   
  
G/TFA/W/41  
 
21 May 2021  
(21-4358) Page: 1/22 
Committee on Trade Facilitation    
 
FIRST REVIEW OF THE OPERATION AND IMPLEMENTATION  
OF THE TRADE FACILITATION AGREEMENT  
FACTUAL REPORT  
Contents  
1   INTRODUCTION  ................................ ................................ ................................ .........  2 
2   SECTION I OF THE TFA  ................................ ................................ ...............................  2 
2.1   Notifications under Section I of the TFA  ................................ ................................ .........  2 
2.2   Experience sharing exercise/thematic discussions  ................................ ...........................  4 
2.3   Written submissions by Members regarding Section I  ................................ ......................  7 
2.4   Experience sharing by Members on trade facilitating measures taken to mitigate the 
COVID -19 Crisis  ................................ ................................ ................................ .................  8 
2.5   Specific Trade Concerns  ................................ ................................ ..............................  9 
Kazakhstan – Border Restrictio ns of Goods in Transit – Request from The Kyrgyz Republic 
(G/TFA/W/20, G/TFA/W/20/Corr.1, G/TFA/W/20/Add.1)  ................................ .........................  9 
2.6   Involvement of the private sector  ................................ ................................ .................  9 
3   SECTION II OF THE TFA  ................................ ................................ .............................  9 
3.1   Notifications under Section II of the TFA  ................................ ................................ ........  9 
3.1.1    Notifications by Members under Articles 15 and 16  ................................ ......................  9 
3.1.2    Requests for extension of the deadline for the notification of definitive dates for  
category B measures by LDC Members  ................................ ................................ ...............  12 
3.1.3    Notifications on technical assistance and capacity building support for category C 
designations  ................................ ................................ ................................ ....................  12 
3.1.4    Notifications under Article 17  ................................ ................................ ..................  13 
3.1.5    Notification s under Article 22  ................................ ................................ ..................  14 
3.2   Experience sharing exercise/thematic discussions  ................................ .........................  14 
3.3   Article 21:4: Dedicated Sessions on Technical Assistance and Capacity Building  ...............  14 
3.4   Written submissions by Members regarding Section II  ................................ ...................  16 
4   SECTION III OF THE TFA  ................................ ................................ ..........................  16 
4.1   Ratifications  ................................ ................................ ................................ .............  16 
4.2   Article 23 Institutional Arrangements  ................................ ................................ ..........  17 
4.2.1    Article 23.1 Committee on Trade Facilitation  ................................ .............................  17 
4.2.2    Rules of procedure of the Committee on Trade Facilitation  ................................ ..........  18 
4.2.3    Annual reports by the Committee to t he Council for Trade in Goods  .............................  18 
4.2.4    Article 23.2 National Committee on Trade Facilitation  ................................ .................  18 
4.3   Written submissions by Members regarding Section III  ................................ .................  20 G/TFA/W/41  
 
- 2 - 
 
  5   REPORTS TO THE COMMITTEE BY THE TRADE FACILITATION AGREEMENT  
FACILITY AND OTHER ORGANIZATIONS PLUS THE GLOBAL ALLIANCE ON TRADE 
FACILITATION ON THEIR ACTIV ITIES TO SUPPORT MEMBERS IN THE  
IMPLEMENTATION OF THE TFA  ................................ ................................ .....................  20 
6   DATABASE AND WEBSITE DEVELOPMENTS SUPPPORTING THE WORK OF THE TF 
COMMITTEE  ................................ ................................ ................................ ...................  21 
 
1  INTRODUCTION  
1.1.  The First Review of the Trade Facilitation Agreement (TFA, the Agreement, TF Agreement) is 
being carried out in 2021 in accordance with the mandate under Article 23.1.6 of the Agreement. 
Article 23.1.6 provides that "[t]he Committee shall review the operation and implementation of this 
Agreement four years from its entry into force, and periodically thereafter".  
1.2.  While the m andate in Article 23.1.6 stipulates that the review period starts from the entry into 
force of the Agreement, in order to capture all notifications submitted by Members, the notification 
data contained in this factual report covers the period from 1 Januar y 2014 to [31 October ] 2021.  
1.3.  Otherwise, this report covers the period from 22 February 2017 to [31 October ] 2021.  
1.4.  At its meeting of 3 March 2021, the Committee on Trade Facilitation (TF Committee, 
Committee, TFC) adopted a calendar and procedure to undertake the First Review1, which included 
the circulation of a first draft factual section of the review. Accordingly, t his document provides 
information regarding the implementation and operation issues of the Agreement, as determined by 
Members during  the review period.  
1.5.  The document is structured according to Sections I, II and III of the Agreement. It also includes 
quantitative information on the submitted notifications, a description of the thematic and experience 
sharing sessions, written submission s by Members and other issues relevant to each Section of the 
Agreement.  
2  SECTION I OF THE TFA  
2.1  Notifications under Section I of the TFA  
2.1.  The TFA requires Members to notify the Committee of the following: the publication of 
information for governments and tra ders on import, export and transit procedures (Article 1.4); the 
details of operation of their single window (Article 10.4.3); the use of customs brokers 
(Article  10.6.2); and details of the contact point for the exchange of customs information 
(Article  12.2.2).  
2.2.  Chart 1 shows the number of notifications received per calendar year over the period from 01 
January 2016, (when the first transparency notification was made) to [31 October ] 2021.2 In total, 
[xx]3 transparency notifications were submitted over this period.  
 
1 G/TFA/1 . 
2 The data reflects the total number of transparency notifications received , including notifications to 
update information previously submitted,  and not the number of Members that submitted transparency 
notifications.  
3 [xx] as it appears in the paper indicates that the final data is to be inserted at the conclusion of the 
review.  G/TFA/W/41  
 
- 3 - 
 
  Chart 1 : Number of transparency notifications received per year  
 
Source: Trade Facilitation Agreement Database ( http://www.tfadatabase.org ). 
2.3.  The cumula tive distribution of the transparency notifications submitted by Members is 
displayed in Table 1 . 
Table 1 : Cumulative break -down of transparency notifications submitted by percentage  
Article  Notification  Percentage  
Article 1.4  Publication of information for governments and traders on 
import, export and transit procedures  27% 
Article 10.4.3  Details of operation of the single window  22% 
Article 10.6.2  Use of customs brokers  27% 
Article 12.2.2  Contact point for the exchange of customs information  25% 
2.4.  Chart 2 shows the percentage of transparency notifications submitted per Member grouping  
per year . 
Chart 2: Percentage of transparency notifications received per Member grouping  per year  
 
Source: Trade Facilitation Agreement Database ( http://www.tfadatabase.org ). 11256
4981
8
2016 2017 2018 2019 2020 2021
G/TFA/W/41  
 
