Enhancing Public Availability of Customs Information
In the Islamic Countries
5
Arab Group
16. Within NTFCs, involve the whole trade community in efforts improve public information
availability
17. Mobilize the private sector and fully involve them in developing cost effective solutions
for information availability. The scope of this commitment should be broad, including
traders and import/export professionals to financial services providers.
18. Within the above framework, make full use of ICTs to offer high quality solutions for
reducing informational trade costs. A key development is provision of an integrated TIP
and Single Window system.
19. Ensure that online solutions provide access to trade-related rules and regulations, as
well as applied fees and duties, and key documents and forms. Ideally, the information
portal should be integrated with an electronic Single Window to provide for online
submission of trade-related documentation, processing of financial transactions, and
inquiries related to trade as well as requests for advance rulings.
20. Leverage trade agreements to promote increased transparency and technology
upgrading in terms of information availability and automation of border procedures.
21. Treat the TFA as a minimum benchmark for trade facilitation performance, and focus on
moving closer to global best practice. Key areas for improvement include appeal
procedures and advance rulings, as well as in some cases the user friendliness and
completeness of online resources.
Asian Group
22. Develop the legal infrastructure required to ensure that all border agencies and
supporting structures are obliged to make coordinated efforts to implement an effective
information system.
23. Within the framework of TFA implementation, work with international agencies like the
World Bank as well as major donors, to leverage international technical assistance and
financial resources to support the use of technology in supporting information
dissemination.
24. Work to develop an integrated TIP and Single Window system. Online information
availability should cover trade-related rules and regulations, applied rates of fees and
duties, and key documents and forms. Integration of the information portal with
transaction processing capabilities should be pursued, as should the use of online
inquiry points, and the use of online forms for submitting requests for advance rulings.
25. Use the development of an integrated TIP and Single Window environment to ensure
coordination among border agencies and supporting structures to increase the
reliability of the available information.
26. Demonstrate ambition in scheduling TFA commitments, moving obligations in so far as
possible into Category A or B, and avoiding the deferral of obligations through Category
C.