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1、Digital and Sustainable Trade Facilitation in Commonwealth Countries 2023iiChapter 1 IntroductionFOREWORDInternational trade serves as the economic lifeblood for the 56 member countries of the Commonwealth,includingour 19 members that are also part of the United Nations Economic and Social Commissio

2、n for Asia and the Pacific(ESCAP).However,businesses,particularly small and medium-sized enterprises(SMEs),often face significantobstacles when involved in imports or exports,leading to increased costs and delays in moving goods acrossborders.As our countries strive to restore trade growth and build

3、 inclusive,sustainable and resilient economies forpost-COVID recovery,the role of trade facilitation in an increasingly digital world takes on ever-increasingimportance.By expediting the movement of goods,streamlining bureaucratic procedures and enhancingtransparency in trade processes,we can enhanc

4、e efficiency,stimulate investment and foster economic growth.While trade facilitation is commonly associated with the World Trade Organizations(WTO)Trade FacilitationAgreement(TFA),this joint report between the Commonwealth Secretariat and ESCAP adopts a broader perspective.It analyzes an extensive

5、range of policy measures and actions drawn from the latest United Nations Global Survey onDigital and Sustainable Trade Facilitation.Many of these measures,such as the facilitation of digital trade,sustainable trade,agricultural trade and access to trade finance,go beyond the scope of the WTOs TFA.O

6、ur report underscores a crucial message:the landscape of international trade and transit facilitation in developingand least developed countries is experiencing significant momentum.This is driven by the digitalization of tradeprocesses,the implementation of real-time payment settlement systems and

7、the establishment of trade-relatedsingle windows.Many developing countries are actively exchanging trade facilitation expertise and learning from oneanother.Encouragingly,there has been notable progress in gender-related trade facilitation measures,support forSMEs,and the inclusion of women in natio

8、nal trade facilitation committees over the past few years.The survey dataand case studies highlight that numerous Commonwealth countries,spanning from Singapore to the United Kingdomand from Pakistan to members of the African Continental Free Trade Area(AfCFTA),serve as pioneers,innovatorsand global

9、 leaders in trade facilitation.As Commonwealth countries strive to achieve US$2 trillion in intra-Commonwealth trade by 2030,theimplementation of enhanced trade facilitation measures can offer an additional boost.By adopting measures outlinedin the WTOs TFA and enabling the seamless electronic excha

10、nge of trade data and documents across borders,tradecosts for the Commonwealth as a whole could be significantly reduced by over 15 per cent.This reduction canfurther amplify the trade cost advantage enjoyed by Commonwealth countries,stemming from shared legal systems,business practices and deep his

11、torical linkages.As our report highlights,over two-thirds of Commonwealth members actively participated in the latest Survey,withengagement steadily increasing over time.There is a need to expand the Surveys coverage to include all remainingcountries in upcoming Surveys.The report also indicates tha

12、t the majority of trade cost reductions stem fromimplementing digital trade facilitation measures.A UN treaty dedicated to trade digitalization,the FrameworkAgreement on Facilitation of Cross-border Paperless Trade in Asia and the Pacific(CPTA),could supportCommonwealth members in this regard.The Co

13、mmonwealth Secretariat and ESCAP recently signed a Memorandumof Understanding to enhance our collaboration to promote inclusive and sustainable development in our membercountries.We will work together to assist members in harnessing the benefits offered by the new generation of tradefacilitation tec

14、hnologies.We trust that the insights provided by this report and the accompanying interactive database(accessible atuntfsurvey.org)will yield actionable knowledge and facilitate the development of more simplified,cost-effective,resilient and sustainable trade practices across the Commonwealth.The Rt

15、 Hon Patricia Scotland KCMs.Armida Salsiah AlisjahbanaSecretary-General of the CommonwealthUnder-Secretary-General of the United Nationsand Executive SecretaryEconomic and Social Commission for Asia and the PacificDigital and Sustainable Trade Facilitation in Commonwealth Countries 2023iiiChapter 1

16、IntroductionACKNOWLEDGEMENTSThis collaborative report on Digital and Sustainable Trade Facilitation in Commonwealth countries isa product of joint efforts by the United Nations Economic and Social Commission for Asia and thePacific(ESCAP)and the Commonwealth Secretariat.The study is based on the Uni

17、ted NationsGlobal Survey on Digital and Sustainable Trade Facilitation undertaken by five United NationsRegional Commissions(UNRCs),for Africa(ECA),Europe(ECE),Asia and the Pacific(ESCAP),LatinAmerica and the Caribbean(ECLAC)and Western Asia(ESCWA)as well as the United NationsConference on Trade and

18、 Development(UNCTAD).The Survey was led and co-ordinated by theESCAP.Yann Duval,Chief of the Trade Policy and Facilitation Section(TPFS)at ESCAP,and BrendanVickers,Head of the International Trade Policy Section(ITPS)at the Commonwealth Secretariat,provided overall guidance for the report.The ESCAP t

19、eam,comprising Silvre Dernouh,ChorthipUtoktham,Soo Hyun Kim,Emile Henri Van Caenegem and Kexin Chen,all at TPFS,led theanalytical and drafting work.On the Commonwealth Secretariat side,Salamat Ali at ITPS managedand coordinated the project.Arom Sanguanyuang formatted the report and created the cover

20、design.Numerous contributions from the ITPS team Neil Balchin,Collin Zhuawu,Kartikeya Garg and Kylede Klerk enriched the report.The team provided short box stories on good practices in tradefacilitation in various parts of the Commonwealth and meticulously reviewed the draft.Our gratitudeextends to

21、colleagues from the Commonwealth Connectivity Agenda Vashti Maharaj,MohammadOwais Khan and Benjamin Kwasi Addom as well as the Trade Competitiveness Section(TCS),represented by Opeyemi Abebe and Lawrence Othieno,for their valuable contributions.Mohammad Saeed,trade facilitation expert,former head of

22、 the Trade Facilitation team of theInternational Trade Centre reviewed and provided constructive comments for the improvement ofthe Report.Preparation of the report benefited from the support of the Republic of Korea as well as from theGovernment of France.Digital and Sustainable Trade Facilitation

23、in Commonwealth Countries 2023ivChapter 1 IntroductionCONTENTSForeword.iiAcknowledgements.iiiAbbreviations.ixExecutive summary.xiChapter 1.Introduction.11.1.Background and objective.21.2.Survey instrument and methodology.3Chapter 2.Trade facilitation implementation:Overview.82.1.Most and least imple

24、mented trade facilitation measures by region.92.2.Most and least implemented trade facilitation measures by category.112.3.Progress in implementation over time.13Chapter 3.Implementation of trade facilitation measures:A closer look.163.1.Transparency.173.2.Formalities.193.3.Institutional arrangement

25、 and cooperation.213.4.Transit facilitation.243.5.Paperless trade.283.6.Cross-border paperless trade.323.7.Trade facilitation for SMEs.373.8.Agricultural trade facilitation.393.9.Women in trade facilitation.413.10.Trade finance facilitation.423.11.Trade facilitation in times of crisis.44Chapter 4.As

26、sessing the impact of trade facilitation in the Commonwealth.46Chapter 5.Conclusion and the way forward.51References.55Annex 1.List of participating countries.58Annex 2.Definition of each stage of implementation.61Annex 3.Implementation rates of trade facilitation measures for individual countriesfo

27、r each subregion.62Digital and Sustainable Trade Facilitation in Commonwealth Countries 2023vChapter 1 IntroductionList of Boxes,Figures and TablesBoxesBox 1.Demystifying trade through the Jamaica Trade Information Portal.18Box 2.The EAC Authorised Economic Operator(AEO)Programme.21Box 3.One-stop bo

28、rder posts in Africa:Implementation in the East African Community.23Box 4.Facilitating transit trade:Enabling the transport of goods and people betweenBBIN(Bangladesh,Bhutan,India,and Nepal)countries.25Box 5.African Collaborative Transit Guarantee Scheme to Facilitate Transit Trade inAfrica.26Box 6.

29、Facilitating African landlocked countries trade through a network of roadcorridors.27Box 7.Pakistan Single Window.28Box 8.Aid for Trade:Supporting digitalization and digital trade.31Box 9.The UKs Electronic Trade Documents Act 2023:A major step towards tradedigitalization.33Box 10.Climate-smart trad

30、e facilitation.34Box 11.The Pan-African Payment and Settlement System.35Box 12.Trade Facilitation for e-commerce and SMEs.38Box 13.Agricultural trade facilitation:National data infrastructure to boost trade andinvestment in agriculture.40Box 14.Examples of Commonwealth trade facilitation measures in

31、 response toCOVID-19.45Box 15.A regional United Nations treaty,“leaving no-one behind”to accelerate tradedigitalization.49Digital and Sustainable Trade Facilitation in Commonwealth Countries 2023viChapter 1 IntroductionFiguresFigure 1.Overall implementation of trade facilitation measures in Commonwe

32、althcountries.9Figure 2.Trade facilitation implementation by Commonwealth subregions and in countrieswith special development needs.10Figure 3.Implementation rate for different sub-groups of trade facilitation measures inCommonwealth countries.11Figure 4.Trade facilitation implementation by Commonwe

33、alth countries between 2021and 2023.14Figure 5.Average implementation of different sub-groups of trade facilitation measuresby Commonwealth countries between 2019,2021 and 2023.15Figure 6.State of implementation of transparency measures by Commonwealth region.17Figure 7.State of implementation of tr

34、ansparency measures by implementation status.18Figure 8.State of implementation of formalities by Commonwealth region.20Figure 9.State of implementation of formalities measures by implementation status.20Figure 10.State of implementation of institutional arrangements and cooperationmeasures by Commo

35、nwealth region.22Figure 11.State of implementation of institutional arrangements and cooperationmeasures by implementation status.22Figure 12.State of implementation of transit facilitation by Commonwealth region.24Figure 13.State of implementation of transit facilitation by implementation status.25

36、Figure 14.State of implementation of paperless trade by Commonwealth region.30Figure 15.State of implementation of paperless trade by implementation status.30Figure 16.State of implementation of cross-border paperless trade by Commonwealthregion.32Figure 17.State of implementation of cross-border pa

37、perless trade by implementationstatus.33Figure 18.State of implementation of trade facilitation and wildlife protectionin Commonwealth.35Figure 19.State of implementation of trade facilitation for SMEs by Commonwealthregion.37Figure 20.State of implementation of trade facilitation for SMEs by implem

38、entationstatus.38Figure 21.State of implementation of trade facilitation for e-commerce by implementationstatus.38Figure 22.State of implementation of agricultural trade facilitation by Commonwealthregion.39Figure 23.State of implementation of agricultural trade facilitation by implementationstatus.

