DFID Post-Bali Support to the AUC on the
Trade Facilitation Agreement
1st AU Trade Facilitation Forum
Ilmari Soininen, Project Coordinator
August 19, 2015
Project overview
•
DFID selected Saana Consulting to assist the AUC’s Department of
Trade and Industry (DTI) to define, establish and deliver its Post-Bali
work programme around the WTO Trade Facilitation Agreement.
•
The Saana Team includes leading technical experts on trade
facilitation, with experience from the different sub-regions in Africa.
•
The technical experts are supported by Saana staff based in Addis,
Arusha and Abuja who act as Regional Co-ordinators for the project.
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The project kicked off in late 2014 and will run up to January 2016.
Key project deliverables
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Development of an overall AU TFA implementation support
strategy, building on the BIAT Action Plan and other continental
initiatives.
•
Design and development of an AU TFA e-platform to monitor
implementation progress and the TA needs of member states and
provide regular TFA-related analysis to the AUC and its
structures.
•
Development of a viable business dialogue platform to engage
with PSOs and corporates on TFA implementation.
•
Mapping ongoing and planned TFA-focussed assistance
from bilateral and multilateral development partners.
•
Briefing reports on TFA implementation status and donor support
in Africa.
TFA in Africa e-Platform
• The e-platform will provide a user-friendly, "helicopter view"
monitoring information system to track TFA implementation
across the continent.
• Country pages for each AU Member State which will include
TF indicators, national contacts and other key information.
• Pages for RECs and Corridor Agencies.
• Private sector engagement platform.
• Mapping of development partner support for TFA
implementation.
• Africa TF experts virtual network page.
Advocacy for TFA implementation
• The e-Platform will be a critical tool for the AU to
inform its advocacy efforts on trade facilitation,
including through:
• Showing progress on TFA notifications
• Highlighting common gaps
• Encouraging regional co-ordination
• Regular status reports to AU Summits, Customs DG and
Trade Ministers meetings, and private sector forums.
TFA Notifications from AU member states
• The TFA will come into force once two-thirds of WTO
members have ratified it. Botswana, Mauritius and
Niger are the three AU Member States which have
ratified the agreement thus far.
• As of August 2015, 68 countries had submitted Category
A notifications, including 15 AU Member States.
Analysis of TFA Notifications from AU
member states
• African countries have been cautious in notifying Category A
provisions in the TFA. 31% fully notified sub-articles,
compared with 67% in the Asia-Pacific.
• Many countries have not notified particular articles at all, or
have opted for a partial notification approach (some subarticles but not others).
• Kenya is the leader in terms of full notifications, followed by
Senegal. Counting partial notifications as well, Tanzania and
Tunisia also move into the leading group.
TFA Notifications from AU member states
• Nearly all countries have fully or partially notified Article 9, as
well as Articles 5, 7, and 10.
• Article 8 on Border Agency Cooperation is the least notified
article—a concern in the African context.
• Advance rulings and Customs cooperation are also relatively
rarely notified.
Advocacy for Business Engagement
• Saana conducted an informal survey of African business
associations and private sector platforms during the Inception
Phase.
• Agencies consulted include the Pan African Chamber of
Commerce and Industry (PACCI), Regional Business
Associations, Corridor Management Agencies, Transport and
Logistics Associations, the Africa E-Single Window Alliance
among others.
• Significant opportunities for Geneva-based agencies to
contribute to this engagement strategy
Requests from the private sector surveyed (1)
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Simplified information on the TFA and TF in RTAs (eg the EAC
Customs Management Act)
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Bi-annual trade facilitation dialogues between the business
community and trade facilitation agencies
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Active participation in the National TF Committees
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Training on Rules of Origin, Export and Import Procedures
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Facilitation of transparency through TFA updates to the websites
of EABC, COMESA business council, PACCI and others
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Establishment of the equivalent of a Private Sector ‘National
Enquiry Point’ in Member States
•
Active involvement in national and regional AEO programmes
and Single Window programmes
Requests from the private sector surveyed (2)
•
Capacity building on the appeal and review process, the prearrival process and Electronic Payments
•
Capacity building on effective procedures to maximise the private
sector’s role on National and Regional Trade Facilitation
Committees
•
Capacity building of the private sector border and port
committees
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Workshops on experience sharing and best practices in Single
Windows and their contribution to implementation of the TFA
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Simplified information on the TFA implementation agenda and
targeted dissemination to SMEs, including Women Informal
Cross Border Traders
Mapping TF-related partner support in Africa
• Donor support towards customs modernisation, customs
cooperation, coordinated border management, one-stop
border posts and national trade facilitation committee, is
already addressing some measures under the Trade
Facilitation Agreement (TFA).
• A relatively small group of countries mostly from East, West
and Southern Africa received the largest number (between 8
and 12) of different trade facilitation interventions.
• According to the initial analysis, Central Africa has received
relatively lower levels of support.
Practical collaboration going forward
• Cross-referrals and signposting to match TA suppliers with AU
Member States and RECs.
• Facilitation of contacts and effective dialogue between AU
Member States, RECs and TA suppliers
• Co-ordinated communications efforts on TFA and highlighting
progress made (e.g. #TFAAfrica, new AUC TFA micro web
site, participation in events eg WTO AfT GR5).
• Information sharing via electronic platforms, Annual Donor
Conference and TFA TA in Africa Report
• Other suggestions from partners welcome – these are just to
start the conversation!