UNCEFACT Recommendation Number 4 National Trade Facilitation Bodies

UN/CEFACT Recommendation Number 4 National Trade Facilitation Bodies Tom Butterly, Trade Division United Nations Economic Commission for Europe (UNECE)

Evolution of Recommendation Number 4 l 1960 – UNECE Working Party - simplification and standardization of international trade documents l 1974 – UNECE Recommendation Number 4 – National Trade Facilitation Organs – focus on trade procedures, document alignment, use of codes, and EDI l 1999 – Recommendation 4 revised by UN/CEFACT (publication in 2001 – ECE/TRADE/242) – National Trade Facilitation Bodies – stronger focus on EDIFACT l 2000 - Guidelines to Recommendation Number 4 – Creating an Efficient Environment for Trade and Transport – UNCTAD and CEFACT. National Trade and Transport Facilitation Committees (NTTFCs)

Pro Orgs World Wide Europe Asia Africa South America 28 16 2 1 North America 1 Total Central Asia Transition Economies 48 7 18

1 Pro. Org Survey 2004 Structure and staff Number of staff TF committee 3 Other Total 1 -3 TF body 2 2 7 4 -10 2 0 1 3 > 10 2 2 2 6 Total 6 5 5 16

3 Pro. Org Survey 2004 Financing Government ~ 100% Government > 50% Private sector 100% 8 3 3 2

4 Pro. Org Survey 2004 Current funding l Excellent (1) l Very good (1) l Good (8) l Poor (1) l Very poor (3) l No data given (2)

8 Pro. Org Survey 2004 Main obstacles l Lack of funding and ressources (10) l Lack of knowledge/information (8) l Lack of cooperation between government and business (8) l Lack of political will, adversing political structure and corruption (7) l Poor infrastructure (6)

7 Pro. Org Survey 2004 Main opportunities l International cooperation and facilitation of procedures and documents (6) l Publications, information, seminars and forums (4) l Introduction/extension of e. Commerce (3)

New Opportunities ”today” l Possible new areas: ¡ WTO Trade Facilitation Negotiations ¡ New Models – Single Window ¡ Paperless Trade – cross border data exchange ¡ Security and Trade Facilitation ¡ Other … l Needs Analysis – National/Regional trade (and Transport) facilitation stratagies ¡ example of APEC ¡ the business case ¡ driving technical assistance projects ¡ public/private partnerships l How best to respond to these opportunities …