WTO Accession Regional Workshop Yverdon, Switzerland (April 1-2, 2007) Trade-related contribution of the UNECE into the

1. WTO Accession Regional Workshop Yverdon, Switzerland (April 1-2, 2007) Trade-related contribution of the UNECE into the WTO accession process Hans A. Hansell, PhD Chief Trade Policy and Governmental Cooperation Section Trade and Timber Division, UNECE

2. Trade facilitation activities Building the capacity of SPECA Member States for accession to WTO Regulatory issues, standards and conformity assessment Agriculture standards

3. Facilitate: to make easy or easier UN/CEFACT Definition:“The simplification, standardization and harmonization of procedures and associated information flows required to move goods from seller to buyer and to make payment” Trade Facilitation

6. Estimates vary from 1-15% of total trade transaction costs Even if only 1%, OECD estimates total gains to world economy of US$40, billion APEC estimates gains of US$46 billion from trade facilitation measures - adopted TF as key policy target. Economic Benefits

7. Study by World Bank on Middle East and North Africa Region WPS3837 – Allen Dennis, 2006 incorporation of TF at least triples the welfare gains from regional trade agreements Welfare gains form trade agreements alone may not be very significant Benefits in the Middle East

8. Non Tariff Barriers: Benefits equals that of tariff reductions!!

9. OBJECTIVES: “clarify and improve relevant aspects of Articles V, VIII and X of the GATT 1994 with a view to further expediting the movement, release and clearance of goods, including goods in transit” (July Package, Annex D) Recognizing Special and Differential Treatment (SDT) for developing countries and LDCs: Entering into commitments related to their implementation capacities (CB and TA, investment in infrastructures...) Beyond traditional SDT (pure exemptions, transition periods, differentiated non-reciprocity) WTO Trade Facilitation Negotiations

10. Article VFreedom of Transit The basic objective is to allow for freedom of transit through a country on a non-discrimination basis Article VIIIFees and Formalities connected with Importation and Exportation reduce the incidence and complexity of import and export related formalities and documentary requirements limit the fees and charges being charged in procedures to the level of the approximate cost Article X Publication and Administration of Trade Procedures Transparency/ publication requirement Impartiality in administration of laws, regulations and administrative rulings of general application GATT Articles V, VIII and X

11. Over 40 years of work Article V: Transport and Transit Facilitation Instruments (TIR Convention, Harmonization Convention...) Article VIII: Standards and tools for trade documents (UN Layout Key, Document Design Toolkit, UNTDED, UNeDocs) Simplification and harmonization of trade procedures (Recommendation 33 - Single Window, Recommendation 4 - TF Pro Organizations, Recommendation 18 -Trade Facilitation Processes) Codes for International Trade (UN/LOCODE, Country Codes, Currency Code...) Automation and e-businessinstruments (UN/EDIFACT, UNeDocs, UNTDED...) Article X: Single Entry Information Point:Single Window Recommendation UNECE and UN/CEFACT TRADE FACILITATION TOOLS

12. Publication and Availability of Information Time period between publication and implementation Consultation and commenting on new and amended rules Advance rulings Appeal procedures Other measures to enhance impartiality and non-discrimination Fees and charges connected with importation and exportation Formalities connected with importation and exportation Consularization Border agency coordination Release and clearance of goods Tariff Classification Matters relating to goods in transit 80 Proposals

13. Through capacity-building workshops the UNECE has assisted transition countries with technical expertise Workshop at WTO to provide negotiators with understanding of GATT V,VII and X TF - Capacity Building

14. Building the capacity of SPECA Member States for accession to WTO

15. Proposal from Azerbaijan Informal forum for Negotiators from SPECA countries for WTO accession Joint UNECE – ESCAP project Building the capacity of SPECA Member States for accession to WTO

16. Project content: several regional and national round tables and training workshops on: accession to WTO on negotiation and implementation of WTO agreements Doha Development Agenda (DDA) issues. Building the capacity of SPECA Member States for accession to WTO

17. a) facilitation of regional informal round tables to share WTO accession and post-accession experiences; b) development of trade policy research networks; c) training of national government officials, private sector representatives, parliamentarians, researchers, trainers; d) providing support to relevant institutions in government, private sector, research and civil society.

18. Joint UNECE / ESCAP project 2 years Partners: UNCTAD, UNDP, WTO, World Bank, World Bank Institute, OECD, AITIC, DFID, BMZ/GTZ, SECO/IDEAs, JICA, CTPL, SIDA and private sector with possible participation of ADB and ECO. Invite UNDP to assist WTO accession process under the SPECA programme

19. Regulatory ConvergenceWorking Party on Regulatory Cooperation and Standardization Policies (WP.6)

20. The Team of Specialists on Standardization and Regulatory Techniques (“START”) The Advisory Group on Market Surveillance (“MARS” Group) UNECE – observer at WTO CTBT Transforming WTO principles (standards, regulations and conformity assessment) into good practices

21. National technical regulations on the basis of international (regional standards) "Common regulatory objectives" on the basis of mutually agreed safety and other legitimate requirements Regulators should not harmonize existing regulations, but rather should try to agree on what safety (etc.) levels they would like to achieve International Model for Technical Harmonization (Rec. “L”) principles

22. Regional application: CIS agreement on technical harmonization Balkan project: training of officials on good regulatory practices Sectoral application: TELECOM initiative Earth-moving machinery (EMM) Safety of pipelines (2005) Explosive environment (new, 2006) Regulatory Convergence

23. Agricultural Quality Standards

24. UNECE agricultural quality standards Dry and dried Fruit (19) Fresh fruit and vegetables (53) Meat (6) Available standards Potatoes (2) Cut flowers (8) Eggs and egg products (5)

25. Facilitate fair international trade Prevent technical barriers to trade Define a common trading language for sellers and buyers Promote a high quality, sustainable production Create market transparency for buyers and consumers UNECE started its work on agricultural quality standards in 1949 Why internationally harmonized standards?

26. Mandatory In all EU countries, if referenced in EU regulations 34 (EU) out of 53 (UNECE) for FFV 2 (EU) out of 19 (UNECE) for DDP EU directive for seed potatoes In other countries, if reflected in national legislation Voluntary Used by producers and traders at the export/import stage as reference How are UNECE standards implemented?

27. Adopts UNECE standards as OECD standards Develops explanatory material to interpret them Develops guidelines on conformity inspection Organizes meetings for national inspectors on Implementation of UNECE/OECD standards Implementation of the guidelines Carries out capacity-building activities (jointly with European Commission, UNECE and Codex Alimentarius) OECD Scheme on Fruit and Vegetables

28. Thank you! Hans A. Hansell, UNECE hans.hansell@unece.org Tel: +41 22 917 2457