Trade Facilitation - Topics and Issues in Trade Facilitation

Topics and Issues in Trade Facilitation

Trade facilitation has its intellectual roots in the fields of logistics and supply chain management. Trade facilitation looks at operational improvements at the interface between business and government and associated transaction costs. Trade facilitation has become a key feature in supply chain security and customs modernisation programmes. Within the context of economic development it has also come to prominence in the Doha Development Round. However, it is an equally prominent feature in unilateral and bilateral initiatives that seek to improve the trade environment and enhance business competitiveness. Reference to trade facilitation is sometimes also made in the context of "better regulation". Some organisations promoting trade facilitation will emphasis the cutting of red tape in international trade as their main objective. Propagated ideas and concepts to reforming trade and customs procedures generally resonate around the following themes:

• Simple rules and procedures
• Avoidance of duplication
• Memoranda of Understanding (MoUs)
• Alignment of procedures and adherence to international conventions
• Trade consultation
• Transparent and operable rules and procedures
• Accommodation of business practices
• Operational flexibility
• Public-service standards and performance measures
• Mechanisms for corrections and appeals
• Fair and consistent enforcement
• Proportionality of legislation and control to risk
• Time-release measures
• Risk management and trader authorisations
• Standardisation of documents and electronic data requirements
• Automation
• International electronic exchange of trade data
• Single Window System