Trade Facilitation Self-Assessment:

Guide and Process

WTO Agreement on Trade Facilitation
 Self Assessment
Objectives

•Determine overall compliance level

•Identify special and differential treatment needs

– Measures needing more time to implement
– Technical assistance needs

• National priority level of measures

•Be ready for notification and implementation process

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 Outputs
• Identify the specific ACTIONS you must take to
comply with each measure
• Estimate TIME you will need to implement
each measure
• Identify the external TECHNICAL ASSISTANCE
you will require to implement each measure
(if any)
• Estimate COST to implement … where possible

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 Needs Assessment
Process/Schedule

Presentation
Working Plenary of Results
++
Session
Groups Closing
Closing

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Guide Contents

Explanatory Notes

Legal Text + Discussion

Questions

5
 Situational +
GAP Analysis Chart

Questionnaire

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 Working Groups
Overview
For each measure:

Situational Analysis

GAP Analysis

Summarize Results
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 Working Groups
Situational Analysis
Step 1: READ legal text of the measure carefully
– Review Notes
– Ask questions, if doubts
Step 2: DISCUSS your current situation in relation to
this measure
– Use the discussion questions to aid your analysis

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 Working Groups
Situational Analysis

Step 3: COMPLETE the first

column of chart
• Describe fully your relevant
procedures, institutional
framework, infrastructure, etc.
• Use categories for your
response
• Provide references to all
relevant laws, rules,
instructions, etc.
• Include ALL relevant agencies
input

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 Account for all agencies:
Actions/Resources TACB
Barriers Required & Cost Resources
Describe Your Current Situation (Give Reasons for non- (Number the Needed
compliance) Actions) (Specify Action
Number)
A. Policy/Legal Framework:

Customs:
Customs Regulations Article
123 provides for . . .

Agriculture:
AG Law Art 345 provides for . . .

Standards:
Standards Reg. Art. 678
provides for . . .

Food Safety:
Operating Instructions require .
.. 10
 Working Groups
GAP Analysis

Step 4: IDENTIFY all

reasons for non-
compliance

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 Working Groups
GAP Analysis

Step 5: IDENTIFY the

specific actions required
to comply
– Describe actions per
category
– Quantify, where
possible, resources
required for actions

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 Working Groups
GAP Analysis

Step 6: IDENTIFY which

actions require
external Technical
Assistance/Capacity
Building support
– Describe support
required

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 Working Groups
Questionnaire

Step 7: COMPLETE the questionnaire

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 Working Groups
Excel Sheet
Step 8: COMPLETE the Excel Summary Sheet

Use the Drop-Down

Lists, where provided

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Final Summary Report

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 Working Groups

• Each group:
– Record findings on laptop viewed on Powerpoint
• Situational + GAP Analysis
• Questionnaire
• Excel sheet
– When necessary borrow experts from other groups or make
phone calls to the office
– Periodically provide completed charts and Excel sheet to
coordinator- definitely at the end of each day!!!
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 CONFIDENTIAL RESULTS

The results are only for you

and your negotiators

Be detailed and honest

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 Definition of Legislation
• For purposes of this Guide, “legislation”
should be understood to cover all provisions
of general application enacted either by the
legislature or by the executive and which are
effective at the national level.

• This includes existing laws, regulations, rules

and administrative instructions.

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Thank you