- 4 - 
 
  2.2  Experience sharing exercise/thematic discussions  
2.5.  The fi rst experience -sharing exercise/thematic discussion took place during the fourth meeting 
of the Committee, held on 2 -3 May 2018. Thereafter, it remained as an agenda  item for each 
subsequent Committee meeting. During the review period, a total of [xx] expe rience -sharing 
exercises took place in relation to provisions under Section I of the TFA. The sharing of experiences 
by Members took various formats: thematic discussions, cross -cutting issues, and presentations on 
specific TFA provisions.  
2.6.  The experience -sharing sessions included the participation of the following international 
organizations, which comprise some of the so-called "Annex D+ partner organizations": the World 
Bank Group (WBG), World Customs Organization (WCO), the Organization for Economic Coop eration 
and Development (OECD), the United Nations Conference on Trade and Development (UNCTAD) and 
the International Trade Centre (ITC). The Global Alliance for Trade Facilitation (GATF), a public -
private partnership dedicated to international trade facil itation4, and the Standards Trade and 
Development Facility (STDF) a multi -partner initiative5, also participated in the experience -sharing 
sessions.  The list of presentations is contained in Annex 1, Table 1.  
2.7.  In total, [18] Members shared their implementation experience with regard to six TFA articles 
as follows: Article 1: Publication and Availability of Information (2 Members); Article 2: Opportunit y 
to Comment, Information Before Entry Into Force, And Consultations (2 Members); Article 3: 
Advance Rulings (5 Members); Article 7: Release and Clearance Of Goods (7 Members); Article 10: 
Formalities Connected With Importation, Exportation And Transit (8 Members); Article 11, and 
Freedom of Transit (6 Members).  See Table 2.  A number of Members also made presentations on 
cross-cutting issues, which are listed in Table 3.  
Table 2: Experience -sharing presentations by Members on Section I provisions  
Member  Title Committee 
meeting  
Article 1: Publication and Availability of Information  
Ecuador  Publication and availability of information  (in Spanish 
only) 11 February 2020  
Eswatini, 
Kingdom of  Trade Facilitation Programme and Trade Facilitation 
Information Portal ETIP  20-22 October 2020  
Jamaica  Jamaica's Trade Information Portal  
Jamaica's Trade Facilitation Programme  15-16 October 2019  
United States  GTFAW13 - Developing the Article 1.4 notification  25-26 June 2019  
Article 2: Other Measures to Enhance Impartiality, Non -discrimination and 
Transparency  
European Union  EU implementation of Article 2 of the TFA  26 June 2018  
United States  The Role of Notice and Comment And Related 
Administrative Procedures in Trade Facilitation 
Implementation  
GTFAW6  26 June 2018  
 
4 The Global Alliance is led by the Center for International Private Enterprise, the International Chamber 
of Commerce and the World Economic Forum, in cooperation with Gesellschaft für Internationale 
Zusammenarbeit (GIZ). It is currently funded by the gover nments of the United States, Canada, Germany, 
Denmark and Australia.  
5 The STDF grew out of a joint communiqué issued by the Heads of FAO, OIE, WBG, WHO and WTO at 
the Doha Ministerial Conference in November 2001. It is hosted by the WTO Secretariat, suppo rting increased 
capacity of developing countries to implement international SPS standards, guidelines and recommendations . G/TFA/W/41  
 
- 5 - 
 
  Member  Title Committee 
meeting  
Article 3: Advance Rulings  
Australia  Australia Advance Rulings - Presentation  
GTFAW11 - Australia's experience with Advanced 
Rulings  12-13 February 
2019 
Japan  Advance Rulings - Japan's experience  12-13 February 
2019 
Singapore  Singapore - Advance Rulings  9-11 October 2018  
Ukraine  Advanced rulings  
Advanced rulings - key points  11 February 2020  
United States  Speaking points - The role of advance rulings and 
administrative procedures in TFA implementation  
GTFAW7 - The role of advance rulings and 
administrative procedures in TFA implementation  9-11 October 2018  
Article 7: Release and Clearance of Goods  
Australia  Australia's Aut horized Economic Operator (AEO) 
Program - Australian Trusted Trader GTFAW9  
Video: Australian Trusted Trader - an overview  9-11 October 2018  
Brazil Brazil's AEO programme  9-11 October  2018 
Time release study  22-23 March 2021  
Cambodia  Shifting Category C to B - Article 7.9 Perishable goods  22-23 April 2021  
China  China's AEO programme  9-11 October  2018 
European Union  The EU Authorised Economic Operator AEO Programme  9-11 October 2018  
Guatemala  Guatemala's AEO programme - Presentacion del 
programa de operador econimico autorizado en 
Guatemala  9-11 October 2018  
Estudio de tiempos de despacho  20-22 October 2020  
Hong Kong, 
China  Implementation of the AEO Programme in  Hong Kong 
China  9-11 October 2018  
Korea, Republic 
of Korea AEO programme  15-16 October 2019  
Sri Lanka  WCO Time Release Study - Sri Lanka's experience  11 February 2020  
United States  GTFAW21 - US Cargo time release study  11 February 2020  
Uruguay  GTFAW12 - Plazos medios de levante y programa de 
Operador Economico Autorizado en aplicacion  del AFC  25-26 June 2019  
Zambia  Authorised Economic Operators AEO - Customs 
Accredited Client Programme  9-11 October 2018  
Article 10: Formalities Con nected with Importation, Exportation and Transit  
Brazil  Single window implementation in Brazil  9-11 October 2018  
TFA implementation in Brazil through Public -Private 
Partnership  
China  Single Window in China  15-16 October 2019  G/TFA/W/41  
 
- 6 - 
 
  Member  Title Committee 
meeting  
European Union  Special procedures processing and temporary admission  
Room document  12-13 February 
2019 
Korea, Republic 
of Single Window in Korea  9-11 October 2018  
Malaysia  ASEAN statement - Discussions on single window  9-11 October 2018  
Rwanda/  
UNCTAD  UNCTAD Compendium of Good Practices UNCTAD and 
Rwanda  15-16 October 2019  
Saudi Arabia, 
Kingdom of  Overview of Trade Facilitation Initiatives in Saudi 
Customs  9-11 October 2018  
The Separate 
Customs 
Territory of 
Taiwan, 
Penghu, Kinmen 
and Matsu  CPT Single Window  15-16 October 2019  
Article 11: Freedom of Transit  
European Union  EU Customs Transit Procedures Including Arrangements 
with a Number of Neighbouring Countries Under the 
Common Transit Convention  
EU Non Paper - European Union Customs Transit 
including arrangements with neighbouring countries 
under the Common Transit Convention  2-3 May 2018  
Switzerland  Implementation of National and International Transit 
Procedures  9-11 October 2018  
 
Table 3: Experience -sharing presentations by Members on cross -cutting issues  
Member  Presentation  Committee 
Meeting  
China  Approaches to Planning for Future Experience Sharing 
among Members  26 June 2018  
 Implementation of WTO TFA by China Customs  2-3 May 2018  
Costa Rica  Costa Rica statement  11 February 2020  
El Salvador  Central American Trade Facilitation and 
Competitiveness Str ategy with Emphasis on 
Coordinated Border Management (in Spanish only)   
Guatemala  Trade Facilitation Thro ugh a Regional Lense  26 June 2018  
Moldova, 
Republic of  Moldova 's National Action Plan on Trade Facilitation  2-3 May 2018  
Morocco  Implementation of the TFA through a public -private 
partnership  11 February 2020  
North 
Macedonia  Trade Facilitation Agreement Implementation - Some 
Practical Aspects  2-3 May 2018  
United States  G/TFA/W/19 - Communication from the United States - 
Sharing of experiences  11 February 2020  
 G/TFA/W/41  
 
