1、 i Digital and Sustainable Trade Facilitation in the Central Asia Regional Economic Cooperation(CAREC)ii Copyright United Nations 2024 All rights reserved The report is available at:https:/www.untfsurvey.org/report Disclaimers:The designation employed and the presentation of the material in the Repo

2、rt do not imply the expression of any opinion whatsoever on the part of the Secretariat of the United Nations concerning the legal status of any country,territory,city or area or of its authorities,or concerning the delimitation of its frontiers or boundaries.The United Nations bears no responsibili

3、ty for the availability or functionality of URLs.Opinion,figures and estimates set forth in this publication are the responsibility of the authors and should not necessarily be considered as reflecting the views or carrying the endorsement of the United Nations.Any errors are the responsibility of t

4、he authors.Mention of firm names and com-mercial products does not imply the endorsement of the United Nations.The report has been issued without formal editing.i Digital and Sustainable Trade Facilitation in the Central Asia Regional Economic Cooperation(CAREC)Based on the 2023 United Nations Globa

5、l Survey on Digital and Sustainable Trade Facilitation i ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS This report is part of a global survey effort on the implementation of trade facilitation and paperless trade measures,undertaken jointly by the five United Nations Re-gional Commissions for Africa(ECA),Europe(ECE),Asia and th

6、e Pacific(ESCAP),Latin America and the Caribbean(ECLAC)and West Asia(ESCWA)as well as the United Nations Conference on Trade and Development(UNCTAD).The report was prepared by ESCAP.Silvre Dernouh,Chorthip Utoktham,Lang Sun and Kexin Chen,under the guidance of Soo Hyun Kim and the overall supervisio

7、n of Yann Duval,all from the Trade,Investment and Innovation Division(TIID)of ES-CAP,provided the data analysis,collected as part of the United Nations Global Sur-vey on Digital and Sustainable Trade Facilitation 2023.Ghulam Samad,Yazyyev Merdan and Kuat Akizhanov all from CAREC Institute,supported

8、data collection and validation in CAREC countries,provided good practices of CAREC countries and also reviewed the report.Wannarat Charoensri formatted the report and Arom San-guanyuang created the cover design.Jie Wei from ECE contributed to the survey efforts,in particular by facilitating data col

9、lection from relevant experts as well as data validation in several countries.The United Nations Network of Experts for Paperless Trade and Transport in Asia and the Pacific(UNNExT),a knowledge community supported by ESCAP and ECE,also greatly facilitated data collection.Comments and suggestions pro

10、vided by experts and other participants at an open review meeting on the UN Global Survey on Digital and Sustainable Trade Facilita-tion as well as at a meeting of the Regional Organizations Cooperation Mechanism for Trade Facilitation(ROC-TF)held on 1 September 2022 on the occasion of the 10th Asia

11、-Pacific Trade Facilitation Forum co-hosted by ADB,ESCAP and the Sin-gapore Government helped in further enhancing the Survey process in 2023.Par-ticular appreciation goes to Jiangyuan Fu(Huazhong University of Science and Technology),Silvia Sorescu(OECD),and Cuong Ba Tran(ASEAN).Preparation of the

12、report benefited from the support of the Republic of Korea as well as from the support of the Government of France.ii EXECUTIVE SUMMARY Reducing trade costs is significant when it comes to increasing economies partici-pation in regional and global value chains and encouraging structural growth and s

13、ustainable development.Nonetheless,the consequences of COVID-19 and the surge in regional conflicts,along with the inflation that accompanies them,impede international trade and create disruptions in supply chains,leading to a rise in trade costs as well as deep uncertainties.This situation is addin

14、g to an economic environ-ment where trade costs are already high worldwide,in which trade facilitation should play a significant role and make trade procedures more efficient and more transpar-ent,thus reinforcing global supply chains and reducing overall trade costs.In this context,some global and

15、regional initiatives focusing on trade digitalization offer rel-evant guidance,in particular the Trade Facilitation Agreement(TFA)from the World Trade Organization(WTO)and the Framework Agreement on Facilitation of Cross-border Paperless Trade in Asia and the Pacific(CPTA),offering guidance on measu

16、res that should be considered for implementation.This report presents the results of the 2023 United Nations Global Survey on Digital and Sustainable Trade Facilitation,focusing on the progress made in trade facilita-tion across the 11 countries from the Central Asia Regional Economic Cooperation Pr

17、ogram(CAREC).The report offers a comprehensive analysis of 60 trade facilita-tion measures,categorized into four groups,namely“General Trade Facilitation”,“Digital Trade Facilitation”,“Sustainable Trade Facilitation”and“Other Trade Facili-tation.”In addition,these groups of measures encompass 11 sub

18、-groups,including both binding and nonbinding measures of the WTO TFA,but also measures related to digital and sustainable trade.The report brings to light the following key findings:Based on the set of 31 general and digital trade facilitation measures,CAREC countries achieved an average implementa

19、tion rate of 69%,which is about the same level as the Asia-Pacific regions average implementation rate of 67%.General and digital trade facilitation measures exhibit varying degrees of im-plementation from one CAREC country to another.China is leading the sub-region with an impressive implementation

20、 rate of 91%,closely followed by Azerbaijan and Georgia,with 87%each.On the other hand,there is still room for improvement for Mongolia,Tajikistan,Turkmenistan,and Afghanistan,all lagging far behind the regional and subregional averages.iii The average implementation rate has witnessed a rise,climbi

21、ng from 66%in 2021 to 71%in 2023,based on 10 common countries.Uzbekistan is the country with the highest increase,thanks to an implementation rate rising from 62%in 2021 to 85%in 2023(an increase of 23 percentage points).CAREC countries made the most significant progress between 2021 and 2023 in imp

22、lementing measures related to trade facilitation in times of crisis and pandemic with an increase of 15 percentage points,but they also show commendable progress for women in trade facilitation and cross-border pa-perless trade,with increases of 11 and 10 percentage points,respectively.“Digital Trad

23、e Facilitation”related measures have shown improvement in im-plementation between 2021 and 2023,with the implementation level for pa-perless trade facilitation measures increasing from 60%to 67%,slightly above the Asia-Pacifics average in 2023(66%).While the average imple-mentation rate of cross-bor

24、der paperless trade in the CAREC subregion rose from 39%to 50%,this sub-group is one of the two least implemented sub-groups in the CAREC countries,leaving space for policy intervention for further advancement in the area of“Digital Trade Facilitation.”Measures under the“Sustainable Trade Facilitati

25、on”group show high levels of implementation compared to the averages in the Asia-Pacific.It is note-worthy that the implementation rate of trade facilitation for SMEs stands at 63%,20 percentage points higher than the regional average,and women in trade facilitation measures stand at 58%,while the r

26、egional average is 42%.The implementation of measures related to trade facilitation in times of crisis is relatively high,with an implementation rate of 67%,surpassing the average of 60%in the Asia-Pacific region.Notably,the CAREC countries have imple-mented relatively well measures regarding the as

27、signment of a national agency to manage trade facilitation measures in times of crisis and emer-gencies,as well as for the online publication of emergency trade facilitation measures.iv The report highlights that significant trade cost reductions could be achieved through the implementation of paper

28、less and cross-border paperless trade measures,sur-passing the impact of conventional trade facilitation measures.Full implementation of binding and nonbinding measures outlined in the WTO TFA could lead to a re-duction in trade costs of nearly 7%.Beyond that,a full implementation scenario with the

29、adoption of digital trade facilitation measures may significantly reduce interna-tional trade costs by 15%for CAREC countries by providing seamless electronic exchange of trade data and documents across borders.Furthermore,the Frame-work Agreement on Facilitation of Cross-border Paperless Trade in A

30、sia and the Pacific offers opportunities for CAREC countries to support them in promoting their own initiatives and solutions and receive support for the advancement of their na-tional Single Windows leading to greater interoperability across borders.Moreover,enhancing trade facilitation measures su

31、ch as overcoming regulatory frictions,un-locking technical and regulatory interoperability,enhancing capacity-building measures for technical staff and regional integration and cooperation can signifi-cantly improve the trade facilitation measures implementation level.v Moving up the trade facilitat

32、ion ladder towards seamless international supply chains Source:The UN Global Survey on Digital and Sustainable Trade Facilitation,2023.Available at untfsurvey.org Note:Figure 33 shows global cumulative trade facilitation implementation scores for different regions for five sub-groups of trade facili

33、tation measures included in the Survey.The scores are based on the equally weighted implementation of 31 trade facilitation measures,but the number of measures varies in each of the five sub-groups.Full implementation of all measures=100.This report should be read in conjunction with the Global and

34、the Asia-Pacific re-gional report on the results of the UN Global Survey on Digital and Sustainable Trade Facilitation 2023,available at https:/untfsurvey.org/.020406080100Performance AreaFrontier(full implementation)AfghanistanAzerbaijanChinaGeorgiaKazakhstanKyrgyzstanMongoliaPakistanTajikistanTurk

35、menistanUzbekistanCARECAsia-PacificInstitutional arrangement and cooperationTransparencyFormalitiesPaperless tradeCross-border paperless trade vi CONTENTS Acknowledgements.i Executive Summary.ii List of Boxes.vii List of Figures.vii List of Tables.viii Abbreviations.ix 1.Introduction.1 1.1.Backgroun

36、d and objective.1 1.2.Survey instrument and methodology.3 2.Trade facilitation implementation in CAREC countries:Overview.5 2.1.Most and least implemented trade facilitation measures.7 2.2.Progress in implementation between 2021-2023.10 3.Implementation of trade facilitation measures:A closer look.1

37、2 3.1.Transparency.12 3.2.Formalities.14 3.3.Institutional arrangement and cooperation.16 3.4.Transit facilitation.18 3.5.Paperless trade.20 3.6.Cross-border paperless trade.22 3.7.Trade facilitation for SMEs.27 3.8.Agricultural trade facilitation.30 3.9.Women in trade facilitation.31 3.10.Trade fin

38、ance facilitation.33 3.11.Trade facilitation in times of crisis.35 4.Assessing the impact of trade facilitation in CAREC countries.37 5.Conclusion and the way forward.40 Annexes.44 Annex 1.List of participating countries.44 Annex 2.Grouping of trade facilitation measures and correspondence with TFA

39、articles.46 Annex 3.A three-step approach for data collection and validation.50 Annex 4:Definition of each stage of implementation.51 vii LIST OF BOXES Box 1.Georgias good practices in cross-border paperless trade.24 Box 2.Climate-smart trade facilitation.26 Box 3.Trade Facilitation for e-commerce a

40、nd SMEs.29 Box 4.A regional United Nations treaty,leaving no-one behind to accelerate trade digitalization.39 LIST OF FIGURES Figure 1.Overall implementation of trade facilitation measures in CAREC countries.5 Figure 2.Average Trade facilitation implementation rate in the Asia-Pacific subregions inc

41、luding CAREC.6 Figure 3.Implementation of different sub-groups of trade facilitation measures by CAREC countries.6 Figure 4.Level of implementation of WTO TFA-related measures(excluding transit)by CAREC countries.9 Figure 5.Trade facilitation implementation by CAREC countries between 2021 and 2023.1

