./.RESTRICTEDWORLD TRADE
ORGANIZATIONG/C/W/215
9 June 2000
(00-2298)
Council for Trade in Goods Original:  English
PROPOSAL FOR FUTURE WORK ON TRADE FACILITATION
Communication from Japan
The following communication, dated 7 June 2000, has been received from the delegation of
Japan.
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1. As a result of the discussions at the CTG up till last year, it has become a common belief
among Members that trade facilitation contributes to the development of trade and benefits all trading
parties.  In this regard, Japan considers that the WTO has to work on this matter more actively.
Although the WTO has some existing agreements regarding trade facilitation, we should enhance
WTO rules in this area so as to maintain and rein force the multilateral trading system through trade
facilitation.
2. In resuming the work at the CTG, as a first step, it would be useful to start by identifying the
issues on trade facilitation in order to assess the scope for WTO rules in this area.  Considering the
potential role of the WTO in trade facilitation, we should take stock of the issues which have become
clear in the following areas:
(1) the initiatives taken so far at the WTO;
(2) the initiatives taken so far at other international organizations and fora;
(3) the technical assistance activities for trade facilitation.
3. In parallel to the above stocktaking, we should deepen our understanding on technical
assistance and the difficulties which Members might face in pursuing legitimate policy objectives.With that recognition, we should consider what kind of measures can be taken at the WTO.
4. In considering what further steps should be taken at the WTO, technical assistance should be
fully considered in parallel in order to secure the feasibility of the effective implementation of
whatever agreements we reach in the area of trade facilitation.  Therefore, it would be useful toanalyze and evaluate the existing schemes of technical assistance in order to determine the scope for
WTO rules in this area.
5. Trade procedures have their own policy objectives (e.g., securing fiscal revenue, border
control), and it is necessary to take account of such objectives.  Therefore, in considering further stepsat the WTO, it would be worthwhile to discus s the difficulties, if any, Members might face in
pursuing such policy objectives.G/C/W/215
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6. When commencing concrete work hereafter, we should avoid the duplication of the work
conducted by other international organizations and co-operate with such organizations from the
viewpoint of the efficiency of the work at the WTO and the effective utilization of resources.  In this
respect, it would be useful to update the results of research into the work that other internationalorganizations have carried out so far.
7. Japan is very willing to make further contributions to our discussions as they develop in the
near future.
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