39、40Figure 24.State of implementation of women in trade facilitation by Commonwealthregion.41Figure 25.State of implementation of women in trade facilitation by implementationstatus.42Figure 26.State of implementation of trade finance facilitation by Commonwealth region.43Digital and Sustainable Trade

40、 Facilitation in Commonwealth Countries 2023viiChapter 1 IntroductionFigure 27.State of implementation of trade finance facilitation by implementation status.43Figure 28.State of implementation of trade facilitation in times of crisis by Commonwealthregion.44Figure 29.State of implementation of trad

41、e facilitation in times of crisis by implementationstatus.45Figure 30.Impact of trade facilitation implementation on trade costs of Commonwealtheconomies.48Figure 31.Trade facilitation implementation and trade costs of Commonwealth economies.52Figure 32.Moving up the trade facilitation ladder toward

42、s seamless international supplychains.53Digital and Sustainable Trade Facilitation in Commonwealth Countries 2023viiiChapter 1 IntroductionTablesTable 1.Intra-and extra-regional non-tariff trade costs faced by Commonwealthcountries.3Table 2.Grouping of trade facilitation measures and correspondence

43、with TFA articles.4Table 3.A three-step approach for data collection and validation.7Table 4.Most and least implemented measures in each sub-group of trade facilitationmeasures in Commonwealth countriess.12Table 5.Expected trade cost reductions from alternative trade facilitation reforms.47Digital a

44、nd Sustainable Trade Facilitation in Commonwealth Countries 2023ixChapter 1 IntroductionABBREVIATIONSACTGSAfrican Collaborative Transit Guarantee SchemeADBAsian Development BankAEOAuthorised Economic OperatorAfCFTAAfrican Continental Free Trade AreaAfDBAfrican Development BankAfreximbankAfrica Expor

45、t-Import BankAfTAid for TradeAUDA-NEPADAfrican Union Development Agency-NEPADBBINBangladesh,Bhutan,India and NepalCITESConvention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and FloraCPTAFramework Agreement on Facilitation of Cross-border Paperless Trade in Asia andthe PacificDPIDigit

46、al Public InfrastructureEACEast African CommunityECAUnited Nations Economic Commission for AfricaECEUnited Nations Economic Commission for EuropeEIFEnhanced Integrated FrameworkECLACUnited Nations Economic Commission for Latin America and the CaribbeanESCAPUnited Nations Economic and Social Commissi

47、on for Asia and the PacificESCWAUnited Nations Economic Commission for Western AsiaETDAElectronic Trade Documents ActsFEAFFAFederation of East African Freight Forwarders AssociationsGATTGeneral Agreement on Tariffs and TradeGDPGross domestic productICCInternational Chamber of CommerceICTInformation

48、and Communications TechnologyISPSItalian Institute for International Political StudiesITPSInternational Trade Policy SectionJICAJapan International Cooperation AgencyJTIPJamaica Trade Information PortalLDCLeast Developed CountryLLDCLandlocked Developing CountryMLETRModel Law on Electronic Transferab

49、le RecordsMRAMutual recognition agreementMVAMotor Vehicles AgreementNTPNational Trade PortalNTRNational Trade RepositoryOBSPone-stop border postPAPSSPan-African Payment and Settlement SystemPSWPakistan Single WindowRECRegional Economic CommunityRTARegional trade agreementsSAFEStandards to Secure and

50、 Facilitate Global TradeDigital and Sustainable Trade Facilitation in Commonwealth Countries 2023xChapter 1 IntroductionSDGSustainable Development GoalSIDSSmall Island Developing StatesSMEsSmall and medium enterprisesSPSSanitary and Phyto-SanitaryTFATrade Facilitation AgreementTIPTrade Information P

51、ortalUNCITRALUnited Nations Commission on International Trade LawUNDPUnited Nations Development ProgrammeUNRCUnited Nations Regional CommissionWCOWorld Customs OrganizationWTOWorld Trade OrganizationDigital and Sustainable Trade Facilitation in Commonwealth Countries 2023xiChapter 1 IntroductionEXEC

52、UTIVE SUMMARYReducing trade costs is imperative to ensure the active participation of economies in regional andglobal value chains,thus maintaining trade as a driver of economic growth and sustainabledevelopment.The Commonwealth countries,like many other countries globally,continue to facehigh trade

53、 costs,as evidenced by the United Nations Economic Commission for Asia and the Pacific(ESCAP)-World Bank Trade Cost Database.Disruption to global supply chains caused bygeopolitical conflicts and heightened inflation contributing to increased trade costs and uncertaintiescontinue to impede internati

54、onal trade.In this context,trade facilitation plays a key role in advancingsustainable development.It does this by fostering more efficient and transparent trade procedures,enhancing the resilience of global supply chains,and reducing overall trade costs.Based on the 2023 United Nations Global Surve

55、y on Digital and Sustainable Trade Facilitation,thisreport examines the progress of trade facilitation reforms across Commonwealth countries andprovides a comprehensive insight into policy measures and actions that Commonwealth countrieshave taken to facilitate international trade.The report offers

56、a comprehensive analysis based on60 trade facilitation measures,not only general trade facilitation measures,as outlined in theWorld Trade Organization(WTO)s Trade Facilitation Agreement(TFA),but also,expanding further,toinclude forward-looking trade facilitation measures.These include digital trade

57、 facilitation measuresas well as sustainable trade facilitation measures;those targeting the agricultural sector,small andmedium enterprises(SMEs)and women traders;and measures on trade finance and crisissituations.The Survey reveals that the average implementation rate in the Commonwealth countries

58、 thatparticipated in the 2023 Survey stands at 66%,based on a set of 31 general trade facilitationmeasures.There is significant variation in the level of implementation across Commonwealthsubregions.Developed countries recorded the highest implementation rate at 88%.Amongdeveloping countries,Asia re

59、corded the highest rate at 76%,while the Caribbean and Pacific smallisland developing states(SIDS)have the two lowest subregional implementation scores,at 58%and46%,respectively.At the country level,the highest overall implementation was found in Australia,New Zealand,andSingapore(all 97%),followed

60、by India(94%),Mauritius and the UK(both 88%).The performance ofSIDS varies widely:in the Pacific SIDS,the level of implementation ranges from 19%in Nauru to71%in Vanuatu,while in the Caribbean SIDS,it varies from 47%in Saint Lucia to 80%in Jamaica.Notable progress was made on the implementation of t

61、rade facilitation measures between 2021 and2023.The average implementation rate has witnessed a rise,from 59%in 2021 to 66%in 2023.Notably,the Caribbean SIDS have achieved the most significant progress,with the implementationrate soaring by 12 percentage points,from 44%in 2021 to 56%in 2023,followed

62、 by Africanmembers(11 percentage points,from 57%in 2021 to 68%in 2023).Countries with special needsalso show significant progress,with the least developed countries(LDCs)recording an increase of11 percentage points and the landlocked developing countries(LLDCs)increasing by 9 percentagepoints.The Su

63、rvey results reveal that countries in the Commonwealth subregions have implemented somemeasures to improve transparency and simplify trade-related costs and procedures relatively well.Still,further improvements are needed,such as in electronic application and processing forExecutive SummaryDigital a

64、nd Sustainable Trade Facilitation in Commonwealth Countries 2023xiiChapter 1 IntroductionCustoms refunds.In terms of the overall progress on the digitalization of trade processes,therehave been some encouraging advances,including the deployment of real-time payment settlementsystems and the developm

65、ent of trade-related single windows,with the average implementationlevel of paperless trade standing at 66%,which represents a 15 percentage points increase overthe 2021 Survey.However,there are significant disparities between measures,with levels ofimplementation ranging from 38%to 91%.In cross-bor

66、der paperless trade,there has been anotable increase of 10 percentage points compared with 2021,indicating significant progress,especially in the implementation of laws and regulations for electronic transactions and recognizedcertification authority over the past two years.Still,the implementation

67、rate for cross-borderpaperless trade in 2023 stands at 39%,much lower than the overall implementation rate,indicatingsignificant room for improvement.Despite its importance in contributing to the Sustainable Development Goals(SDGs),the adoptionof“Sustainable”trade facilitation measures remains limit

68、ed.Advances on gender-related tradefacilitation measures,including the inclusion of women in national trade facilitation committees(NTFCs),is gaining momentum.An outstanding increase of 24 percentage points is witnessed in theimplementation level in 2023 compared with 2021 for women in trade facilit

69、ation measures.Also,the implementation rate for agricultural trade facilitation has increased by 15 percentage pointssince 2021.Despite this significant progress,implementation rates for“Sustainable TradeFacilitation”measures still lag behind the progress on“General Trade Facilitation”measures.Many

70、developing countries are sharing their trade facilitation expertise and learning from each otheron the digitalization of trade processes and payment settlement systems.Implementation ofmeasures under trade finance facilitation increased by 20 percentage points.This report,based on the latest availab

71、le data,reaffirms the substantial benefits that digital tradefacilitation measures can bring to countries in the Commonwealth.An ambitious trade digitalizationstrategy can reduce trade costs by approximately 15%,whereas achieving basic compliance withthe WTO TFA could result in a reduction of only a

72、round 4%in trade costs.In this regard,theFramework Agreement on Facilitation of Cross-border Paperless Trade(CPTA)provides a supportiveplatform for member countries to facilitate the electronic exchange of cross-border trade-relateddata and documents.Commonwealth countries are encouraged to join thi

73、s important UN treaty toharness the advantages offered,via a dedicated,inclusive,and capacity-building intergovernmentalplatform to support countries in their gradual transition toward less paper and eventually paperlessand cross-border paperless trade,achieving trade digitalization.This can further

74、 boost the tradecost advantage that Commonwealth countries enjoy as a result of their shared legal system,business practices and deeper historical linkages.Although these huge developments in the trade facilitation landscape are encouraging,a fewsignificant gaps in the environment still remain.First

75、,while most developed and some developingcountries have achieved very high implementation rates,progress in vulnerable countries,especiallythe LDCs and landlocked economies,is lagging.Second,the adoption of measures to supportSMEs and women is relatively low,standing at 43%and 42%,respectively.Third

76、,while more thantwo-thirds of Commonwealth members(47 of 56)have been participating in the Survey,the nextSurvey phase should aim to include all the remaining countries in its scope.This report should be read in conjunction with the Global and other related reports,based on theresults of the UN Glob

77、al Survey on Digital and Sustainable Trade Facilitation 2023,available athttps:/untfsurvey.org/Executive SummaryDigital and Sustainable Trade Facilitation in Commonwealth Countries 20231Chapter 1 IntroductionChapter 1Introduction1Digital and Sustainable Trade Facilitation in Commonwealth Countries 2

78、0232Chapter 1 Introduction1.1.Background and objectiveInternational trade is the engine of economic growth and has to play a key role in achieving theSustainable Development Goals(SDGs)and making progress on greener and digital transitions.After rapid expansion in international trade since 1990,ther

79、e has been a noticeable deceleration inrecent years.The proportion of trade relative to gross domestic product(GDP)has reached aplateau,remaining relatively stagnant over the past few years.It is widely recognized that reducingtrade costs,together with institutional and policy reforms,can reverse th

80、is trend by facilitating theactive engagement of economies in regional and global value chains.This will help ensure thatinternational trade can remain the main engine of growth and sustainable development.Table 1 presents comprehensive non-tariff trade costs for Commonwealth countries,based on thel

81、atest data from the United Nations Economic and Social Commission for Asia and the Pacific(ESCAP)World Bank Trade Cost Database.1 The table shows particularly high trade costs for Africaand South Asia compared with all other regions.The same observation can be made betweenPacific Small Island Develo

82、ping States(SIDS),and other sub-groups of countries in variousCommonwealth regions,despite relatively low commercial costs within the region.On the otherhand,trade costs in East Asia-3 and North America are generally low.(Annex 1 details the countrygroupings used in the analysis.)These relatively hi

83、gh trade costs of non-tariff measures allude tolarge untapped potential to expand member countries global and intra-Commonwealth trade.The aftermath of the COVID-19 crisis continues to impede international trade,with geopoliticalconflicts creating new supply chain disruptions while inflation and cli

