WORLD TRADE
ORGANIZATIONWT/GC/W/257
19 July 1999
(99-2979)
General Council Original:  English
PREPARATIONS FOR THE 1999 MINISTERIAL CONFERENCE
Trade Facilitation
Communication from Japan
The following communication, dated 16 July 1999, has been received from the Permanent
Mission of Japan.
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Proposal
1.  Japan considers that trade facilitation plays an  important role in promoting the development of
international trade and the world economy, and that it will benefit all trading parties, including the
private and government sectors of developed and developing countries.  We would like to propose that
the work at the WTO be pursued with due attention be ing paid to avoid duplication of that carried out in
other International Organizations and also to ensure th at related trade procedures in the various fields are
able to fulfil their own policy purposes.
2.  Considering the globalization of trade and econom y, it is essential to promote trade facilitation
not only in certain developed countries but also in  the WTO Members countries as a whole, including
developing countries.  Thus, measures which all Me mbers, especially developing country Members, can
adopt should be examined.
3.  Japan, therefore, proposes to examine first how  to secure implementation of the existing WTO
Agreements which developing count ries have difficulties in implementing and also have interest in
discussing.  A supplement to the existing WTO Ag reements should also be studied based on such
examination.  Technical assistance is important and measures to promote such assistance should also be
analysed.
4.  Regarding areas not covered by the existing WTO Agreements, it is essential to proceed with
discussions by carefully observing the work carried out in other international organizations in order to
promote efficiency in both work and resources.  The measures considered should be feasible for all
WTO Members.  It should also be fully discussed whether or not it is appropriate to apply dispute
settlement procedures and to impose trade measures  for compensation or a suspension of concessions.
5.  Regarding how this matter should be managed in the next round of negotiations, it is necessary
to hold further discussions.WT/GC/W/257
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Background
Ensuring full implementation of the existing WTO Agreements
6.  In order to allow trade facilitation to prog ress, it is vital that not only developed country
Members, but also developing country Members join the initiative.  It is important that all Members,
including developing country Memb ers, can implement the existing WTO Agreements relating to trade
facilitation. Thus, discussion should be  held on how to secure the necessary measures in the WTO;  for
instance, technical assistance schemes for expert mi ssions and training course s that not only explain in
general, but also solve concrete problems, incl uding that on the system for implementing the WTO
Agreements.
Elements to supplement the existing WTO Agreements
7. Regarding trade facilitation, it is necessary to fa cilitate the entire sequential procedures, from the
arrival of goods at the border through to free circul ation in the domestic market.  However, the existing
WTO Agreements on related issues does not necessarily provide for adequate procedural provisions.Furthermore, provisions on the harmonization and simplification between procedures are lacking.
8.  For example, a provision exists for appeal procedures in the Customs Valuation Agreement;
however there is no such provision in the TBT Agre ement.  Therefore, how to supplement the existing
WTO Agreements on issues related to trade facilita tion should be fully examined by studying the
differences between each trade facilitation aspect in  every part of the Agreement through identification
of which points are insufficient and avoiding dupli cation of the work of existing WTO Committees and
other International Organizations.
9.  Considering the importance of the automati on of procedures and the EDI, the following
provisions can be included:
- Simplifying and achieving efficiency through measures, such as by the automation and
the introduction of the EDI as well as the harmonization of formats requested, for
procedures.
- Realizing an appropriate and quick clearance by a substantive single window by way of
automation and introduction of the EDI, ther eby adjusting to the provisions of each
Agreement.
- Establishing a necessary framework for technical co-operation.
Technical Cooperation for Trade Facilitation
10.  Automation and human resource development are key elements for facilitating trade.  However,
the lack of infrastructure for automation and human  resources have become obstacles for promoting
trade facilitation in developing countries.  In the WTO, measures of technical assistance for promoting
such automation and capacity building as human  resource development should be examined in
co-operation with the relevant Interna tional Organizations such as the UNCTAD.
Areas which are not covered by the existing Agreements
11. It is necessary to proceed with the discussi ons in the WTO by carefully observing the work
carried out in other International Organizations to promote efficiency in both the work and resources of
the WTO.WT/GC/W/257
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12.  If necessary, based on the result of such observations and discussions, the role of the WTO
should be studied, taking into consideration the situation of implementation or the examination of
agreements in other International Organizations, the character of procedures and the avoidance of
duplicating work.  Such analysis should be made  in full cooperation with other International
Organizations and should call for consistency throughout.
13.  In discussing the integrated framework for trade facilitation,  the following points should be
taken into consideration:
- The framework must be feasible for all WTO Members, including  developing country
Members.
- It is essential to fully discuss whether it is appropriate or not to apply dispute settlement
procedures in areas which are not covered by the existing WTO Agreements in case
where developing country Members face di fficulties to implementing the integrated
framework due to a lack of capacity.
Transparency
14.  Regarding transparency, trade operators shou ld be well informed of the matters required
concerning the necessary procedures related to trad e.  We would like to propose an examination for the
establishment of a database to allow easy access to the matters required in regard to Members'procedures.
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