1. © International Road Transport Union (IRU) 2007 Page 1 Issues to consider when negotiating Regional Transit Agreements Presentation by Peter Krausz, Head, Goods Transport and Facilitation International Road Transport Union UNCTAD Expert Meeting on Transit, Geneva, 27-28 September 2007 Presentation by Peter Krausz, Head, Goods Transport and Facilitation International Road Transport Union UNCTAD Expert Meeting on Transit, Geneva, 27-28 September 2007

2. © International Road Transport Union (IRU) 2007 Page 2 ContentsContents  Definition  General considerations  Transport specific considerations  Principles  Definition  General considerations  Transport specific considerations  Principles

3. © International Road Transport Union (IRU) 2007 Page 3 Definition of Regional Transit Agreements A regional transit agreement regulates the general and specific conditions of transit traffic by (road) transport vehicles through the territory of a country member of such a regional agreement.

4. © International Road Transport Union (IRU) 2007 Page 4 General Considerations  Political context – mutually beneficial impact politics / transit agreements  Trade facilitation context – transit agreements cannot be isolated from the level of trade facilitation in the region  Bilateral trade context – ideally, transit agreements should not be “stand-alone” agreements but combined with bilateral (trade) / transport agreements among countries of the region  Systematic approach – all major trade and transport aspects to be considered in an integrated system  Political context – mutually beneficial impact politics / transit agreements  Trade facilitation context – transit agreements cannot be isolated from the level of trade facilitation in the region  Bilateral trade context – ideally, transit agreements should not be “stand-alone” agreements but combined with bilateral (trade) / transport agreements among countries of the region  Systematic approach – all major trade and transport aspects to be considered in an integrated system

5. © International Road Transport Union (IRU) 2007 Page 5 Country A Country C Country B Region 1 Country E Country F Region 2 Region 3 Country G Country H Region 4 Country J Country I Country D General Considerations 2  Multilateralism should prevail over regionalism – principles and solutions of existing multilateral / global schemes (conventions) should be applied in order not to isolate individual regions and satisfy transit needs in (inter-) continental corridors

6. © International Road Transport Union (IRU) 2007 Page 6 Transport specific considerations  The transport operation: Freedom of transitFreedom of transit Access to the professionAccess to the profession Access to the market (transit, bilateral and cabotage)Access to the market (transit, bilateral and cabotage) - Permits and quotas (bi- or multilateral) Fiscal aspectsFiscal aspects Infrastructure user chargesInfrastructure user charges Transport technology to applyTransport technology to apply  The transport operation: Freedom of transitFreedom of transit Access to the professionAccess to the profession Access to the market (transit, bilateral and cabotage)Access to the market (transit, bilateral and cabotage) - Permits and quotas (bi- or multilateral) Fiscal aspectsFiscal aspects Infrastructure user chargesInfrastructure user charges Transport technology to applyTransport technology to apply

7. © International Road Transport Union (IRU) 2007 Page 7 Transport specific considerations 2  The vehicle: Freedom of transit for the vehicle (temporary import)Freedom of transit for the vehicle (temporary import) General technical standards (incl. weights and dimensions)General technical standards (incl. weights and dimensions) ADR, ATP vehicle standards if applicableADR, ATP vehicle standards if applicable Customs standardsCustoms standards Vehicle technical inspection certificateVehicle technical inspection certificate Vehicle documentation (registration)Vehicle documentation (registration) Special equipment availabilitySpecial equipment availability Green card or other vehicle insurance policeGreen card or other vehicle insurance police  The vehicle: Freedom of transit for the vehicle (temporary import)Freedom of transit for the vehicle (temporary import) General technical standards (incl. weights and dimensions)General technical standards (incl. weights and dimensions) ADR, ATP vehicle standards if applicableADR, ATP vehicle standards if applicable Customs standardsCustoms standards Vehicle technical inspection certificateVehicle technical inspection certificate Vehicle documentation (registration)Vehicle documentation (registration) Special equipment availabilitySpecial equipment availability Green card or other vehicle insurance policeGreen card or other vehicle insurance police