42、0 Figure 6.Average implementation of different sub-groups of trade facilitation measures by CAREC countries between 2019 and 2023.11 Figure 7.State of implementation of transparency by CAREC benchmarking Asia-Pacific.13 Figure 8.State of implementation of transparency in CAREC.13 Figure 9.State of i

43、mplementation of formalities by CAREC benchmarking Asia-Pacific.15 Figure 10.State of implementation of trade formalities in CAREC.15 Figure 11.State of implementation of institutional arrangement and cooperation by CAREC benchmarking Asia-Pacific.17 Figure 12.State of implementation of institutiona

44、l arrangement and cooperation measures for trade facilitation in CAREC.17 Figure 13.State of implementation of transit facilitation by CAREC benchmarking Asia-Pacific.19 Figure 14.State of implementation of transit facilitation in CAREC.19 Figure 15.State of implementation of paperless trade by CARE

45、C benchmarking.21 Figure 16.State of implementation of paperless trade in CAREC.21 viii Figure 17.State of implementation of cross-border paperless trade by CAREC benchmarking Asia-Pacific.23 Figure 18.State of implementation of cross-border paperless trade in CAREC.23 Figure 19.State of implementat

46、ion of trade facilitation and wildlife protection in CAREC.26 Figure 20.State of implementation of trade Facilitation for SMEs by CAREC benchmarking Asia-Pacific.28 Figure 21.State of implementation of trade facilitation for SMEs in CAREC.28 Figure 22.State of implementation of trade facilitation fo

47、r e-commerce in CAREC.29 Figure 23.State of implementation of agricultural trade facilitation by CAREC benchmarking Asia-Pacific.30 Figure 24.State of implementation of agricultural trade facilitation in CAREC.30 Figure 25.State of implementation of women in trade facilitation by CAREC benchmarking

48、Asia-Pacific.32 Figure 26.State of implementation of women in trade facilitation in CAREC.32 Figure 27.State of implementation of trade finance facilitation by CAREC benchmarking Asia-Pacific.34 Figure 28.State of implementation of trade finance facilitation in CAREC.34 Figure 29.State of implementa

49、tion of trade facilitation in times of crisis by CAREC benchmarking Asia-Pacific.36 Figure 30.State of implementation of trade facilitation in times of crisis in CAREC.36 Figure 31.Impact of trade facilitation implementation on trade costs of CAREC economies.38 Figure 32.Trade facilitation implement

50、ation and trade costs of Asia-Pacific economies.40 Figure 33.Moving up the trade facilitation ladder towards seamless international supply chains.42 LIST OF TABLES Table 1.Intra-and extra-regional comprehensive trade costs in the Asia-Pacific region.2 Table 2.Most and least implemented measures in e

51、ach sub-group of trade facilitation measures by CAREC countries.7 Table 3.Expected trade cost reduction from alternative trade facilitation reforms37 ix ABBREVIATIONS ADB Asian Development Bank AEO Authorized Economic Operator ASEAN Association of Southeast Asian Nations BCPs Border Crossing Points

52、CAREC Central Asia Regional Economic Cooperation CATS CAREC Advanced Transit System CITES Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora CPTA Framework Agreement on Facilitation of Cross-border Paper-less Trade in Asia and the Pacific CTC Common Transit Convention DT

53、C Digital Transport Corridor ECA United Nations Economic Commission for Africa ECE United Nations Economic Commission for Europe eCITES CITES electronic permit system ECLAC United Nations Economic Commission for Latin America and the Caribbean e-commerce Electronic commerce EFTA European Free Trade

54、Association ESCAP United Nations Economic and Social Commission for Asia and the Pacific ESCWA United Nations Economic and Social Commission for Western Asia EU European Union GATT General Agreement on Tariffs and Trade GHG Greenhouse Gas GRS Georgian Revenue Services ICC International Chamber of Co

55、mmerce ICT Information and Communications Technology LDC Least Developed Country LLDC Landlocked Developing Country NCA North and Central Asia x NCTS New Computerized Transit System NeLs National eLogistics System NTFC National Trade Facilitation Committee OCO Oceania Customs Organization PIDEs Paci

56、fic Island Developing Economies ROC-TF Regional Organizations Cooperation Mechanism for Trade Fa-cilitation RTAs Regional Trade Agreement SAARC South Asian Association for Regional Cooperation SDGs Sustainable Development Goals SMEs Small and medium-sized enterprises SPS Sanitary and Phytosanitary T

57、F Trade Facilitation TFA Trade Facilitation Agreement UN/CEFACT United Nations Centre for Trade Facilitation and Electronic Busi-ness UNCTAD United Nations Conference on Trade and Development UNNExT United Nations Network of Experts for Paperless Trade and Transport for Asia and the Pacific UNRCs Un

58、ited Nations Regional Commissions USA United States of America USAID United States Agency for International Development WTO World Trade Organization 1 1.Introduction 1.1.Background and objective Reducing trade costs plays a key role in facilitating the active engagement of econ-omies in regional and

59、 global value chains,thereby amplifying trade volumes and transit flows.In this regard,trade facilitation measures are crucial to ensuring that trade remains as a main engine of growth and sustainable development.In this re-gard,trade facilitation needs to be given special attention as a strategic c

60、ontributor to trade cost reduction and trade development.As shown in Table 1,based on the latest data from the ESCAP-World Bank Trade Cost Database,comprehensive non-tariff trade costs between the Central Asia Regional Economic Cooperation(CAREC)economies(141%tariff-equivalent)are still significantl

61、y higher than the costs of trad-ing goods among the three largest economies in European Union(42%tariff-equiv-alent)or those between China,the Republic of Korea and Japan(58%tariff equiva-lent).Most countries are still recovering from the COVID-19 pandemic,with inflation still present(albeit deceler

62、ating),and uncertainties on global economic prospects re-main.Combined with regional geopolitical conflicts creating new supply chain dis-ruptions,international trade remains partly impeded.Although global merchandise trade and services volumes exhibited a resilient rebound following the pandemic,tr

63、ade growth faltered in 2022,with slow growth persisting throughout 2023,at 0.8%according to the latest WTO estimate1.However,trade facilitation measures play an important role in mitigating these challenges by enhancing efficiency through streamlined and digitalized processes.By implementing effecti

64、ve trade facilitation strategies,unnecessary costs can be reduced,helping to counter the trend of in-creasing trade costs.In general,significant progress has been made in reducing trade costs by eliminating or lowering tariffs during the past few decades.Studies indicate that non-tariff measures can

65、 contribute up to twice as much to trade costs compared with ordinary Customs tariffs.Hence,to achieve additional trade cost reductions,it is imperative to tackle non-tariff barriers,such as inadequate transportation networks,and transit infrastructure at and behind Border Crossing Points(BCPs),logi

66、stics infrastructure and services as well as complex regulatory procedures and documentation.In this context,this report presents a comprehensive overview of the results from the UN Global Survey on Digital and Sustainable Trade Facilitation 2023 for the CAREC 1See WTO Global Trade Outlook and Stati

67、stics(Update:October 2023):https:/www.wto.org/english/res_e/booksp_e/gtos_updt_oct23_e.pdf 2 countries.Furthermore,the potential impacts of implementing trade facilitation measures in CAREC are assessed based on a trade cost model.Table 1.Intra-and extra-regional comprehensive trade costs in the Asi

68、a-Pacific region Region ASEAN-4 East Asia-3 Pacific Islands Devel-oping Econo-mies SAARC-3 CAREC-5 AUS-NZL Europe-3 ASEAN-4 74.9%78.6%298.8%129.6%389.3%104.0%105.3%(-0.6%)(3.2%)(8.0%)(2.9%)(1.0%)(4.7%)(-0.2%)East Asia-3 78.6%58.0%201.2%129.3%216.1%89.6%85.6%(3.2%)(10.0%)(-21.5%)(5.4%)(9.8%)(4.4%)(1.

69、0%)Pacific Islands 298.8%201.2%89.6%361.4%N/A 102.3%312.1%Developing Econo-mies(8.0%)(-21.5%)(-19.9%)(6.8%)N/A(7.1%)(0.2%)SAARC-3 129.6%129.3%361.4%160.7%294.3%139.2%117.4%(2.9%)(5.4%)(6.8%)(37.6%)(-0.6%)(2.3%)(3.6%)CAREC-5 389.3%216.1%N/A 294.3%141.1%456.4%210.0%(1.0%)(9.8%)N/A(-0.6%)(1.2%)(5.5%)(5

70、.0%)AUS-NZL 104.0%89.6%102.3%139.2%456.4%52.8%103.0%(4.7%)(4.4%)(7.1%)(2.3%)(5.5%)(0.8%)(-3.5%)Europe-3 105.3%85.6%312.1%117.4%210.0%103.0%41.8%(-0.2%)(1.0%)(0.2%)(3.6%)(5.0%)(-3.5%)(-2.7%)USA 84.4%66.3%183.0%111.7%274.9%97.7%65.6%(-2.1%)(3.9%)(-6.4%)(-0.2%)(13.0%)(-1.6%)(-2.0%)Source:ESCAP-World Ba

71、nk Trade Cost Database,updated May 2023.Available at https:/www.unescap.org/re-sources/escap-world-bank-trade-cost-database or https:/artnet.unescap.org/databases#tradecost Note:Trade costs may be interpreted as tariff equivalents.Percentage changes in trade costs between 2010-2015 and 2016-2021 are

72、 shown in parentheses.ASEAN-4:Indonesia,Malaysia,Philippines,Thailand;East Asia-3:China,Japan,Republic of Korea;Europe-3:Germany,France,United Kingdom;SAARC-3:Bangladesh,India,Pakistan,Sri Lanka;Pacific Island developing economies:Fiji,Samoa;CAREC-5:Azerbaijan,Kazakhstan,Kyrgyzstan,Tajikistan,Uzbeki

73、stan.3 1.2.Survey instrument and methodology The UN Global Survey on Digital and Sustainable Trade Facilitation 2023(hereafter called“the Survey”)builds upon the original instrument(formerly known as the Global Survey on Trade Facilitation and Paperless Trade Implementation).It was prepared accordin

74、g to the final list of commitments included in the WTO Trade Fa-cilitation Agreement(TFA)and supplemented by forward-looking measures that are sought to be implemented under the United Nations treaty the Framework Agree-ment on Facilitation of Cross-border Paperless Trade in Asia and the Pacific(CPT

75、A)and those supporting inclusive and sustainable trade.The 2023 Survey covers 60 trade facilitation measures commonly used by five United Nations Regional Commissions(UNRCs).The 60 measures are classified into four groups and 11 sub-groups(annex 2).The first group,“General Trade Fa-cilitation,”inclu

76、des many WTO TFA measures with subgroups of transparency,for-malities,institutional arrangement and cooperation and transit facilitation.The second group,“Digital Trade Facilitation”measures,includes paperless trade and cross-border paperless trade.The third group of“Sustainable Trade Facilitation”m