84、mate change effects areincreasing trade costs and uncertainties.Although global merchandise trade volumes exhibiteda strong rebound in 2021 and 2022 following the pandemic,trade growth faltered in 2023,with slowgrowth expected to accelerate in 2024 and 2025(World Bank,2023).Trade facilitation measur

85、esplay a crucial role in mitigating these challenges by enhancing efficiency through streamlined anddigitalized processes.Implementing effective trade facilitation strategies can reduce unnecessarycosts,helping improve the integration of countries facing high trade costs in regional tradeagreements

86、and the multilateral trading system.In general,significant progress has been made in reducing trade costs by eliminating or loweringtariffs over the past few decades.Studies indicate that non-tariff measures can contribute up totwice as much to reducing trade costs compared with ordinary Customs tar

87、iffs(ESCAP,2019).Hence,to achieve additional trade cost reductions,it is imperative to tackle non-tariff barriers,suchas inadequate transportation,logistics infrastructure and services,as well as complex regulatoryprocedures and documentation.In this context,this report presents a comprehensive over

88、view oftrade facilitation measures implemented and under implementation in Commonwealth countries.Theanalysis is based on the results of the UN Global Survey on Digital and Sustainable Trade Facilitation2023(the Survey).2 The report also estimates the potential impacts of implementing tradefacilitat

89、ion measures in the Commonwealth countries based on a trade cost model.1The trade costs cannot be calculated for the complete list of countries for each sub-group of the Commonwealth,as several datapoints are missing.As a result,the table does not include any comparison in trade costs between the Ca

90、ribbean and the PacificSIDS.2Available at www.untfsurvey.org/Digital and Sustainable Trade Facilitation in Commonwealth Countries 20233Chapter 1 IntroductionIntra-CommonwealthMajor trading partners outsideCommonwealthRegionAUS-NZL-2Europe-3Africa-4CaribbeanPacificSouthSouth-EastEastNorthSIDS-3SIDS-2

91、Asia-3Asia-2Asia-3 America-2AUS-NZL-252.8%159.4%260.5%256.0%102.3%139.2%107.3%89.6%108.4%(0.8%)(-2.5%)(13.4%)(-5.4%)(7.1%)(2.3%)(2.1%)(4.4%)(-2.0%)Europe-3159.4%108.7%270.4%215.4%297.6%185.1%167.8%138.1%146.2%(-2.5%)(-5.4%)(25.0%)(-9.0%)(15.4%)(3.1%)(4.1%)(2.4%)(2.7%)Africa-4260.5%270.4%229.4%489.2%

92、637.6%203.6%214.7%169.4%188.3%(13.4%)(25.0%)(12.9%)(6.9%)(36.3%)(14.9%)(10.1%)(3.7%)(7.4%)Caribbean256.0%215.4%489.2%66.1%360.6%358.0%259.5%125.0%SIDS-3(-5.4%)(-9.0%)(6.9%)(-0.2%)(5.0%)(-5.1%)(-1.6%)(-1.0%)Pacific102.3%297.6%637.6%89.6%361.4%228.1%201.2%315.6%SIDS-2(7.1%)(15.4%)(36.3%)(-19.9%)(6.8%)

93、(-2.6%)(-21.5%)(-3.4%)South Asia-3139.2%185.1%203.6%360.6%361.4%160.7%140.3%129.3%120.3%(2.3%)(3.1%)(14.9%)(5.0%)(6.8%)(37.6%)(8.0%)(5.4%)(-0.2%)South-East107.3%167.8%214.7%358.0%228.1%140.3%54.9%89.0%127.2%Asia-2(2.1%)(4.1%)(10.1%)(-5.1%)(-2.6%)(8.0%)(-3.2%)(2.8%)(2.5%)East Asia-389.6%138.1%169.4%2

94、59.5%201.2%129.3%89.0%58.0%78.1%(4.4%)(2.4%)(3.7%)(-1.6%)(-21.5%)(5.4%)(2.8%)(10.0%)(1.7%)North108.4%146.2%188.3%125.0%315.6%120.3%127.2%78.1%30.2%America-2(-2.0%)(2.7%)(7.4%)(-1.0%)(-3.4%)(-0.2%)(2.5%)(1.7%)(2.1%)Source:ESCAP-World Bank Trade Cost Database,updated May 2023.Available athttps:/www.un

95、escap.org/resources/escap-world-bank-trade-cost-database orhttps:/artnet.unescap.org/databases#tradecostNote:Trade costs may be interpreted as tariff equivalents.Percentage changes in trade costs between 2010-2015 and 2016-2021are shown in parentheses.AUS-NZL:Australia,New Zealand;Europe-3:Cyprus,Ma

96、lta,United Kingdom;Africa:Ghana,Kenya,Nigeria,Tanzania;CaribbeanSIDS:Guyana,Saint Lucia,Trinidad and Tobago;Pacific SIDS:Fiji,Samoa;South Asia:India,Pakistan,Sri Lanka;South-East Asia:Malaysia,Singapore;East Asia-3:China,Japan,Republic of Korea;North America:Canada,USA.1.2.Survey instrument and meth

97、odologyThe Survey builds upon the original instrument(formerly known as the Global Survey on TradeFacilitation and Paperless Trade Implementation).It was prepared according to the final list ofcommitments included in the World Trade Organization Trade Facilitation Agreement(WTO TFA)andsupplemented b

98、y forward-looking measures that are sought to be implemented under the UN treaty the Framework Agreement on Facilitation of Cross-border Paperless Trade in Asia and the Pacific(CPTA)and those supporting inclusive and sustainable trade.Table1Intra-and extra-regional non-tariff trade costs faced by Co

99、mmonwealth countriesDigital and Sustainable Trade Facilitation in Commonwealth Countries 20234Chapter 1 IntroductionThe 2023 Survey covers 60 trade facilitation measures commonly used by five United NationsRegional Commissions(UNRCs).The 60 measures are classified into four groups and 11 sub-groups(

100、table 2).The first group,“General Trade Facilitation”,includes many WTO TFA measures,with sub-groups of transparency,formalities,institutional arrangement and cooperation andtransit facilitation.The second group,“Digital Trade Facilitation”measures,includes paperlesstrade and cross-border paperless

101、trade.The third group,Sustainable Trade Facilitation measures,includes trade facilitation for small and medium enterprises(SMEs),agricultural trade facilitationand women in trade facilitation sub-groups.The fourth group,Other Trade Facilitation,comeswith two sub-groups:trade finance facilitation and

102、 trade facilitation in times of crisis.In addition,two measures were pilot tested in 2023,namely trade facilitation for e-commerce and tradefacilitation and wildlife protection.General Trade FacilitationInstitutionalarrangementandcooperationGroupsSub-groupsMeasuresRelevantTFA ArticlesTransparencyPub

103、lication of existing import-export regulations on the Internet1.2Stakeholders consultation on new draft regulations(prior to their2.2finalization)Advance publication/notification of new trade-related regulations2.1before their implementationAdvance ruling on tariff classification and origin of impor

104、ted goods3Independent appeal mechanism4FormalitiesRisk management7.4Pre-arrival processing7.1Post-clearance audits7.5Separation of Release from final determination of Customs duties,7.3taxes,fees and chargesEstablishment and publication of average release times7.6TF measures for authorized operators

105、7.7Expedited shipments7.8Acceptance of copies of original supporting documents required for10.2.1import,export or transit formalitiesNational trade facilitation committee or similar body23National legislative framework and/or institutional arrangements for8border agencies cooperationGovernment agenc

106、ies delegating border controls to Customs authoritiesN/AAlignment of working days and hours with neighbouring countries 8.2(a)at border crossingsAlignment of formalities and procedures with neighbouring countries8.2(b)at border crossingsTransitTransit facilitation agreement(s)N/ALimit the physical i

107、nspections of transit goods and use risk assessment10.5Supporting pre-arrival processing for transit facilitation11.9Cooperation between agencies of countries involved in transit11.16Grouping of trade facilitation measures and correspondence with TFA articlesTable2Digital and Sustainable Trade Facil

108、itation in Commonwealth Countries 20235Chapter 1 IntroductionTable 2.(continued)GroupsSub-groupsMeasuresRelevantTFA ArticlesPaperless tradeAutomated Customs SystemN/AInternet connection available to Customs and other trade controlN/AagenciesElectronic single window system10.4Electronic submission of

109、 Customs DeclarationsN/AElectronic application and issuance of import and export permitN/AElectronic submission of sea cargo manifestsN/AElectronic submission of air cargo manifestsN/AElectronic application and issuance of preferential certificate of originN/AE-payment of Customs duties and fees7.2E

110、lectronic application for Customs refundsN/ALaws and regulations for electronic transactionsN/ARecognized certification authorityN/AElectronic exchange of Customs declarationN/AElectronic exchange of Certificate of OriginN/AElectronic exchange of sanitary and phyto-sanitary certificateN/APaperless c

111、ollection of payment from a documentary letter of creditN/ATrade-related information measures for SMEsN/ASMEs in AEO schemeN/ASMEs access single windowN/ASMEs in national trade facilitation committeeN/AOther special measures for SMEsN/ATesting and laboratory facilities available to meet SPS of main7

112、.9trading partnersNational standards and accreditation bodies to facilitate complianceN/Awith SPSElectronic application and issuance of SPS certificatesN/ASpecial treatment for perishable goodsN/ATF policy/strategy to increase womens participation in tradeN/ATF measures to benefit women involved in

113、tradeN/AWomens membership in the national trade facilitation committeeN/Aor similar bodiesSingle Window facilitates traders access to financeN/AAuthorities engaged in blockchain-based supply chain project coveringN/Atrade financeVariety of trade finance services availableN/AAgency in place to manage

114、 trade facilitation in times of crises andN/AemergenciesOnline publication of emergency trade facilitation measuresN/ACoordination between countries on emergency trade facilitationN/AmeasuresAdditional trade facilitation measures to facilitate trade in times ofN/AemergenciesPlan in place to facilita

115、te trade during future crisesN/ADigital Trade FacilitationWomen in tradefacilitationTrade financefacilitationTrade facilitationin times of crisisCross-borderpaperless tradeTradefacilitation forSMEsAgriculturaltrade facilitationOther Trade FacilitationSustainable Trade FacilitationDigital and Sustain

116、able Trade Facilitation in Commonwealth Countries 20236Chapter 1 IntroductionTable 2.(continued)GroupsSub-groupsMeasuresRelevantTFA ArticlesTrade facilitationTrade facilitation measures for cross-border e-commerceN/Afor e-commerceTrade facilitationElectronic exchange of CITES permits/certificatesN/A

117、and wildlifeprotectionPilot-testedThe overall scope of the Survey goes beyond the measures included in the WTO TFA.Mostpaperless trade measures,particularly in cross-border paperless trade,are not specifically featuredin the WTO TFA.However,their inclusion in many cases would support better implemen

118、tation of theTFA and in digital form.Most“Sustainable Trade Facilitation”group measures are not specifically included in the WTO TFA,except for some of the agricultural trade facilitation measures.The“Other Trade Facilitation”groupis added with considerations of trade finances role in facilitating t

119、rade flows as well as thechallenges posed by crisis situations to global trade and supply chains(especially COVID-19),withthe rising importance of cross-border e-commerce and the increasing need to combat illegal wildlifetrade.ESCAP adopted a three-step approach to developing the dataset(table 3).Da

