Symposium on WTO Trade Facilitation for African Countries Implementing Trade Facilitation Instruments for Regional Integration Dominique Njinkeu, Lead Trade Facilitation Specialist, TFF Program coordinator Nairobi, November 13-15, 2012

Outline Trade Procedures Collaborative border management WTO negotiations related projects Challenges

Trade procedures Alignment to international standards COMESA: Common tariff nomenclature, common market regulation CEMAC and UEMOA: Common tariff nomenclature National Single windows as part of our customs projects in central, West and East Africa

Trade procedures Streamlining of international trade procedures: DRC, Cameroon Efficiency of customs through performance contracts: Togo and Cameroon Authorized economic operators, preferred traders

Collaborative border management Corridor projects in West Africa, East Africa, Central Africa Border-specific: Lesotho, Swaziland ECOWAS: OSBP Interconnection of gateway and landlocked countries’ customs: West, Central, and East Africa Corridor performance (SSATP)

1. WTO Trade Facilitation Negotiating Group Consolidated Text WTO negotiations Reference texts 1. WTO Trade Facilitation Negotiating Group Consolidated Text Information Accessibility, Consultative mechanism, Advance ruling, Appeal mechanism, Import alert, Fees, Clearance procedures, Consularisation, Coordination, Formalities, Freedom of Transit 2. REC trade facilitation instruments Common Tariff Nomenclature, Common Customs Code, Customs brokers criteria, simplified procedures (small goods), SPS border procedures

Findings 1 : Compliance Section B BF CI GB M N S T X ∆ O Information Accessibility X ∆ Consultative Mechanism Advance ruling Appeal Mechanism O Import alert Fees Clearance procedures Consularisation Coordination Formalities Freedom of Transit Common Tariff and Code Customs brokers criteria Simplified procedures SPS border procedures

Findings 2 : existing projects Section B BF CI GB M N S T Information Accessibility X ∆ Consultative Mechanism Advance ruling Appeal Mechanism O Import alert Fees Clearance procedures Consularisation Coordination Formalities Freedom of Transit Common Tariff and Code Customs brokers criteria Simplified procedures SPS border procedures

Results : Needs and priorities Section B BF CI GB M N S T Information Accessibility X ∆ Consultative Mechanism Advance ruling Appeal Mechanism O Import alert Fees Clearance procedures Consularisation Coordination Formalities Freedom of Transit Common Tariff and Code Customs brokers criteria Simplified procedures SPS border procedures

Regional framework with activities at regional and national levels UEMOA TFF support Regional framework with activities at regional and national levels Customs Union instruments: Common Tariff Nomenclature, Common Customs Code, Customs brokers criteria Information Accessibility on Trade and Transit regulations SPS and metrology border procedures

Challenges/Conclusion Holistic: political economy Work across ministries Link with the Bank teams in your countries