  
  
G/TFA/W/45  
 
18 June 2021  
(21-5025) Page: 1/1 
Committee on Trade Facilitation  Original: English  
 
 
TRADE FACILITATION AGREEMENT  FOUR YEAR REVIEW  
ARTICLE 23.1.6 OF THE TFA  
COMMUNICATION FROM THE EUROPEAN UNION  
The following communication, dated 17 June 2021 , is being circulated at the request of the 
delegation of the European Union.  
 
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Subject : 
 
1. EU proposal for streamlining the coordination process to identify the need for future assistance 
in the framework of the four -year review of the Trade Facilitation Agreement  
Summary : 
 
2. Proposal that beneficiary countries with category C commitments organize meetings with 
donors to review the state of assistance and potential future needs. Beneficiary countries are invited 
to share the outcome of these meetings with the Trade Facilitation Committee by mid -October 2021.  
3. The review of the implementation of the Trade Facilitation Agreement should rely on evidence 
regarding the advancement in the implementation of Members ' commitments as well as their needs 
for future assistance.  
4. The notifications already made by the M embers regarding their category C commitments, on 
the arrangements concluded and progress made in the provision of technical assistance and capacity 
building support on category C designations, are extremely useful. Unfortunately, the number of 
notificatio ns received is still insufficient - as of 15 June 2021, only 15 Members have notified the 
situation regarding their category C commitments.  
5. Beneficiary countries should provide such detailed notifications before mid -October 2021, 
when the next dedicated se ssion on aid is scheduled. It is important that beneficiary countries 
explain in detail their needs, to allow donors to assess these requests. Besides, developing Members 
should notify their contact points responsible for coordinating and prioritizing assi stance and support, 
if they have not yet done so.  
6. In order to ensure a timely reception of these notifications, the EU expresses its readiness to 
participate in meetings, called and organi sed by the Members having notified category C 
commitments, in their capitals as it might be easier to streamline the process by discussing the 
matter locally. The state of play of the implementation of category C Commitments, the progress of 
the existing assistance programs, as well as the Members needs for future assistan ce should be 
object of discussions in an inclusive manner by inviting together all potential donors and relevant 
international institutions. The conclusions of these meetings should be notified to Trade Facilitation 
Committee.  
7. We would very much welcome th e views of the Members concerned on our proposal.  
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