On 11 January 2016 Seychelles ratified the new Trade Facilitation Agreement (TFA), becoming the 66th WTO member to do so. Seychelles submitted its instrument of acceptance to the WTO Secretariat on 11 January 2016. On 04 January 2016 Lesotho and Georgia became the two new members to ratify the TFA.
The TFA contains provisions for expediting the movement, release and clearance of goods, including goods in transit. It also sets out measures for effective cooperation between customs and other appropriate authorities on trade facilitation and customs compliance issues. It further contains provisions for technical assistance and capacity building in this area.
The TFA will enter into force once two-thirds of the WTO membership has formally accepted the Agreement.
In addition to Seychelles, Lesotho and Georgia the following WTO members have also accepted the TFA: Hong Kong China, Singapore, the United States, Mauritius, Malaysia, Japan, Australia, Botswana, Trinidad and Tobago, the Republic of Korea, Nicaragua, Niger, Belize, Switzerland, Chinese Taipei, China, Liechtenstein, Lao PDR, New Zealand, Togo, Thailand, the European Union (on behalf of its 28 member states), the former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia, Pakistan, Panama, Guyana, Côte d'Ivoire, Grenada, Saint Lucia, Kenya, Myanmar, Norway, Viet Nam, Brunei, Ukraine, and Zambia.
More information on trade facilitation and the TFA can be found at www.wto.org/tradefacilitation
