The Wayback Machine - https://web.archive.org/all/20060423040947/http://www.wto.org:80/english/tratop_e/tradfa_e/tradfa_e.htm
Click here to return to homepage
../../../175pxls.gif (78 bytes)

 ON THIS PAGE:    Introduction    Mandate    Negotiation    Technical assistance    Work in the WTO    Speeches    Special events

home > trade topics > trade facilitation

Topics handled by WTO committees and agreements
Issues covered by the WTO’s committees and agreements

Trade facilitation

After several years of exploratory work, WTO Members formally agreed to launch negotiations on trade facilitation in July 2004, on the basis of modalities contained in Annex D of the so-called “July package”. Under this mandate, Members are directed to clarify and improve GATT Article V (Freedom of Transit), Article VIII (Fees and Formalities connected with Importation and Exportation), and Article X (Publication and Administration of Trade Regulations). The negotiations also aim to enhance technical assistance and capacity building in this area and to improve effective cooperation between customs and other appropriate authorities on trade facilitation and customs compliance issues. > More

175pxls.gif (835 bytes)
> Consult the guide to downloading files.

N.B. You should download these documents rather than calling them into view through the browser since the formatting may change (eg. paragraph numbering) when viewed through the browser.


Introduction  back to top

Brief information on trade facilitation
links to the trade facilitation section of the WTO Guide “Understanding the WTO”.

  
  

The mandate  back to top

Hong Kong Ministerial Declaration
  

The July 2004 package (WT/L/579):
The mandate for these negotiations is set out in Annex D of that decision (“Modalities for Negotiations on Trade Facilitation”).
Explanation
Text of Annex D

  

Doha Ministerial Declaration, November 14, 2001, item 27

  

Singapore Ministerial Declaration December 13, 1996 (see item 22) (WT/MIN(96)/DEC)
Browse text
download

  
  

Negotiations on Trade Facilitation  back to top

The Launching of negotiations on trade facilitation
  

Negotiation documents: all documents pertaining to the negotiations (legal framework, WTO Member proposals, minutes of meetings, etc.)

  
  

Technical Assistance and Capacity Building in the Context of the Negotiations  back to top

  

Needs Assessment  back to top

  • WTO Self-Assessment Questionnaire and Inventory — TN/TF/W/59

  

Official WTO Documents submitted by Other Organizations  back to top

  • WCO Self-Assessment Checklist for Articles V, VIII and X TN/TF/W/16

  • World Bank's WTO Trade Facilitation Negotiations Support Guide — TN/TF/W/51

  
  

Overview of Trade Facilitation Work in the WTO  back to top

Trade Facilitation Meeting Schedule

  

The Launching of negotiations on trade facilitation

As part of the “July Package”, the General Council on 1 August 2004 decided by explicit consensus to commence negotiations on trade facilitation.

  

Overview — Last update: February 2005
2004   2003   2002   2001   2000   1999   1998

 

> Current Chairperson

  
  

Selection of WTO Director-General and Deputy Director-General Speeches on Trade Facilitation  back to top

  
  

Special events  back to top

Links to non-WTO sites open in a new window.


  

  

  

 

  

  

  

  

  

  

  

 

 Meeting schedule 2006

 
15-16 February
5-7 April
6-7 June
24-26 July

 

 

contact us : World Trade Organization, rue de Lausanne 154, CH-1211 Geneva 21, Switzerland