120、ta was collectedbetween January and July 2023.Based on this,each of the trade facilitation measures included inthe Survey was rated as“fully implemented,”“partially implemented,”“on a pilot basis,”“notimplemented”or“dont know”.Annex 2 provides definitions of each stage.A score of 3,2,1 or zerowas as

121、signed to each of the four implementation stages to calculate implementation rates forindividual measures across countries,regions,or groupings.The analytical results need to be interpreted keeping in view the limitations of the Survey in terms ofcoverage of countries and various trade facilitation

122、measures.There is data on 47 Commonwealthcountries from various Commonwealth regions and development levels.3 There is full coverage forsix developed Commonwealth members as well as eight Asian and nine Pacific SIDS.The African4and Caribbean5 Commonwealth members have about 75%coverage in the Survey

123、.Annex 1 presents the detailed country groupings used in the analysis.Further details and exampleson the calculation of implementation rates are available online.The report is structured as follows.Chapter 2 provides an overview of trade facilitation measuresand examines the most and least implement

124、ed measures as well as those under implementation.Chapter 3 discusses four key categories of trade facilitation measures general,digital,sustainable,and other in detail.Chapter 4 empirically examines the impact of trade facilitation on the reductionin trade costs.and chapter 5 concludes.Details on t

125、he implementation rates of trade facilitationmeasures for individual countries for each subregion are in the annexes.3All data and analysis in this report cover 47 countries included in the Survey,and to complement the information presented,othercountries with good practices are also featured.4Eswat

126、ini,The Gambia,Lesotho,South Africa,and Uganda did not participate in the Survey.5The Bahamas,Barbados,Dominica,and Grenada did not participate in the Survey.Digital and Sustainable Trade Facilitation in Commonwealth Countries 20237Chapter 1 IntroductionData submissionThe survey instrument was sent

127、by the ESCAP Secretariat to trade facilitationby expertsexperts(in Governments,the private sector and academia)in Asia-Pacificcountries to gather preliminary information.The questionnaire was also madepublicly available online and disseminated with the support of the InternationalChamber of Commerce

128、(ICC)and the United Nations Network of Experts forPaperless Trade and Transport for Asia and the Pacific(UNNExT).In somecases,the questionnaire was also sent to relevant national trade facilitationauthorities or agencies as well as regional trade facilitation partners ororganizations,such as the Asi

129、an Development Bank(ADB),the Association ofSoutheast Asian Nations(ASEAN),the Central Asia Regional EconomicCooperation(CAREC)Institute,the Oceania Customs Organization(OCO)andthe United Nations Conference on Trade and Development(UNCTAD).This firststep took place essentially between January and May

130、 2023.Data verification by theThe ESCAP Secretariat cross-checked the data collected in Step 1.DeskUNRCs Secretariatresearch and data sharing among UNRCs and survey partners were carried outto further check the accuracy of data.Face-to-face or telephone interviews withkey informants were arranged to

131、 gather additional information when needed.The outcome of Step 2 was a consistent set of responses per country.Step 2took place between January and May 2023.Data validation byStep 3 took place between May and July 2023.The ESCAP Secretariat sent thenational Governmentscompleted questionnaire to each

132、 national Government to ensure each countryhad the opportunity to review the dataset and provide any additionalinformation.The feedback results from national Governments were incorporatedin order to finalize the dataset.A three-step approach for data collection and validationTable3Digital and Sustai

133、nable Trade Facilitation in Commonwealth Countries 20238Chapter 2 Trade facilitation implementation:OverviewChapter 2Trade facilitationimplementation:Overview8Digital and Sustainable Trade Facilitation in Commonwealth Countries 20239Chapter 2 Trade facilitation implementation:Overview2.1.Most and le

134、ast implemented trade facilitationmeasures by regionFigure 1 shows the average trade facilitation implementation rates of 31 measures from5 subregions of the Commonwealth under“General”and“Digital Trade Facilitation.6 The averageimplementation rate of 31 measures for Commonwealth countries overall i

135、s 66%,which is threepercentage points below the global average at 69%.Annex 3 provides the implementation rates oftrade facilitation measures for individual countries by subregion.There are significant variations inthe level of implementation across subregions.The developed economies have an overall

136、implementation rate of 88%,whereas the Pacific SIDS score 46%.There are also variationsbetween individual economies.For example,in the Pacific SIDS,implementation ranges from 19%in Nauru to 71%in Vanuatu,while in the Caribbean SIDS,it ranges from 47%in Saint Lucia to 80%in Jamaica.When looking at sp

137、ecific countries,the highest overall implementation rates are found in Australia,New Zealand,and Singapore(all 97%),India(94%),Mauritius and the UK(both 88%).Among thedeveloping regions,Asia is led by Singapore(97%),the Caribbean SIDS by Jamaica(80%)and thePacific SIDS by Vanuatu(71%).Source:The UN

138、Global Survey on Digital and Sustainable Trade Facilitation,2023.Available at untfsurvey.org6 The 31 measures from the General and Digital Trade Facilitation groups are chosen as the core measures owing to theirrelevance to the WTO TFA as well as data collected over time and across many countries an

139、d regions.For further details,refer tothe 2023 Survey Methodology,at www.untfsurvey.org/about88%69%76%58%46%66%0%20%40%60%80%100%Developed EconomiesAfrica AsiaCaribbean SIDSPacific SIDSCommonwealth AverageTransparencyPaperless tradeCross-border paperless tradeFormalitiesInstitutional arrangement and

140、 cooperationThe data in figure 2 shows the implementation rates of the 31“General”and“Digital TradeFacilitation”measures across 47 Commonwealth countries,five subregions and three groups ofcountries with special needs:SIDS,least developed countries(LDCs),and landlocked developingcountries(LLDCs)(see

141、 annex 1.2 for a list of countries in each grouping).Overall implementation of trade facilitation measures in Commonwealth countriesFigure1Digital and Sustainable Trade Facilitation in Commonwealth Countries 202310Chapter 2 Trade facilitation implementation:OverviewDeveloped economies showed the bes

142、t performance in the Survey,with an 88%implementationrate of the 31 core“General”and“Digital Trade Facilitation”measures.Asia recorded the highestscore among developing economies,with 76%.On the other hand,some regions are still catchingup,with the Caribbean SIDS and Pacific SIDS showing the two low

143、est regional implementationscores,at 58%and 46%,respectively.A partial explanation for this finding relates to geographicaland structural limitations,with many countries in these regions facing extra challenges in tradefacilitation owing to their small size,remoteness,or lack of direct access to sea

144、 trading routes.Source:The UN Global Survey on Digital and Sustainable Trade Facilitation,2023.While progress has been made in various areas,there is still room for improvement.When it comesto trade finance facilitation and cross-border paperless trade,the rates stand at 25%and 38%respectively,makin

145、g them the least implemented sub-groups covered in the Survey(figure 3).Cross-border paperless trade measures can require a high degree of cooperation between tradingpartners in order to be considered fully implemented.Therefore,the establishment of more regionaltrade agreements and trade facilitati

146、on initiatives can be a catalyst for improved digital tradecooperation.Trade finance facilitation has a particular impact on SMEs,which in many cases lackthe resources necessary to participate in international trade and digitalize their trade processes.Firms that are able to export are,on average,mo

147、re profitable than those limited to domesticmarkets,making access to trade finance imperative to achieving more inclusive trade.88%69%76%58%46%70%64%54%0%20%40%60%80%100%Developed EconomiesAfricaAsiaCaribbeanSIDSPacific SIDSLandlocked Developing CountriesLeast Developed CountriesSmall Island Develop

148、ing StatesTrade facilitation implementation by Commonwealth subregions and in countrieswith special development needsFigure2Digital and Sustainable Trade Facilitation in Commonwealth Countries 202311Chapter 2 Trade facilitation implementation:Overview2.2.Most and least implemented trade facilitation

149、measures by categoryTable 4 offers insights into the implementation status of trade facilitation measures within eachsub-group assessed in the Survey.In the formalities sub-group,one measure stands out as themost implemented acceptance of copies of original supporting documents required for import,e

150、xport,or transit formalities together with one measure from the paperless trade sub-group:automated Customs system.On the other hand,the trade finance facilitation sub-group revealsthat the least implemented measure is authorities engaged in blockchain-based supply chainproject covering trade financ

151、e.This indicates the need for improvement in fostering the involvementof relevant authorities in blockchain initiatives pertaining to trade finance.Source:The UN Global Survey on Digital and Sustainable Trade Facilitation,2023.Available at untfsurvey.org77%77%74%66%39%64%43%61%42%24%57%0%20%40%60%80

152、%100%TransparencyFormalities Institutional arrangement and cooperation Paperless trade Cross-border paperless trade Transit facilitation Trade facilitationfor SMEsAgricultural trade facilitationWomen in trade facilitation Trade finance facilitationTrade facilitationin times of crisisImplementation r

153、ate for different sub-groups of trade facilitation measures inCommonwealth countriesFigure3Digital and Sustainable Trade Facilitation in Commonwealth Countries 202312Chapter 2 Trade facilitation implementation:OverviewMost implemented(%of countries)Least implemented(%of countries)ImplementedImplemen

154、tedSub-groupfully,Fullfully,FullMeasurepartially andimplementationMeasurepartially andimplementationon a pilot(%)on a pilot(%)basis(%)basis(%)TransparencyStakeholders97.961.7Advance ruling80.951.1consultationon tariffon new draftclassificationregulationsand origin ofimported goodsFormalitiesAcceptan

155、ce of97.974.5Establishment80.934.0copies ofand publicationoriginalof averagesupportingrelease timesdocumentsrequired forimport,exportor transitformalitiesInstitutionalNational95.742.6Government74.531.9arrangement andlegislativeagenciescooperationframeworkdelegatingand/orborder controlsinstitutionalt

156、o Customsarrangementsauthoritiesfor borderagenciescooperationPaperless tradeAutomated100.074.5Electronic51.121.3Customsapplication forsystemCustomsRefundsCross-borderLaws and85.136.2Electronic44.74.3paperless traderegulations forexchange ofelectronicCustomstransactionsDeclarationTransit facilitation

157、Limit the57.442.6Trade44.721.3physicalfacilitationinspections ofagreement(s)transit goodsand use riskassessmentTrade facilitationSMEs in80.921.3SMEs in38.317.0for SMEsnational tradeAuthorisedfacilitationEconomiccommitteeOperatorschemeMost and least implemented measures in each sub-group of trade fac

158、ilitationmeasures in Commonwealth countriesTable4Digital and Sustainable Trade Facilitation in Commonwealth Countries 202313Chapter 2 Trade facilitation implementation:OverviewAgricultural tradeSpecial89.444.7Electronic66.021.3facilitationtreatment forapplication andperishableissuance ofgoodsSPS cer

159、tificatesWomen in tradeWomen76.612.8TF policy/57.48.5facilitationmembership instrategy tonational tradeincreasefacilitationwomenscommittee orparticipationsimilar bodiesin tradeTrade financeVariety of trade74.517.0Authorities17.00.0facilitationfinance servicesengaged inavailableblockchain-based suppl

160、ychain projectcovering tradefinanceTrade facilitationOnline87.234.0Plan in place to63.825.5in times of crisispublication offacilitate tradeemergencyduring futuretrade facilitationcrisesmeasuresSource:The UN Global Survey on Digital and Sustainable Trade Facilitation,2023.Available at untfsurvey.orgT

