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OverviewTrade facilitation initiatives and negotiations, which aim to facilitate trade by addressing border-related impediments to the flow of goods, are of paramount importance to the air cargo industry. The benefits of trade facilitation are far reaching and affect governments, business and consumers.
Border delays are particularly costly for air shipments as aviation’s key advantage is speed and, therefore, expedited border clearance is critical to the competitiveness of the industry. Also, the average value of goods shipped by air tends to be higher than for other modes. Therefore, border delays for air cargo tie up high value assets, which can be particularly problematic for importers. TIACA therefore strongly supports efforts to reduce border impediments and implement facilitative measures.
TIACA's Template on What Constitutes Best Practices for Customs Authorities
The following highlights the best practices identified by TIACA as critical for expedited customs treatment of air cargo shipments. More...
This section features incisive analysis of current issues that are critical to the air cargo industry.
Reports |
Papers |
06/10/2010
The European Court of Auditors has issued a report concluding that EU members do not have effective controls on simplified customs procedures for imports established by the EC. Consequently, the report warns, there is no guarantee that duties are being collected properly, or that traders are complying with their obligations.
05/21/2010
Status: Regulation
Deadline/Effective Date: May 28, 2010
03/15/2010
Status: Amendment
Deadline/Effective Date: Effective March 10, 2010 (applicable from Jan. 1, 2010)
03/15/2010
Status: Final Rule
Effective Date: March 9, 2010
03/04/2010
Status: Regulation
Deadline/Effective Date: Effective March 10, 2010 (with certain points effective January 1, 2012)
03/02/2010
e.g. Effective date July 1, 2010
12/10/2009
The U.S. Government Accountability Office (GAO) presented testimony to the Senate Committee on Commerce, Science and Transportation in December 2009 assessing the Department of Homeland Security’s (DHS) progress in meeting congressionally mandated requirements for comprehensive screening of air cargo (effective August 2010) and 100% scanning of maritime cargo (effective July 2012). While GAO credits DHS for making considerable progress, it also details various remaining challenges.
01/14/2009
U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) has announced the results of its 2008 Year in Review for te Customs-Trade Partnership Against Terrorism. Among its key accomplishments for the year, CBP cites attainment of key member certification and validation requirements, joint validations conducted in China, and the signing of two mutual recognition arrangements.
12/02/2008
In response to frequent queries about the benefits of the Customs-Trade Partnership Against Terrorism (C-TPAT), U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) has developed a brochure. Among other things, CBP says "C-TPAT importers are 4 to 6 times less likely to incur a security or compliance examination" than are non-C-TPAT participants.
11/17/2008
Over the next six years, airports in the United States will be equipped with radiation detection equipment intended to scan virtually all air cargo, courtesy of an initiative by U.S. Customs and Border Protection.
11/11/2008
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01/06/2009
A multi-year effort by U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) to obtain additional data elements for maritime shipments is now moving from the conceptual to the implementation stage, with importers and vessel carriers facing new requirements for security filings as of January 25, 2009.
12/02/2008
The Single Window, is still on the road from concept to reality as a practical contribution to the nitty-gritty business of global trade simplification. One essential factor in this overdue transition is a clear definition of what is and should be able to do for us.
10/13/2008
One of the most bizarre spectacles in the age of Google, the Internet and the GSM is the scene at any major airport where air-freight consignments have to be accompanied to Customs controls by a varying sheaf of paper document purporting to certify origin, value, fumigation, meat quality or combustibility.
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Q. What is trade facilitation?
A. Trade facilitation pertains to the streamlining and standardization of international trading procedures and documentation.
Q. How is trade facilitation achieved?
A. Transparency is fundamental to trade facilitation. Specifically, procedures, practices and regulations must be transparent. Regulations and procedures must also be applied consistently. Additionally, border procedures should be streamlined, automated and subject to a process of frequent updating and modernization.
Q. What is the Doha Development Agenda and how does it apply to trade facilitation?
A. The Doha Development Agenda (DDA) is the formal name of the ongoing multilateral trade negotiations being conducted under the auspices of the World Trade Organization. The DDA's objective is to lower trade barriers globally which will then serve to increase global trade. One set of negotiations under the DDA is focused on trade facilitation. If successful, these negotiations could produce the first set of trade facilitation provisions subject to WTO disciplines.
Q. How does trade facilitation specifically affect developing countries?
A. Trade facilitation is important to developing countries. Inefficient trade procedures lose revenue for governments as well as for importers and exporters. The negative impact of inefficient trade procedures further manifests itself by impeding competition and therefore undermining investment in developing economies, and by limiting the efficiencies of domestic producers.
Q. What is the World Bank's role in trade facilitation?
A. The World Bank promotes trade facilitation in developing countries with both analytical and lending support. The World Bank also supports trade facilitation at the global, regional and national levels. In addition, the bank works with other organization including the International Monetary Fund, World Trade Organization and others to support trade facilitation reforms in developing countries.
The World Bank is also a partner in the Global Facilitation Partnership for Transportation and Trade (GFP). This partnership is comprised of international organizations, trade associations and the private sector and analyzes the different aspects of trade facilitation, ultimately designing and undertaking specific programs.
Q. What is an example of a trade facilitation initiative?
A. The Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) Committee on Trade and Investment works to reduce impediments to trade. APEC set forth its Second Trade Facilitation Action Plan (TFAPII) for 2007-2010 and is working on measuring its implementation.