   
  
G/TFA/W/62  
 
8 October 2021  
(21-7604) Page: 1/2 
Committee on Trade Facilitation  Original: English  
 
  
TRADE FACILITATION AGREEMENT FOUR YEAR REVIEW  
ARTICLE 23.1.6 OF THE TFA  
TURKEY'S COMMENTS ON THE WTO SECRETARIAT'S FACTUAL REPORT (G/TFA/W/41)  
COMMUNICATION FROM TURKEY  
The following communication, dated 1 October 2021, is being circulated at the request of the 
delegation of Turkey.  
 
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1  BACKGROUND  
1.1.  Being one of the developing countries with all commitments notified under category A, Turkey 
is devoted to the WTO trade facilitation agenda.  
1.2.  Today's international trading system being shaped by complicated networks of regional trade 
blocs and global value chains, necessitates harmonized and effective implementation of the technical 
provisions of the Trade Facilitation Agreement with faster release time s and low -cost administrative 
arrangements, among others.  
1.3.  Turkey supports establishing an international supply chain that is safe, secure and easy -to-do 
business, with available tools of new technologies both on customs and trade procedures. In order 
to achieve this purpose, Turkey has long been implementing a WTO plus trade facilitation policy 
package that is comprehensive, inclusive and effective.  
1.4.  Against this background, Turkey is of the view that the First Review of the Operation and 
Implementation of t he Trade Facilitation Agreement is key, not only for providing a great overview 
of past seven years' work of the TFA Committee but also for shedding light on the future of trade 
facilitation agenda . From this point of view, Turkey considers that findings o f the first review report 
is of great importance.  
1.5.  In Article 23.1.6 of TFA, it is stated that within four -year periods, Committee should review not 
just implementation of Agreement's technical provisions but also its operation within the context of 
the Com mittee meetings, thematic discussions and technical assistance -capacity building activities.  
1.6.  From the first draft of review report and the statements circulated by certain Members, it can 
be seen that there are areas that can be improved further in the nex t four -year period.  
1.7.  In the light of the afore -mentioned considerations, Turkey believes that there is a need for 
further explanations regarding each technical provision contained within Section I of the TFA.  
2  PROPOSAL  
2.1.  Turkey proposes that the First Review R eport of the Operation and Implementation of the Trade 
Facilitation Agreement should include a "cumulative breakdown" section for all notifications made 
by Member Countries with relation to all technical provisions of TFA. In doing so, the Report would 
show current implementation status of Section provisions at the end of first four -year period and G/TFA/W/62  
 
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  would allow Trade Facilitation Committee (TFC) to plan its work in the next four -year. Such 
information would also help realizing and scheduling technical assist ance-capacity building missions 
more effectively.  
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