Leveraging WTO Negotiations to Operationalise the Almaty ...

Slide 1: Workshop on Trade Facilitation and Aid For TradeLeveraging WTO Negotiations to Operationalise the Almaty Programme of ActionRobert Tama Lisinge12-13 March 2009Addis Ababa

Slide 2:Outline

Introduction Key Features of WTO Negotiations on Trade Facilitation (TF) Linkages between APoA and WTO Negotiations Policy Implications for Leveraging WTO in operationalising APoa Conclusions

Slide 3:Introduction

Several TF initiatives in Africa have same objectives as APoA Initiatives serve as channels for implementing APoA Mostsly studies and pilot projects undertaken so far Some positive results observed: reduced clearance time at border posts; single administrative documents; construction of new terminals; etc WTO negotiation on TF offers opportunity to operationalise APoA

Slide 4:Trade Facilitation at WTO

Slide 5:Modalities for WTO TF Negotiations

Clarify and improve relevant aspects of GATT Articles V, VIII, & X Principle of special and differential treatment Enhance technical support and capacity building Provide effective cooperation between customs and other authorities on TF Members to identify TF needs and priorities Address concerns related to cost implications of proposed measures Infrastructure development required for implementation of some commitments: Developed-country Members to provide support Donor Community to undertake collaborative effort to make TA & CB more effective

Slide 6:Africa’s Evolving Position on WTO TF Negotiations

Importance of TF always recognised In the past, African countries preferred to address TF outside WTO Improved TF requires increased technical and financial assistance to narrow gaps between developed and developing countries Concerns on whether WTO negotiations could ensure such assistance Implementation of common procedures, rules and regulations would be very costly for LDCs

Slide 7:Expected Benefits of WTO Rules on TF

Renewed political impetus to remove trade barriers Long-term commitment to greater discipline in TF Better coherence of activities of international organisations Technical assistance and capacity building to African countries in the negotiations and implementation of commitments

Slide 8:Relationship Between APoA and WTO Negotiations on TF

Same objectives Differences in organisational and governing structure: APoA: Global partnership (action framework) WTO rules based organisation Complementarities: APoA: specific actions identified but no funds earmarked for implementation WTO: Provides for technical assistance but needs assessments still to be undertaken Implement APoA using WTO TA/CB

Slide 10:Coherence Between APoA and WTO Negotiations

Fundamental Transit Policy Issues

Slide 11:Coherence Between APoA and WTO Negotiations (con’t)

Infrastructure Development & Maintenance

Slide 12:Coherence Between APoA and WTO Negotiations (con’t)

International Trade & Trade Facilitation

Slide 13:Coherence Between APoA and WTO Negotiations (con’t)

International Support Measures

Slide 14:Policy Implications for Leveraging WTO Negotiations in Operationalising APoA

Landlocked and transit developing countries should use APoA as checklist in WTO needs assessments This should compliment WTO and WCO tools Donor community should ensure coherence in TA&CB for APoA and WTO RECs should ensure that member states positions at WTO are consistent with APoA recommendations

Slide 15:Conclusions

Due to similarity of objectives, WTO commitments on TF are likely to be similar to APoA recommendations WTO therefore provides a good opportunity to operationalise APoA African countries that are not WTO members would miss out on benefits from the negotiations

Slide 16:THANKS!