161、able 4(continued)Most implemented(%of countries)Least implemented(%of countries)ImplementedImplementedSub-groupfully,Fullfully,FullMeasurepartially andimplementationMeasurepartially andimplementationon a pilot(%)on a pilot(%)basis(%)basis(%)2.3.Progress in implementation over timeSome interesting pr

162、ogress was made in the implementation of trade facilitation measures withinCommonwealth countries from 2021 to 2023.The average implementation rate increased from 59%in 2021 to 66%in 2023(figure 4).Notably,the Caribbean SIDS achieved the highest progress,withthe implementation rate soaring by 12 per

163、centage points,from 44%in 2021 to 56%in 2023,followed by Africa(from 57%in 2021 to 68%in 2023).Countries with special needs madesignificant progress,with the LDCs showing an increase of 11 percentage points comparing 2023with 2021 and the LLDCs an increase of 9 percentage points.Digital and Sustaina

164、ble Trade Facilitation in Commonwealth Countries 202314Chapter 2 Trade facilitation implementation:OverviewFigure 5 shows a steady rise in implementation rates during the 2019-2023 period,with the increasebetween 2019 and 2021 almost equal to that between 2021 and 2023.For the Commonwealthcountries,

165、the average progress observed between 2021 and 2023 was 7 percentage points whilethe increase between 2019 and 2021 was 6 percentage points.Progress has been observed in allareas of trade facilitation measures.Although the overall implementation rate for agricultural tradefacilitation and paperless

166、trade is low,the Commonwealth countries have made significant progressover time in implementing these measures,which both increased by 15 percentage points.Moreover,implementation of measures under trade finance facilitation increased by 20 percentagepoints and measures under women in trade facilita

167、tion by 24 percentage points.However,it isnoted that,despite the significant increases,implementation rates of“Digital”and“SustainableTrade Facilitation”measures fell behind,when compared with the“General”measures,which areWTO TFA related.Source:The UN Global Survey on Digital and Sustainable Trade

168、Facilitation,2023.Available at untfsurvey.org0%20%40%60%80%100%20212023Developed EconomiesAfrica AsiaCaribbeanSIDSPacificSIDSCommonwealth AverageLDCs LLDCsSIDS83%88%57%68%73%76%44%56%42%46%59%66%53%64%61%70%46%52%Trade facilitation implementation by Commonwealth countries between 2021 and2023Figure4

169、Digital and Sustainable Trade Facilitation in Commonwealth Countries 202315Chapter 2 Trade facilitation implementation:OverviewSource:The UN Global Survey on Digital and Sustainable Trade Facilitation,2023.Available at untfsurvey.org0%20%40%60%80%100%TransparencyFormalitiesInstitutional arrangement

170、and cooperationPaperlesstrade facilitationCross-border paperless tradeTrade facilitation in SME policy frameworkTrade facilitationand agriculture tradeWomen in trade facilitationTrade finance facilitationTrade facilitationin times of crisis20192021202367%74%79%66%71%76%60%66%74%50%57%65%24%27%38%30%

171、36%44%45%53%60%18%27%42%5%13%25%34%55%Average implementation of different sub-groups of trade facilitation measures byCommonwealth countries between 2019,2021 and 2023Figure5Digital and Sustainable Trade Facilitation in Commonwealth Countries 202316Chapter 3 Implementation of trade facilitation meas

172、ures:A closer lookChapter 3Implementation of tradefacilitation measures:A closer look16Digital and Sustainable Trade Facilitation in Commonwealth Countries 202317Chapter 3 Implementation of trade facilitation measures:A closer look3.1.TransparencyTransparency comprises five measures related to Artic

173、les 1 to 5 of the WTO TFA and the GeneralAgreement on Tariffs and Trade(GATT)Article X on“Publication and Administration of TradeRegulations”.In this sub-group,the Commonwealth countries achieve an average implementationrate of 77%,with Africa standing at the same level as the Commonwealth average.T

174、he subregionswith the highest average implementation rates are the developed economies(100%)and Asia(90%).Caribbean SIDS(59%)and Pacific SIDS(66%)lag far behind in this category.In particular,the implementation rate for the measure stakeholders consultations on new draftregulations(prior to their fi

175、nalization)stands at an impressive 86%.Additionally,the measurepublication of existing import-export regulations on the internet boasts a commendableimplementation rate of 80%,and advance publication/notification of new trade-related regulationsbefore their implementation follows closely with a 75%i

176、mplementation rate(figure 6).Countriescould establish a national trade portal/repository(NTP/NTR),sometimes called trade informationportal(TIP),a web portal that provides information about import/export/transit regulatory requirementsfrom all government authorities within a country(see box 1 for a g

177、ood practice from Jamaica).In addition,figure 7 illustrates that measures under transparency are implemented to variousdegrees in the Commonwealth countries.The measures stakeholders consultation on new draftregulations(prior to their finalization)and publication of existing import-export regulation

178、s on theinternet have been fully implemented by 62%and 53%of the Commonwealth countries.Themeasure stakeholders consultation on new draft regulations(prior to their finalization)has beenfully or partially implemented by 98%of the Commonwealth countries but only 62%of the countrieshave fully implemen

179、ted it.The least fully implemented measure,independent appeal mechanismand online lodging,has been fully implemented by 40%of the Commonwealth countries.Source:The UN Global Survey on Digital and Sustainable Trade Facilitation,2023.Available at untfsurvey.org0%20%40%60%80%100%Publication of existing

180、 import-export regulations on the internetStakeholders consultation on new draft regulations(prior to their finalization)Advance publication/notification of new trade-related regulations before their implementationAdvance ruling on tariff classification and origin of imported goodsIndependent appeal

181、 mechanism and online lodgingAfricaAsia Caribbean SIDSPacific SIDSCommonwealth AverageDeveloped EconomiesState of implementation of transparency measures by Commonwealth regionFigure6Digital and Sustainable Trade Facilitation in Commonwealth Countries 202318Chapter 3 Implementation of trade facilita

182、tion measures:A closer lookSource:The UN Global Survey on Digital and Sustainable Trade Facilitation,2023.Available at untfsurvey.orgStakeholders consultation on new draft regulations(prior to their finalization)Publication of existing import-export regulations on the internetAdvance publication/not

183、ification of new trade-related regulations before their implementationAdvance ruling on tariff classification and origin of imported goodsIndependent appeal mechanism and online lodging0%10%20%30%40%50%60%70%80%80%100%Fully implementedPartially implementedPilot stage of implementationDont knowNot ap

184、plicableNot implementedDemystifying trade through the Jamaica Trade Information PortalThe Jamaica Trade Information Portal(JTIP)was launched in May 2019 with the assistance of theWorld Bank Groups Trade Facilitation Support Programme.It is a key component of Jamaicasbroader trade facilitation agenda

185、,which seeks to leverage the countrys potential to become a worldclass logistics hub.It is hoped the JTIP will play an integral role in generating more trade andinvestment flows to Jamaica.This web-based portal contains details on all the regulatory requirements to conduct tradetransactions.This inc

186、ludes information on commodity classifications;tariffs,duties and fees;tradelaws and regulations;licensing and permit requirements;technical conformity standards;andcertification requirements.Users can download trade-related forms and legal documents from theportal and access information on local bu

187、siness opportunities as well as statistics on Jamaicasexports and imports.It also contains dedicated links to submit enquiries regarding sanitary andphytosanitary measures and technical barriers to trade;and to access external resources mappingexport opportunities,outlining rules of origin and docum

188、enting Jamaicas participation in tradeagreements.Prior to this online facility,complex and inefficient border procedures characterised by frequentphysical inspections of goods,predominantly manual processes,high taxes and fees,multiplelicenses,permits and certificates,and a general lack of coordinat

189、ion between agencies contributedto high trade costs and frequent delays(World Bank,2019).The JTIPs online resources are intendedto make information more accessible,to make it easier and less costly for businesses to comply withregulations for importing and exporting goods to and from Jamaica.State o

190、f implementation of transparency measures by implementation statusFigure7Box1Digital and Sustainable Trade Facilitation in Commonwealth Countries 202319Chapter 3 Implementation of trade facilitation measures:A closer look3.2.FormalitiesThe formalities sub-group encompasses eight general trade facili

191、tation measures that aim tostreamline trade procedures,aligning with the requirements outlined in Articles 6-10 of the WTO TFAand GATT Article VIII on“Release and Clearance of Goods”.In 2023,the implementation rate for allmeasures within the formalities category stood at 77%.Africa(78%)is closely al

192、igned with theaverage of overall Commonwealth countries,with the developed economies(94%)and Asia(85%)in the lead compared with other subregions.Caribbean SIDS and Pacific SIDS achievedimplementation rates of 71%and 63%respectively.The measure with the highest implementation rate in Commonwealth cou

193、ntries is the acceptance ofcopies of original supporting documents required for import,export,or transit formalities,reachingan implementation rate of 89%,followed by post-clearance audits with 85%and pre-arrivalprocessing at 84%.Furthermore,the implementation rates for risk management and separatio

194、n ofrelease from final determination of custom duties,taxes,fees,and charges have achieveda commendable 81%(figure 8).Among all the measures,acceptance of copies of original supporting documents requiredfor import,export or transit formalities exhibits the highest full implementation rate,at 74%,and

195、post-clearance audits follows closely at 70%.Moreover,60%of Commonwealth countries have atleast fully implemented the measure expedited shipments and 57%for the measure pre-arrivalprocessing.After that,53%of Commonwealth countries have fully implemented separation ofrelease from final determination

196、of Customs duties,taxes,fees,and charges and 49%have fullyimplemented risk management.Finally,the measures TF measures for authorized operators andestablishment and publication of average release times have a relatively low level of fullimplementation,since only 36%and 34%of Commonwealth countries h

197、ave implemented them(figure 9)(see box 2 for the East African Community(EAC)Authorized Economic Operator(AEO)Programme).Box 1(continued)In doing so,the JTIP can play an important role in facilitating trade.Barriers related to a lack ofaccess to trade-related information and limited understanding of

198、regulatory procedures andrequirements to import and export are particularly acute for SMEs and new firms(World Bank,2019).The JTIP helps level the playing field across merchants,traders,and investors by providing uniformand comprehensive access to information from a single source on procedures,rules

199、,and regulationsin a user-friendly,transparent,unambiguous and non-discriminatory manner(Gain,2022).The number of visits to the JTIP website(jamaicatradeportal.gov.jm)has grown significantly since itslaunch in 2019.As of May 2023,50,890 people had visited the portal(Spence,2023).These numberscould c

200、ontinue to grow as the portal expands and improves in the future.Jamaica plans to broadenthe sectoral coverage to include information on trade in services and to present content in languagesother than English,including those used in Jamaicas largest trading partners(e.g.,French,Mandarinand Spanish).