77、easures includes trade facilitation for SMEs,agricultural trade facilitation and women in trade facilitation sub-groups.The fourth group“Other Trade Facilitation”comes with two sub-groups:trade finance facilitation and trade facilitation in times of crisis.In addition,two measures are pilot tested i

78、n 2023,namely trade facilitation for e-commerce and trade facilitation and wildlife protection.The overall scope of the Survey goes beyond the measures included in the WTO TFA.Most paperless trade measures,particularly for cross-border paperless trade,are not specifically featured in the WTO TFA.How

79、ever,their inclusion in many cases would support better implementation of the TFA 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”group is

80、added with considerations of trade finances role in facilitating trade flows,the challenges posed by crisis situations to the global trade and supply chain(especially COVID-19),as well as with the rising importance of cross-border e-commerce and the increasing need to combat illegal wildlife trade.E

81、SCAP adopted a three-step approach to developing the dataset(annex 3).Data was collected between January and July 2023.Based on the data collected,each of the trade facilitation measures included in the Survey was rated as“fully imple-mented,”“partially implemented,”“on a pilot basis,”“not implement

82、ed”or“dont know.”Definitions for each stage are provided in Annex 4.A score of 3,2,1,or zero 4 was assigned to each of the four implementation stages to calculate implementation rates for individual measures across countries,regions,or groupings.All 11 CAREC countries are included in this report,nam

83、ely:Afghanistan,Azerbaijan,China,Geor-gia,Kazakhstan,Kyrgyzstan,Mongolia,Pakistan,Tajikistan,Turkmenistan,and Uz-bekistan.Country groupings used in the analysis are detailed in Annex 1 and shown in Figure 2.Further details and examples on the calculation of implementation rates are available online.

84、5 2.Trade facilitation implementation in CAREC countries:Overview When it comes to 31 trade facilitation measures from 5 sub-groups under“General”and“Digital Trade Facilitation”(figure 1),the average rate standing at 69%in CAREC countries appears to be slightly surpassing the regional average of 67%

85、observed in the Asia-Pacific region.At the subregional level,CAREC countries ex-hibit varying degrees of implementation with the lead of China,achieving an imple-mentation rate of 91%.Azerbaijan and Georgia follow closely,behind with 87%each,and Uzbekistan has also achieved an implementation rate of

86、 85%.On the other hand,there is still room for improvement for Mongolia(51%),Tajikistan(51%),Turk-menistan(49%)and Afghanistan(43%),which have implementation rates below the regional and subregional average.Figure 1.Overall implementation of trade facilitation measures in CAREC countries Source:The

87、UN Global Survey on Digital and Sustainable Trade Facilitation,2023.Available at untfsurvey.org The data indicates that there is potential for improvement when CAREC countries average implementation rate of these 31 trade facilitation measures,which stands at 69%,is compared to other subregions(figu

88、re 2).CAREC countries level of implementation ranks only fifth,after Australia and New Zealand(97%),East and North-East Asia(83%),South-East Asia(76%),and North and Central Asia(74%).43%87%91%87%76%72%51%71%51%49%85%67%69%0%20%40%60%80%100%AfghanistanAzerbaijanChinaGeorgiaKazakhstanKyrgyzstanMongoli

89、aPakistanTajikistanTurkmenistanUzbekistanAsia-PacificCARECTransparencyFormalitiesInstitutional arrangement and cooperationPaperless tradeCross-border paperless trade 6 Figure 2.Average Trade facilitation implementation rate in the Asia-Pacific subregions including CAREC Source:The UN Global Survey o

90、n Digital and Sustainable Trade Facilitation,2023.Available at untfsurvey.org While progress has been made in various areas,there is still room for improvement.Indeed,when it comes to trade finance facilitation and cross-border paperless trade,the implementation rates stand at 35%and 48%respectively

91、,making them the least implemented sub-groups covered in the Survey(figure 3).Recognizing the importance of the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development,concerted efforts are necessary to enhance the participation and contribution of SMEs in trade facilitation as well as promote seamless electronic t

92、rade across borders throughout the CAREC subregion.Figure 3.Implementation of different sub-groups of trade facilitation measures by CAREC countries Source:The UN Global Survey on Digital and Sustainable Trade Facilitation,2023.Available at untfsurvey.org 7 2.1.Most and least implemented trade facil

93、itation measures Table 2 offers insights into the implementation status of trade facilitation measures within each sub-group assessed in the Survey.In the transparency sub-group,the measure advance publication/notification of new trade-related regulations before their implementation stands out as th

94、e most implemented.On the other hand,the least implemented measure is single window facilitates traders access to finance from the trade finance facilitation sub-group.This indicates the need for improve-ment in fostering the implementation of single window in initiatives pertaining to trade finance

95、.Table 2.Most and least implemented measures in each sub-group of trade facilitation measures by CAREC countries Sub-group Most implemented(%of countries)Least implemented(%of countries)Measure Implemented fully,partially and on a pilot basis(%)/Full implementation(%)Measure Implemented fully,partia

96、lly and on a pilot basis(%)/Full implementation(%)Transparency Advance publication/notifica-tion of new trade-related regu-lations before their implemen-tation 100.0/90.9 Independent ap-peal mechanism and online lodg-ing 90.9/45.5 Formalities Acceptance of copies of origi-nal supporting documents re

97、-quired for import,export or transit formalities 100.0/63.6 TF measures for authorized oper-ators 90.9/18.2 Institutional ar-rangement and co-operation National legislative framework and/or institutional arrange-ments for border agencies co-operation 100.0/45.5 Government agencies dele-gating border

98、 controls to Cus-toms authorities 63.6/36.4 Paperless trade E-Payment of Customs Duties and Fees 100.0/63.6 Electronic Appli-cation for Cus-toms Refunds 63.6/27.3 8 Cross-border pa-perless trade Laws and regulations for elec-tronic transactions 100.0/18.2 Electronic ex-change of Sani-tary&Phyto-Sani

99、tary Certifi-cate 54.5/18.2 Transit facilitation Limit the physical inspections of transit goods and use risk assessment 100.0/54.5 Cooperation be-tween agencies of countries in-volved in transit 90.9/36.4 Trade facilitation for SMEs Trade-related information measures for SMEs 100.0/45.5 SMEs access

100、 Single Window 72.7/27.3 Agricultural trade facilitation Special treatment for perisha-ble goods 100.0/54.5 Electronic appli-cation and issu-ance of SPS cer-tificates 90.9/27.3 Women in trade facilitation Women membership in the National Trade Facilitation Committee or similar bodies 90.9/18.2 TF me

101、asures to benefit women involved in trade 81.8/27.3 Trade finance fa-cilitation Variety of trade finance ser-vices available 81.8/18.2 Single window facilitates traders access to fi-nance 27.3/9.1 Trade facilitation in times of crisis Agency in place to manage TF in times of crises and emergencies 1

102、00.0/36.4 Additional trade facilitation measures to fa-cilitate trade in times of emer-gencies 81.8/18.2 Source:The UN Global Survey on Digital and Sustainable Trade Facilitation,2023.Available at untfsurvey.org Figure 4 illustrates the extent of implementation of measures directly aligned with the

103、requirements of the WTO TFA,as indicated by the data gathered during the Survey.These findings closely align with the information conveyed by countries through official notifications to the WTO.Among the CAREC countries,the measure with the highest implementation rate is advance publication/notifica

104、tion of new trade-related regulations before their implementation.It is noteworthy that 91%of CAREC countries have fully implemented these measures,while the remaining 9%stand at the pilot stage of implementation.The trade facilitation measures for au-thorized operators are the least implemented as

105、only 18%of the CAREC countries have fully adopted this measure.Meanwhile,55%have partially implemented it,18%9 have implemented it on a pilot stage,and 9%of the countries have yet to implement it.Figure 4.Level of implementation of WTO TFA-related measures(excluding transit)by CAREC countries Source

106、:The UN Global Survey on Digital and Sustainable Trade Facilitation,2023.Available at untfsurvey.org 10 2.2.Progress in implementation between 2021-2023 Some progress has been made in the implementation of trade facilitation measures within CAREC from 2021 to 20232.The average implementation rate ha

107、s witnessed a rise,climbing from 66%in 2021 to 71%in 2023,based on 10 common countries(figure 5).Notably,Uzbekistan has achieved the highest progress,with its imple-mentation rate soaring by nearly 23 percentage points,from 62%in 2021 to 85%in 2023,followed by Pakistan(from 57%in 2021 to 71%in 2023)

108、.The significant progress in Uzbekistan can be attributed to their continued and con-certed efforts to promote trade.As an illustration,in 2022,Uzbekistans trade portal was launched,as a joint project between the State Customs Committee and the Ministry of Investments and Foreign Trade that aims to

109、ensure openness in the pro-cedures associated with cross-border trade.Figure 5.Trade facilitation implementation by CAREC countries between 2021 and 2023 Source:The UN Global Survey on Digital and Sustainable Trade Facilitation,2023.Available at untfsurvey.org 2 A total of 11 CAREC countries partici

110、pated in the 2023 Survey,of which 10 countries also partici-pated in the 2021 Survey.Only countries covered in both Surveys are analyzed to assess progress in the implementation of trade facilitation measures over the previous two years in order to make the samples comparable.42%85%91%83%71%68%47%57

111、%51%62%64%66%43%87%91%87%76%72%51%71%51%85%67%71%0%20%40%60%80%100%AfghanistanAzerbaijanChinaGeorgiaKazakhstanKyrgyzstanMongoliaPakistanTajikistanUzbekistanAsia-PacificCAREC20212023 11 Figure 6 shows the improvement between the 2019 and 2023 Survey years,accord-ing to the sub-groups of trade facilit

112、ation measures for CAREC countries.It shows a steady rise in implementation rates,although the increase is slightly more moder-ate between 2021 and 2023 than between 2019 and 2021,with 8 and 9 percentage point increase,respectively.Progress has been made in 2023 compared with 2021 in all categories,

113、with the most notable improvement being in trade facilitation in times of crisis,which has increased by 15 percentage points.Moreover,significant progress has also been made in 2023 under“Digital Trade Facilitation”and“Sus-tainable Trade Facilitation,”notably for cross-border paperless trade and wom

114、en in trade facilitation measures with increases of 10 and 11 percentage points each,compared to 2021.Figure 6.Average implementation of different sub-groups of trade facilitation measures by CAREC countries between 2019 and 2023 Source:The UN Global Survey on Digital and Sustainable Trade Facilitat

115、ion,2023.Available at untfsurvey.org 77%68%59%56%28%47%55%28%21%84%78%71%60%39%57%65%48%30%52%89%80%73%67%50%63%73%58%34%67%0%20%40%60%80%100%TransparencyFormalitiesInstitutionalarrangementandcooperationPaperlesstradefacilitationCross-borderpaperlesstradeTradefacilitation forSMEsAgriculturaltradefac

