United Nations Economic Commission for Europe

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Global Survey on Trade Facilitation and Paperless Trade

Second Global Survey on Trade Facilitation and Paperless Trade Implementation

The second Global Survey on Trade Facilitation and Paperless Trade Implementation has been carried out from February to July 2017. It has been jointly conducted by the United Nations Regional Commissions (UNRCs) namely ECA, ECE, ECLAC, ESCAP and ESCWA in collaboration with UNCTAD, OECD, ITC, OCO 

Building on the success of the first Global Survey of 2015, the second Global Survey aimed at collecting relevant data and information on trade facilitation and paperless trade implementation from their respective member States. The results of this initiative are expected to provide useful information to support the implementation of the WTO Trade Facilitation Agreement as well as emerging global and regional initiatives on paperless trade and e-trade.

The second survey results provide insights on relatively new topics on trade facilitation reforms for SMEs, access to trade facilitation services to women and trade facilitation for the agricultural sector.

The Global Report and the five Regional Reports, aim at providing insightful information for policy makers to harness trade as a key means of implementation of the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development.

First Global Survey on Trade Facilitation and Paperless Trade Implementation 2015

The United Nations Regional Comissions (UNRCs) including ECA, ECE, ECLAC, ESCAP and ESCWA, in collaboration with UNCTAD, OECD, ITC, OCO and SELA, have conducted a global survey to collect relevant data and information on trade facilitation and paperless trade implementation in their respective member states. Outcomes of the survey are expected to enable the countries to better understand and monitor progress in trade facilitation, support evidence-based policy-making, and highlight the needs for capacity building and technical assistance.

The global survey represents a key initiative  under the framework of the Joint UNRC Approach to Trade Facilitation, agreed upon in Beirut, January 2010 to enable the five UNRCs to present a joint global view on key trade facilitation issues. Survey questionnaire and process are available here while the survey results and data collected are available below.