201、Digital and Sustainable Trade Facilitation in Commonwealth Countries 202320Chapter 3 Implementation of trade facilitation measures:A closer lookSource:The UN Global Survey on Digital and Sustainable Trade Facilitation,2023.Available at untfsurvey.org0%20%40%60%80%100%Risk managementPre-arrival proce

202、ssingPost-clearance auditsSeparation of release from final determination of customs duties,taxes,fees and chargesEstablishment and publication of average release timesTF measures for authorized operatorsExpedited shipmentsAcceptance of copies of original supporting documents required for import,expo

203、rt or transit formalitiesAfricaAsia Caribbean SIDSPacific SIDSCommonwealth AverageDeveloped Economies0%10%20%30%40%50%60%70%80%80%100%Acceptance of copies of original supporting documents required for import,export or transit formalitiesPost-clearance auditsExpedited shipmentsPre-arrival processingS

204、eparation of release from final determination of customs duties,taxes,fees and chargesRisk managementTF measures for authorized operatorsEstablishment and publication of average release timesFully implementedPartially implementedPilot stage of implementationDont knowNot applicableNot implementedSour

205、ce:The UN Global Survey on Digital and Sustainable Trade Facilitation,2023.Available at untfsurvey.orgState of implementation of formalities by Commonwealth regionFigure8State of implementation of formalities measures by implementation statusFigure9Digital and Sustainable Trade Facilitation in Commo

206、nwealth Countries 202321Chapter 3 Implementation of trade facilitation measures:A closer lookThe EAC Authorized Economic Operator(AEO)ProgrammeThe WTO TFA provides for authorized operators,who will need to meet specific criteria,includinghaving an appropriate record of compliance with Customs and ot

207、her related regulations.TheCommonwealth Secretariat through its Trade Competitiveness programme has extended technicalsupport to enhance utilization of the EAC AEO trade facilitation programme among the EAC PartnerState economic operators in collaboration with the Federation of East African Freight

208、ForwardersAssociations(FEAFFA)and the EAC Secretariat.The AEO programme recognizes businesses that participate in the international supply chain forcomplying with the Standards to Secure and Facilitate Global Trade(SAFE)Framework of Standardsdeveloped by the World Customs Organization(WCO).The SAFE

209、Framework of Standards aims toestablish and integrate standards for supply chain security and facilitation,strengthen cooperationamong Customs administrations and promote the seamless movement of goods through well-secured international supply chains against any security threats.The AEO programme is

210、 under Pillar Two of the SAFE Framework,under Customs-to-Business.TheSAFE Framework sets forth the criteria by which businesses in the supply chain can obtainauthorized status as a security partner and derive benefits arising from the trade facilitation.Thegeneral benefits include reduction of physi

211、cal and document-based controls,priority treatment,choice of controls,minimum cargo inspection and easier admittance to Customs programmes,among others.The major achievements of the EAC AEO programme include development of the criteria andbenefits,standard operating procedures,training materials and

212、 training of trainers.The scheme waspiloted with 13 operators from 2013 to 2015 and first authorization occurred in 2015.There are morethan 170 companies currently on the programme,142 of them regional AEOs,the majority areimporters,exporters,and Customs brokers.The share of AEO transactions in tota

213、l transactions isabout 14%at regional level,and highest for Burundi and Rwanda at 20.6%and 17.7%,respectively.The highest share of total import revenue collected was registered by Uganda and Rwanda,at 18%and 17.6%,respectively.The uptake of the AEO scheme remains low for SMEs,and this needs to impro

214、ve if there are to bepositive impacts in terms of the gains expected from trade facilitation.The EAC is consideringremodelling the programme to cater for SMEs,automating AEO processes,establishing a regionalAEO association and negotiating mutual recognition agreements(MRAs)with other countries.3.3.I

215、nstitutional arrangement and cooperationThe institutional arrangements and cooperation category comprises three trade facilitationmeasures(figure 10).These revolve around the longstanding recommendation to establisha national trade facilitation body that promotes coordination and cooperation among g

216、overnmentagencies and other stakeholders involved in trade facilitation activities.In addition,all threemeasures are specified in various articles of the WTO TFA.In Commonwealth countries,theimplementation rate of these measures stands at 74%.Asia(76%)is closely aligned with theaverage of overall Co

217、mmonwealth countries,with the developed economies(85%)and Africa(80%)surpassing other subregions.Caribbean SIDS(68%)and Pacific SIDS(57%)lag behind in thiscategory.Box2Digital and Sustainable Trade Facilitation in Commonwealth Countries 202322Chapter 3 Implementation of trade facilitation measures:A

218、 closer lookFigure 10 illustrates the varying state of implementation for each measure within this sub-group.Themeasure with the highest implementation rate is the national trade facilitation committee or similarbody,reaching 87%.The overall implementation rate for national legislative framework and

219、/orinstitutional arrangements for border agencies cooperation is 75%,with similar levels in the Asiaand Africa regions.On the other hand,26%of the Commonwealth countries have yet to implementthe measure government agencies delegating border controls to Customs authorities,making thisthe least implem

220、ented measure within this sub-group(figure 11).To reduce border delays andlogistical bottlenecks,in some cases,countries have set up one-stop border posts(OSBPs)(seebox 3 for a good practice from the EAC).Source:The UN Global Survey on Digital and Sustainable Trade Facilitation,2023.Available at unt

221、fsurvey.org0%20%40%60%80%100%National Trade Facilitation Committee or similar bodyNational legislative framework and/or institutional arrangements for border agencies cooperationGovernment agencies delegating border controls to Customs authoritiesAfricaAsia Caribbean SIDSPacific SIDSCommonwealth Ave

222、rageDeveloped Economies0%10%20%30%40%50%60%70%80%80%100%Fully implementedPartially implementedPilot stage of implementationDont knowNot applicableNot implementedNational Trade Facilitation Committee or similar bodyNational legislative framework and/or institutional arrangements for border agencies c

223、ooperationGovernment agencies delegating border controls to Customs authoritiesState of implementation of institutional arrangement and cooperation measuresby Commonwealth regionFigure10Source:The UN Global Survey on Digital and Sustainable Trade Facilitation,2023.Available at untfsurvey.orgState of

224、 implementation of institutional arrangement and cooperation measuresby implementation statusFigure11Digital and Sustainable Trade Facilitation in Commonwealth Countries 202323Chapter 3 Implementation of trade facilitation measures:A closer lookOne-stop border posts in Africa:Implementation in the E

225、ast AfricanCommunityIntra-regional trade in Africa has historically remained low as a result of several factors,including poortransport and border infrastructure and burdensome and inefficient import and export administrativeprocedures.This is particularly the case at border posts that duplicate inf

226、rastructure and procedureson each side of the border,and where multiple agencies in adjoining countries operate in anuncoordinated manner.One-stop border posts(OSBPs)were first launched in Africa with the aim of reducing these borderdelays and logistical bottlenecks,with over 110 currently in the pl

227、anning or implementation stage onthe continent.They aim to improve the efficiency and capacity of cross-border trade through landborder posts by combining the entry and exit administrative procedures of the adjacent states ina single location.As a result,OSBPs assist with administrative simplificati

228、on and harmonizationthrough coordinated border management,eliminating the need for travellers and goods to stop oneach side of the border to comply with separate yet often-identical formalities.This has several benefits for both border authorities and businesses engaged in cross-border trade.For bor

229、der authorities,OSBPs reduce administrative and infrastructure costs as information requiredby both agencies needs to be collected only once,while requisite border infrastructure and staffingcosts can be shared.For businesses,OSBPs lower trade and transport costs by reducing the amountof time that c

230、onsignments and truck drivers spend at the border.This,in turn,increases truckturnaround time,lowers the cost of labour involved in the transit of each assignment,and reducescosts associated with idling at the border such as parking fees.First introduced between Zambia and Zimbabwe in 2009,OSBPs hav

231、e since been adopted widelyacross the continent(AUDA-NEPAD and JICA,2022).Within the EAC,prior to the construction of thefirst OSBP in 2012,crossing any border would take 10 hours on average,and almost 23 hours atsome border posts.Since then,the construction of 22 OSBPs within the EAC has lowered th

232、e waittime to an average of 2.5 hours,with the worst performing OSBP taking no more than 5 hours tocross and the best performing taking an average of 15 minutes.This has led to an estimatedreduction in intra-EAC transport costs of between 0.3 and 14%,depending on the specific borderpost(EAC,2023;Men

233、dez-Parra and Calabrese,2023).These transport cost reductions havedownstream knock-on effects,which evidence suggests translates into concrete welfare gains forEAC consumers in the form of reduced prices,particularly for staple commodities(Ayele et al.,2023).The ongoing implementation of the African

234、 Continental Free Trade Area(AfCFTA)is expected todouble road freight in Africa from 201 million tons to 403 million tons by 2030,and increase the totalvolume of intra-African freight by 28%(UNECA,2022).As such,the adoption of OSBPs will continueto be an important part of continental integration goi

235、ng forward.Box3Digital and Sustainable Trade Facilitation in Commonwealth Countries 202324Chapter 3 Implementation of trade facilitation measures:A closer look0%20%40%60%80%100%Transit facilitation agreement(s)Limit the physical inspections of transit goods and use risk assessmentSupporting pre-arri

236、val processing for transit facilitationCooperation between agencies of countries involved in transitAfricaAsia Caribbean SIDSPacific SIDSCommonwealth AverageDeveloped Economies3.4.Transit facilitationFour trade facilitation measures surveyed pertain to transit facilitation and are aligned with WTOTF

237、A Article 11 on“Freedom of Transit.”These measures aim to simplify the formalities associatedwith transit traffic,enabling seamless transportation of goods through one or multiple transitcountries.They hold particular significance for LLDCs,as their goods often pass throughneighbouring territories f

238、or transit.In Commonwealth countries,the implementation level oftransit facilitation stands at approximately 64%.Africa(65%)is closely aligned with the overallaverage and Caribbean SIDS(32%)lag far behind in this category.On the other hand,thedeveloped economies(97%)exhibit a significantly higher im

239、plementation rate,followed by Asia(83%)(figure 12).Among these measures,the one intending to limit the physical inspections of transit goods and userisk assessment achieves the highest implementation rate(74%,fully implemented by 43%ofCommonwealth countries),followed by cooperation between agencies

240、of countries involved intransit(69%,fully implemented by 38%of countries)and supporting pre-arrival processing fortransit facilitation(63%,fully implemented by 26%of countries).The measure transit facilitationagreement(s)remains the least implemented,with an overall implementation rate standing at 5

241、1%,and only 21%of Commonwealth countries having fully implemented it(figure 13).There are somesubregional and regional initiatives to cooperate between agencies involved in transit(see box 4-6for good practices).Source:The UN Global Survey on Digital and Sustainable Trade Facilitation,2023.Available

242、 at untfsurvey.orgState of implementation of transit facilitation by Commonwealth regionFigure12Digital and Sustainable Trade Facilitation in Commonwealth Countries 202325Chapter 3 Implementation of trade facilitation measures:A closer lookSource:The UN Global Survey on Digital and Sustainable Trade

243、 Facilitation,2023.Available at untfsurvey.org0%10%20%30%40%50%60%70%80%80%100%Fully implementedPartially implementedPilot stage of implementationDont knowNot applicableNot implementedLimit the physical inspections of transit goods and use risk assessmentCooperation between agencies of countries inv

244、olved in transitSupporting pre-arrival processing for transit facilitationTransit facilitation agreement(s)Facilitating transit trade:Enabling the transport of goods and people betweenBBIN(Bangladesh,Bhutan,India,and Nepal)countriesDespite the countries being neighbours,long delays at the border con

245、tribute to high costs of trade inthe BBIN(Bangladesh,Bhutan,India,and Nepal)sub-region.This is largely because of inadequateinfrastructure at border crossings,paper-based procedures,restrictive policies,and inefficient logistics.These issues are compounded by the geographical complexity of the area.