116、ilitationWomen intradefacilitationTrade financefacilitationTradefacilitation intimes of crisis201920212023 12 3.Implementation of trade facilitation measures:A closer look 3.1.Transparency Transparency comprises five measures related to Articles 1 to 5 of the WTO Trade Facilitation Agreement(TFA)and

117、 GATT Article X on“Publication and Administration of Trade Regulations”.In this sub-group,the CAREC countries achieve an average implementation level of 87%,surpassing the Asia-Pacific average of 83%.In partic-ular,the subregional implementation rate for the measure stakeholders consulta-tions on ne

118、w draft regulations(prior to their finalization),and the measure advance publication/notification of new trade-related regulations before their implementation both stand at an impressive 94%.Additionally,publication of existing import-export regulations on the internet follows closely with a strong

119、91%implementation rate(figure 7).In addition,figure 8 illustrates that measures under transparency are implemented to various degrees in the CAREC subregion.The measures advance publication/no-tification of new trade-related regulations before their implementation and stake-holders consultation on n

120、ew draft regulations(prior to their finalization)have been fully implemented by 91%and 82%of CAREC countries,respectively.For the meas-ure publication of existing import-export regulations on the internet,it has been fully or partially implemented by all CAREC countries,but 73%of countries fully imp

121、le-mented it.For the two least implemented measures,independent appeal mecha-nism and online lodging and advance ruling on tariff classification and origin of im-ported goods,they have been fully implemented by 45%of the CAREC countries.13 Figure 7.State of implementation of transparency by CAREC be

122、nchmarking Asia-Pacific Source:The UN Global Survey on Digital and Sustainable Trade Facilitation,2023.Available at untfsurvey.org Figure 8.State of implementation of transparency in CAREC Source:The UN Global Survey on Digital and Sustainable Trade Facilitation,2023.Available at untfsurvey.org 0%20

123、%40%60%80%100%Publication of existing import-exportregulations on the internetStakeholders consultation on newdraft regulations(prior to theirfinalization)Advance publication/notification ofnew trade-related regulations beforetheir implementationAdvance ruling on tariff classificationand origin of i

124、mported goodsIndependent appeal mechanism andonline lodgingAsia-PacificCAREC0%10%20%30%40%50%60%70%80%90%100%Independent appeal mechanism and online lodgingAdvance ruling on tariff classification and origin of imported goodsPublication of existing import-export regulations on the internetStakeholder

125、s consultation on new draft regulations(prior to their finalization)Advance publication/notification of new trade-related regulations before theirimplementationFully implementedPartially implementedPilot stage of implementationNot implementedDont knowNot applicable 14 3.2.Formalities The formalities

126、 sub-group encompasses eight general trade facilitation measures that aim to streamline trade procedures,aligning with the requirements outlined in Articles 6-10 of the WTO TFA and GATT Article VIII on“Release and Clearance of Goods”.In 2023,the implementation rate for all measures within the formal

127、ities category stands at 77%,closely aligned with the regional average of Asia and the Pacific,which is 76%.The measure with the highest implementation rate in the sub-region is the acceptance of copies of original supporting documents required for import,export,or transit formalities reaching an im

128、plementation rate of 88%,fol-lowed by post-clearance audits with 85%.Furthermore,the subregional implemen-tation rate for risk management has achieved a commendable 82%(figure 9).Among all the measures,acceptance of copies of original supporting documents required for import,export,or transit formal

129、ities and risk management exhibit the highest full implementation rate at 64%.Moreover,55%of CAREC countries have at least fully implemented the measures post-clearance audits,separation of Re-lease from final determination of Customs duties,taxes,fees and charges and pre-arrival processing.Another

130、measure expedited shipments has been implemented by 45%of CAREC countries,followed by establishment and publication of average release times,fully implemented by 36%of CAREC countries.Finally,the measure TF measures for authorized operators has been fully implemented by only 18%of CAREC countries(fi

131、gure 10).15 Figure 9.State of implementation of formalities by CAREC benchmarking Asia-Pacific Source:The UN Global Survey on Digital and Sustainable Trade Facilitation,2023.Available at untfsurvey.org Figure 10.State of implementation of trade formalities in CAREC Source:The UN Global Survey on Dig

132、ital and Sustainable Trade Facilitation,2023.Available at untfsurvey.org 0%10%20%30%40%50%60%70%80%90%100%TF measures for authorized operatorsEstablishment and publication of average release timesExpedited shipmentsPre-arrival processingSeparation of release from final determination of customs dutie

133、s,taxes,fees and chargesPost-clearance auditsRisk managementAcceptance of copies of original supporting documents required for import,export ortransit formalitiesFully implementedPartially implementedPilot stage of implementationNot implementedDont knowNot applicable0%20%40%60%80%100%Risk management

134、Pre-arrival processingPost-clearance auditsSeparation of release from finaldetermination of customs duties,taxes,feesand chargesEstablishment and publication of averagerelease timesTF measures for authorized operatorsExpedited shipmentsAcceptance of copies of original supportingdocuments required fo

135、r import,export ortransit formalitiesAsia-PacificCAREC 16 3.3.Institutional arrangement and cooperation The institutional arrangement and cooperation category comprises three trade fa-cilitation measures.These measures revolve around the longstanding recommen-dation to establish a national trade fac

136、ilitation body that promotes coordination and cooperation among government agencies and other stakeholders involved in trade facilitation activities.In addition,all three measures are specified in various articles of the WTO TFA.In CAREC,the implementation rate of these measures stands at 71%,slight

137、ly above the regional average in the Asia-Pacific region(68%).Figure 11 illustrates the varying state of implementation for each measure within this sub-group.The measure with the highest implementation rate is the national legis-lative framework and/or institutional arrangements for border agencies

138、 cooperation,for which the implementation rate is 82%.The implementation rate for the National Trade Facilitation Committee or similar body is 76%,which is close to the regional average of the Asia-Pacific region(82%).On the other hand,36%of countries in this subregion have yet to implement the meas

139、ure of government agencies delegat-ing border controls to Customs authorities or are not aware whether this measure has been implemented,making it the least implemented measure within this sub-group(figure 12).17 Figure 11.State of implementation of institutional arrangement and cooperation by CAREC

140、 benchmarking Asia-Pacific Source:The UN Global Survey on Digital and Sustainable Trade Facilitation,2023.Available at untfsurvey.org Figure 12.State of implementation of institutional arrangement and cooperation measures for trade facilitation in CAREC Source:The UN Global Survey on Digital and Sus

141、tainable Trade Facilitation,2023.Available at untfsurvey.org 0%20%40%60%80%100%National Trade Facilitation Committee orsimilar bodyNational legislative framework and/orinstitutional arrangements for borderagencies cooperationGovernment agencies delegating bordercontrols to Customs authoritiesAsia-Pa

142、cificCAREC0%10%20%30%40%50%60%70%80%90%100%Government agencies delegating border controls to Customs authoritiesNational Trade Facilitation Committee or similar bodyNational legislative framework and/or institutional arrangements for borderagencies cooperationFully implementedPartially implementedPi

143、lot stage of implementationNot implementedDont knowNot applicable 18 3.4.Transit facilitation Four trade facilitation measures surveyed pertain to transit facilitation and are aligned with WTO TFA Article 11 on“Freedom of Transit.”These measures aim to simplify the formalities associated with transi

144、t traffic,enabling seamless transporta-tion of goods through one or multiple transit countries.They hold particular signifi-cance for landlocked developing countries,as their goods often pass through neigh-bouring territories for transit.In the subregion,the implementation level of transit facilitat

145、ion stands at approximately 76%,close to the Asia-Pacific regional average of 78%.Among these measures,limit the physical inspections of transit goods and use risk assessment achieves the highest implementation rate(85%,fully implemented by 55%of countries),followed by cooperation between agencies o

146、f countries involved in transit(80%,fully implemented by 36%of countries)and supporting pre-arrival processing for transit facilitation(73%,fully implemented by 45%of countries).The measure transit facilitation agreement(s)remains the least implemented with an implementation rate standing at 67%,wit

147、h only 18%of CAREC countries having fully implemented it(figures 13 and 14).19 Figure 13.State of implementation of transit facilitation by CAREC benchmarking Asia-Pacific Source:The UN Global Survey on Digital and Sustainable Trade Facilitation,2023.Available at untfsurvey.org Figure 14.State of im

148、plementation of transit facilitation in CAREC Source:The UN Global Survey on Digital and Sustainable Trade Facilitation,2023.Available at untfsurvey.org 0%20%40%60%80%100%Transit facilitation agreement(s)Limit the physical inspections of transitgoods and use risk assessmentSupporting pre-arrival pro

149、cessing fortransit facilitationCooperation between agencies ofcountries involved in transitAsia-PacificCAREC0%10%20%30%40%50%60%70%80%90%100%Transit facilitation agreement(s)Cooperation between agencies of countries involved in transitSupporting pre-arrival processing for transit facilitationLimit t

150、he physical inspections of transit goods and use risk assessmentFully implementedPartially implementedPilot stage of implementationNot implementedDont knowNot applicable 20 3.5.Paperless trade Nine trade facilitation measures surveyed are categorized in the paperless trade sub-group.These measures i

151、nvolve the utilization of modern information and com-munication technologies(ICT)in trade procedures,ranging from basic Internet con-nectivity at border crossings to comprehensive electronic Single Window systems.Many of these measures align with the provisions outlined in the WTO TFA.In the subregi

152、on,the implementation level of paperless trade stands at 67%,slightly higher than the Asia-Pacific regional average of 66%.It is important to note that while the TFA encourages economies to implement such measures,it does not impose them as mandatory requirements.Consequently,there is a significant

153、disparity in the implementation rates of the paperless trade measures,ranging from 45%to 85%.As depicted in Figure 15,internet connection available to Customs and other trade control agencies reached the 85%implemen-tation rate,the highest level in this sub-group.It is closely followed by the measur

154、es related to the automated Customs system and electronic submission of Customs declarations that achieved the same implementation rate of 82%.Conversely,the measure with the lowest implementation rate is electronic submission of air cargo manifests,with an implementation rate of 45%.Only 27%of the

155、countries in CAREC have fully implemented this measure,while implementation has not yet commenced in 27%of the CAREC countries(figure 16).21 Figure 15.State of implementation of paperless trade by CAREC benchmarking Source:The UN Global Survey on Digital and Sustainable Trade Facilitation,2023.Avail

156、able at untfsurvey.org Figure 16.State of implementation of paperless trade in CAREC Source:The UN Global Survey on Digital and Sustainable Trade Facilitation,2023.Available at untfsurvey.org 0%10%20%30%40%50%60%70%80%90%100%Electronic Submission of Air Cargo ManifestsElectronic Application for Cust

157、oms RefundsElectronic application and issuance of import and export permitElectronic application and issuance of Preferential Certificate of OriginElectronic Single Window SystemElectronic submission of Customs declarationsAutomated Customs SystemE-Payment of Customs Duties and FeesInternet connecti

