Traders from both developing
and developed countries have long pointed to the vast amount of “red tape” that
still exists in moving goods across borders, and which poses a particular
burden on small and medium-sized enterprises. The Trade Facilitation Agreement
contains provisions for expediting the movement, release and clearance of
goods, including goods in transit. It also sets out measures for effective
cooperation between customs and other appropriate authorities on trade
facilitation and customs compliance issues. The Agreement will help improve
transparency, increase possibilities to participate in global value chains, and
reduce the scope for corruption. The TFA was the first Agreement concluded at
the WTO by all of its Members, including Tanzania, and it entered into force on
22 February 2017.
Under the Article 1.1 of the
TFA, Members countries are required to publish trade-related information in a
prompt, non-discriminatory and easily accessible manner. Article 1.2
additionally requires Member countries to publish the main information on
importation, exportation and transit procedures through the internet.
To fulfil its obligations
under the TFA, The United Republic of Tanzania has developed and launched the Tanzania Trade Portal as a tool
for publishing and making accessible to all public and private actors the
relevant information on trade procedures. Much of the information required in
the various provisions of Art. 1 is provided in this Trade Portal’s
step-by-step presentation of trade procedures, accessible through the search
bar on the
Home Page.
The purpose of this Trade
Facilitation Repository is to help users find relevant information related to
each of the Article’s provisions.”
Article 1.1: Publication
a)
Procedures for importation
and exportation
(including port, airport, and other entry-point procedures), and required forms
and documents;
b)
Applied rates of duties and taxes of any
kind imposed by governmental agencies on or in connection with importation,
exportation or transit;
c)
Fees and charges for services rendered in
connection with trade procedures
d)
Rules for the classification or valuation
of products for customs purposes;
e)
Laws, regulations, and administrative
rulings of general application relating to rules of origin;
f)
Import, export or transit restrictions or
prohibitions;
g)
Procedures for appeal or review;
h)
Agreements or parts thereof with any
country or countries relating to importation exportation, or transit; and
i)
Procedures relating to the administration
of tariff quotas.
