WTO Negotiations on Trade Facilitation: Update

This paper provides an update on the latest status of the WTO negotiations on trade facilitation issues. These negotiations focus on the clarification and improvement of relevant aspects of GATT Articles V, VIII, and X which contain provisions on goods in transit, fees, and formalities for imports and exports, and transparency issues. Capacity building and technical assistance to developing countries have become a major driver of these negotiations. The principle of special and differential treatment (S&D) for developing and least-developed countries embraces a whole new approach. The S&D treatment envisages going beyond the classical granting of transitional periods (being exercised under the current WTO agreements) with the capacity of developing and least-developing countries to implement commitments intertwined with the extent and timing of entering into commitments.