158、on available to Customs and other trade control agenciesFully implementedPartially implementedPilot stage of implementationNot implementedDont knowNot applicable0%20%40%60%80%100%Automated Customs SystemInternet connection available to Customsand other trade control agenciesElectronic Single Window

159、SystemElectronic submission of CustomsdeclarationsElectronic application and issuance ofimport and export permitElectronic Submission of Air CargoManifestsElectronic application and issuance ofPreferential Certificate of OriginE-Payment of Customs Duties and FeesElectronic Application for Customs Re

160、fundsAsia-PacificCAREC 22 3.6.Cross-border paperless trade The category of cross-border paperless trade encompasses six measures aimed at facilitating the exchange and recognition of trade-related data and documents.Two fundamental measures in this category include the establishment of laws and regu

161、lations for electronic transactions and recognized certification authority.These measures serve as essential foundations for enabling the secure exchange of trade-related information within a country and across the entire international supply chain.In CAREC,the average implementation rates of these

162、two measures stand at 67%and 52%,respectively.The remaining four measures focus on implementing sys-tems that facilitate the actual exchange of trade-related data and documents across borders,eliminating the need for physical paper documents.In CAREC,the imple-mentation rate of cross-border paperles

163、s trade stands at 48%and surpasses the Asia-Pacific regional average of 42%,but still has significant room to improve,being one of the two least implemented sub-groups(figure 17).Figure 18 illustrates that laws and regulations for electronic transactions and elec-tronic exchange of customs declarati

164、on have been implemented by all CAREC countries,either fully,partially,or as pilot stage of implementation,making them the most frequently implemented measures.Moreover,36%of the countries have not started to implement the measures elec-tronic exchange of Certificate of Origin and recognized certifi

165、cation authority yet.This rate rises to 45%for the measure electronic exchange of Sanitary&Phyto-Sanitary Certificate.23 Figure 17.State of implementation of cross-border paperless trade by CAREC benchmarking Asia-Pacific Source:The UN Global Survey on Digital and Sustainable Trade Facilitation,2023

166、.Available at untfsurvey.org Figure 18.State of implementation of cross-border paperless trade in CAREC Source:The UN Global Survey on Digital and Sustainable Trade Facilitation,2023.Available at untfsurvey.org 0%20%40%60%80%100%Laws and regulations for electronictransactionsRecognised certification

167、 authorityElectronic exchange of Customs DeclarationElectronic exchange of Certificate of OriginElectronic exchange of Sanitary&Phyto-Sanitary CertificatePaperless collection of payment from adocumentary letter of creditAsia-PacificCAREC0%10%20%30%40%50%60%70%80%90%100%Electronic exchange of Certifi

168、cate of OriginElectronic exchange of Customs DeclarationElectronic exchange of Sanitary&Phyto-Sanitary CertificatePaperless collection of payment from a documentary letter of creditLaws and regulations for electronic transactionsRecognised certification authorityFully implementedPartially implemente

169、dPilot stage of implementationNot implementedDont knowNot applicable 24 Box 1.Georgias good practices in cross-border paperless trade From the early days of its independence,Georgia identified international trade facilitation as a cornerstone of its economic policy and has been striving to become a

170、regional transport and logistics hub since then,actively developing its transport and digital connectivity with the Euro-pean Union(EU).Therefore,after the disruption of international supply chains caused by the COVID-19 pandemic,the Georgian Revenue Service(GRS Georgian Customs)reaffirmed the main

171、directions of their national strategy,including further facilitation of cross-border trade,digi-talization of transit corridors passing through Georgia,and digitalization of Customs operations and services.Implementation of New Computerized Transit System After completion of the EU-funded project“Su

172、pporting the Accession of Georgia to the Conven-tions on Transit Area and Launching of the New Computerized Transit System(NCTS),”from April 2023 Georgia has developed NCTS Phase 5,with the technical support of UNCTAD3 This electronic transit system will be used as a national application to offer a

173、single document and guarantee issued by the Customs Department for continuous transit through the EU,the Euro-pean Free Trade Association(EFTA),the United Kingdom,Turkey,Serbia and Macedonia.In ADB report4 it was concluded that Georgia potentially could offer an opportunity to integrate CAREC Advanc

174、ed Transit System(CATS)with NCTS in the EU.Georgia is also in the process of accession to the Common Transit Convention(CTC),a major change in terms of transit efficiency for the country,which will be directly connected to the EU in a faster way.Georgia is progressing with legislative evolutions,and

175、 the Customs service is help-ing both large companies and SMEs to prepare for the potentialities of NCTS and what this ser-vice implies for their operational activities.Effective accession to the Conventions and full imple-mentation of the NCTS with conformity testing are expected by the end of 2024

176、.In addition,in 2023 the GRS published an interim report5 with interesting details about its imple-mentation strategy.In particular,to meet the increased demand for remote services,they imple-mented significant measures,including the launch of an online platform(infohub.rs.ge),available to both GRS

177、employees and taxpayers,centralizing information and documentation related to tax and Customs issues.Evolution of the paperless trade Single Window In 2023,the USAID office in Georgia initiated a feasibility study to support the digitalization of the transport and logistics sector6 with the involvem

178、ent of the Ministry of Economy and Sustainable Development.The main objective is to develop the concept and road map for the implementation of the national eLogistics system(NeLS)and platform in Georgia,as recommended by UN/CEFACT,which is considered an important development for the next stage of th

179、e national Single Window evolution.The integration layer of the NeLS platform is to provide connectivity and interoperability with local information systems for various modes of transport7,as well as interoperability with NeLS in other CAREC member countries as well as digital transport corridor(DTC

180、)level platforms.The orches-tration layer will digitalize the main multimodal business processes and include NeLS service 3 https:/unctad.org/news/georgia-enhancing-customs-systems-unlock-trade-potential 4 https:/www.adb.org/projects/documents/reg-46026-001-tacr 5GRS Annual report-https:/www.rs.ge/M

181、edia/Default/Docs/ANGARISHI_2022-23_ENG_.pdf 6 https:/www.usaid.gov/georgia/our-programs 7 https:/eufordigital.eu/wp-content/uploads/2020/06/DTC-report-draft.pdf 25 modules established in other CAREC countries to facilitate the exchange of data and electronic documents for all transport modes,includ

182、ing eCMR,eCertificate of Origin,and eTIR.In addition to the need to advance paperless and cross-border paperless trade in CAREC coun-tries overall,with a greater emphasis on sustainable trade,implementation of paperless and cross-border paperless trade facilitation measures could lead to making trad

183、e more sustainable and climate-smart(box 2).26 Box 2.Climate-smart trade facilitation Climate-smart trade facilitation would refer to trade facilitation measures that aim to make trade greener,in line with Goal 13 of the Sustainable Development Goals(SDGs)on climate action.Digitalization is one key

184、element in the green trade transition.The 2021 Asia-Pacific Trade and Investment Report highlighted the need for an acceleration of climate-smart trade solutions.8 Paperless and cross-border paperless trade measures can have positive impacts on protecting the environment and making trade more sustai

185、nable by reducing GHG emissions,both from embodied carbon emissions in paper production and in the emissions from transporting physical documents.An ESCAP study undertaken in May 2021 estimated that by fully digitalizing regula-tory procedures around trade,between 32 and 86 kg of CO2 equivalents cou

186、ld be saved per end-to-end transaction.9 One example of climate-smart trade facilitation utilizing trade digitalization is the Electronic permits of the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora,known as CITES.It is an agreement between Governments that aims to

187、ensure that international trade in wild animals and plant specimens are regulated for the protection of those species.Electronic permits(eCITES)are an emerging digital solution for improving the implementation of the CITES Convention by simplifying the compliance procedure for trade in these goods.I

188、t is also being used as a means of combatting illegal trade.In the 2023 Survey,the pilot-tested measures,trade facilitation and wildlife protection,ad-dressed the implementation of the CITES electronic permit system(eCITES).It is noted that CAREC countries have a low level of implementation rate eCI

189、TES permits(figure 19).Figure 19.State of implementation of trade facilitation and wildlife protection in CAREC Source:The UN Global Survey on Digital and Sustainable Trade Facilitation,2023.Available at untfsurvey.org 8 Asia-Pacific Trade and Investment Report 2021:Accelerating Climate-Smart Trade

190、and Investment for Sustainable Development,available at https:/www.unescap.org/kp/APTIR2021 9 ESCAP,2023,Digital and Sustainable Trade Facilitation:Global Report 2023 0%10%20%30%40%50%60%70%80%90%100%Electronic application,issuance and exchange of eCITESFully implementedPartially implementedPilot st

191、age of implementationNot implementedDont knowNot applicable 27 3.7.Trade facilitation for SMEs In the Asia-Pacific region,there is considerable variation in the level of implementa-tion of all five measures in trade facilitation for SMEs,as indicated in Figure 20.The average implementation rate of t

192、hese measures in CAREC countries is 62%,which is much higher than the regional average of 43%.Moreover,CAREC countries ex-hibit a higher level of implementation on each one of the five measures,compared to the Asia-Pacific region.It is worth noting that all the CAREC countries have implemented trade

193、-related in-formation measures for SMEs,either fully,partially or on a pilot stage with an aver-age implementation rate of 79%.Two other sets of measures,SMEs in National Trade Facilitation Committee and other special measures for SMEs,also show strong implementation rates of 64%and 61%,much higher

194、than the regional aver-age.When it comes to measures for SMEs in AEO scheme,apart from an imple-mentation rate above the regional average of 58%,it is noticeable that 82%of CAREC countries have implemented this measure either fully,partially or on a pilot stage.The least implemented measure is SMEs

195、access Single Window,which is not implemented in 27%of the countries and has an average implementation rate of 48%,as shown in Figure 20 and Figure 21.The upward trend in the use of e-com-merce in the global economy could present opportunities for SMEs to connect to global supply chains but measures

196、 specific to SMEs as well as to supporting e-com-merce would need to be further enhanced(box 3).28 Figure 20.State of implementation of trade Facilitation for SMEs by CAREC benchmark-ing Asia-Pacific Source:The UN Global Survey on Digital and Sustainable Trade Facilitation,2023.Available at untfsurv

197、ey.org Figure 21.State of implementation of trade facilitation for SMEs in CAREC Source:The UN Global Survey on Digital and Sustainable Trade Facilitation,2023.Available at untfsurvey.org 0%10%20%30%40%50%60%70%80%Trade-related information measures for SMEsSMEs in AEO schemeSMEs access Single Window

198、SMEs in National Trade Facilitation CommitteeOther special measures for SMEsAsia-PacificCAREC0%10%20%30%40%50%60%70%80%90%100%Other special measures for SMEsSMEs access Single WindowSMEs in National Trade Facilitation CommitteeSMEs in AEO schemeTrade-related information measures for SMEsFully implem

199、entedPartially implementedPilot stage of implementationNot implementedDont knowNot applicable 29 Box 3.Trade Facilitation for e-commerce and SMEs Electronic commerce(e-commerce)accounts for a significant proportion of business transac-tions among CAREC countries and is an increasingly important elem

