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List of contents
Table of Contents
Introduction: Time to delve into the genesis, course and accord of trade facilitation
1. Free trade is not for free
1.1 The calls for free trade
1.2 Free trade per se costs
1.3 Externality of trade cost
1.4 Cutting tariffs and NTMs for freer trade
1.4.1 The course of cutting tariffs
1.4.2 The course of cutting NTMs
2. Rise of trade facilitation
2.1 What after the cuts of tariffs and NTMs?
2.2 Rise of trade facilitation
2.3 Trade facilitation generates dividends
3. An international accord on trade facilitation?
3.1 Business community’s call for an international accord on trade facilitation
3.2 International accords on trade facilitation in history
3.3 A renovated accord for today?
3.4 Why the WTO?
3.4.1 Where is the suitable institution to administer this accord?
3.4.2 Knowing about the WTO
4. The long and arduous journey of trade facilitation in the WTO
4.1 1996 Singapore Ministerial Conference: trade facilitation kicked off
4.2 1998 Trade Facilitation Symposium: a leap to the phase of analytical work
4.3 1998 Geneva Ministerial Conference: trade facilitation in obscurity
4.4 1999 Seattle Ministerial Conference: trade facilitation brushed past
4.5 2001 Doha Ministerial Conference: trade facilitation vitalized
4.6 2003 Cancún Ministerial Conference: "Singapore issues" being an issue
4.7 2004 July General Council: trade facilitation negotiations eventually unveiled
4.8 2005 Hong Kong Ministerial Conference: negotiations keeping going
4.9 2009 Geneva Ministerial Conference: Doha Round ambitions vowed again
4.10 2011 Geneva Ministerial Conference: trade facilitation not a low-hanging fruit
4.11 2013 Bali Ministerial Conference: trade facilitation agreement sealed
4.12 Post-Bali Agenda: trade facilitation still on the road
5. Growth of the Agreement on Trade Facilitation: from a duck-yard-born egg to a swan
5.1 The Negotiating Group on Trade Facilitation: the hatchery
5.2 Groupings and conflicts
5.2.1 To negotiate vs. Not to negotiate
5.2.2 Binding vs. Non-binding
5.2.3 "Chicken" first vs. "Egg" first
5.3 The principles for organizing and managing the negotiations
5.3.1 Single undertaking
5.3.2 Inclusiveness
5.3.3 Transparency
5.3.4 Member-driven
5.4 The growth of an article
5.4.1 The first generation: general ideas
5.4.2 The second generation: textual proposals
5.4.3 The third generation: draft consolidated negotiating text
5.4.4 Final text in the TFA
6. A Commentary on the Agreement on Trade Facilitation
6.1 Structure of t the Agreement on Trade Facilitation
6.2 A commentary on Section I
6.3 A commentary on Section II
6.4 A commentary on Section III
7. A symphony of trade facilitation
7. 1 Recitals by Annex D organizations
7.1.1 International Monetary Fund (IMF)
7.1.1.1 Trade Integration Mechanism (TIM)
7.1.2 Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development (OECD)
7.1.2.1 Trade Facilitation Indicators (TFIs)
7.1.3 United Nations Conference on Trade and Development (UNCTAD)
7.1.3.1 Automated System for Customs Data (ASYCUDA)
7.1.3.2 Port Training Programme under TrainForTrade
7.1.3.3 National Trade Facilitation Bodies (NTFBs)
7.1.3.4 Assistance in transit
7.1.3.5 Business Facilitation Programme
7.1.4 World Customs Organization (WCO)
7.1.4.1 Mercator Programme
7.1.4.2 Revised Kyoto Convention
7.1.4.3 Nairobi Convention
7.1.4.4 Support to the WTO negotiations
7.1.5 World Bank
7.1.5.1 Trade Facilitation Support Programme (TFSP)
7.1.5.2 Trade Facilitation Facility (TFF)
7.1.5.3 Support to the WTO negotiations
7.1.5.4 Logistics Performance Index (LPI)
7.1.5.5 Trade and Transport Facilitation Assessment (TTFA)
7.2 A symphony of trade facilitation
Conclusion: The road ahead of the Agreement on Trade Facilitation
Index
About the author
Hao Wu is currently working at the World Customs Organization (WCO), Belgium. Prior to joining the WCO, he served as a trade negotiator on the WTO Trade Facilitation Negotiations for a number of years.
Summary
This book explains the significance of constituting an international accord on trade facilitation. It provides an in-depth commentary on the articles of the TFA, which will help stakeholders more accurately understand and implement the agreement, and will be valuable for those interested in international economic law, and the WTO law.
