Trends and Developments
in Single Window
UNECE UN/CEFACT
New Delhi, 29 October 2014
1
In this presentation
 UN/CEFACT’s Work in Single Window
 Trends in Single Window
 Multiple “Single Windows”
 UN/CEFACT SWI Project – Rec 36
 Next Steps
UNECE Recommendation 33 on Single Window
3
Single Window Definition
• Single Window is a facility that allows parties
involved in trade and transport to lodge
standardized information and documents with
a single entry point to fulfill all import, export,
and transit-related
regulatory requirements.
• If information is electronic, then individual
data elements should only be submitted once.
UN/CEFACT Recommendation and Guidelines
on establishing a Single Window, UNECE, 2005
http://www.unece.org/cefact/recommendations/rec33/rec33_ecetrd352_e.pdf
Single Window UNECE Recommendation 33
Recommends Governments to establish Single Window
for Cross Border Trade
Defines features:
• … one time submission
• ..of standardized information and documents
• sharing of information amongst government
agencies;
• coordinated controls and inspections of the various
governmental authorities;
• Allow payment of duties and other charges;
• Be a source of trade related government information.
5
UNECE’s Work for SWs
UNECE
Standards
UN/CEFACT
UNECE /
UNNExT
Guidelines,
Briefs, Case
Studies
Capacity Building & Technical assistance
UNECE
Policy
Recommend
-ations
UN/CEFACT
Single Window Success Story
“ Single Windows (SWs) are important drivers for the
simplification, harmonization and automation of trade
procedures”
WTO Bali Agreement Article 10.4: “Members shall endeavor to
establish or maintain a single window ..”
2015: in 100 economies &
some regions (ASEAN)?
2013: in 71 economies
2010: in 49 economies
2005: in about 20
economies
Source: WB Doing Business Report
2012/2013, UNECE-UN/CEFACT
2005/2011
7
After 10 years, some observations
• SWs have become a strategic national
instruments to facilitate trade, enhance
collaboration between trade related government
agencies, and increase export competitiveness
• More common in developing economies than
developed economies
• Goal of SW is not the SW itself!
• Interoperability a major challenge
More observations
• One size does not fit all
- there are many different Regulatory SW models & approaches,
e.g.

e-Customs, Customs-oriented Single Window

Trade (and Cargo) oriented regulatory Single Window

Transport-oriented regulatory Single Window, e.g.
EU e-Maritime or Maritime SW
• And ..different models other than regulatory-oriented
SWs
 Port Community Systems (PCSs)
 eFreight
 eCommerce/eTrade, etc.
•
Possibility of many “Single” Windows in one country
Interoperability a major challenge –both within country
and especially between countries
Emergence of Multiple “Single” Windows
Sellers/Exporters
Buyers/Importers
e-Trade
Importer’s
Banks
Freight Forwarders
Freight
Forwarders
Hauler
Operators
Port
Community
System (PCS)
Exporter’s
Banks
Traders
Warehouses
Terminal
Operators
Regulatory
Agents
Haulers
Port-equipment
Operators
e-Freight
Ship Agents
Vessels
Marine
Department
Health
Department
Air lines
Customs
Department
Quarantine &
SPS Agency
Customs
Brokers
Trade
SW
Maritime
SW
Vessel
Operator
Vessel
Traffic
Safety
Traders
Terminal
Operator
Other government
agencies
Ship Piloting
Port
Authority
So what is a Single Window?
One question, many answers: «our e-Customs system, our elogistics system, our Port Community System, our national electronic
trade platform, our eMaritime SW, ..»
Single Window Architecture:
 How do stakeholders collaborate?
 How is the information exchange organized?
 What are the objectives, business models, …
Three Single Window Architectures :
11
Looking ahead:
A Network of IOS for efficient cross-border trade
Sellers/Exporters
Buyers/Importers
e-Trade
Importer’s
Banks
Freight Forwarders
Freight
Forwarders
Hauler
Operators
Port
Community
System (PCS)
Exporter’s
Banks
Traders
Warehouses
Terminal
Operators
Regulatory
Agents
Haulers
Port-equipment
Operators
e-Freight
Networking of IOS in cross border trade
Ship Agents
Vessels
Marine
Department
Health
Department
Air lines
Customs
Department
Quarantine &
SPS Agency
Customs
Brokers
Trade
SW
Maritime
SW
Vessel
Operator
Vessel
Traffic
Safety
Traders
Terminal
Operator
Other government
agencies
Ship Piloting
Port
Authority
Inter Organizational Information Systems (IOSs)
IOS: A system for collaboration and information
exchange among independent stakeholders in
international trade
IOS Characteristic: focussed, limited number of
stakeholders, fast implementation, dynamic, supranational,..
Next Steps at UN/CEFACT
• UN/CEFACT is working on the development of
UNECE Recommendation 36 on Single Window
Interoperability – we would welcome your input on
this
• This will focus on regulatory requirements (G2G)
• Currently preparing four papers on SWI:
•
•
•
•
Business Needs
Semantic Interoperability
Governance
Legal Model
Legal Framework for SWI in Rec 36
• SWI entails laws and regulatory
requirements of two or more states - which
may be in conflict
• Rec 36 - legal section on how to reconcile
the differing legal frameworks – for SWI.
Concept of ‘legal interoperability’
Legal Framework for SWI in Rec 36
• Rec 36 SWI Legal Framework focuses on
regulatory aspects – e.g. declarations and other
communications between and with Customs
administrations and other import & export
regulatory bodies.
• So SWI in Rec 36 focuses on G2G issue regulation.
• The most difficult legal issues of SWI fall under
B2G (or even B2B). Rec 36 will not address these.
Authentication - Recommendation14
• Introduction of methods (other than signature) to
authenticate documents
• Creation of a legal framework that permits and
gives equal status to authentication methods other
than manual-ink signature
• Efforts should be made to avoid creating electronic
solutions which are more cumbersome or costly
than the manual process.
Next Steps for SWI
• Likely to be a workshop of SW
implementers to discuss these papers in
Geneva early next year – you are all
welcome to participate
• This will be followed by a global SW
conference on SW Interoperability in
late 2015 or early 2016.
Single Window Recommendations and Standards
UNECE TF Implementation Guide
(tfig.unece.org)
19
Single Windows and Supply
Chains in the Next Decade:
http://www.unece.org/fileadm
in/DAM/trade/Publications/E
CE-TRADE-402.pdf
See also UNECE SW
Repository:
http://www.unece.org/cefact/si
ngle_window/welcome.html
20
Thank You
Tom Butterly, UNECE
tom.butterly@unece.org
21