- 7 - 
 
  2.3  Written submissions by Members regarding Se ction I  
2.8.  Table 4 below compiles the list of written submissions from Members circulated in the G/TFA/W/ 
document series as part of the experience -sharing exercise.  
Table 4: Written Submissions by Members regarding Section I  
Article  Member  Subject  Document Symbol  
Implementation of Section I of the TFA  
Article 1  United States  Developing the Article 1.4 
notification  G/TFA/W/13  
Article 1  Zambia  Launch of the Zambia Trade 
Information Portal  G/TFA/W/34  
Articles 1 
and 2  United States  The role of "notice and comment"  
and related administrative 
procedures in trade facilitation 
implementation  G/TFA/W/6  
Article 3  Australia  Australia's experience with 
Advance rulings  G/TFA/W/11  
Article 3  United States  The role of advance rulings and 
administrative procedures in TFA 
implementation  G/TFA/W/7  
Articles 5, 
7, 9 and 10  Mongolia  Information on Articles 5.1, 5.3, 
7.2, 9 and 10.5  G/TFA/W/32  
Article 7  Australia  Australia's Authorized Economic 
Operator (AEO): Australian Trusted 
Trader  G/TFA/W/9  
Article 7  Brazil  Time release study  G/TFA/W/33  
Article 7  Hong Kong, China  Implementation of the Authorised 
Economic Operator programme in 
Hong Kong, China  G/TFA/W/8  
Article 7  United States  US cargo time release study phase 
two executive summary  G/TFA/W/21  
Article 7  Uruguay  Plazos medios de levante y 
programa de Operador Económico 
Autorizado  G/TFA/W/12  
Article 8  Chile, Ecuador, 
Costa Rica, Mexico , 
Paraguay, Uruguay  Border Agency Cooperation  G/TFA/W/22  
Article 11  Kyrgyz Republic  Provision on the national transit 
coordinator  G/TFA/W/16  
Article 11  Mongolia  Provision on the national transit 
coordinator  G/TFA/W/18  
Other topics  
 Jordan  Elimination of the consularization 
requirement  G/TFA/W/23  
 Multiple (United 
States and Norway)  Revisiting the need for global action 
to eliminate consularization 
requirements  G/TFA/W/38  
 United States  MSMEs (Micro, Small, and Medium 
Enterprises)  
 Opportunities For 
MSMEs - Statement 
by The United States  
The Trade Facilitation 
Agreement: A World 
Of Opportunities For 
MSMEs  
 G/TFA/W/41  
 
- 8 - 
 
  2.4  Experience sharing by Members on trade facilitating measures taken to mitigate the 
COVID -19 Crisis6 
2.9.  Following the outbreak of the COVID -19 pandemic in 2020, the TF Committee held an informal 
Committee meeting on 30 September 2020 to provide an opportunity to Members to inform the 
Committee of trade facilitating measures that they had adopted in response to COVID -19. The 
meeting started with updates from the ITC, the WB G, the WCO, UNCTAD and GATF on their work in 
this area. The organizations presented their work under the following headings: I TC - "Continuing 
TACB during the times of pandemics - ITC experi ence"; WBG - "The World Bank Group response to 
trade facilitation during the COVID crisis "; WCO - "What Customs can do to mitigate the effects of 
the COVID -19 pandemic "; World Economic Forum (GA TF) "COVID impact on trade facilitation – 
observations, challe nges and opportunities "; and UNCTAD " Easing global trade and transport during 
COVID -19". 
2.10.   The following eight Members reported to the Committee on the trade facilitating measures 
that they had undertaken: the Dominican Republic; the European Union; Guatemal a; Hong Kong, 
China; Japan; Nepal (as a focal point of the Core Group on Trade Facilitation of the LDC Group); 
Switzerland; and the United States.  
2.11.   The Ottawa Group, which includes Australia, Brazil, Canada, Chile, the European Union, Japan, 
Kenya, Republic  of Korea, Mexico, New Zealand, Norway, Singapore and Switzerland, introduced a 
communication circulated in document G/TFA/W/24 which compiled the COVID -19 measures taken 
by its members. Brazil, Colombia and the United States, introduced a joint communicat ion entitled 
"Supporting the Timely and Efficient Release of Global Goods Through Accelerated Implementation 
of the WTO Trade Facilitation Agreement " which was circulated in document G/TFA/W/25.  
2.12.   Members continued to share information on the trade facilitating measures that they had 
taken to mitigate COVID -19 at the Committee meetings of 21 -22 October 2020,  
26-27 January  2021, 3 March 2021, 22 -23 April 2021, [22 -23 June 2021, 27 -28 July 2021, and  
19-21 October 2021].  
2.13.   At the meeting of 21 -22 October 2020, the following Members informed the Committee of the 
trade facilitating measures that they had taken to mitigate COVID -19: the European Union "Paper -
based proofs of Preferential Origin under Covid -19 crisis"; the US updated the Committee on the 
communication entitled "Supporting The Timely And Efficient Release Of Global Goods Through 
Accelerated Implementation Of The WTO Trade Facilitation Agreement" (G/TFA/W/25); Paraguay 
"Ventanilla única del exp ortador – medidas en época de pandemia "; Nepal "Trade and Transit 
Facilitation – Nepal's experience; Canada "e -Longroom: an Emerging Digital Customs Strategy"; 
Afghanistan "Status and challenges of Trade Facilitation Agreement Implementation in Afghanistan "; 
Mongolia "Implementation of the TFA by Mongolia"; Japan "Japan Customs' Response to COVID -19; 
and the Dominican Republic " Medidas temporales adoptadas por la República Dominicana en 
respuesta al COVID -19". Saint Lucia, The Netherlands, and the EU provid ed additional information.  
2.14.   At the meeting of 26 -27 January 2021, the WCO and the GATF updated the Committee on 
their COVID -19 related work.  
2.15.   At the meeting of 3 March 2021, the WCO provided an update to the Committee on its ongoing 
COVID -19 related work.  
2.16.   At the meeting of 22 -23 April 2021, the following Members informed the Committee of the 
trade facilitating measures that they had taken to mitigate COVID -19: Cambodia "Mitigating 
COVID -19 – Article 10.4 Single Window "; and Turkey "Outcomes of Turkey's electr onic customs 
procedures in line with TFA on international supply chains during the COVID -19 pandemic".  
 
