Inter-Agency+Cooperation

Public administrations are characterized by a fragmentation of responsibilities across multiple bodies and authorities. Although this is in response to a need for specialization, it is clear that policy making in complex areas must take place across organizational boundaries. To overcome the effects of this fragmentation, there must be inter-agency cooperation. This helps to spread information and to establish a common framework and goals that guide agencies' operations and activities, coordinate activities, align processes, and share resources and responsibilities. =Relevance to Trade Facilitation= Trade facilitation is complex for two reasons. First, goods, means of transport and persons accompanying the goods, have to comply with multiple national regulations for import, export and transit (see Cross-border Requirements). Various government departments are responsible for these regulations in response to different policy objectives. Secondly, enforcement involves different services from one organization and various agencies. Many of these agencies control consignments and documents and intervene for this purpose in the clearance process at border stations. Agency cooperation at the operational level is therefore aimed at improving information sharing across organizational boundaries and the alignment of processes and operations. At the policy level, it is necessary to establish a framework of common goals, work programmes and legal agreements that govern operational cooperation. Horizontal information sharing and consultation are also necessary for participation in international and regional rule-setting forums and negotiations to ensure coherent and adequate involvement in these processes. =Border Agency Cooperation= Agency cooperation at the operational level is referred to as border agency cooperation. In fact it is at border stations that the lack of cooperation is particularly felt. Duplication of efforts and formalities increases clearance times and indirect clearance costs for traders, and limits the effectiveness of agency intervention. Border Agency Cooperation aims to increase the efficiency of processing and the effectiveness of agency operations through coordination and cooperation. =The Role of Trade Facilitation Bodies= Trade facilitation bodies also play a role in inter-agency cooperation. Most of the relevant authorities are represented in these bodies. They thus contribute to an exchange of information over initiatives and projects, and contribute to the discussion of trade facilitation as a whole, and strategic political issues rather than agency-related objectives.