From 30 May to 1 June 2023, within the framework of the SECO-WCO Global Trade Facilitation Programme (GTFP), WCO experts delivered a workshop on the World Trade Organization (WTO) Trade Facilitation Agreement (TFA) to the State Customs Committee of Uzbekistan (SCC) in Tashkent.

The workshop was held with the participation of officials from the Customs Administration and representatives from other government agencies. The agenda was built around the provisions identified as a priority during the previous Mercator follow-up mission held in March 2023, inter alia, advance rulings, risk management, border agency cooperation, and time release study, while at the same time highlighting the importance of interagency coordination, the role of the NCTF, and various coordination mechanisms.

Participants gained the respective knowledge of the WTO TFA articles and practical measures for implementing/complying with the provisions and familiarized themselves with the roles and mandates of NTFCs in the implementation and effective monitoring of the WTO TFA.

Based on the discussions during the workshop, the participants concluded on the need for further national work on developing capacities on origin for enhancing the issuance of advance rulings, for enhanced coordination among the border agencies in developing a rapid alert system within the SW environment for enhanced control in alignment with the relevant WTO TFA Article, and for initiating discussions among the different border agencies to explore the possibility of integrated risk management.

The SCC continues its efforts to align its existing procedures and practices and to develop new ones where necessary in compliance with the WTO TFA. The SECO-WCO GTFP supports Uzbekistan’s endeavours to enhance the export and import processes towards the simplification, modernization and harmonization that the WTO TFA encourages.

For more information on the GTFP, please contact capacity.building@wcoomd.org