200、ent in international trade.An ongoing challenge in this space is to harmonize regulations governing e-commerce across nations;although progress has been made,regulations governing e-commerce have not kept pace with the rapid expansion of e-commercial transactions.In the 2023 Survey,the pilot-tested

201、trade facilitation for e-commerce measure reflects whether countries have implemented a national strategy on cross-border e-commerce and a de minimis regime.It is observed that every 36%of CAREC countries have partially imple-mented them,with 27%on a pilot stage(figure 22).This highlights the need f

202、or significant improvements,not only for the areas indicated in the measure but also in a broader context for the overall e-commerce environment.These improvements are crucial for enhancing over-all“Digital Trade Facilitation”and ensuring its positive impact on sustainable trade.Figure 22.State of i

203、mplementation of trade facilitation for e-commerce in CAREC Source:The UN Global Survey on Digital and Sustainable Trade Facilitation,2023.Available at untfsurvey.org 0%10%20%30%40%50%60%70%80%90%100%TF measures for cross-border e-commerceFully implementedPartially implementedPilot stage of implemen

204、tationNot implementedDont knowNot applicable 30 3.8.Agricultural trade facilitation The implementation rate of agricultural trade facilitation in the CAREC subregion stands at 73%,higher than the Asia-Pacific average of 62%.The measure special treatment for perishable goods has the highest implement

205、ation rate of 85%,followed by the measure testing and laboratory facilities available to meet SPS requirements of main trading partners,which stands at 76%(figure 23).Following closely is the presence of national standards and accreditation bodies to facilitate compliance with SPS with an implementa

206、tion rate of 73%.The measure with the lowest imple-mentation rate in this sub-group is the electronic application and issuance of SPS certificates with a subregional implementation rate of 61%.Implementation of this measure is often incomplete,and only 27%of countries within the subregion have fully

207、 implemented it(figure 24).Figure 23.State of implementation of agricultural trade facilitation by CAREC benchmarking Asia-Pacific Source:The UN Global Survey on Digital and Sustainable Trade Facilitation,2023.Available at untfsurvey.org Figure 24.State of implementation of agricultural trade facili

208、tation in CAREC Source:The UN Global Survey on Digital and Sustainable Trade Facilitation,2023.Available at untfsurvey.org 0%10%20%30%40%50%60%70%80%90%Testing and laboratory facilities available tomeet SPS of main trading partnersNational standards and accreditation bodiesto facilitate compliance w

209、ith SPSElectronic application and issuance of SPScertificatesSpecial treatment for perishable goodsAsia-PacificCAREC0%10%20%30%40%50%60%70%80%90%100%Electronic application and issuance of SPS certificatesNational standards and accreditation bodies to facilitate compliance with SPSTesting and laborat

210、ory facilities available to meet SPS of main trading partnersSpecial treatment for perishable goodsFully implementedPartially implementedPilot stage of implementationNot implementedDont knowNot applicable 31 3.9.Women in trade facilitation The implementation level of the three women in trade facilit

211、ation measures in CAREC countries stands at 58%.This is higher than the average in the Asia-Pacific region(42%),indicating that gender equality has been integrated into various policy initiatives and the specific concerns of women traders regarding trade facilitation addressed to some extent in CARE

212、C countries.The measure with the highest implementation rate is the TF policy/strategy to in-crease womens participation in trade,which stands at 67%,well above the average in the Asia-Pacific region(39%).Moreover,the implementation rates for the other two measures in this category,TF measures to be

213、nefit women involved in trade and women membership in the National Trade Facilitation Committee or similar bod-ies,reach commendable scores of 52%and 55%,respectively(figure 25).Most CAREC countries have introduced women membership in the National Trade Facilitation Committee or similar bodies and T

214、F measures to benefit women in-volved in trade at least as a pilot stage.These measures include having a desig-nated gender focal point in relevant border agencies,promoting gender-balanced participation in training,and providing specialized training for women engaged in trade.Moreover,TF policy/str

215、ategy to increase womens participation in trade has been implemented by 82%of the CAREC countries,and all these CAREC countries have fully or partially implemented this measure(figure 26).More than 80%of CAREC countries have introduced all these measures connected to“women in trade facilitation”at l

216、east at a pilot stage.The measure“TF policy/strat-egy to increase womens participation in trade”has been fully or partially imple-mented by 82%of the CAREC countries while“woman membership in the National Trade Facilitation Committee or similar bodies has been implemented by 97%of them at least at a

217、 pilot stage.This measure includes having a designated gender focal point in relevant border agencies,promoting balanced participation of men and women in trainings and providing specialized training for women engaged in trade.Several regional and national efforts are noted in this regard.Kazakhstan

218、 is actively working to enhance gender representation in companies with state participation,aiming for a 30%female presence in management bodies.Additionally,Kazakhstan is fostering womens entrepreneurship through financial and non-financial support measures,including interest rate subsidy and loan

219、guarantee instruments,con-tributing to advancing womens participation in trade and business facilitation.Also,as part of Turkmenistans plan and efforts to accede to the WTO,there are initiatives to support women-led businesses in integrating into global and regional value chains,32 foster a gender-i

220、nclusive environment,and assist women policymakers.In Uzbeki-stan,under a project Enhancing Economic Opportunities for Rural Women,efforts are undertaken to boost economic prospects 28 for marginalized rural women within designated areas by focusing on skills development and enhancing their access t

221、o finance and markets.Figure 25.State of implementation of women in trade facilitation by CAREC benchmark-ing Asia-Pacific Source:The UN Global Survey on Digital and Sustainable Trade Facilitation,2023.Available at untfsurvey.org Figure 26.State of implementation of women in trade facilitation in CA

222、REC Source:The UN Global Survey on Digital and Sustainable Trade Facilitation,2023.Available at untfsurvey.org 0%10%20%30%40%50%60%70%80%90%100%Women membership in the National Trade Facilitation Committee or similar bodiesTF measures to benefit women involved in tradeTF policy/strategy to increase

223、womens participation in tradeFully implementedPartially implementedPilot stage of implementationNot implementedDont knowNot applicable0%20%40%60%80%100%TF policy/strategy to increase womens participation in tradeTF measures to benefit women involved intradeWomen membership in the National TradeFacil

224、itation Committee or similar bodiesAsia-PacificCAREC 33 3.10.Trade finance facilitation In CAREC countries,among all the sub-groups of measures,trade finance facilita-tion has the lowest implementation rate of 35%.The most widely implemented measure is variety of trade finance services available,wit

225、h 82%of countries report-ing at least a pilot stage of implementation.However,the rates of implementation for measures such as Single window facilitates traders access to finance and author-ities engaged in blockchain-based supply chain projects covering trade finance are relatively low,standing at

226、21%and 30%respectively,although above Asia-Pacific regional average of 18%,and observed in a very small number of countries(27%and 36%)as fully or partially Implemented(figures 27 and 28).It is worth noting that data collection on this topic during the survey proved to be challenging.For example,the

227、re was a lack of evidence regarding the implementa-tion of Single Window features that facilitate traders access to finance,as indicated by trade facilitation experts and officials who provided or validated the survey re-sponses.This suggests a general unfamiliarity with trade finance among these st

228、akeholders.Traditional trade facilitation actors,including Customs and Govern-ment Ministries responsible for trade,may perceive financing and payment proce-dures in international trade transactions as beyond their scope of work.However,considering the interconnectedness of goods and financial flows

229、,the results high-light the necessity for enhanced coordination and cooperation with stakeholders in-volved in developing financial and payment services.34 Figure 27.State of implementation of trade finance facilitation by CAREC benchmarking Asia-Pacific Source:The UN Global Survey on Digital and Su

230、stainable Trade Facilitation,2023.Available at untfsurvey.org Figure 28.State of implementation of trade finance facilitation in CAREC Source:The UN Global Survey on Digital and Sustainable Trade Facilitation,2023.Available at untfsurvey.org 0%20%40%60%80%100%Single window facilitates traders access

231、 tofinanceAuthorities engaged in blockchain-basedsupply chain project covering trade financeVariety of trade finance services availableAsia-PacificCAREC0%10%20%30%40%50%60%70%80%90%100%Single window facilitates traders access to financeAuthorities engaged in blockchain-based supply chain project cov

232、ering trade financeVariety of trade finance services availableFully implementedPartially implementedPilot stage of implementationNot implementedDont knowNot applicable 35 3.11 Trade facilitation in times of crisis In the 2021 Survey,a new category called trade facilitation measures in times of crisi

233、s was introduced in response to the COVID-19 pandemic,and the 2023 Survey continued to include measures addressing both immediate crisis responses and long-term resilient strategies.CAREC has achieved an implementation level of 65%in this sub-group,slightly surpassing the average in the Asia-Pacific

234、 region(60%).Among all measures in this sub-group,the measure agency in place to manage TF in times of crises and emergencies has the highest implementation rate at 76%and has been fully or partially implemented by 91%of CAREC countries.It is followed by online publication of emergency TF measures,w

235、ith a subregional implementa-tion rate of 73%(figures 29 and 30).To address the challenges posed by restrictive measures,it is crucial to enhance cooperation between countries to prevent trade tensions from escalating and ensure the uninterrupted flow of essential goods in supply chains.For the coor

236、dination be-tween countries on emergency TF measures and for the plan in place to facilitate trade during future crises,CAREC countries have had a slightly higher implemen-tation rate than the average of the Asia-Pacific region,with 64%and 73%of the countries having fully or partially implemented th

237、ese measures(figures 29 and 30).36 Figure 29.State of implementation of trade facilitation in times of crisis by CAREC bench-marking Asia-Pacific Source:The UN Global Survey on Digital and Sustainable Trade Facilitation,2023.Available at untfsurvey.org Figure 30.State of implementation of trade faci

238、litation in times of crisis in CAREC Source:The UN Global Survey on Digital and Sustainable Trade Facilitation,2023.Available at untfsurvey.org 0%20%40%60%80%Agency in place to manage TF in times ofcrises and emergenciesOnline publication of emergency TFmeasuresCoordination between countries onemerg

239、ency TF measuresAdditional trade facilitation measures tofacilitate trade in times of emergenciesPlan in place to facilitate trade duringfuture crisesAsia-PacificCAREC0%10%20%30%40%50%60%70%80%90%100%Additional trade facilitation measures to facilitate trade in times of emergenciesPlan in place to f

240、acilitate trade during future crisesCoordination between countries on emergency TF measuresAgency in place to manage TF in times of crises and emergenciesOnline publication of emergency TF measuresFully implementedPartially implementedPilot stage of implementationNot implementedDont knowNot applicab

241、le 37 4.Assessing the impact of trade facilitation in CAREC countries To assess the potential impact of the implementation of trade facilitation measures in CAREC countries,a trade cost model has been formulated as a function of trade facilitation implementation rates based on the Survey data.This i

242、s in addition to other traditional trade cost factors such as natural geographic factors(distance,“land-lockedness”and contiguity),cultural and historical distance(e.g.,common official language and/or former colonial relationships),the presence of regional trade agree-ments,and maritime connectivity