246、Bhutan and Nepal aremountainous landlocked countries with difficult connectivity,while the only road within India thatconnects its north-eastern states with the mainland passes through the narrow Siliguri Corridor(Mehndiratta and Nora,2022).Nonetheless,there is immense potential to increase regional

247、 trade.World Bank studies have found that,although trade between BBIN countries grew sixfold between 2015 and 2019,the unexploited potentialof trade is estimated at 93%for Bangladesh,50%for India,and 76%for Nepal(Prasain,2022).The BBIN MVAAgainst this backdrop,on 15 June 2015,the transport ministers

248、 of Bhutan,Bangladesh,India,andNepal signed a Motor Vehicles Agreement(MVA)to boost the implementation of land transportfacilitation agreements between the countries.The objective of the BBIN MVA is to enable the exchange of traffic rights and ease cross-bordermovement of goods,vehicles,and people.T

249、his would allow BBIN countries to operate their vehicles ineach others territories for transport of passengers and cargo(First Post,2016).Supported by the ADB,implementation of the MVA could lead to shorter transport routes,quicker travel times and lower costs,resulting in a smaller carbon footprint

250、 and,potentially,greater cross-border trade.Under the MVA,30 priority transport connectivity projects,with an estimated total cost of overUS$8 billion,have been identified to rehabilitate and upgrade sections of trade and transport corridorsbetween the four countries.Transforming these transport cor

251、ridors into economic corridors could potentially increase intra-regionaltrade within South Asia by almost 60%,and with the rest of the world by over 30%.The World Bankestimates that the MVA will reduce the transport time for a truck traveling from Agartala in Indias north-eastto Kolkata port by 65%a

252、nd lower the associated transport cost by 68%(Mehndiratta and Nora,2022).Box4State of implementation of transit facilitation by implementation statusFigure13Digital and Sustainable Trade Facilitation in Commonwealth Countries 202326Chapter 3 Implementation of trade facilitation measures:A closer loo

253、kBox 4(continued)Latest developments and challengesDespite these connectivity advantages,Bhutan decided to opt out of the MVA in 2017,citingenvironmental concerns.With nature-based tourism as its single largest revenue-generating industry,Bhutan was concerned that free movement of traffic would incr

254、ease sound and air pollution,worsentraffic problems,exacerbate infrastructural inadequacies,and result in large-scale environmentaldegradation(Ahmad,2016).In March 2022,transport ministers from Bangladesh,India,and Nepal(with Bhutan participating as anObserver)finalized the enabling Memorandum of Un

255、derstanding for the implementation of the BBINMVA in the three countries,pending Bhutans ratification.A sub-committee was formed to discuss themodalities of passenger,personal and cargo vehicular traffic protocols essential to operationalize theAgreement.African Collaborative Transit Guarantee Schem

256、e to Facilitate Transit Trade inAfricaTo facilitate the smooth flow of transit trade in Africa,the Africa Export-Import Bank(Afreximbank)haspartnered with the AfCFTA Secretariat and Regional Economic Communities(RECs)to launch theAfrican Collaborative Transit Guarantee Scheme(ACTGS).This flagship in

257、itiative under the AfCFTAmitigates the risk of the loss of import duties if the goods crossing the territory of several Africancountries are diverted during transit.Afreximbank provides surety for regional and continent-widetransit bonds covering the full range of borders that goods are required to

258、cross.In case ofirregularities,it refunds the potential revenue losses(Customs duties and other taxes)by initiatinga claim procedure for the beneficiaries that obtained the guarantee.The US$1 billion collaborative guarantee is expected to boost cross-border trade in Africa byreplacing the system of

259、multiple national bonds,which are relatively expensive and causeunnecessary delays at borders.African traders,freight forwarders,clearing agents or carriers canpurchase guarantees through the ACTGS in advance before commencing transit operations.Alternatively,the Bank also supports primary local sur

260、eties and national guarantors,by sharing therisk of irregular discharge of transit.This is done through the offer of a counterparty guarantee ora reassurance,particularly for high-risk operations.Following a successful pilot in the Common Market for Eastern and Southern Africa,the ACTGS isprogressiv

261、ely expanding to include other RECs and,ultimately,the entire continent.On 24 October2023,the Bank issued its first US$10 million transit bond in favour of Innovate General Insurance aninsurance company based in Zambia(Desiderio Consultants,2023).This guarantee would enhancethe companys capacity to

262、issue bonds to clearing and forwarding agents,thereby facilitating thetransportation of goods across the extensive 5,700 km of borders Zambia shares with its eightneighbours.This innovative multi-border Customs transit bond is a big step towards the realisation of the Africancontinental market.Once

263、fully implemented,the transit bond is expected to produce cost savings ofmore than US$300 million annually through reduced transit costs for African companies.Box5Digital and Sustainable Trade Facilitation in Commonwealth Countries 202327Chapter 3 Implementation of trade facilitation measures:A clos

264、er lookFacilitating African landlocked countries trade through a network of roadcorridorsLandlocked and semi-landlocked developing countries face unique geographical barriers toexpanding international trade.Their access to global markets depends on transit through othercoastal states.The long inland

265、 hauls required for transporting products to and from transit hubsinduce additional trade costs,placing firms in these economies at a comparative disadvantage.Improving cross-border physical connectivity is thus essential to facilitating their trade.This challenge is severe in Africa,where half of a

266、ll LLDCs(16 of 32)are located.7 Six of these aremembers of the Commonwealth:Eswatini,Lesotho,Malawi,Rwanda,Uganda and Zambia.Tofacilitate trade in these countries,the African Development Bank(AfDB)has invested more thanUS$13.5 billion in a vast network of trade corridors across the continent.Funded

267、projects includethe construction of more than 18,000 km of climate-resistant regional highways,27 OSBPs and16 bridges.Some of these projects have been part of the Trans-African Highway network,undervarious continental and regional infrastructure development programmes.These infrastructuredevelopment

268、s benefit more than 307 million people,constituting around one-quarter of thecontinents population.These trade corridors are facilitating African countries global,regional,andbilateral trade in several ways.Notable examples include:The Kazungula road and rail bridge project part of the North-South C

269、orridor within theSouthern African Development Community connects Botswana,Democratic Republic ofCongo,Namibia and Zambia.Before the bridge opened in May 2021,direct traffic betweenBotswana and Zambia was possible only by ferry.The introduction of road and railconnectivity,coupled with the construct

270、ion of two OSBPs along the bridge,have reducedwaiting time for Customs clearance from 14 days to just an hour.The Mombasa-Nairobi-Addis Ababa-Djibouti Corridor has raised bilateral trade betweenEthiopia and Kenya by 400%.It enables Ethiopia to trade at least 20%of its freight morecompetitively throu

271、gh the port of Mombasa.The Dakar Corridor(the Bamako-Dakar Highway)route now carries more than 50%of Malisimports and exports through the port of Dakar.The diversification of Malis trade routeshas reduced trade costs by more than 20%,helping expand the countrys international tradeby 10%.The Nacala C

272、orridor,linking Malawi and Zambia to Nacala Port in Mozambique,has enhancedaccess to ports and maritime services,reducing trade costs by 15-25%.In addition to developing these traditional trade corridors and associated infrastructure,AfDB isactively investing in a new generation of regional integrat

273、ion initiatives on the continent.It is payingparticular attention to the development of economic and green corridors,with the aim of promotingsustainable intra-Africa trade.These economic corridors aim to cover trade facilitation issues beyondmere transport corridors.While the latter are supported b

274、y infrastructure,economic corridors requireother integration layers such as efficient logistics,trade,and transport facilitation measures,increased private investment and fully developed sustainable production chains.7 See list of LLDCs at https:/unctad.org/topic/landlocked-developing-countries/list

275、-of-LLDCsBox6Digital and Sustainable Trade Facilitation in Commonwealth Countries 202328Chapter 3 Implementation of trade facilitation measures:A closer look3.5.Paperless tradeNine trade facilitation measures surveyed are categorized in the paperless trade subgroup.Thesemeasures involve the use of m

276、odern information and communications technologies(ICTs)in tradeprocedures,ranging from basic Internet connectivity at border crossings to comprehensiveelectronic single window systems.Many of these measures align with the provisions outlined in theWTO TFA.Among Commonwealth countries,the average imp

277、lementation level of paperless tradestands at 66%,with the developed economies(91%),Asia(79%)and Africa(72%)above theaverage.The subregions with the lowest average implementation rates are Caribbean SIDS(57%)and Pacific SIDS(37%)(figure 14).It is important to note that,while the TFA encourages econo

278、mies to implement such measures,itdoes not impose them as mandatory requirements.Consequently,there is a significant disparity inthe implementation rates of the paperless trade measures,ranging from 38%to 91%.As depictedin figure 15,automated Customs system has a 91%implementation rate,the highest l

279、evel in thissub-group.It is closely followed by measures related to electronic submission of Customsdeclarations and Internet connection available to Customs and other trade control agencies,whichachieved implementation rates of 83%and 82%,respectively.For the electronic single windowsystem,an integ

280、rated approach for all relevant trade documents,Commonwealth countriesachieved a 48%implementation rate on average(see box 7 for a good practice from Pakistan).Pakistan Single WindowThe Pakistan Single Window(PSW),a flagship programme of the Government of Pakistan tostreamline trade processes and fa

281、cilitate trade,provides a centralized digital platform for thesubmission and processing of regulatory documents.This pioneering initiative for a single-entry pointfor filing standardized information and online processing for all import,export and transit-relatedpaperwork reduces bureaucratic hurdles

282、,saves time,and enhances efficiency for traders andbusinesses engaged in import and export activities.The PSW Company,a public sector company created under the Act of Parliament in 2021,isresponsible for the development and operation of the PSW system.The initial phase,launched inJune 2022,introduce

283、s a range of services aimed at international traders,including:Online registration using PSW Know Your Customer protocols and exchange of cross-bordertrade-related financial information through integration with banks;Electronic processing of export certificates,import permits,conformity assessment c

284、ertificatesand release orders of regulatory bodies including departments such as Plant Protection,Federal Seed Certification&Registration and Animal Quarantine;Electronic processing of seaworthiness and safety certification for imported second-handships or vessels by the Pakistan Mercantile Marine D

285、epartment;An electronic lab management system integrating all public and private sector laboratoriesperforming various types of tests on imports or exports;Integration of the pre-shipment inspection companies to receive their reports online,eliminating paper-based transactions;Facilitation of cross-

286、border trade-related payments through the PSW e-payment system,including data visibility to the Export Development Fund on export development surchargescollected on exports;Box7Digital and Sustainable Trade Facilitation in Commonwealth Countries 202329Chapter 3 Implementation of trade facilitation m

287、easures:A closer lookBox 7(continued)Implementation of an integrated risk management system,applying system-based riskassessment and enforcement on the issuance of licenses,permits,certificates and otherdocuments by trade regulators;Integration with selected provincial authorities for the collection

288、 of provincial cesses and theexchange of data on motor registration.The PSW provides real-time visibility to Customs authorities regarding cross-border tradetransactions authorized by the commercial banks and is contributing towards effective enforcementof banking regulations to enhance compliance w

289、ith Financial Action Task Force recommendations.Integration with the PSW has resulted in the reengineering of 111 processes,the elimination of46 documents and the replacement of 83 documents with electronic versions,substantially reducingthe time and cost of documentary compliance.Moreover,the PSW i

290、s now supporting the Departmentof Plant Protection to integrate with the e-Phyto hub for paperless exchange of phytosanitarycertificates on export of agricultural goods and commodifies and is working actively on integrationwith the single window systems of China,Tajikistan,and Uzbekistan.Taking a cu