6 A compendium document of the contributions of COVID -19 responses that the TFC Members and 
Observers have provided to the TFC is ava ilable in document G/TFA/W/40 . The compendium also includes 
presentations made to the Committee by a number of Annex D+ partner organizations. Links to the 
presentations made by Members and Annex D+ partner organizations are included in the compendium.  G/TFA/W/41  
 
- 9 - 
 
  2.17.   A number of Annex D+ partner organizations made presentations to the Committee during 
these meetings regarding  the support that they were providing to Me mbers during the COVID -19 
pandemic.  The presentations are listed in Annex 1, Table 2. 
2.5  Specific Trade Concerns  
Kazakhstan – Border Restrictions of Goods in Transit – Request from The Kyrgyz Republic 
(G/TFA/W/20, G/TFA/W/20/Corr.1, G/TFA/W/20/Add.1 ) 
2.18.   The Comm ittee addressed one matter concerning a specific trade concern that was raised at 
its meeting of 11 February 2020.7 The Kyrgyz Republic raised a concern regarding Kazakhstan's 
treatment of its goods transiting to the Russian Federation. Kazakhstan considered that the issue 
should be addressed within the framework of the Eurasian Economic Union, to which both countries 
are members.  
2.6  Involvement of the private sector  
2.19.   On 22 April 2021, at the margins of the meeting of the TFC, the Global Expr ess Association 
(GEA), which represents DHL, FedEx and UPS, organized a webinar to which the Committee was 
invited.  
3  SECTION II OF THE TFA  
3.1  Notifications under Section II of the TFA  
3.1.1   Notifications by Members under Articles 15 and 16  
3.1.  Developing and least -devel oped country Members invoking the special flexibilities contained in 
Section II of the TFA are required to notify the Committee in accordance with Articles 15 and 16 of 
the TFA. The timeline for notification obligations under Articles 15 and 16 is outlined  in Table 5. 
Table 5: Timeline of Notification Obligations under Articles 15 and 16 of the TFA  
2017  
22 February  Developing country Members  • Notify designations of categories A, B 
and/or C  
• Provide indicative implementation 
dates for category B and category C 
designations  
• Provide TACB requirements for 
category C designations  
2018  
22 February  Developing country Members  • Provide definitive dates for category B 
designations  
• Provide information on arrangements 
entered with Donors on TACB for 
category C designations  
22 February  Least developed country Members  • Notify designations of categories A, B 
and/or C  
• May notify indicative implementation 
dates for category B designations  
22 February  Donor Members  • Provide information on arrangements 
enter ed with developing Members on 
TACB for category C designations  
 
7 G/L/1375  and G/TFA/M/10 . G/TFA/W/41  
 
- 10 - 
 
  2019  
22 February  Least developed country Members  • Provide TACB requirement for  category  
C designations  
22 August  Developing country Members  • Provide definitive implementation 
dates for  category C  designations  
• Inform of progress  in TACB provision 
for category C  designations  
22 August  Donor Members  • Inform of progress in TACB provision  
for category C  designations of 
developing Members  
2020  
22 February  Least developed country Members  • Provide definitive dates for  category  B 
designations  
2021  
22 February  Least developed country Members  • Provide  indicative dates for  category C  
designations  
• Provide information on arrangements  
entered with Donors  on TACB for  
category  C designations  
22 February  Donor Members  • Provide information on arrangements 
entered with LDCs on TACB for  
category  C designations  
2022  
22 August  Least developed country Members  • Provide definitive dates for  category C  
designations  
• Inform of progress in TACB provision 
for category C  designations  
22 August  Donor Members  • Inform of progress in TACB provision  
for category C  designations of LDCs  
 
3.2.  During the period under review, much of the Committee's work was focused on the receipt of 
notificati ons submitted by Members under those two Articles . 
3.3.  Chart 3 indicates that the highest number of notifications containing this information was 
received in 2019, followed by 2018. During the period under review, all but two Members8 submitted 
their definitive dates for implementation of category B designations and C designations.  
 
8 Djibouti and Mauritania . G/TFA/W/41  
 
- 11 - 
 
  Chart 3: Category A, B and C notifications per year  
 
Source: Trade Facilitation Agreement Database ( http://www.tfadatabase.org ). 
 
3.4.  Chart 4 shows the disaggregation of notifications by category. When the data is disaggregated 
by groupings, Chart 5 indicates that the share of items in category A is higher in developi ng 
countries, while LDCs have assigned more provisions in category C.  
Chart 4: Share of Categories, A, B, C  
Based on % of all notifiable article items  Chart 5: Share of Categories, A, B, C by 
grouping  
Based on % of all notifiable article items  
  
Source: Trade Facilitation Agreement Database ( http://www.tfadatabase.org ). 
3.5.  Notifications by Members of their  A,B,C categorization indicate that globally the top five 
measures notified in category A are: pre -shipm ent inspection (Article 10.5); movement of goods 
(Article 9); detention (Article 5.2); use of customs brokers (Article 10.6); and, and temporary 
admission of goods (article 10.9). See Chart 6. 
3.6.  The five measures least notified in category A are: risk manage ment (Article 7.4); border 
agency cooperation (Article 8); test procedures (Article 5.3); authorized operators (Article 7.7); and 
the single window (Article 10.4) See Chart 7. 
G/TFA/W/41  
 
- 12 - 
 
  Chart 6: Top five measures with highest 
categorization in A  Chart 7: Bottom five  measures with 
lowest categorization in A  
 
Source: Trade Facilitation Agreement Database ( http://www.tfadatabase.org ). 
 
3.1.2   Requests for extension of the deadline for the notification of definitive dates for 
category B measures by LDC Members  
3.7.  In 2020, nine LDC Members notified requests for an extension of the deadline for the 
notification of definitive dates for category B measures.9 Between 13 to 22 February 2020, seven 
LDC Members requested an extension. To make a decision before the 22 February 2020 deadline, 
the Committee met on 20 February. Subsequently, the Committee received two further notifications 
of requests for extension on 21 February 2020 and the Committee held a second meeting on 
28 February.10 The Committee agreed to all nine requests for an extension of the deadline.11 
3.8.  The notification data for 2020 includes the requests for an extension.  
3.1.3   Notifications on technical assistance and capacity building support for category C 
designations  
3.9.  Article 16 requires that Members provide three notifications regarding technical assistance and 
capacity building (TACB) for category C designations: notification by Members of TACB requirements 
for implementation of their category C designations; notifica tion of information on arrangements 
entered into with Donors; and notification of progress in TACB provision.  
3.10.   Over the review period, 125 Members notified the TACB support that was required in order to 
implement their category C designations. Taking into a ccount all notifications, the top three needs 
identified by Members were with respect to (1) human resources and training ; (2)assistance in 
amending laws or regulations or implementing new ones ; and (3) information and communication 
technologies (ICTs).  See Chart 8.  
 
9 LDC Members may request the Committee to grant an extension of the deadline to submit its definitive 
dates for category B under article 16:2 (b) of the TFA.  
10 The meetings of 20 and 28 February were convened under Rule 2 of the Rules of Procedure for 
meetings of the General Council, which through its own rules of procedure, apply mutatis mutandis to the TFC.  
11 Afghanistan, Burkina Faso, Chad, Djibouti , Lao PDR, Mauritania, Senegal, Sierra Leone and Solomon 
Islands.  
G/TFA/W/41  
 
- 13 - 
 
  Chart 8: Type of technical assistance required  
 
Source: Trade Facilitation Agreement Database ( http://www.tfadatabase.org ). 
 
