Domains

=Business Domains= // Business domains offer a supply-chain perspective on trade facilitation. These areas take inspiration from the steps and processes of the UN/CEFACT Buy-Ship-Pay model. For each of them, the Guide presents key challenges as well as possible reform measures and appropriate solutions and instruments. //

Purchasing Purchasing covers commercial activities for the ordering, buying and selling of goods by private companies. There are measures and tools that buyers and sellers can adopt for more transparent, smooth and speedy transactions. The use of framework agreements, standard product descriptions, sourcing and invoicing systems are among the focus areas of this domain.

Cross-border Management and Customs Cross-border Management and Customs covers a wide range of trade facilitation issues aimed at greater predictability, transparency, effectiveness and efficiency of government services and regulations with regard to the clearance of import, export and transit transactions across international borders. In addition to Customs clearance related aspects, this domain also covers trade facilitation measures relating to cross-border management and supply-chain security.

Shipping and Transport Shipping and Transport addresses trade facilitation issues about the organization and physical movement of goods and services. International conventions for the different modes of transport play an important role in international transport, as well as industry-specific trade facilitation measures, such as Dangerous Goods Regulations, which have to be taken into account when transporting goods.

Payment Payment is a critical phase in international trade transactions. Prompt and full payment affects the ability of companies, and especially small to medium enterprises (SMEs), to compete and survive in the marketplace. This domain identifies a number of areas of intervention for the payment component, including the adoption of legislation for late payment restrictions, the simplification and standardization of payment procedures and documentation, and accessibility to trade finance instruments. = Approaches and Methodologies Domains = //Approaches and methodologies domains introduce concepts and solutions that underpin trade-facilitation efforts.// The Generic Approach to Trade Facilitation Implementation The generic approach to trade facilitation implementation is a simplified mapping and description of how to plan for trade facilitation reforms and to monitor their challenges. It consists of a sequence of steps ranging from assessing performance in trading goods and services across border, to following up on the impact of the reform and the achievement of its objectives.

Business Process Analysis Business Process Analysis helps to achieve the goals of a trade facilitation project by providing a methodology to analyse the processes involved, the participating parties, the information exchanged and the rules that govern the way the process is executed. The result is an overview of the relevant business aspects with a view to improving the efficiency and effectiveness of its operations.

E-business solutions E-business solutions cover aspects related to the electronic exchange of documents and information for cross border trade transactions, including use of standards for document simplification, data harmonization, and inter-operability between businesses, government agencies and other relevant trade partners. Consultation and Cooperation Consultation and Cooperation addresses the need for a framework of public-public cooperation and trade-government consultation over policies, initiatives and projects relating to trade facilitation. It presents the benefits and roles of such a participatory process, discusses organizational and managerial aspects that have to be considered when organizing such processes, and details how to conduct a stakeholder analysis.