BACKGROUND:

Under the IMPROVING PACIFIC ISLANDS CUSTOMS AND TRADE (IMPACT) project, the EU together with UNCTAD, and OCO have teamed up to undertake a GAP Analysis exercise, in which the implementation rate of the 15 Pacific countries of the African, Caribbean and Pacific States (PACP) on customs related measures of the World Trade Organisation Trade Facilitation Agreement (WTO TFA), the Revised Kyoto Convention (RKC) and the Interim Economic Partnership Agreement (iEPA) are measured.

PROJECT OBJECTIVES

The IMPACT project pursues several core objectives to enhance regional and international trade in the Pacific region:
Supporting Trade Facilitation: The project seeks to enable Pacific countries to harness the benefits offered by the WTO TFA.
• Streamlining Customs Operations: Efforts are directed towards standardizing and simplifying customs procedures, ensuring efficiency and consistency in operations.
• Promoting Single Window Systems: The initiative aims to facilitate the development of Single Window systems, promoting a unified platform for streamlined trade-related processes.
• Building Capacities: The project focuses on strengthening the capacities of PACP member countries, empowering them with the necessary skills and knowledge to engage effectively in international trade.

GAP ANALYSIS METHODOLOGY

The Gap Analysis exercise is structured into three distinct phases:
Phase 1 – Desk Review: An initial comprehensive review of relevant documents and materials to establish a baseline understanding of the existing customs practices and their alignment with international agreements.
Phase 2 – Online Survey: A detailed online survey, a vital component of the analysis, aimed at gathering specific data and insights from the 15 Pacific countries regarding their implementation progress and challenges faced in adhering to the WTO TFA, RKC, and iEPA.
Phase 3 – Country Site Validation: In this phase, the findings from the desk review and online survey are validated through on-site visits and interactions during country missions, ensuring the accuracy and reliability of the gathered information.

ONLINE SURVEY

Within the framework of the IMPROVING PACIFIC ISLANDS CUSTOMS AND TRADE (IMPACT) project, a collaborative effort between the European Union (EU), UNCTAD, and Oceania Customs Organisation (OCO) is underway. This initiative aims to conduct a comprehensive analysis of the implementation progress of the 15 Pacific countries belonging to the PACP countries regarding customs-related measures outlined in key international agreements: the WTO TFA, the RKC, and the iEPA.

[1] Cook Islands, Fiji, Kiribati, Marshall Islands, Federated States of Micronesia, Nauru, Niue, Palau, Papua New Guinea, Samoa, Solomon Islands, Timor-Leste, Tonga, Tuvalu, and Vanuatu

IMPLEMENTATION OF WTO TFA, RKC & IEPA

Please select your country

For subsequent questions please select YES or NO as your answer or fill in the space with further information.

Q1.PUBLICATION AND AVAILABILITY OF INFORMATION

Trade information

  • 1. Procedures and required forms for import, export and transit and required forms and documents.
  • 2. Applied rates for duty and taxes in connection with importation and exportation.
  • 3. Fees and charges imposed on imported/exported goods.
  • 4. Rules for classification and valuation of goods for customs purposes.
  • 5. Laws, regulation and administrative rulings of general application relating to rules of origin.
  • 6. Import, export and/or transit prohibitions and restrictions.
  • 7. Procedures for appeal or review.
  • 8. Penalty provisions for breach of import, export or transit formalities.
Q1a. Does your administration have ALL THE EIGHT (8) above trade information easily accessible to government, traders and other stakeholders for their information and use? *Required
Any further information
Q1b. Does your administration have a dedicated team to assist with enquires relating to the above (8) published trade information? *Required
Any further information
Q1c. Does your administration have published contact points, physical address of where to obtain information on Point 1 on ‘Procedures and required forms for import, export and transit and required forms and documents? *Required
Any further information
Q1d. Has your administration done any consultations with the traders, governments and other stakeholders on any related issues? *Required
Any further information

Q2. ADVANCE RULING

Q2a. Does your administration practise Advance Rulings on Tariff Classification, Valuation, Origin of goods, concessions/exemptions and quotas? *Required
Any further information
Q2b. If your administration practices Advanced Rulings, does it have Advance Ruling information (of general application) which serve as a guide and for information purposes to traders and stakeholders? *Required
Any further information
Q2c. Is it a common practice within your administration to publish advance rulings? *Required
Any further information
Q2d. Does your administration have a timeframe to issue the advance rulings? *Required
Any further information
Q2e. Does your administration provide a notification to the customer if the ruling is revoked, modified, or invalidated? *Required
Any further information