3.11.   Over the review period, notifications of information on arrangements entered into with donors 
plus notifications on progress made on TACB comprised [xx] notifications from developing countries 
and [xx] notifications from least developed country Members. See Table 6. 
3.12.   In accordance with Article 16, donors are also required to submit a notification on TACB; [[xx] 
donor Members have submitted notifications under this obligation].  
Table 6: Number of donor arrangements and progress notifications received per year, 
per grouping  
Years  Developing Country  Least Developed Country  
2019 1 1 
2020 4 1 
2021 [ ] [ ] 
Source: Trade Facilitation Agreement Database ( http://www.tfadatabase.org ). 
 
3.1.4   Notifications under Article 17  
3.13.   In 2020, the Committee received six requests for an extension of definitive dates for 
implementation of category B and C commitments under Article 17 of the TFA ("Early Warning 
Mechanism"). Requests submitted by three Members12 did not exceed 18 months. In line with 
Article  17.2 of the TFA, the requested  extensions were therefore  automatically granted without any 
further action by the Committee.  
3.14.   One request from a Member13 was for an extension of its implementation date exceeding 18 
months. This request was considered by the Committee, as indicated in Article 17.4 , and granted.  
3.15.   Requests from two Members14 for an extension to their implementation dates were submitted 
after the deadline set out in Article 17.1 of the TFA, which requires requests to be notified to the 
 
12 Nicaragua ( G/TFA/N/NIC/1/Add.2 ), Pakistan ( G/TFA/N/PAK/1/Add.3 ) and the Philippines 
(G/TFA/N/PHL/1/Add.1) . 
13 St. Kitts and Nevis ( G/TFA/N/KNA/1/Add.1 ). 
14 Bahrain ( G/TFA/N/BHR/1/Add.1 ) and Samoa ( G/TFA/N/WSM/1/Add.2 ). 
G/TFA/W/41  
 
- 14 - 
 
  Committee no later than 1 20 days for developing countries and 90 days for least developed countries 
before the expiration of the previously notified implementation date. There was no consensus in the 
Committee to approve the requests.  
3.16.   In 2021, [three] requests were received from Members15 which did not adhere to the deadline 
set out in Article 17.1. There was no consensus in the Committee to approve the requests.  
3.17.   A document tracking implementation dates from 1 May 2021 to 31 December 2022 was 
circulated in document G/TFA/INF/1 as a  reminder to Members.  This document will be updated on a 
rolling basis until all notified implementation dates have passed . 
3.1.5   Notifications under Article 22  
3.18.   Article 22.1 and 22.2 of the TFA require donor Members to notify information regarding their 
technical assistance arrangements and the process and mechanisms to receive assistance. 
Article  22.3 requires beneficiary Members to notify contact details with regard to technical 
assistance.  
3.19.   Over the period of the review, [xx] donor Members submitted [xx ] notifications and [xx] 
developing country Members submitted [xx] notifications under Articles 22.1 and 22.2. [xx] LDC 
Members submitted [xx] notifications under Article 22.3.  
3.2  Experience sharing exercise/thematic discussions  
3.20.   Over the period of the review,  [xx] Members have shared their experiences or made 
statements on matters under Section II relating to implementation of the TFA and/or issues 
concerning capacity building. These Members are Afghanistan; Brazil; China; Colombia; Costa Rica; 
Egypt; El Salva dor; Eswatini; European Union; Finland; Germany; Guatemala; Jamaica; Japan; Lao 
PDR; Moldova; Mongolia; Nepal; Netherlands; North Macedonia; Paraguay; Rwanda; Saint Lucia; 
Saint Vincent and the Grenadines; Spain; Sweden; United Kingdom; United States; Viet  Nam and 
Zambia.  
3.21.   Over the review period, a number of Annex D+ partner organizations regularly updated the 
Committee at its meetings of their regarding their work to support implementation of the Agreement 
by Members . In 202016 and in 202117 they provided t hese updates in a written report.  
3.22.   In addition, the GATF also made a number of presentations on their initiatives relative to TFA 
implementation at the meetings of 12 -13 February 2019; 25 June 2019; 20 -22 October 2020,  
22-23 April 2021 [and xx]. The presen tations made by Annex D+ partner organizations are listed in 
Annex 1 , Table 2 . 
3.3  Article 21:4: Dedicated Sessions on Technical Assistance and Capacity Building  
3.23.   Article 21.4 of the TFA provides that the Committee shall hold at least one dedicated session 
per year to: (a) discuss any problems regarding implementation of provisions of the TFA; (b) review 
progress in the provision of assistance and support for capacity building to support the 
implementation of the TFA, including any developing or LDC Members not receiving adequate 
assistance and support for capacity building; (c) share experiences and information on ongoing 
assistance and support for capacity building and implementation programs, including challenges and 
successes; (d) review donor notifications a s set forth in Article 22 of the TFA; and (e) review the 
operation of Article 21 of the TFA . 
3.24.   During the period under review four annual dedicated sessions have taken place. (See Table 
7 for a list of presentations and statements made during these sessions,  where available.) The first 
dedicated session was held on 3 May 2018. The United States delivered presentations in connection 
with the subject matter under Article 21 .4(a) and (b) of the TFA. With regard to Article 21 .4(c) of 
the TFA, presentations  and ot her contributions  were made by Colombia; Germany and Sweden on 
 
15 Ukraine ( G/TFA/N/UKR/1/Add.3 ), Peru ( G/TFA/N/PER/1/Add.1 ) and Tonga ( G/TFA/N/TON/1/Add.3 ). 
16 G/TFA/W/29 . 
17 G/TFA/W/39 . G/TFA/W/41  
 
