The second review of the Trade Facilitation Agreement (TFA) marks a crucial stage in assessing its impact on international trade. As reported by the World Trade Organization (WTO) on February 25, 2026, members are progressing through this process with a particular focus on the agreement's effective implementation.
It should be noted that the TFA is distinguished by being the first WTO treaty in which the developing countries —a category that includes most Latin American countries, including Argentina—. Least developed countries (LDCs) define their own implementation timelines according to their national capacities, linking certain obligations to technical assistance and institutional strengthening. To illustrate this point, we are sharing on the homepage a video produced by the WTO in 2012, which visually demonstrates the objectives and mechanisms of the TFA.
In this context, the WTO Secretariat reported that, to date, 364 requests for extensions have been submitted, of which approximately three-quarters correspond to Category C measures, which require technical assistance and capacity building for their final implementation.
Implementation data
According to the WTO Secretariat:
| Indicator | Data / Percentage |
| Members that have ratified the TFA | 162 of 166 (98%) |
| Global rate of implementation commitments | 87,4% |
| Commitments of developing countries and LDCs | 83,7% |
| Applications for extension submitted | 364 |
| Date of last ratification (Tonga) | January 26, 2026 |
Exchange of experiences between the OAS and digitization
The Committee also served as a platform for the exchange of best practices in logistics and customs management. Examples presented included:
- China He outlined his practices of smart customs (smart customs) applied to pre-arrival processing in railway portsHighlighting that various smart operating scenario projects have been interconnected to form integrated chains, enabling digital coordination between customs, logistics and control systems in a continuous operational flow.
- Republic of Moldova He presented his experience in the expansion of the OAS program through cooperation with food safety authorities, based on a central conceptual approach: trade is a joint responsibility of the State and the trust given to the operator must extend to the entire border ecosystem.
- Public-private dialogue: The members expressed interest in incorporating the perspectives of the private sector and Strengthen interaction with National Trade Facilitation Committees (CNFC), as fundamental mechanisms for institutional articulation and dialogue with stakeholders.
Next steps
The Committee will continue its work at the next formal meetings, scheduled for June 11 and 12, and October 20-22, 2026.
The data and experiences shared suggest that, despite near-universal adherence to the TFA since its entry into force in 2017 and until 2026, the central challenge has shifted from mere regulatory compliance to the consolidation of effective operational capacities. This challenge is particularly evident in developing countries, where actual implementation depends on the incorporation of technology, inter-institutional coordination, and sustained technical assistance. This demonstrates that considerable work remains to be done to fully achieve the Agreement's objectives.
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