Q3. PROCEDURES FOR APPEALS OR REVIEW

Q3a. Does your administration have an appeals or review mechanism in place, in relation to an administrative decision made to a person or entity? *Required
Any further information
Q3b. Is a judicial appeal part of this mechanism? *Required
Any further information
Q3c. Is your appeal review mechanism legislated? *Required
Any further information
Q3d. Decisions from the review mechanism are communicated to the person or entity? *Required
Any further information
Q3e. Does your appeal mechanism allow for reviews for issues where recourse is required? *Required
Any further information

Q4.VOLUNTARY DISCLOSURE PROGRAM (VDP)

Q4a. Does your organisation have a VDP in place? *Required
Any further information
Q4b. Does your VDP have corresponding procedures and forms in place to assist Customers in applying for it? *Required
Any further information

Q5.PRE ARRIVAL PROCESSING

Q5a. Does your administration implement pre arrival processing? *Required
Any further information

Q6. ELECTRONIC PAYMENT

Q6a. Does your administration implement electronic payment? *Required
Any further information
Q6b. If your agency is implementing electronic payments, are there any plans to work with other border agencies (where relevant) and get them to do electronic payments as well? *Required
Any further information

Q7.SEPARATION OF RELEASE FROM FINAL DETERMINATION OF CUSTOMS DUTIES, TAXES, FEES AND CHARGES

Q7a. In some instances, more information is required to determine, for example, the origin of the goods. Does your administration allow, where applicable, to release the goods and then sort out the origin issue (or other pending issues) later when the required documents/information are obtained? *Required
Any further information

8.POST CLEARANCE AUDIT (PCA)

Q8a. Do you have PCA Policy and procedures in place *Required
Any further information
Q8B. Do you have an established PCA Unit? *Required
Any further information

Q9.RISK MANAGEMENT (RM)

Q9a. Does your administration practise RM? *Required
Any further information
Q9b. Do you have RM policies and procedures in place? *Required
Any further information
Q9c. Do you have an established Intelligence Unit? *Required
Any further information
Q9d. Do you have a formal regime in place to capture relevant data from all operational areas for analysis purposes? *Required
Any further information
Q9e. Does your administration use this RM system for other boarder agencies as well? *Required
Any further information
Q9f. How often do you review and update your selectivity criteria's? *Required
Any further information

Q10. TIME RELEASE STUDY

Q10a. Has your administration undertaken any TRS? *Required
Any further information
Q10b. Were the results of the TRS published? *Required
Any further information
Q10c. Were there any improvements made as a result from the findings of the TRS? *Required
Any further information
Q10d. What is the time review cycle for your TRS? *Required
Any further information
Q10e. Did your administration share with the WTO TFA on the experience of measuring, methodology used, bottlenecks and resulting effects on efficiency. *Required
Any further information

Q11.AUTHORISED OPERATOR

Q11a. Do you have an established AO regime in place? *Required
Any further information
Q11b. Do you have procedures in place (with forms) to apply for AO accreditation? *Required
Any further information
Q11c. Do you have Small and Medium Enterprises having AO accreditation *Required
Any further information

Q12. EXPEDITED SHIPMENTS
Customs administrations should have procedures allowing for the quick release of “express shipments’’ (or expedited shipments) -especially for air cargo. Such cargo is described below:

  • • goods with no commercial value
  • • goods of low value with no duties and taxes
  • • low value dutiable consignments; and
  • • high value consignments.
Q12a. Does your administration have an established regime in place for the quick release of such goods mentioned above? *Required
Any further information
Q12b. Does your legislation allow for a minimum value of goods of which no duty will be collected. *Required
Any further information

Q13. PERISHABLES

Q13a. Does your administration have a formal procedure in place to allow for the quick release of perishables like fresh produce and vegetables? *Required
Any further information

Q14. BORDER AGENCY COOPERATION

Q14a. Does your administration have formal institutional arrangements in place with other border agencies to ensure the existence of a coordinated working environment. *Required
Any further information

Q15. ACCEPTANCE OF COPIES OF ENTRIES OR SUPPORTING DOCUMENTS

Q15a. Does your agency accept copies of entries or supporting documents as official approved documents? *Required
Any further information

Q16. NATIONAL TRADE FACILITATION COMMITTEE (NTFC)

Q16a. Does your country have an established and functioning NTFC or a similar committee? *Required
Any further information

Q17. USE OF CUSTOMS BROKER NOT MANDATORY

Q17a. Is it compulsory or mandatory in your administration that an owner of goods (under customs control) has to use a Customs agent to undertake customs transactions on the owner’s behalf (i.e. the owner of the goods cannot clear the goods if owner is not a licensed Customs agent)? *Required
Any further information

Q18. MOU WITH OTHER CUSTOMS ADMINISTRATIONS

Q18a. Does your administration have an MOU with other non-OCO Customs administration? *Required
Any further information

Q19. ARTICLE VII of GATT

Q19a. Is your Customs valuation in compliance or consistent to Article VII of the GATT Valuation? *Required
Any further information

END OF SURVEY