Trade Facilitation - Australia
In recognition of the significant benefits of reducing red tape barriers to international trade, WTO Members concluded the Agreement on Trade Facilitation (ATF) at the Ninth Ministerial Conference in 2013. Australia is contributing to the World Bank Group’s Trade Facilitation Support Program, which is designed to assist developing countries undertake at-the-border reforms, such as improving their customs procedures. Additionally, Australia has provided support to the WTO Trade Facilitation Agreement Facility to assist developing and least developed countries implement the agreement.
Australia is one of 23 donors to the Enhanced Integrated Framework (EIF). The EIF helps least developed countries build their capacity to trade, including by identifying and addressing major constraints to trade, formulating and implementing trade policies and strategies, and mainstreaming trade into their national development plans. Cambodia, for example, prepared a Trade Integration Strategy (2014–2018) and established the Cambodia Export Diversification and Expansion Program (CEDEP) with EIF support. CEDEP has directly facilitated US$30.5 million of rice exports in 2013, and is helping handicraft businesses of mainly women weavers find export markets for their silk products. As a result, some of these businesses have increased their sales by 40 per cent.
The SGP is a whole‑of‑government engagement program involving Australian Government agencies who provide capacity building assistance and advice to counterpart PNG Government agencies. For example, Customs and Border Protection officers are embedded in the PNG Customs Service, providing assistance to strengthen governance arrangements, manage borders and facilitate trade and revenue collection.