世界发展银行-Trade-Facilitation-Best-Practices-Implemented-in-Response-to-the-COVID-19-Pandemic_8页_278kb

报告摘要

Trade and COVID-19 Guidance Note Summary

Overview

Maintaining trade flows during the COVID-19 pandemic is essential to ensure access to essential food and health supplies, and to mitigate the negative impacts on jobs and poverty. The World Trade Organization's (WTO) Trade Facilitation Agreement (TFA) provides a framework for trade facilitation and border management, which can be leveraged to ensure smooth and safe trade in critical commodities. This guidance note builds on the World Bank Group's Trade and COVID-19 Guidance Note, which offers recommendations to governments on maintaining supply chains and protecting workers at ports and border posts.

Core Content and Main Recommendations

1. Relaxation of Procedural Formalities

Governments have adopted measures to reduce administrative burdens and maintain business continuity during the pandemic. These include:

Relaxing guarantees and time limits
Waiving administrative fines
Making documentation rules less strict
Implementing electronic submission of documents

However, some new documentary requirements may slow down exports and could lead to counter responses.

Examples:

Chile: Simplified import procedures, allowed electronic submissions, and extended ATA Carnet validity.
EU: Relaxed requirements for e-commerce shipments, reduced fees and guarantees, and provided additional time for customs information.
India: Waived late fees and relaxed bond requirements for a limited period.
Japan: Accepted electronic versions of documents and simplified relief item declarations.
Panama: Implemented electronic platforms for customs procedures.

2. Risk Management for Critical Supplies

Prioritizing the clearance of low-risk critical supplies (e.g., food, medical items) helps expedite access to essential goods and reduce border burdens. This approach involves:

Focusing border interventions on high-risk commodities
Reducing procedures for low-risk items
Ensuring compliance with legal frameworks

Examples:

Brazil: Prioritized 500,000 rapid detection test kits, clearing them in 68 minutes.
Cameroon: Introduced provisional declarations, pre-arrival customs procedures, and duty-free admission for humanitarian consignments.
China: Established expedited clearance operations for medical and agricultural supplies.
SADC: Encouraged priority clearance of essential goods like fuel, food, and medical equipment.

3. Border Agency Cooperation

Enhancing cooperation between border agencies can reduce interventions and streamline clearance processes. This includes:

Allowing customs to clear goods on behalf of other agencies
Conducting audits inland to reduce in-person interactions
Implementing shared clearance procedures for critical supplies

Examples:

CEFTA Area: Proposed green lanes for health and food commodities, with Serbia establishing 579 priority consignments.
SADC: Advocated for harmonized procedures and single windows for document submission and approval.

4. Use of Information Technology

Adopting information technology to support trade and reduce human contact is key to maintaining efficiency and transparency. Examples include:

Single windows and trade information portals
Electronic document submission
24/7 online services

Examples:

Cameroon: Deployed CAMCIS, replacing ASYCUDA++, to increase paperless transactions.
India: Utilized 24/7 customs portals, helpdesk services, and online forms for traders.
St. Kitts and Nevis: Acquired laptops to enable electronic document processing.
New Zealand: Created a dedicated webpage for export information and aircraft space availability.

5. Extending Border Agency Working Hours

To facilitate the movement of goods, especially essential and perishable items, extending operating hours is important. Some countries have implemented 24/7 services at ports and airports.

Examples:

China, Ecuador, India: Implemented 24/7 customs services and prioritized essential commodities.
SADC: Encouraged extended hours for clearance and control.

6. Increased Dialogue Between Industry and Governments

Enhanced communication between governments and industry helps minimize disruptions and ensure compliance. This includes:

Regular updates on regulatory changes
Coordination to avoid delays in supply chains

Examples:

Canada: Established a Industry-Government working group for weekly phone meetings.
South Africa: Encouraged electronic filing and formed a task force to monitor health and safety protocols.

7. Protection of Frontline Workers

Ensuring the safety and continuity of frontline workers is crucial for maintaining trade flows. Measures include:

Temperature screenings
Sanitization protocols
Social distancing
Remote work arrangements

Examples:

Madagascar: Customs agents telework when possible.
St. Kitts and Nevis: Implemented daily health screenings, workplace sanitization, and remote work for non-essential staff.
Brazil: Provided 1.62 million masks and gloves to border staff.
Vietnam: Maintained minimum staffing and rotating shifts to mitigate virus spread.

Key Information

The TFA offers a framework for improving trade facilitation and border management during emergencies.
Good practices include electronic documentation, risk-based prioritization, cooperation between agencies, and extended operating hours.
Information transparency and industry-government dialogue are vital for efficient trade and minimizing disruptions.
Protecting frontline workers through health protocols and remote work is essential for sustaining trade operations.