243、.The model is based on ESCAP(2023)10 by cap-turing the changes in trade costs resulting from the implementation of trade facilita-tion measures by each country.The overall trade cost reductions expected in CAREC countries from the implemen-tation of three sets of trade facilitation measures are show

244、n in Table 3.The first set of trade facilitation measures is limited to the implementation of WTO TFA binding measures only.The second set of measures includes all binding and non-binding WTO TFA measures included in the Survey.The final and most ambitious set is a WTO TFA+set of measures,including

245、digital implementation of TFA measures and cross-border paperless trade.For each set of measures,the average changes in trade cost achieved if all CAREC countries at least partially implement all measures,or if they all fully implement all measures,are calculated.Table 3.Expected trade cost reductio

246、n from alternative trade facilitation reforms CAREC:trade costs model WTO TFA(binding only)WTO TFA(binding+non-binding)WTO TFA+(binding+non-binding+other paperless and cross-border paperless trade)Partially im-plemented Fully imple-mented Partially im-plemented Fully imple-mented Partially im-plemen

247、ted Fully imple-mented Model 1 Overall trade facilitation-0.94%-4.14%-1.73%-6.74%-7.60%-15.02%Model 2 General trade facilitation measures-0.77%-3.09%-0.93%-4.23%-1.23%-4.74%Digital trade facilitation measures-0.84%-1.75%-6.43%-9.84%Source:United Nations ESCAP,based on data from www.untfsurvey.org an

248、d ESCAP/World Bank Trade Cost database.Note:There are no digital trade facilitation measures that are classified as WTO TFA binding measures.WTO TFA=World Trade Organization Trade Facilitation Agreement.10 ESCAP,2023,Digital and Sustainable Trade Facilitation:Global Report 2023 38 Two main findings

249、emerge from this impact analysis.First,complying with WTO TFA by implementing binding measures can only slightly reduce trade costs.Full imple-mentation of binding measures in the overall trade facilitation model results in a de-crease in trade costs of about 4%,while full implementation of all meas

250、ures(both binding and non-binding)results in about 8%reduction.Second,the paperless im-plementation of the TFA measures,together with enabling the seamless electronic exchange of trade data and documents across borders,will help to significantly re-duce trade costs by about 15%for CAREC countries.Th

251、e results of model 2 also suggest that most of the trade cost reductions are associated with digital trade facil-itation measures rather than conventional trade facilitation measures.CAREC economies will reap significant benefits from accelerating the implementa-tion of trade facilitation.As shown i

252、n Figure 31,the full implementation of the three different sets of trade facilitation measures results in trade cost reductions for these nine CAREC economies.As expected,the trade cost reductions are much larger when cross-border paperless trade is achieved.However,achieving such trade cost reducti

253、ons will require closer cooperation between economies on developing in-teroperable paperless trade systems,as envisaged in the CPTA(see box 4).Figure 31.Impact of trade facilitation implementation on trade costs of CAREC economies Source:United Nations ESCAP,based on data from www.untfsurvey.org and

254、 ESCAP/World Bank Trade Cost Database -30%-25%-20%-15%-10%-5%0%AfghanistanMongoliaTajikistanPakistanUzbekistanKyrgyzstanKazakhstanAzerbaijanChinaEffect of full implementation of WTO TFA binding measuresEffect of full implementation of WTO TFA binding+non-binding measuresEffect of full implementation

255、 of WTO TFA binding+non-binding+other paperless trade measures 39 Box 4.A regional United Nations treaty,leaving no-one behind to accelerate trade digitalization The Framework Agreement on Facilitation of Cross-border Paperless Trade in Asia and the Pacific(CPTA),which is a United Nations treaty,aim

256、s to promote cross-border paperless trade by(a)enabling the exchange and mutual recognition of trade-related data and documents in electronic form,and(b)facilitation of interoperability among national and subregional Single Windows and/or other paperless trade systems.It is designed as an inclusive

257、and enabling platform that will benefit all participating economies,regardless of where they stand in terms of trade facilitation or Single Window/paperless trade implementation.The treaty was adopted by the ESCAP member States in 2016.On 20 February 2021,it entered into force,indicating ESCAP membe

258、rs continued efforts to accelerate trade digitalization in the region.13 countries are Parties to the treaty as of publication of the report,with several other ESCAP members in the process of completing their domestic processes for accession.Achieving cross-border paperless trade across the region i

259、s a long and difficult endeavor,and it cannot be achieved without close collaboration between countries.The CPTA is expected to support the process by providing a dedicated institutional framework for countries with the proven political will to develop legal and technical solutions for cross-border

260、paperless trade,including pilot projects,capacity-building and technical assistance,based on existing international standards.Some of the benefits for ESCAP member States that become parties to the CPTA include:a)Accelerated progress towards a paperless trade environment at the national level,based

261、on the political will demonstrated during the accession process to CPTA,and through ac-cess to structured and regular sharing of lessons learnt on the implementation of best practices;b)Reduction in overall investment costs and maximization of returns from investments in paperless trade systems,thro

262、ugh concurrent development of national paperless trade sys-tems and environment for cross-border trade data exchange;c)Ready access to potential counterpart countries interested in negotiating and achieving cross-border data exchange,avoiding or reducing the need for engaging in numerous and/or pote

263、ntially incompatible bilateral initiatives;d)Direct participation in the development of pragmatic solutions for the cross-border ex-change of trade documents.For more advanced countries with relevant experience and existing practices,this will enable them to ensure that new regional systems and solu

264、tions will be harmonized and interoperable with what they have already achieved on a bilateral and/or subregional basis.Compliance with commitments a Party may have made through in its bilateral and plurilateral trade agreements,such as regional trade agreements(RTAs)to collaborate on exchanging ele

265、ctronic data and documents(typically featured in“Paper-less Trading”Articles in RTAs,or related provisions or agreements).Note:Additional details on the CPTA are available at:https:/www.unescap.org/kp/cpta 40 5.Conclusion and the way forward This report presents data on the implementation of a set o

266、f 60 trade facilitation measures from 11 CAREC countries and 36 other economies across the Asia-Pa-cific region.The Survey,serving as the basis of the report,not only covers general trade facilitation measures,as outlined in the WTO TFA,but also digital and sustain-able trade facilitation measures a

267、nd beyond.Figure 32 confirms the strong relation-ship between the cost of international trade in the Asia-Pacific countries and their level of trade facilitation implementation.Figure 32.Trade facilitation implementation and trade costs of Asia-Pacific economies Source:UN Trade Facilitation Survey a

268、nd ESCAP/World Bank Trade Cost.Based on the set of 31 general and digital trade facilitation measures,the Survey reveals an average implementation rate of 69%in CAREC,slightly surpassing the Asia-Pacific regional average implementation rate of 67%.The Survey results reveal that most CAREC countries

269、have implemented some measures to improve transparency as well as simplify trade-related costs and pro-cedures,either fully or partially implemented.Besides,the paperless trade sub-group shows a commendable implementation rate of 67%,although there is still a significant disparity among measures,fro

270、m electronic Submission of Air Cargo Man-ifests at 45%to internet connection available to Customs and other trade control agencies at 85%.y=-283.37x+351.19R=0.63320501001502002503003500%10%20%30%40%50%60%70%80%90%100%Trade cost,excl.tariff(percent,ad-valorem equivalent)Trade facilitation implementat

271、ion:2021 41 On one hand,CAREC countries developed advanced national paperless systems facilitating the electronic exchange of data and documents between government agencies and businesses,including electronic single window systems and auto-mated Customs systems.On the other hand,electronic submissio

272、n and issuance of key documents such as air cargo manifest and preferential Certificate of Origin,and electronic exchange of Sanitary&Phyto-Sanitary certificate have not been well im-plemented.In terms of cross-border paperless trade,there has been a notable in-crease of 11 percentage points compare

273、d with 2021,indicating significant progress,especially in the implementation of electronic exchange of Sanitary&Phyto-Sani-tary certificate and recognized certification authority during the past two years.However,there is still significant room for improvement,with being one of the two least impleme

274、nted sub-groups of measures.To further advance trade facilitation,figure 33 illustrates the implementation of trade facilitation as a step-by-step process.Trade facilitation begins with establishing the institutional arrangement to prioritize and coordinate trade facilitation measures.The next step

275、is to enhance transparency by widely sharing information on existing laws,regulations,and procedures,and engaging in negotiations with stakeholders when developing new ones.The third step involves designing and implementing simplified and efficient trade formalities.Initially,these re-engineered and

276、 stream-lined processes may rely on paper documents,but they can be further improved through using ICT and paperless trade systems.The ultimate step is to enable the exchange of electronic trade data and documents among traders,governments,and service providers within national systems such as the Si

277、ngle Window,allowing stakeholders in partner countries to access the necessary information to expedite the movement of goods and reduce overall trade costs.42 Figure 33.Moving up the trade facilitation ladder towards seamless international supply chains Source:The UN Global Survey on Digital and Sus

278、tainable Trade Facilitation,2023.Available at untfsurvey.org Note:Figure 33 shows global cumulative trade facilitation implementation scores for different regions for five sub-groups of trade facilitation measures included in the Survey.The scores are based on the equally weighted implementation of

279、31 trade facilitation measures,but the number of measures varies in each of the five sub-groups.Full implementation of all measures=100.Moving forward,it is crucial for CAREC countries to expedite the advancement of digital trade facilitation.The impact analysis of trade facilitation measures on CAR

280、EC countries trade costs strongly emphasizes the necessity of implementing paperless trade and establishing a seamless electronic exchange of trade data and documents between CAREC countries and their trading partners.An ambitious trade digitalization strategy is projected to reduce trade costs by a

281、bout 15%,whereas achieving basic compliance with the WTO TFA would only result in a reduction of around 8%in trade costs.In this regard,the Framework Agreement on Facilitation of Cross-border Paperless Trade in Asia and the Pacific complements the WTO TFA,and it provides a supportive platform for ES

282、CAP member States to facilitate the elec-tronic exchange of cross-border trade-related data and documents for those who have not yet implemented such mechanisms.Therefore,all CAREC countries are encouraged to become a party to the treaty as soon as possible and promote har-monization of trade facili

283、tation measures across the Asia-Pacific region.020406080100Performance AreaFrontier(full implementation)AfghanistanAzerbaijanChinaGeorgiaKazakhstanKyrgyzstanMongoliaPakistanTajikistanTurkmenistanUzbekistanCARECAsia-PacificInstitutional arrangement and cooperationTransparencyFormalitiesPaperless trad

284、eCross-border paperless trade 43 Regarding“Sustainable Trade Facilitation,”the adoption of inclusive measures to support SMEs in CAREC countries are commendable,with the implementation rate of trade facilitation for SMEs stands at 63%,20 percentage points higher than the regional average.Still,with

285、SMEs holding significant importance in the global econ-omy and digital trade,it is crucial to continue its efforts to enhance the capacity of SMEs and integrate proper supportive measures for SMEs into the trade facilitation policy-making process to achieve sustainable trade facilitation.Considering