- 15 - 
 
  behalf of the European Union; the United States; and Viet Nam. Finally, Australia presented a donor 
notification as referenced under Article 21.4(d), and the United States intervened with respe ct to 
support for LDC Members as referenced under Article 21.4(e) of the TFA.  
3.25.   A second dedicated session was held on 16 October 2019. Following the structure of 
Article  21.4 of the TFA, the Chair organized the session by first inviting exchanges on any 
implementation problems, a review of progress in the provisions of assistance and support for 
capacity buildings, and the sharing of experiences and information on ongoing assistance and 
support for capacity building and implementation programs. With regard t o these issues, the 
following Members  made presentations or shared certain information: Bangladesh, Bolivia, Cote 
d'Ivoire, Dominican Republic, El Salvador, Ghana, Guatemala, Honduras, Japan, Lao PDR, Mauritius, 
Nigeria, Paraguay, Peru, Saint Vincent and t he Grenadines, Samoa, Senegal, Sri Lanka, Trinidad and 
Tobago, Uruguay, and Zambia. In addition, Jamaica made a presentation  on behalf of  CARICOM,  
and Nepal  intervened  on behalf of the LDC Group.  
3.26.   Presentations pertaining to the review of donor notifications as set forth in Article 22 of 
the TFA were made by the European Union and by several EU member countries, including Finland, 
the Netherlands, Spain, Sweden, and the United Kingdom. At the invitation of the European Union, 
the Committee also h eard a contribution  from the WCO.  
3.27.   Summaries of these presentations can be found in the minutes for the 16 October 2019 
meeting as set out at pages 27 -45 of G/TFA/M/9 .18 
3.28.   The third dedicated session was held on 22 October 2020. As during the second session, 
Committee Members were  invited to exchange on several matters listed under Article 21.4 of 
the TFA, including any implementation problems, a review of pr ogress in the provisions of assistance 
and support for capacity building, and the sharing of experiences and information on ongoing 
assistance and support for capacity building and implementation programs. With regard to these 
issues, the following Members  made presentations or shared certain information: Canada; China; 
Ecuador; Eswatini; the European Union; Finland; France; Japan; the Netherlands; Paraguay; 
Sweden; and the United Kingdom. A  presentation was also made by Saint Lucia on behalf of 
the OECS.  
3.29.   Summaries of these presentations  and contributions  are provided in greater detail in the 
minutes for the 22 October 2020 meeting as set out at pages 27 -39 of G/TFA/M/13. During its 
regular meeting, the Committee took note of donor notifications under Articl e 22 of the TFA from 
Australia; Canada; Japan; and the United States.19 With regard to recent and upcoming activities, 
the Committee heard statements from Brazil, Nepal (on behalf of the LDC Group), the United States, 
as well as a presentation by G ATF, as set out at pages 39 -42 of G/TFA/M/13 . 
3.30.   The fourth dedicated Session was held on 21 October 2021. During this session, [xx].  
Table 7: Presentations by Members under the Dedicated Sessions  
Member  Title Committee 
meeting  
European Union  Statement by the European Union  15-16 October 
2019 
Statement by the European Union  20-22 October 
2020 
Eswatini, Kingdom of  Trade Facilitation Programme and Trade 
Facilitation Information Portal ETIP  20-22 October 
2020 
Finland  Finland statement  20-22 October 
2020 
 
18 No presentations were made pertaining to the review and operation of Article 21:2 of the TFA.  
19 G/TFA/M/13 , pp. 15 -16. No presentations were made pertainin g to the review and operation of 
Article  21:2 of the TFA.  G/TFA/W/41  
 
- 16 - 
 
  Member  Title Committee 
meeting  
France  France statement  20-22 October 
2020 
Germany  Ongoing Assistance and Support - Germany  2-3 May 2018  
Jamaica  CARICOMs implementation experience Jamaica on 
behalf of CARICOM  15-16 October 
2019 
Lao People's 
Democratic Republic  Trade Facilitation in Lao - key achievements and 
challenges  15-16 October 
2019 
Netherlands, The  The Netherlands statement  20-22 October 
2020 
Saint Lucia  OECS report  20-22 October 
2020 
Saint Vincent and the 
Grenadines  Presentation by Saint Vincent and the Grenadines 
on Trade Facilitation  15-16 October 
2019 
Spain  Technical assistance from Spain in the framework 
of the WCO MERCATOR Programme  15-16 October 
2019 
Sweden  Ongoing Assistance and Support - Sweden  2-3 May 2018  
 Sweden statement  20-22 October 
2020 
United Kingdom  Trade Facilitation UK Statement  15-16 October 
2019 
United States  Trade Facilitation Agreement Notifications as Tools 
for Demand Driven Assistance Conversations  2-3 May 2018  
United States Approach to Trade Facilitation 
Assistance  
United States Department of Agriculture Trade 
Facilitation Agreement Related Technical 
Assistance  
Commercial Law Development Program – 
Contribution By The United States  
United States/  
Viet Nam  Project Support for TFA implementation in Vietnam  2-3 May 2018  
Zambia  Support from cooperating partners and Zambia's 
achievements in the implementation of the TFA  15-16 October 
2019 
3.4  Written submissions by M embers regarding Section II  
3.31.   One Member, the United States, circulated a written submission in document G/TFA/W/15 in 
relation to Articles 16 and 24.  
4  SECTION III OF THE TFA  
4.1  Ratifications20 
4.1.  During the period from 1 January 2014 to [31 October ] 2021, [xx] Members ratified the 
Amendment Protocol to modify the Marrakesh Agreement Establishing the World Trade Organization 
 
20 While the issue of ratification is not included in Section III of the TFA, this information has been 
included for the interest of Members.  G/TFA/W/41  
 
- 17 - 
 
  and deposited their instruments of acceptance. As of [x x], [xx] Members are yet to deposit their 
instruments of acceptance.  See chart 9.  
Chart 9: Number of ratifications per year  
 
Source: Trade Facilitation Agreement Database ( http://www.tfadatabase.org ). 
 
4.2  Article 23 Institutional Arrangements  
4.2.1   Article 23.1 Committee on Trade Facilitation  
4.2.  Following the entry into force of the Trade Facilitation Agreement on 22 February 2017, a 
Committee on Trade Facilitation was established in line with Article 23.1 of the Agreement.  
4.3.  At a meeting on 7 April 2017,  the General Council (GC) took note of a statement by the Chair 
of the General Council, informing delegations of the consensus on the appointment of Ambassador 
Daniel Blockert from Sweden as Chairperson of the TFC.  
4.4.  On 16 May 2017, the TFC held its inaugura l session. The sole agenda item was the confirmation 
of the Chairperson -designate. Members formally elected Ambassador Blockert (Sweden) as the first 
TFC Chair. Ambassador Blockert announced his intention to consult delegations on the Committee's 
rules of procedure and the organization of work. The TFC held two further meetings in 2017: on 19 
July and 3 November.  
4.5.  In 2018, the TFC held three formal meetings: on 2 to 3 May (G/TFA/M/4); on 26 June 
(G/TFA/M/5); and on 9 to 11 October (G/TFA/M/6). The meeting of  2 and 3 May was chaired by 
Ambassador Daniel Blockert (Sweden) and the remaining meetings were chaired by his successor, 
Ambassador Dalia Kadišiene (Lithuania), who was elected at the May meeting as Chair of the 
Committee for 2018.  
4.6.  In 2019, the TFC held t hree formal meetings: on 12 to 13 February (G/TFA/M/7); on 25 to 26 
June (G/TFA/M/8); and 15 to 16 October (G/TFA/M/9). The meeting of 12 and 13 February was 
chaired by Ambassador Dalia Kadišiene and the remaining meetings were chaired by her successor 
Ambassador Mohammad Haqjo (Afghanistan) who was elected at the June meeting as Chair of the 
Committee for 2019.  
4.7.  In 2020, the TFC held four formal meetings: on 11 February (G/TFA/M/10); on 20 February 
(G/TFA/M/11); on 28 February (G/TFA/M/12) and on 20 to 22 O ctober (G/TFA/M/13). The TFC held 
an informal meeting on 30 September. The meetings of 11, 20 and 28 of February were chaired by 
Ambassador Mohammad HAQJO. The remaining meetings were chaired by his successor Ambassador 
Katrina NAUT (Dominican Republic) wh o was elected on 30 July as Chair of the Committee for 2020. 
Ambassador Naut resigned as Chairperson in December 2020.  1 61 40 231485 262102125139147152 154
020406080100120140160180
2014 2015 2016 2017 2018 2019 2020 2021
Year Cumulative
Entry into force  
22 /02/2017  G/TFA/W/41  
 
