WTO Workshop

1
Terms of Reference and Objective Setting
World Trade Organisation
(Geneva)Stephen FevrierPermanent Delegation
of the Organisation of Eastern Caribbean States
to the UNGO

• WTO Workshop
• ESTABLISHMENT OF AN EFFECTIVE TRADE FACILITATION
  TASK FORCE

2
Terms of Reference Defined

• Terms of Reference defines the purpose and
  structure of the National Trade Facilitation Task
  Force/Working Group/Committee
• Documents how the scope (of activities) will be
  defined, developed, and verified
•  
• Provides a documented basis for making future
  decisions and for confirming or developing a
  common understanding of the scope among
  stakeholders
•  
• It qualifies success factors/risks and
  articulates clear and discernable objectives

3
Terms of Reference WHY?

• Creating detailed terms of reference is critical
  to the success of the Working Group as it
  identifies and defines
• Vision, objectives, scope and deliverables (i.e.
  what is to be achieved)
• Stakeholders, roles and responsibilities (i.e.
  who will take part in it)
• Resource, financial and quality plans (i.e. how
  it will be achieved)
• Work apportionment and schedule (i.e. when it
  will be achieved)
• Procedural and institutional arrangements (i.e.
  quorum and meeting schedules)

4
Terms of Reference WHY?

• The terms of reference set out a road map
• Provides a clear path for progression
• Identifies key objectives to be accomplished when
  and by whom
• Identifies a suite of deliverables which conform
  to the requirements, scope and constraints
  identified
•  
• It is the constitution of the National Working
  Group.

5
Terms of Reference - Specimen

• Purpose and Objectives
• Two Types longer term objectives (mission
  statement and operational/specific objectives)
• The purpose of the Trade Facilitation Working
  Group is to provide policy guidance on Trade
  Facilitation reform and supports the
  implementation of operational solutions in line
  with the national development strategy ies and
  international obligations. (very broad or narrow
  scope depending on the needs OECS)

6
Terms of Reference - Specimen

• Specific objectives of the Working Group may
  include the following 
• to make recommendations on strategic trade
  facilitation goals and operational solutions
  (practical benefits beyond V, VIII and X)
•  
• to strengthen policy coherence between national
  development priorities and international
  obligations, and between trade facilitation
  reform initiatives and technical assistance
  projects (should link SDT and TACB to national
  conditions

7
Terms of Reference - Specimen

• to provide technical backstopping to your
  national and Geneva based officials in the
  context of the WTO negotiations (and other
  negotiations) on trade facilitation
•  
• to provide a forum for stakeholder consultation
  on trade facilitation related policies and
  implementation (private sector dialogue)
• to increase public awareness of trade
  facilitation measures, practices and standards.

8
Terms of Reference - Specimen

• Composition and Authority
•  
• The working group shall be established by a
  decision of the Cabinet or operate under
  ministerial authority or decree
•  
• The national working group shall consist of
  authorized representatives of parties (public and
  private) concerned with cross border trade
• Procedural and institutional arrangements
• I) The election of the members of the Working
  Group shall be designated by the working group
  for a time period, for example one year.
•  
•  
•  

9
Terms of Reference - Specimen

• ii) Coordination of the working group shall
  function on a rotational basis, with the
  incoming, outgoing and current lead agency
  functioning as a troika.
• The national working group shall function as a
  coordinating and consultative body
• It will have authority to prepare
  recommendations and advise on domestic, regional
  and multilateral policy matters related to
  transport and trade facilitation
• Its recommendations shall be made in the form of
  proposals to the institutions concerned and to
  Cabinet. (This includes recommendations on the
  trade facilitation negotiations, implementation
  of obligations, bi-lateral negotiations on
  technical assistance.)

10
Terms of Reference - Specimen

• The Chairperson shall have the authority to
  request contribution and substantial reports from
  the participating agencies through their
  authorized representative
•  
• The Chairperson, upon the request of the Working
  Group, shall submit proposals to the appropriate
  authorities
•  
• The Chairperson will prepare once a year/ twice
  yearly a progress report to be submitted to the
  Cabinet.

11
Terms of Reference - Specimen

• Operating procedures
• The working group shall meet at regular intervals
  or at the request of this Chairperson or by any
  member through a request made to the Chairperson
  
•  
• A technical secretariat shall be set up to
  provide secretarial functions and assist the
  Chairperson (This can be formal/informal and can
  function through a regional secretariat/national
  agency)
• A quorum shall be established when X members
  are present.
•  
• Informal subcommittees can meet on an ad hoc
  basis without the need to follow the procedural
  requirements in 3 above.
•  

12
Terms of Reference - Specimen

• Decisions of the working group shall be taken by
  a simple majority of members present.
•  
• A work programme will be prepared and implemented
  by the working group.

13
Terms of Reference - Specimen

• Sub-Regional Coordination
• From each of the national working groups two
  members (current and out-going coordinator) will
  constitute the sub-regional trade facilitation
  working group which will meet at regular
  intervals 
• The basic terms of reference of this sub-regional
  trade facilitation sub-committee are
• To monitor regional progress
• To coordinate regional public awareness
  campaigns
• To identify common challenges/constrains
• To identify common solutions/regional actions
  identified to solve existing problems

14
Terms of Reference - Specimen

• To adapt region-wide trade facilitation
  standards
• To prepare coherent country positions for
  external trade negotiations.

15
Keys to Success

• Visibility use the media
• Get Political support
• Pick low hanging fruit
• Appropriate leadership
• Resources (depending on scope)
• Regular meetings
• Establish a data base of national, regional and
  international contacts (EC Birgit, Sheri, Jan,
  Mena etc)
• Set up and maintain a working communications
  model to ensure strong linkages with relevant
  national, regional and international partners,
• Provide political masters and key
  partners/sponsors with regular updates

16
Keys to Success

• Be proactive (a champion should lead)
• Keep a log of actions and outcomes (document and
  institutionalize with paper)
• Members of the task forces should be updated on
  the status of the Negotiations
• Good house-keeping of the Working Group (maintain
  timelines keep minutes of meetings, consistent
  reporting etc.)
• Report upward to political and resource sponsors
  on activities

17
Thank You!