286、 their piv-otal role in fostering sustainable and inclusive economic development,trade facilita-tion strategies should be designed holistically and inclusively.Moreover,it is encouraging to note that CAREC countries have a relatively high implementation level for women in trade facilitation measures

287、 at 58%,surpassing the Asia-Pacific regional average of 42%.Also,there was a significant increase by 10 percentage points compared to 2021.This accomplishment highlights the efforts put into the integration of gender equality into various policy initiatives,addressing the specific concerns of women

288、traders regarding trade facilitation.Further improve-ments can be achieved by providing support to guide women traders in understand-ing trade procedures,establishing guidelines for standards bodies to ensure equita-ble representation of both genders interests,and encouraging womens active par-ticip

289、ation and decision-making in trade facilitation and standards-related activities,such as in the National Trade Facilitation Committees(NTFCs),which could yield substantial benefits.A better understanding and collaboration among trade finance and facilitation agen-cies is also necessary to ensure the

290、 integration of trade finance and payment instru-ments into trade facilitation implementation strategies,including Single Window de-velopment plans.Furthermore,results of the trade facilitation in times of crisis sub-group show that countries are beginning to take note of the importance of long-term

291、 measures for building resilience to pandemics and other crises.As countries move towards inclusive and sustainable development,it is crucial for CAREC countries to prioritize sustainable and resilient trade facilitation measures and foster collaborative efforts to embrace forward-looking trade faci

292、litation policies that benefit all stake-holders.By doing so,CAREC countries can pave the way for a sustainable and prosperous future in the subregion,while simultaneously working towards achieving the Sustainable Development Goals.This includes the current climate crisis,in which trade facilitation

293、 certainly has a mitigating role to play.11 11 United Nations Economic and Social Commission for Asia and the Pacific,(2021.Asia-Pacific trade and investment report 2021:accelerating climate-smart trade and investment for sustainable development.Available at https:/www.unescap.org/kp/APTIR2021.44 An

294、nexes Annex 1.List of participating countries Country Subregion Afghanistan South and South-West Asia Armenia North and Central Asia Australia Australia-New Zealand Azerbaijan North and Central Asia Bangladesh South and South-West Asia Bhutan South and South-West Asia Brunei Darussalam South-East As

295、ia Cambodia South-East Asia China East and North-East Asia Fiji Pacific Islands Developing Economies Georgia North and Central Asia India South and South-West Asia Indonesia South-East Asia Islamic Republic of Iran South and South-West Asia Japan East and North-East Asia Kazakhstan North and Central

296、 Asia Kiribati Pacific Islands Developing Economies Kyrgyzstan North and Central Asia Lao PDR South-East Asia Malaysia South-East Asia Maldives South and South-West Asia Micronesia Pacific Islands Developing Economies Mongolia East and North-East Asia Myanmar South-East Asia Nauru Pacific Islands De

297、veloping Economies Nepal South and South-West Asia New Zealand Australia-New Zealand Pakistan South and South-West Asia Palau Pacific Islands Developing Economies Papua New Guinea Pacific Islands Developing Economies Philippines South-East Asia Republic of Korea East and North-East Asia Russian Fede

298、ration North and Central Asia Samoa Pacific Islands Developing Economies Singapore South-East Asia Solomon Islands Pacific Islands Developing Economies 45 Sri Lanka South and South-West Asia Tajikistan North and Central Asia Thailand South-East Asia Timor-Leste South-East Asia Tonga Pacific Islands

299、Developing Economies Turkey South and South-West Asia Turkmenistan North and Central Asia Tuvalu Pacific Islands Developing Economies Uzbekistan North and Central Asia Vanuatu Pacific Islands Developing Economies Viet Nam South-East Asia Note:CAREC countries are highlighted in yellow.46 Annex 2.Grou

300、ping of trade facilitation measures and correspondence with TFA articles Groups Subgroups Measures Relevant TFA Articles General Trade Facilitation Transparency Publication of existing import-export regu-lations on the Internet 1.2 Stakeholders consultation on new draft regulations(prior to their fi

301、nalization)2.2 Advance publication/notification of new trade-related regulations before their im-plementation 2.1 Advance ruling on tariff classification and origin of imported goods 3 Independent appeal mechanism 4 Formalities Risk management 7.4 Pre-arrival processing 7.1 Post-clearance audits 7.5

302、 Separation of Release from final determi-nation of Customs duties,taxes,fees,and charges 7.3 Establishment and publication of average release times 7.6 TF measures for authorized operators 7.7 Expedited shipments 7.8 Acceptance of copies of original support-ing documents required for import,export,

303、or transit formalities 10.2.1 Institutional arrange-ment and cooperation National Trade Facilitation Committee or similar body 23 National legislative framework and/or in-stitutional arrangements for border agen-cies cooperation 8 47 Government agencies delegating border controls to Customs authorit

304、ies Alignment of working days and hours with neighbouring countries at border cross-ings 8.2(a)Alignment of formalities and procedures with neighbouring countries at border crossings 8.2(b)Transit Transit facilitation agreement(s)Limit the physical inspections of transit goods and use risk assessmen

305、t 10.5 Supporting pre-arrival processing for transit facilitation 11.9 Cooperation between agencies of coun-tries involved in transit 11.16 Digital Trade Facilitation Paperless trade Automated Customs System Internet connection available to Customs and other trade control agencies Electronic Single

306、Window System 10.4 Electronic submission of Customs Decla-rations Electronic application and issuance of im-port and export permit Electronic submission of Sea Cargo Mani-fests Electronic Submission of Air Cargo Mani-fests Electronic application and issuance of Preferential Certificate of Origin E-P

307、ayment of Customs Duties and Fees 7.2 Electronic Application for Customs Re-funds Laws and regulations for electronic trans-actions Recognized certification authority 48 Cross-border paper-less trade Electronic exchange of Customs Declara-tion Electronic exchange of Certificate of Origin Electronic

308、exchange of Sanitary and Phyto-Sanitary Certificate Paperless collection of payment from a documentary letter of credit Sustainable Trade Facilitation Trade facilitation in SME policy frame-work Trade-related information measures for SMEs SMEs in AEO scheme SMEs access Single Window SMEs in National

309、 Trade Facilitation Com-mittee Other special measures for SMEs Agricultural trade fa-cilitation Testing and laboratory facilities available to meet SPS of main trading partners 7.9 National standards and accreditation bod-ies to facilitate compliance with SPS Electronic application and issuance of S

310、PS certificates Special treatment for perishable goods Women in trade facili-tation TF policy/strategy to increase womens participation in trade TF measures to benefit women involved in trade Womens membership in the National Trade Facilitation Committee or similar bodies Other Trade Facili-tation T

311、rade finance facilitation Single Window facilitates traders access to finance 49 Authorities engaged in blockchain-based supply chain project covering trade finance Variety of trade finance services available Trade facilitation in times of crisis Agency in place to manage trade facilita-tion in time

312、s of crises and emergencies Online publication of emergency trade fa-cilitation measures Coordination between countries on emer-gency trade facilitation measures Additional trade facilitation measures to facilitate trade in times of emergencies Plan in place to facilitate trade during fu-ture crises

313、 Trade facilitation for e-commerce Trade facilitation measures for cross-bor-der e-commerce Trade facilitation and wildlife protection Electronic exchange of CITES per-mits/certificates 50 Annex 3.A three-step approach for data collection and validation Data submis-sion by ex-perts The survey instru

314、ment was sent by the ESCAP Secretariat to trade facilitation ex-perts(in Governments,the private sector and academia)in Asia-Pacific countries to gather preliminary information.The questionnaire was also made publicly avail-able online and disseminated with the support of the International Chamber o

315、f Commerce(ICC)and the United Nations Network of Experts for Paperless Trade and Transport for Asia and the Pacific(UNNExT).In some cases,the questionnaire was also sent to relevant national trade facilitation authorities or agencies as well as regional trade facilitation partners or organizations,s

316、uch as the Asia Develop-ment Bank(ADB),the Association of Southeast Asian Nations(ASEAN),the Cen-tral Asia Regional Economic Cooperation(CAREC)Institute,the Oceania Customs Organization(OCO)and the United Nations Conference on Trade and Develop-ment(UNCTAD).This first step took place essentially bet

317、ween January and May 2023.Data verifica-tion by the UNRCs Secretariat The ESCAP Secretariat cross-checked the data collected in Step 1.Desk research and data sharing among UNRCs and survey partners were carried out to further check the accuracy of data.Face-to-face or telephone interviews with key i

318、nform-ants were arranged to gather additional information when needed.The outcome of Step 2 was a consistent set of responses per country.Step 2 took place between January and May 2023.Data valida-tion by national Governments Step 3 took place between May and July 2023.The ESCAP Secretariat sent the

319、 completed questionnaire to each national Government to ensure that each country had the opportunity to review the dataset and provide any additional information.The feedback results from national Governments were incorporated in order to fi-nalize the dataset.51 Annex 4:Definition of each stage of

320、implementation Stage of implementation Coding/Scoring Full Implementation:The trade facilitation measure implemented is in full compli-ance with commonly-accepted international standards,recommendations and conventions such as the Revised Kyoto Convention,UN/CEFACT Recommenda-tions or the WTO Trade

321、Facilitation Agreement(TFA);it is implemented in law and in practice;it is available to essentially all relevant stakeholders nationwide,and supported by adequate legal and institutional frameworks as well as adequate in-frastructure and financial and human resources.A TFA provision included in the

322、commitments given under Notifications of Category A may generally be consid-ered as a measure,which is fully implemented by the country,with a caveat that the provision will be implemented by a Least-Developed Country(LDC)member within one year of the TFA agreement coming into force.If a country reg

323、isters a positive response for all sub questions concerning a given trade facilitation meas-ure,that measure should be considered fully implemented.3 Partial Implementation:A measure is considered to be partially implemented if at least one of the following is true:(1)the trade facilitation measure

324、is in partial-but not in full-compliance with commonly-accepted international standards,recom-mendations and conventions;(2)the country is still in the process of rolling out the implementation of the measure;(3)the measure is being used but on an unsus-tainable,short-term or ad-hoc basis;(4)the mea

325、sure is implemented in some but not all targeted locations(such as key border crossing stations);or(5)some but not all targeted stakeholders are fully involved.2 Pilot Stage of Implementation:A measure is considered to be at the pilot stage of implementation if,in addition to meeting the general att

326、ributes of partial implemen-tation,it is available only to a very small portion of the intended stakeholder group(or at a certain location)and/or is being implemented on a trial basis.When a new trade facilitation measure is at the pilot stage of implementation,the old measure is often continuously

327、used in parallel to ensure that the service is still provided even when there has been a disruption with the new measure.This stage of im-plementation also includes relevant rehearsals and preparation for the full imple-mentation.1 Not implemented:A measure has not been implemented at this stage.However,this stage may still include initiatives or efforts towards implementation of the measure.For example,under this stage,(pre)feasibility studies or planning for the implementation can be carried out,and consultation with stakeholders on the im-plementation may be arranged.0 52