- 18 - 
 
  4.8.  In 2021, the TFC held six formal meetings: 29 January 2021; 22 -23 March 2021; 22 -23 April 
2021, 22 -23 June 2021, 27 -28 July 2021, 19 -21 October 2021. The Committee held [seven] informal 
meetings during the year. Six of those meetings were dedicated to the four -year review of the TFA. 
Following the departure of Ambassador Naut in December 2020, the TFC meeting of 29 January was 
chaired on an  ad hoc  basis by the Chair of the Council for Trade in Goods (CTG), HE Mikael Anzén, 
(Sweden). Mr. Christopher O'Toole (Canada) was then selected on 5 February 2021 as Interim Chair 
of the TFC through silent procedure.  On [x month], the Committee elected [ person]  as Chair of the 
Committee for 2021.  
Table 8: Trade Facilitation Committee Meetings and Minutes  2017 to 2021  
TFC Meeting  Minutes  
16 May 2017  G/TFA/M/1  
19 July 2017  G/TFA/M/2  
3 November 2017  G/TFA/M/3  
2-3 May 2018  G/TFA/M/4  
26 June 2018  G/TFA/M/5  
9-11 October 201 8 G/TFA/M/6  
12-13 February 2019  G/TFA/M/7  
25-26 June 2019  G/TFA/M/8  
15-16 October 2019  G/TFA/M/9  
11 February 2020  G/TFA/M/10  
20 February  2020 G/TFA/M/11  
28 February 2020  G/TFA/M/12  
20-22 October 2020  G/TFA/M/13  
29 January 2021  G/TFA/M/14  
22-23 March 2021  G/TFA/M/15  
22-23 April 2021  G/TFA/M/16  
22-23 June 2021  G/TFA/M/17  
27-28 July 2021  G/TFA/M/18  
19-21 October 2021  G/TFA/M/19  
 
4.2.2   Rules of procedure of the Committee on Trade Facilitation  
4.9.  At its meeting of 25 and 26 June 2019, Members finalized work on the Committee's rules of 
procedure and agreed to forward them to the Council for Trade in Goods for approval. At its meeting 
of 14 and 15 November 2019, the Council for Trade in Goods approved the Rules of Procedure for 
meetings of the Committee on Trade Facilitation21, consisting of the General Council's Rules of 
Procedure22 applied mutatis mutandis  with agreed modifications.  
4.2.3   Annual reports by the Committee to the Council for Trade in Goods  
4.10.   According to the "Procedures for an annual overview of WTO Activities and for reporting under 
the WTO" (WT/L/105), which were adopted b y the General Council on 15 November 1995, all bodies 
constituted under Agreements in Annex 1A of the WTO Agreement are required to submit an annual 
factual report to the Council for Trade in Goods, which is then to take note of these reports.  
4.11.   Accordingly,  the Committee submitted annual reports to the Council for Trade in Goods 
from 2017 to 2021 .23 
4.2.4   Article 23.2 National Committee on Trade Facilitation  
4.12.   Article 23.2 of the TFA requires each Member to establish and/or maintain a National 
Committee on Trade Fac ilitation (NCTF) or designate an existing mechanism to facilitate both 
domestic coordination and implementation of the provisions of the TFA. Seventeen Members have 
 
21 G/C/M/1 36, item 4. The text of the Rules of Procedure can be found in G/L/1342. 
22 WT/L/161 . 
23 (G/L/1201 ); (G/L/1267 ); (G/L/1329 ); (G/L/1375 ); [xx].  G/TFA/W/41  
 
- 19 - 
 
  taken the opportunity to share with the Committee their experiences in both the development  and 
operation of their NCTFs, either through oral presentations or written submissions.  
4.13.    At its meeting of 2 -3 May 2018, three Members shared their experience regarding the 
functioning of their NCTFs as follows. Brazil; Turkey; and the United States. At the Committee 
meeting of 9 -11 October 2018, the Dominican Republic reported on the progress of its NCTF.  
4.14.   At its meeting of 12 -13 February 2019, five Members shared their experience with the 
establishment and operation of their NCTFs: Costa Rica; Pakistan; Paraguay; Thailand and Tonga. 
Sri Lanka made a presentation on the functioning of its NCTF at the meeting of 25 June 2019. At the 
meeting 15 -16 October 2019, five more Members reported on their NCTFs: Egypt; El Salvador; 
Norway; Montenegro; and Paraguay.  
4.15.   At its meeting of 11 February 2020, three Members shared experiences with their NCTFs: 
Chile; Ecuador; and India.  
4.16.   At its meeting of 2 -3 March 2021, UNCTAD delivered a presentation to the Committee in which 
it outlined a number of tools developed by UNCTAD to assist Members seeking to accelerate 
implementation of the TFA.  
4.17.   [At its meeting of [xx 2021], [xx] shared experiences regarding their NCTFs.]  
Table 9: Experience -sharing by Members regarding NCTFs  
Member/Presenter  Title Committee 
meeting  
Brazil  National Committee on Trade Facilitation - CONFAC  2-3 May 2018  
Chile National Trade Facilitation Committee  (in Spanis h) 11 February 2020   
Costa Rica  National Trade Facilitation Committee  (in Spanish)  12-13 February 
2019 
Dominican Republic  Avances del Comite Nacional de Facilitacion del 
Comercio   9-11 October 
2018  
El Salvador  Advances in Trade Facilitation  (in Spanish)  15-16 October 
2019  
Ecuador  National Trade Facilitation Committee - Video  11 February 2020   
India National Committee on Trade Facilitation - India's 
Experience  
Summary of India's presentation  11 February 2020  
Montenegro  National Trade Facilitation Committee  - 
Montenegro  15-16 October 
2019 
Norway  The National Trade Facilitation Committee of 
Norway  15-16 October 
2019  
Pakistan  Pakistan - National Trade Facilitation Committee 
NCTF 12-13 February 
2019  
Paraguay  National Trade Facilitation Committee in Spanish  12-13 February 
2019  
National Committee on Trade Facilitation in 
Paraguay  15-16 October 
2019 
Sri Lanka  Functioning of Sri Lanka's National Trade 
Facilitation Committee  25 June 2019  
Thailand  Thailand - National Committee on Trade Facilitation  12-13 February 
2019 G/TFA/W/41  
 
- 20 - 
 
  Member/Presenter  Title Committee 
meeting  
Togo Togo's experience in French  12-13 February 
2019 
Turkey  National Committee on Trade Facilitation - 
Experience of Turkey  2-3 May 2018  
United States  Structure and Role of the US National Trade 
Facilitation Committee G/TFA/W/5  2-3 May 2018  
Chile, Ecuador, Costa 
Rica, Mexico, 
Paraguay, Uruguay  Informe sobre el primer encuentro latinoamericano 
de los comites nacionales de facilitacion del 
comercio - Montevideo Uruguay - Noviembre 2019  11 February 2020  
 
