Date
Geneva, 15-16 February 2010
Background
Global trends in international trade logistics, combined with developments in information and communication technologies, have transformed today’s business environment. In response to those trends, since 2004, the members of the World Trade Organization (WTO) have been negotiating trade facilitation within the Doha Development Round. In these negotiations and in view of the possible resulting commitments, developing countries are analysing their trade facilitation needs and priorities and attach an increasingly high priority to trade facilitation reforms. The private sector plays a key role in this endeavour. First, it is the traders and the service providers who need to identify their needs and priorities regarding the trading environment and the potential implications of commitments resulting from a multilateral agreement. Secondly, for numerous specific measures, the private sector may also actively participate in their implementation.
Trade facilitation and the private sector
While governments have the responsibility for creating an enabling trading environment, it is the private sector that conducts international trade transactions. The private sector is, therefore, a primary beneficiary of trade facilitation.
Implementing some trade facilitation measures can be costly and may depend on changes in the regulatory environment, institutions and business practices. The implementation of these changes can often be shared between the governments and the private sector. Traders and service providers, such as carriers, freight forwarders or Customs brokers, need to adapt and apply new rules and procedures, define practical measures and interventions, provide services and finance investments. Public-private consultations are essential at each stage of a reform process, starting from the needs assessment and prioritization, through designing the technical and practical solutions during the operational phase, to the progress monitoring.
- Concretely, the private sector can become pro-active at national, regional and international level, for example, in:
Promoting business friendly policies and practices and helping promote a collaborative approach in formulating the policy agenda;
- Implementing voluntary compliance schemes;
- Applying clear and enforceable codes of ethics in trade transactions;
- Providing services to regulatory authorities and the trade community through e.g. the development of Single Window facilities or single enquiry points; and
- Partnering with government authorities to provide investment, training and managerial know-how.
The Forum Objectives
- Day One will focus on the private sector’s perspectives regarding perceived administrative and procedural obstacles to international trade, and the role of multilateral rules in overcoming these obstacles.
- Day Two intends outline how the private sector actors, governments and development agencies can contribute to the implementation of possible future commitments under the WTO.
For further information contact Ms. Maria Misovicova, Tel.: (+41 22) 917 5198,
Email: maria.misovicova@unctad.org
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