WTO+Trade+Facilitation+negotiations

=Objectives of the Negotiations on Trade Facilitation= Trade facilitation is one of the topics of the Doha Round of multilateral trade negotiations at the WTO. Negotiations were launched in August 2004 and are still ongoing, with the following objectives: =Emergence of Trade Facilitation at the WTO= Trade facilitation was placed on the agenda of the WTO Singapore Ministerial Conference in 1996. Members favoured the WTO as a forum for rules on trade facilitation for three reasons: 1) trade facilitation had gained importance against the background of changing trade patterns; 2) WTO rules would complement existing trade facilitation instruments by providing a set of multilateral rules covering an array of regulatory challenges to trade; and 3) WTO rules can have legal enforcement through the dispute-settlement mechanism. Following the Singapore Ministerial Conference, between 1996 and 2004 WTO Members conducted analytical work on trade facilitation in the Council for Trade in Goods. This led to the definition of the scope and objectives of the negotiations, first in the Doha Ministerial Declaration in 2001, and then in Annex D of the General Council Decision of 1 August 2004. Annex D is the modalities text of the negotiations on trade facilitation. It defines amongst others the objectives of the negotiations, details of the process, and clarifies WTO Members’ understanding of the development dimension of these negotiations. As such, Annex D reflects the consensus of the WTO Members on how to conduct the negotiations and for what purpose. =Negotiating Process= Work is continuing within the Negotiating Group on Trade Facilitation (NGTF) in accordance with this modalities text. The NGTF has met regularly, albeit at varying intervals, since November 2004 to discuss members’ proposals for new rules and provisions. These proposals fall into two areas: the technical pillar that regroups all proposals related to the review of the GATT Articles and the provisions on Customs cooperation, and the so-called development pillar that regroups proposals related to the implementation mechanism of future rules, in particular the treatment of developing countries. The WTO Secretariat keeps track of the proposals and changes made in the negotiations. It issues a secretariat compilation of members' proposals. This compilation has become the draft consolidated negotiating text and is available on the [|WTO website for the trade facilitation negotiations.](search for working document TN/TF/W/165). An overview of the current articles and proposed implementation measures and instruments included in this document can be found at :
 * to clarify and improve relevant aspects of the GATT Article V, GATT Article VIII, and GATT Article X with a view to further expediting the movement, release and clearance of goods,
 * to draft provisions for effective cooperation between Customs and other agencies on trade facilitation and Customs compliance issues, and
 * to enhance technical assistance and capacity building in this area.

=Outlook= The negotiations are still ongoing and information on their current status and relevant documents, in particular the current version of the draft negotiating text, can be found on the WTO website related to the negotiations. Although there is no final result yet, the process has achieved a broad commitment to the goal of trade facilitation across countries. General awareness and an understanding of trade facilitation have increased and technical assistance dedicated to this field has grown.

Read the next topic: Context of TF negotiations to learn more about when and the reasons why trade facilitation was put on the WTO agenda.

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