4.3  Written submissions by Members regarding Section III  
4.18.   One Member , the United States,  submitted written submissions regarding Section III.  
Table 10: Written Submissions by Members regarding Section III  
Member  Title Document 
symbol  
United States  Communication from the United States regarding 
National Trade Facilitation Committees  G/TFA/W/19  
Structure and role of the US National Trade 
Facilitation Committee  G/TFA/W/5  
Proposal to update the WTO's Committee's Trade 
Facilitation meeting agenda as part of the four -year 
review of the WTO Agreement on Trade Facilitation 
Article 23.1.1.6  G/TFA/W/35  
Role of the Trade Facilitation Committee in the 
Trade Facilitation Agreement Facility  G/TFA/W/36  
 
5  REPORTS TO THE COMMITTEE BY THE TRADE FACILITATION AGREEMENT FACILITY AND 
OTHER ORGANIZATIONS PLUS THE GLOBAL ALLIANCE ON TRADE FACILITATION ON 
THEIR ACTIVITIES TO SUPPORT MEMBERS IN THE IMPLEMENTATION OF THE TFA  
5.1.  The Trade Facilitation Agreement Facility (TFAF) provides regular reports on its activities to the 
Committee.24 These include updates on workshops and other events relating to trade facilitation 
matters organized with donors, partner organizations and representatives from the private sector. 
The Facility also reports on the grant program that offers project prepara tion and project 
implementation grants to assist Members in identifying and liaising with donors  and with the 
implementation of category C measures as a contingency when no other assistance has been 
identified . The Facility further provides annual reports on its activities. These reports and all other 
information relating to its grant work , coordination efforts with the Annex D+ partner organizations 
and all  other activities can be found on the TFAF website.25 
5.2.  During the review period TFAF made [xx] present ations to the Committee. An information 
session was organized in the margins of the Committee meeting of 25 -26 June 2019 on the 
operational and administrative structure of the Standards and Trade Development Facility (STDF). 
The session provided informatio n on the origins, structure and membership of the STDF, its 
management, and its relationship with the WTO Secretariat.  
5.3.   Annex D organizations (i.e., IMF, OECD, UNCTAD, WCO and WBG) are invited to and regularly 
attend Committee meetings. In addition, certai n of these organizations have made presentations to 
the Committee. The OECD delivered a presentation on TFA implementation, cooperation and related 
 
24 See G/L/1201 , G/L/1267, G/L/1329 , and G/L/1375 . The most recent reports by the Facility to the 
Committee can be found at G/TFA/W/28  (20-21 October 2020) and G/TFA/W/37  (22-23 April 2021).  
25 TFAF - Trade Facilitation Agreement Facility ( http://www.tfafacility.org ). G/TFA/W/41  
 
- 21 - 
 
  matters at a 2018 meeting of the Committee.26 UNCTAD has made several presentations, including 
a joint prese ntation with Rwanda in 2019 on best practices27, and the WCO has intervened several 
times to share information regarding its work in the area of trade facilitation.28 In an informal session 
of the Committee held on 30 September 2020, UNCTAD, WCO and the WB G, along with the ITC, 
and GA TF, each made presentations on matters relating to measures adopted in response to the 
COVID -19 situation.29 
5.4.  In addition, the Annex D+ partner organizations provided a report that was circulated to the 
Committee in the context of the 20 -22 October 2020 dedicated session on technical assistance and 
capacity building and the Annex D partners and the ITC provided a report to the Committee for the 
22-23 April 2021 meeting that, with respect to each organization, outlined their role in supporting 
implementation of the TFA, offered a brief description of upcoming assistance and activities, and 
described how Members could request assistance.30 
6  DATABASE AND WEBSITE DEVELOPMENTS SUPPPORTING THE WORK OF THE TF 
COMMITTEE  
6.1.  A database –tfadatabase.org  - was created in response to a request expressed by Members in 
the TFC.  
6.2.  The database is publicly available in the three WTO official languages. It is a fact -based 
reference source for information on TFA  notifications which also provides analytical functionalities. 
It follows the evolution of the TFA and continually adapts to accommodate new notification data . 
6.3.  The Member profiles pages provide a platform to view the notification status of an individual 
Member in depth as well as any information notified by Members.  All notification documents and 
other submissions made by Members can be accessed on these pages.  
6.4.  The TFA database hosts a dedicated page of the TF Committee containing all the information 
provid ed under the experience -sharing and thematic discussions in the Committee.  
6.5.  Government officials and traders can access all URLs and contact points as Members are 
required to notify under the TFA.  
6.6.  All technical assistance disbursements provided by Members c an also be accessed on the TFA 
database.  
6.7.  The TFA Database automatically feeds data to three other websites, comprising the main WTO 
website, The Trade Facilitation Agreement Facility (TFAF) website and the Global Trade Helpdesk 
website.  
 
_______________  
 
 
  
 
26 G/TFA/M/5 . 
27 G/TFA/M/9 . 
28 Most recently, at the meetings of the Committee on 26 -27 January and 3 -4 March 2021.  
29 https://tfadatabase.org/trade -facilitation -committee/meeting/2020 -09-30. 
30 G/TFA/W/39 . G/TFA/W/41  
 
- 22 - 
 
  ANNEX 1  
Table 1 : Information -Sharing by Annex D+ partner organizations on their activities  
Member/Presenter  Title Committee Meeting  
Annex D+ Partner 
Organizations  Report by the Annex D+ 
partner organizations to the 
Trade Facilitation Committee  
G/TFA/W/29  20-22 October 2020  
Report by the ITC and the 
Annex D partner organizations 
to the Trade Facilitation 
Committee   
(G/TFA/W/39)  22-23 April 2021  
GATF Update on activities of the 
Global Alliance for Trade 
Facilitation  12-13 February 2019  
Global Alliance for Trade 
Facilitation  25 June 2019  
Update from the Global 
Alliance for Trade Facilitation  15 October 2019  
Global Alliance for Trade 
Facilitation update  11 February 2020  
Global Alliance for Trade 
Facilitation presentation  20-22 October 2020  
Building trust through public -
private partnerships for trade 
facilitation  22-23 April 2021  
OECD  Summary of Events on Trade 
Facilitation and Future Trade 
Cooperation  26 June 2018  
STDF Driving safe trade solutions 
worldwide STDFs role  25 June 2019  
UNCTAD  UNCTAD tools for NTFCs  3 March 2021  
UNCTAD and Rwanda  UNCTAD C ompendium of Good 
Practices UNCTAD and Rwanda  15 October 2019  
WCO WCO statement  11 February 2020  
 
Table 2 : Information -Sharing by Annex D+ partner organizations on their work to 
support Members to mitigate the COVID -19 crisis  
Member/Presenter  Title Committee Meeting  
GATF Global Alliance – COVID -19 impact 
on Trade Facilitation  30 September 2020  
ITC ITC - Coping with COVID -19 through 
trade facilitation  30 September 2020  
UNCTAD  UNCTAD - Easing global trade and 
transport during COVID -19 30 September 2020  
World Bank Group  World Bank - WB response to 
COVID -19 crisis  30 September 2020  
WCO WCO - What Customs can do to 
mitigate the effects of the COVID -19 
pandemic  30 September 2020  
GATF Global Alliance for Trade Facilitation  26-27 January 2021  
WCO Statement by the WCO  26-27 January 2021  
WCO WCO presentation on C OVID -19 
related measures  3 March 2021  
 
 
__________  