Trade+Facilitation+instruments

In their trade facilitation efforts, countries might use and refer to international instruments or best practices for guidance and source of inspiration. These instruments vary in legal nature and membership. For the purposes of this Guide, they are classified into the following four categories(*):
 * 1) Conventions with legal binding force.
 * 2) Recommendations and Standards with non-legal binding force: these propose a given behaviour and provide guidance on technical matters that would allow countries to attain the highest degree of harmonization and uniformity. Both instruments are developed in a transparent development process that is open to all countries and interested parties, such as trade associations.
 * 3) Guidelines and guides with non-legal binding force: they provide information on technical matters to encourage countries or other parties to take appropriate action.
 * 4) Compilations, case studies, and best practices: this final category provides information to deepen the understanding of a particular matter in an applied context.

Experts and publications on trade facilitation often use terms and words that are specific for the Customs or transport world. Glossaries provide alphabetical lists of words as they related to trade facilitation.

(*) Based on the proposed hierarchy of TF instruments in Robert Ireland, Matsudaira "Reform instruments, tools, and best practice approaches" in //Border Management Modernization ,// Gerard McLinden and others, eds. (Washington D.C., World Bank, 2010)