Geneva, 5 October 1999
ECE/TRADE/99/17
STREAMLINED TRADE PROCEDURES WILL REDUCE
BARRIERS TO INTERNATIONAL TRADE
Experts from Governments, international organizations and the private sector concluded
that current international trade procedures and practices need to be simplified and
harmonized in order to reduce the ever-growing non-tariff barriers to trade. Meeting in
Geneva from 22 to 24 September, the International Trade Procedures Working Group of
the United Nations Centre for the Facilitation of Procedures and Practices for
Administration, Commerce and Transport (UN/CEFACT) discussed the concerns of the trade and
transport sectors in relation to current practices and procedures and the resulting
information flows in international trade.
The fact that the issue is being considered for inclusion in the agenda of the next
round of multilateral trade negotiations at the World Trade Organization is evidence both
of its importance and of the need for a global approach in addressing it.
With a new chairman and vice-chairman elected, the Group embarks upon a heavy programme
of work that includes recommendations on best practices to Governments and industry. To
ensure rapid progress and results, the Group will invite further intergovernmental,
governmental and international organizations to participate in its work.
It has already discussed cooperation and joint action with the organizations that
participated in the meeting, including the World Bank, the International Chamber of
Commerce, the United Nations Conference on Trade and Development, the International Road
Transport Union, the International Federation of Inspection Agencies, the International
Chamber of Shipping and the International Maritime Organization.
For more information, please contact:
Hans Hansell, Chief,
UN/CEFACT secretariat
United Nations Economic Commission for Europe
CH - 1211 Geneva 10, Switzerland
Tel: (+41 22) 917 24 57
Fax: (+41 22) 917 00 37
E-mail: [email protected]
Editor's notes
The following countries are members of the International Trade Procedures Working Group:
Austria, Belgium, Finland, France, Germany, Iran (Islamic Republic of), Italy,
Netherlands, Norway, Poland, Republic of Korea, Romania, Singapore, Slovakia, Spain,
Sweden, United Kingdom, and United States.
Organizations represented in the Working Group include: Agence des Cités Unies pour la
Coopération Nord-Sud; Economic and Social Commission for Asia and the Pacific (ESCAP);
European Union (EU); International Chamber of Commerce; International Chamber of Shipping
(ICS); International Federation of Inspection Agencies (IFIA); International Rail
Transport Committee (CIT); International Road Transport Union (IRU); United Nations
Conference on Trade and Development (UNCTAD); World Customs Organization (WCO) and World
Trade Organization (WTO).
Current Chairman is Thomas Roger Black, Consultant on Customs and Trade, United
Kingdom
Vice-Chairman: Alexander A. de Lijster, Senior Advisor at P & O Nedloyd,
Netherlands.