Trade and Investment Division
United Nations Economic and Social Commission for Asia and the Pacific (ESCAP)



ESCAP Trade Facilitation Framework: A guiding tool
(ST/ESCAP/2327)




CONTENTS


Abbreviations
Web site addresses of references

INTRODUCTION
  1. Trade development and its economic significance
  2. Trade development stragegy
  3. Implications of trade facilitation
  4. Key components of trade facilitation
  5. Development of the ESCAP trade facilitation framework
  6. ESCAP trade facilitation framework

  7. Stage Ai:   Collect feedback, analyse, assess and
    prioritize needs
    Stage Aii:  Establish the trade facilitation
    institutional structure
    Stage Bi:    Revise trade and customs laws and regulations
    Stage Bii:   Simplify, standardize and harmonize import-
    export documentation and customs procedures
    Stage Biii:   Implement effective trade and customs
    enforcement
    Stage Biv:   Implement effective information dissemination
    Stage Bv:   Applying information and communication
    technology
    Stage Bvi:   Review and assessment of results
Annex
  1. Study of the current trade facilitation situation
  2. Case study: Electronic trade document system development
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Last updated: 17 June 2004