The World Customs Organization (WCO) Trade Facilitation Agreement Working Group (TFAWG) has discussed issues related to assistance in expediting the movement, release and clearance of goods in the context of the COVID-19 pandemic, reported the organization.
To the meeting, held on the days 8 and 9 March of 2021, attended by two hundred delegates, representing WCO members and observers from international organizations, the private sector, academia, and missions in Geneva.
In his opening remarks, the Director, Compliance and Facilitation, Pranab Kumar DAS, He recalled that “Facilitation” is one of the three Strategic Objectives of the WCO outlined in the Strategic Plan 2019/2022. In response to the COVID-19 pandemic, the organization has been supporting Members to mitigate its effects in terms of trade facilitation and supply chain continuity.
In this regard, Christopher O'Toole (Canada), Chair of the Trade Facilitation Committee (TFC, in English) of the WTO, highlighted the important role of the WCO in providing valuable information to the Committee.
In that line, the Secretary General of the WCO, Kunio Mikuriya, stressed the long-standing cooperation between the WCO and the WTO, including through the two bodies, the WTO TFC and the WCO TFAWG.
Furthermore, Mikuriya stressed the WCO’s continued commitment and support to the implementation of the TFC through the Mercator Programme, launched in the presence of former WTO Director-General Mr. Roberto Azevêdo in 2014. Last year, the WCO focused on helping Members minimize the consequences of the COVID-19 pandemic, both in terms of identification and facilitation of essential goods such as medicines and medical supplies, as well as in support of supply chain continuity. He reiterated the WCO’s readiness to share its experiences in the TFC and concluded his speech by highlighting the critical role of cooperation during the pandemic.
Meanwhile, The WTO Secretariat provided an overview of recent developments and shared sources of information relevant information on ratifications, notifications and individual Member profiles, available on the WTO TFA Mechanism and TFA Database websites.
The TFAWG was updated on developments under the Mercator Programme, the WCO's flagship capacity-building programme that supports its Members in implementing trade facilitation measures to enhance their economic competitiveness.
The Working Group had the opportunity to hear about technical assistance and capacity development support during COVID-19. Donors and beneficiary members of two WCO projects presented their experience at the meeting.
Furthermore, The Work Programme and the Annual Work Plan 2021/2022 were agreed that guides your future activities.
Finally, the TFAWG discussed a number of issues in the context of the COVID-19 pandemic: facilitating cross-border movement of relief and essential supplies, partnerships with other agencies and the private sector, as well as the role of technology.
El Guatemalan Ambassador in Brussels, José Briz, through the experience of the Central American country, addressed the issue of the Trade Facilitation Agreement and how different actors, government and private sector, can mitigate the challenges that the COVID-19 pandemic causes to international trade, the statement concludes.
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