291、stomer-centric approach,PSW has established a round-the-clock trader supporthelpdesk,which is under transition to be redesignated as the National Enquiry Point under the TFA.PSWs Trade Information Portal provides a single access point for all information related to imports,exports,and transit.With a

292、 subscriber base of more than 71,000,the PSW processes more than100,000 licenses,permits,certificates and other documents annually.This has helped the countrymeet its international obligations under the WTO TFA and raise the countrys trade facilitation scores(from 55%to 70%).The success of the PSW,e

293、specially its implementation model and achievements,has gained widerecognition at regional and international levels.The PSW trade portal has been cited as a bestpractice by the World Bank and the PSW Act 2021 is being studied as an innovative piece oflegislation to ensure smooth implementation and o

294、perations of the single window system.The PSWhas been showcased as a successful model for multi-agency collaboration and information exchangeat conferences like the WCO IT Conference and Exhibition in the Netherlands and the 5th BorderManagement Conference in Jordan.It has also gained Associate Memb

295、ership in the Pan-AsianE-Commerce Alliance and increased its participation in international events organized by the WCO,WTO,ESCAP,ADB and other international organizations.In the upcoming phase,the PSW Company aims to implement the Port Community System at thecountrys three seaports(Karachi,Gwadar a

296、nd Port Muhammed Bin Qasim)and develop an AirportCommunity System while it continues to integrate more business-to-business services into thesystem.According to World Bank estimates,the full implementation of the PSW system is projectedto result in direct savings of US$430 million to the national ec

297、onomy in terms of reduced costs fordocumentary and border compliance.Conversely,the measure with the lowest implementation rate is electronic application for customsrefunds,at 38%.Only 21%of the countries in the Commonwealth have fully implementedthis measure,while implementation has not yet commenc

298、ed in 49%of Commonwealth countries(figure 15).To reap the benefits from evolving digitalization efforts,countries could potentiallyleapfrog using lessons learned from other countries.There are many capacity-building activities inthis regard,including the WTOs Aid for Trade(AfT)initiative(see box 8).

299、Digital and Sustainable Trade Facilitation in Commonwealth Countries 202330Chapter 3 Implementation of trade facilitation measures:A closer look0%20%40%60%80%100%Automated Customs SystemInternet connection available to Customs and other trade control agenciesElectronic Single Window SystemElectronic

300、 submission of Customs declarationsElectronic application and issuance of import and export permitElectronic Submission of Air Cargo ManifestsElectronic application and issuance of Preferential Certificate of OriginE-Payment of Customs Duties and FeesElectronic Application for Customs RefundsAfricaA

301、sia Caribbean SIDSPacific SIDSCommonwealth AverageDeveloped EconomiesSource:The UN Global Survey on Digital and Sustainable Trade Facilitation,2023.Available at untfsurvey.org0%10%20%30%40%50%60%70%80%80%100%Fully implementedPartially implementedPilot stage of implementationDont knowNot applicableNo

302、t implementedAutomated Customs SystemElectronic submission of Customs declarationsInternet connection available to Customs and other trade control agenciesE-Payment of Customs Duties and FeesElectronic Submission of Air Cargo ManifestsElectronic application and issuance of import and export permit E

303、lectronic Single Window SystemElectronic application and issuance of Preferential Certificate of OriginElectronic Application for Customs RefundsState of implementation of paperless trade by Commonwealth regionFigure14Source:The UN Global Survey on Digital and Sustainable Trade Facilitation,2023.Ava

304、ilable at untfsurvey.orgState of implementation of paperless trade by implementation statusFigure15Digital and Sustainable Trade Facilitation in Commonwealth Countries 202331Chapter 3 Implementation of trade facilitation measures:A closer lookAid for Trade:Supporting digitalization and digital trade

305、The WTO AfT initiative was primarily set up to address a wide range of supply-side constraints thathinder the participation of developing countries and LDCs in international trade(WTO,2006).AfT cansupport the modernization of Customs facilities by upgrading digital infrastructure and streamliningbor

306、der processes.It can also help address connectivity gaps,enhance digital skills and improvecapacity to provide trade-related services,enabling greater participation by LDCs in digital trade.Tothis end,the Commonwealth Secretariat has proposed the development of a new and additionallyfunded Aid for D

307、igital Trade initiative,which could focus initially on supporting digital infrastructure,digital skills,e-government and financial inclusion in developing countries and LDCs(Lacey,2021).To date,AfT has been used to help LDCs with their digital capacity-building efforts,particularly inrelation to est

308、ablishing enabling regulatory frameworks for digitalization and digital trade.Examples ofAfT supporting digitalization and related trade facilitation in LDCs include:The Australian Governments E-commerce Aid for Trade Fund supported LDCs in theIndo-Pacific region to address barriers to engaging in e

309、-commerce and digital trade,coveringissues such as policy reform,capacity development in cybersecurity technology solutionssuch as blockchains,online dispute resolution mechanisms,and guidelines to acceleratee-commerce adoption(WTO,2022).Australia supported internet connectivity in Kiribati to addre

310、ss barriers to engaging ine-commerce and help the country build greater e-commerce capabilities in order to leveragedigital trade opportunities(WTO,2022).The Enhanced Integrated Framework(EIF)supported e-commerce readiness projects in TheGambia,Kiribati,Lesotho,Malawi,Nepal,Rwanda,Solomon Islands,Ta

311、nzania and Tuvalu.Inaddition,it supported Rwanda to develop an e-commerce data collection and reporting tool tomonitor and support digital trade development(EIF,2022).In Bangladesh,the United Nations Development Programme,and the Bangladesh a2iProgramme developed the ekShop,gathering all major e-com

312、merce companies and bringingthem into a single platform.The e-commerce platform has the potential to grow to a globallevel and enable merchants to access international markets;and has already establishedinternational logistics systems with 131 countries in collaboration with Bangladesh Post andthe U

313、niversal Postal Union.AfDB supported the Connect Africa Initiative to develop broadband infrastructure in severalAfrican countries,including Rwanda,Tanzania,and Uganda as LDCs.As part of this initiative,the East African Broadband Infrastructure Network seeks to establish ICT infrastructurenetworks i

314、n the region to provide cross-border connectivity between Burundi,Rwanda,Tanzania,and Uganda(Mbise et al.,2018).China supported information technology projects in Togo to enable the country to providea high-quality and reliable telecommunication system,and an optical cable transmissionsystem in Tanz

315、ania.Digitalization and digital trade facilitation,supported by AfT interventions,offer new opportunities forbusinesses to expand to new markets.For example,a 10%increase in digital connectivity betweencountries has the potential to raise trade in goods and trade in services by 2%and 3%,on average,r

316、espectively(WTO,2022).However,digitalization and digital trade facilitation is not only aboutimproving access to the internet but also about the availability of sufficient knowledge and skills andsuitable tools to participate effectively in trade.By helping enhance access to electricity,developsusta

317、inable infrastructure,provide affordable and reliable internet connections,and grow access toICT goods and services,AfT can help LDCs and other developing countries participate moreeffectively in traditional goods and services trade and in digital trade.Box8Digital and Sustainable Trade Facilitation

318、 in Commonwealth Countries 202332Chapter 3 Implementation of trade facilitation measures:A closer look0%20%40%60%80%100%Laws and regulations for electronic transactionsRecognised certification authorityElectronic exchange of Customs DeclarationElectronic exchange of Certificate of OriginElectronic e

319、xchange of Sanitary&Phyto-Sanitary CertificatePaperless collection of payment from a documentary letter of creditAfricaAsia Caribbean SIDSPacific SIDSCommonwealth AverageDeveloped Economies3.6.Cross-border paperless tradeThe category of cross-border paperless trade encompasses six measures aimed at

320、facilitating theexchange and recognition of trade-related data and documents.Two fundamental measures in thiscategory are the establishment of laws and regulations for electronic transactions and recognizedcertification authority.These measures serve as essential foundations for enabling the securee

321、xchange of trade-related information within a country and across the entire international supplychain.In Commonwealth countries,the average implementation rates of these two measures standat 64%and 35%,respectively.The remaining four measures focus on implementing systems thatfacilitate the actual e

322、xchange of trade-related data and documents across borders,eliminating theneed for physical paper documents.In Commonwealth countries,the average implementation rateof cross-border paperless trade stands at 39%,with the rates for Caribbean SIDS(37%)and Africa(40%)standing at similar levels to the Co

323、mmonwealth average,and the developed economies(65%)and Asia(47%)ahead of other subregions.Pacific SIDS have a very low implementation rate at only13%(figure 16).Figure 17 illustrates that 85%of Commonwealth countries have implemented the measure laws andregulations for electronic transactions,either

324、 fully,partially,or on a pilot stage,making it the mostfrequently implemented measure(see box 9 on the UKs Electronic Trade Documents Acts(ETDA)2023).Moreover,53%of the countries have yet to start implementing the electronic exchange ofCustoms declarations and recognized certification authority.Sour

325、ce:The UN Global Survey on Digital and Sustainable Trade Facilitation,2023.Available at untfsurvey.orgState of implementation of cross-border paperless trade by CommonwealthregionFigure16Digital and Sustainable Trade Facilitation in Commonwealth Countries 202333Chapter 3 Implementation of trade faci

326、litation measures:A closer lookSource:The UN Global Survey on Digital and Sustainable Trade Facilitation,2023.Available at untfsurvey.orgBox9The UKs Electronic Trade Documents Act 2023:A major step towards tradedigitalizationThe UKs Electronic Trade Documents Act(ETDA)8,enacted in July 2023,places c

327、ertain digital tradedocuments on an equal legal footing with the same legal protections and benefits as their papercounterparts.Aligned with the United Nations Commission on International Trade Law(UNCITRAL)Model Law on Electronic Transferable Records(MLETR),this Act is expected to radically simplif

328、ytrade processes and reduce inefficiencies and associated costs.Under previous law,only things that could be physically held were considered capable of beingpossessed.The ETDA recognizes the possibility of electronic possession,bringing the industry up todate,while ensuring security,addressing trans

329、ferability issues and guaranteeing the legal concept ofpossession.It gives full legal force to the creation and exchange of any and all trade and tradefinance documents where such creation and exchange is done digitally.Adoption of the ETDA isa particularly significant achievement for trade digitali

330、zation given the frequent choice of English law9for documents of title used in cross-border financing and transport operations.The ETDA offers increased efficiency and enhanced environmental sustainability.The ICC estimatesthat it will reduce trade processing time by 70%,generate US$31.8 billion in

331、new economic growthby 2024 and enable efficiency savings amounting to$284.5 billion.The UK Law Commissionestimates that it will result in a huge reduction in paper waste from the current usage of 28.5 billionpaper-based trade documents annually.The use of electronic trade documents will also maketra

332、nsactions more secure and limit the risk of losing confidential information.The benefits of greaterefficiency and improved security could increase trade for current but also new participants,by8https:/bills.parliament.uk/bills/33449The ICC estimates that 80%of trade documents worldwide are based on

333、English law.0%10%20%30%40%50%60%70%80%80%100%Fully implementedPartially implementedPilot stage of implementationDont knowNot applicableNot implementedLaws and regulations for electronic transactionsRecognised certification authorityPaperless collection of payment from a documentary letter of creditElectronic exchange of Sanitary&Phyto-Sanitary CertificateElectronic exchange of Certificate of Origi