Bangladesh Trade Facilitation

Activities

BTF Components and Activities

BTF Activities focusing WTO Trade Facilitation Agreement

WTO Trade Facilitation Agreement Article 1.1 Publication

  • Agro-Trade Manuals for Traders
  • Agency-specific FAQ’s on Agro-trade
  • Infographic for easy understanding of processes and procedures

WTO Trade Facilitation Agreement Article 1.2 Information Available Through Internet

  • Online Laboratories Information Repository
  • Agro-trade Section under Bangladesh Trade Portal and Bangladesh Customs Portal

WTO Trade Facilitation Agreement Article 1.3 Enquiry Point

  • Capacitate agro-agency Focal Points to the National Enquiry Points
  • Develop the Agency-specific FAQ
  • Strengthen coordination between agencies and National Enquiry Point

WTO Trade Facilitation Agreement Article 2.2 Consultation

  • Facilitate consultations and coordination between and among agencies
  • Organize stakeholder consultations for developing and updating agro-trade legislation

WTO Trade Facilitation Agreement Article 5.3 Test Procedures

  • Capacitate agro-agency Focal Points to the National Enquiry Points
  • Develop the Agency-specific FAQ
  • Strengthen coordination between agencies and National Enquiry Point

WTO Trade Facilitation Agreement Article 7.1 Pre-arrival Processing

  • Facilitate consultations and coordination between and among agencies
  • Organize stakeholder consultations for developing and updating agro-trade legislation

WTO Trade Facilitation Agreement Article 7.4 Risk Management

  • Development of legal and permanent institutional setup for introducing RM
  • Automated RM system
  • Department of Livestock Services
  • Engagement of private sector to implement RM

WTO Trade Facilitation Agreement Article 7.5 Post Clearance Audit

  • Inclusion of Post Clearance Audit (PCA) related legal provisions
  • Capacity development of officials on PCA
  • Manual/SOP on PCA

WTO Trade Facilitation Agreement Article 7.6 Establishment and Publication of Average Release Times

  • Agro-focused Time Release Study

WTO Trade Facilitation Agreement Article 7.9 Perishable Goods

  • Establishment of multi-purpose cold storage
  • Development of legislation to facilitate efficient operation of cold storage
  • Product-specific cold storage manuals

WTO Trade Facilitation Agreement Article 8 Border Agency Cooperation

  • Formation and operationalization of Agro-Trade Working group under the National Trade Facilitation Committee
  • Establishment of connectivity of agencies with Customs

WTO Trade Facilitation Agreement 10.1 Formalities and Documentation Requirements

  • Review of legislations
  • Implementation of recommendations made by the TRS
  • Streamlining processes and procedures through automation and integration

WTO Trade Facilitation Agreement Article 10. 2 Acceptance of Copies

  • Automation of certificates/NOCs/License/Permits
  • Automation of laboratory test report

WTO Trade Facilitation Agreement Article 10.3 Use of International Standards

  • Review and reform of legislation based on international standards
  • Development of new legislative tools following best practices

WTO Trade Facilitation Agreement 10.4 Single Window

  • Integration of certificates/NOCs/Permits/lab reports to National Single Window
  • Development of agency-RM IT system and integration with NSW Automated Risk Management System (ARMS)

Others

  • Tariff Rationalization targeting agro-sector
  • Export Compliance Capacity e-Contract Farming and Traceability

Components of BTF

Component 1: Increase Harmonization of Processes, Formalities, and Pre-Clearance Processing

Component 2: Increase transparency of trade information and WTO notification compliance

Component 3: Strengthen risk management systems

Component 4: Improve laboratories and testing procedures

Component 5: Enhance cold storage infrastructure for perishable goods