated costs and/or implementation times. ) What can be done locally to address barriers? (Specify in detail) Priority for Technical Assistance: High: Medium: None: Is Technical Assistance or Capacity Building support needed? If yes, specify in detail. . Comments: Lead agency or organization and other stakeholders that would be responsible for implementation of this measure: Stakeholders not participating in assessment of this measure(s) that should be consulted: Issues to note (any comments or recommendations for negotiators, etc. ): 29

Results? § Chart for each measure Situational analysis- where stand Gap analysis- implementation/TA needs in enough detail to estimate resources Overall compliance level SDT ABC category Estimated time needed to implement § Executive report compile/analyze results ALL RESULTS ARE CONFIDENTIAL