WCO Time Release Study Guide An analytical tool

WCO Time Release Study Guide --- An analytical tool for TF--UNCTAD/UNECE Workshop 1 November 2006, Geneva Tadatsugu Toni Matsudaira World Customs Organization (WCO) 1

Importance of National TF coordination n International Supply Chain n Lack of awareness • What procedures are required for the trade? • Where are the bottlenecks? By whom? n Lack of persuasive criteria • To grasp the current situation • To obtain the effect of TF measures • To mobilize internal/external resources Time for the goods release 2

Simple model Arrival of vessels Lodge import declaration to Customs Obtain import permission Delivery of Goods from The Customs storage 3

Players (example) Manifest from the ship Payment of the duty/tax by the importer Import license from the Trade Board Arrival of vessels Lodge import declaration to Customs Receipt issued by the bank Lodge import declaration to Customs Obtain import permission Technical conformity certificate from the Standard Board Open the gate by the warehouse Obtain import permission Delivery of Goods from The Customs storage 4

Points to note n Different players Depends on the country, type of goods, mode of transport, etc n n One intervention often constitutes the precondition to the others Interest • Service provider processing time • User processing time + waiting time • Importer receive the goods arrived in the country as soon as possible 5

Time Release Study Ideal From arrival to goods release covering Customs and other agencies/entities Mechanism to grasp waiting times Data compilation by type of goods, mode of transport, control channel, other government agencies intervention, and other Mechanism to grasp the rationale of delay Basic Only Customs Only processing time Only waiting time Simple compilation of time Only time stamp 6

Customs only? (example: A/P) 7

Processing time only? New Customs mainframe can process 2, 000 declarations within one minute. No DTI. At least one full day waiting time before input of the data to the mainframe by Customs. 8

Waiting time only? (example: AMS) 9

Mode of transport? (example: ESA) (hours) 10

Control channel? Goods declaration Risk management Green Immediate release subject to duty payment Yellow Documentary Check (e. g. , OGA’s certificate, origin certificate) Red Physical inspection (e. g. , classification verification, check against smuggling) 11

OGA intervention? (example: ESA) (hours) 12

Other: Pre-arrival processing (ESA) (hours) 13

Rationale of delay (example: NAME) Customs finishes necessary checks and requests to pay duty/tax Customs receives the goods declaration Trader starts seeking available money to pay duty/tax Customs issues release permission Trader pays duty/tax (days) 14

WCO Time Release Guide n Standardized guide n Cross border movement n Arrival Release n + Intervening stages (15 stages) n n Analytical (type of goods, modes of transport, other government agency intervention, TF measures, rationale of delay) Not only for Customs Not only time but also questionnaire WTO TFNG proposal (W/139) 15

Implementation n Four phases 1. Preparation of the study 2. Collection and compilation of data 3. Analysis of data and recommendation 4. Action plan n WCO CB/TA is available (subject to funding) Kenya, Malawi, Mozambique, Sri Lanka, Tanzania, Zambia (planned: Brazil, Nigeria, PNG and possibly Zimbabwe) IT software is available (more user friendly version will be released soon) 16

What is TRS for? n n Identify the bottlenecks in trade procedures in Customs and other agencies/entities Design reform and modernization well addressing the bottlenecks A persuasive indicator in front of the budget authority / donor community A criteria for progress of trade facilitation 17

Thank you! Tadatsugu Toni Matsudaira World Customs Organization Rue du Marché 30, 1210 Brussels Tel : + 32 (0)2 -209 -9353 Fax: + 32 (0)2 -209 -9493 http: //www. wcoomd. org e-mail: tadatsugu. matsudaira@wcoomd. org 18