AN EXPLORATION OF THE NEED FOR AND COST OF SELECTED TRADE FACILITATION MEASURES IN ASIA AND THE PACIFIC IN THE CONTEXT OF THE WTO NEGOTIATIONS

62 An exploration of the need for and cost of selected trade facilitation measures in Asia and the Pacific in the context of the WTO negotiations

sector benefits associated with this specific measure (in terms of cutting average customs
clearance time) and the fact that it may be implemented, in its most basic form, with
limited investment in information technology systems.

All experts point to the need for logical sequencing of the measures and the fact
that trade facilitation measures should be preferably implemented as part of an overall
national trade facilitation programme, as opposed to a series of stand alone measures
implemented in isolation. However, it is noteworthy that some experts disagree on the
details of implementation (e.g., enquiry points vs. single national focal points) and note
that some measures may not be beneficial depending on how and where they are
implemented. This suggests that the WTO may need to establish a long-term institutional
mechanism to deal with evolving trade facilitation measures and issues.
Countries may also agree on a subset of well-defined TFMs to be implemented by all, as
well as on a complementary list of possibly more controversial TFMs from which countries
would select, based on their own needs and specificity, a pre-determined number of
measures for implementation.

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