WTO Trade Facilitation Self Assessment of Needs – (country name) Needs and Priorities in the WTO Trade Facilitation Negotiations Workshop (CITY) (DATE) 2009

The Geneva NGTF (Geneva delegate provides overview of negotiation process and importance of needs assessment)

Self Assessment Objectives Identify TA/CB needs/priorities for the implementation of proposed measures Determination of national negotiation position for each proposed measure and TACB Be better prepared for implementation Develop capacity to continue assessment of needs and priorities

Needs Assessment Chart OFFICIAL FROM customs describes in general the process used during the NA Needs Assessment Chart Current Situation Reasons for non-compliance/Barriers Local Actions needed Technical Assistance required Agency responsible Stakeholder not participating Priority: of the measure for our country for TA This is a rough history of the WTO trade facilitation work. Trade facilitation was put on the WTO agenda at the1st WTO Ministerial Conference in Singapore in 1996. Then, mainly work was done by the WTO Council for Trade in Goods, namely, CTG. New Round, so called, Doha Development Agenda, was launched in Nov 2001, where the launch of trade facilitation negotiations was agreed subject to the consensus on the modalities of negotiations. Just some minutes past the midnight, very early morning of 1 August, the WTO agreed the modalities of negotiations on trade facilitation. Real negotiations have not started yet; the chairperson was appointed just two weeks ago. Probably, some of you are not familiar with the WTO decision making structure; I will show it to you.

TRADE FACILITATION OVERVIEW OF FINDINGS [50] proposed measures were considered Preparedness- Already Compliant with # (?%) Partially compliant with # (?%) Not compliant with # (?%) Not applicable with # (?%)

COMPLIANT MEASURES Include the following- (list some of the measures with which you are in compliance)

PARTIALLY COMPLIANT Include the following-

NON COMPLIANT Include the following-

Reasons for Non- Compliance/Barriers Representative of private sector presents 1 Infrastructure Infrastructure includes (i) telecommunications (ii) roads/bridges (iii) power 1 The information technology in place at the moment has some problems, limiting its effectiveness. However, the main problems lie in the inadequate infrastructure. E.g. with regard to the proposals on automation, internet publication, reducing officer discretion For the WTO proposals to be fully effective a country wide improvement in infrastructure is required. Limited improvements/investment in infrastructure from user fees is also a barrier to improving the system. Government commitment is critical to achieving national infrastructure sustainability 2 Institutional Culture/Change Management 3 Limited dissemination o information - e.g. right of appeal, publishing information on the internet. The distribution of Parliamentary regulations/acts is limited. The public find it difficult to acquire this information.

Local Action List some examples of the local action needed

Top 10 Priorities for Technical Assistance List

Top Negotiation Priorities for (COUNTRY). Determine and list

Recommendations [Continued review and update of needs assessment findings Stakeholders continue to meet Establish better communication between Capital and Geneva]

Commitments we can make today (WHILE HIGH LEVEL OFFICIALS ARE THERE GET A COMMITMENT TO CONTINUE MEETINGS OF TASK FORCE, TO CONTINUE WORK ON NEEDS ASSESSMENT AND SUPPORT FOR NEGOTIATIONS ) Examples: [Review and officially approve the Needs Assessment work by all stakeholders within 2 weeks Set the Next meeting of stakeholders]