8. © International Road Transport Union (IRU) 2007 Page 8 Transport specific considerations 3  The driver: Driving licenceDriving licence Travel documents (ID and visas)Travel documents (ID and visas) Driving and rest hour documentation (tachograph)Driving and rest hour documentation (tachograph) Special certificates (ADR)Special certificates (ADR) Health insurance policeHealth insurance police  The driver: Driving licenceDriving licence Travel documents (ID and visas)Travel documents (ID and visas) Driving and rest hour documentation (tachograph)Driving and rest hour documentation (tachograph) Special certificates (ADR)Special certificates (ADR) Health insurance policeHealth insurance police

9. © International Road Transport Union (IRU) 2007 Page 9 Transport specific considerations 4  The cargo: Freedom of transitFreedom of transit Customs transit documentCustoms transit document Consignment Note (transport contract)Consignment Note (transport contract) Cargo insurance policeCargo insurance police ADR certificateADR certificate  The cargo: Freedom of transitFreedom of transit Customs transit documentCustoms transit document Consignment Note (transport contract)Consignment Note (transport contract) Cargo insurance policeCargo insurance police ADR certificateADR certificate

10. © International Road Transport Union (IRU) 2007 Page 10  The infrastructure: Standards of roads, bridgesStandards of roads, bridges Free use of major roadsFree use of major roads Road numbering, signs and signalsRoad numbering, signs and signals Border crossing pointsBorder crossing points TerminalsTerminals Parking facilitiesParking facilities  The infrastructure: Standards of roads, bridgesStandards of roads, bridges Free use of major roadsFree use of major roads Road numbering, signs and signalsRoad numbering, signs and signals Border crossing pointsBorder crossing points TerminalsTerminals Parking facilitiesParking facilities Transport specific considerations 5

11. © International Road Transport Union (IRU) 2007 Page 11 Multilateral Approach No need to reinvent the wheel: UN Conventions and other UN acquis, WTO Major Conventions to join and consider: WTO GATTWTO GATT Road Traffic, signs and signalsRoad Traffic, signs and signals AGR on main traffic arteries (AH)AGR on main traffic arteries (AH) Vehicle technical regulation (manufacturing)Vehicle technical regulation (manufacturing) TIR customs transit conventionTIR customs transit convention Customs Conv. on temporary importation of vehiclesCustoms Conv. on temporary importation of vehicles Customs Convention on ContainersCustoms Convention on Containers Convention on the Harmonisation of Border ControlsConvention on the Harmonisation of Border Controls CMR on the contract for international carriageCMR on the contract for international carriage ATP on the carriage of perishable foodstuffsATP on the carriage of perishable foodstuffs ADR on the carriage of dangerous goods by roadADR on the carriage of dangerous goods by road UNECE Consolidated Resolution on the facilitation of international road transport (R.E. 4)UNECE Consolidated Resolution on the facilitation of international road transport (R.E. 4)

12. © International Road Transport Union (IRU) 2007 Page 12 PrinciplesPrinciples  Non-discrimination, reciprocity >>>> MFN  Freedom of transit: cargo and vehicle  Carriers to conform to the laws and regulations in force on the territory where they operate  Reduce border waiting times for formalities and checks, security  Tolls or user charges may be levied only for expenses incurred  Traffic suspension & diversion only if indispensable to safeguard the country’s public order, security or public health  Traffic restrictions to be harmonized  Apply PPP to work out and implement agreements  Sustainable transport  Non-discrimination, reciprocity >>>> MFN  Freedom of transit: cargo and vehicle  Carriers to conform to the laws and regulations in force on the territory where they operate  Reduce border waiting times for formalities and checks, security  Tolls or user charges may be levied only for expenses incurred  Traffic suspension & diversion only if indispensable to safeguard the country’s public order, security or public health  Traffic restrictions to be harmonized  Apply PPP to work out and implement agreements  Sustainable transport

13. © International Road Transport Union (IRU) 2007 Page 13 The IRU and its members for PPP

14. © International Road Transport Union (IRU) 2007 Page 14 Thank you - www.iru.org