Improving Customs Transit Systems
In the Islamic Countries
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2.2.2 International Goods in Transit (TIM)
2.2.2.1 Transit Regimes Systems in Latin America
In Latin America, the border crossings have been traditionally identified as places where
bottlenecks are formed; another problem was the documents required by different CAs in the
region. According to the Inter-American Development Bank (IDB), an average of 60 documents
is used in an international commercial transaction. Although these documents have different
purposes, about 80 percent of the information they contain is the same.
Latin America (Central and South America) countries consider the multilateral agreements on
CTR to be at the core of their trade facilitation initiatives. There are four regional transit regimes
agreements in Latin America, namely:
 Community Customs Transit (TAC) – Andean Community of Nations - TIM Andean
System;
 Partial Agreement on International Land Transport (ATIT) - ALADI;
 International Customs Transit Computerized System (SINTIA) – Southern America
Common Market (MERCOSUR);
 International Transit of Goods (TIM) – Central America – the subject of analysis of the
Study.
Community Customs Transit – TAC Andean Community of Nations - Bolivia, Colombia,
Ecuador, Peru, and Venezuela signed the Decision 617 of the Andean Community of Nations –
CAN --in line with the WCO RKC Specific Annex E, Article 26. Decision 617 states that the Andean
Community of Nations MS should establish mechanisms for electronic transmission of data
between the CAs to facilitate Customs transit.
The means of facilitation the transit regime, the consignment must be accompanied by
International Cargo Manifest, CAN Customs Transit Declaration and International Waybill by
Road. To date, it is not compulsory to use Community Customs Transit.
Since May 2015, TIM - as a Pilot Plan - has been implemented between Ecuador and Colombia,
supported by the Inter-American Development Bank (IDB). TIM Andean System was not
implemented in other CAN due to the lack of financing.
Partial Agreement on International Land Transport (ATIT) – ALADI - Bolivia, Brazil, Chile,
Paraguay, Peru, and Uruguay signed the Partial Agreement on International Land Transport
(ATIT). Similar to the TAC Andean System, the carrier must submit an International Cargo
Manifest, Customs Transit Declaration (ICM/CTD), and International Waybill. Due to a lack of IT
infrastructure, there is no exchange of information between the CAs.