Guidance Note for National Trade Facilitation Committees

Overview & Synopsis

The singularity of the WTO Trade Facilitation Agreement resides in its comprehensiveness; the agreement considers most of the challenges associated with international trade and identifies provisions to increase trade efficiency via a series of technical measures to be implemented at the national level. It also includes provisions to facilitate access to relevant information for WTO members and trade operators. The concerns of traders and underdeveloped countries are highlighted in the Agreement as interlinked issues that, if addressed correctly, can translate into actual market access and growth opportunities for both groups. The TFA addresses such issues through legal requirements to enforce transparency in international trade.