Issues in Standardsetting work

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Issues in Standard-setting work
Workshop on the Role of International Standards
in multilateral trade agreement, Geneva, 25
September 2006
Tadatsugu Toni Matsudaira World Customs
Organization (WCO)
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Topics

• Definition
• Standardization
• Representability in standard-setting
• How to increase the sponsors?

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Definition -- WTO/TBT Agreement --
Document approved by a recognized body, that
provides, for common and repeated use, rules,
guidelines or characteristics for products or
related processes and production methods, with
which compliance is not mandatory. It may also
include or deal exclusively with terminology,
symbols, packaging, marking or labelling
requirements as they apply to a product, process
or production method. (Annex 1 Paragraph 2)
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Definition -- ISO/IEC Guide 2 --
The terms as defined in ISO/IEC Guide 2 cover
products, processes and services. Standards
as defined by ISO/IEC Guide 2 may be mandatory or
voluntary. (WTO Homepage)
ISO/IEC Guide 2 is available at ISO, charged at
154 Swiss Francs (CHF).
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Definition -- WTO/TF negotiations --
(T)he term "international standards" shall be
understood to refer inter alia to a selection
of standards, guidelines and recommendations
being parts of International Conventions or
Agreements related to facilitating international
trade and administered by relevant International
intergovernmental organizations. (TN/TF/W/131)
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WCO standards (examples)

• HS Convention
• WCO Data Model
• Revised Kyoto Convention
• Istanbul Convention
• Immediate Release Guidelines
• Time Release Study Guide

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Standardization

• In some cases, the sponsors are too few
• Todays 75 happiness vs tomorrows 100
  happiness
• Ownership of standards (the question of
  representability in standard-setting)
• Needs to update vs implementation capacity
• Insufficient capacity building

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Sponsorship (mixed picture)
Successful

• HS Convention (121)
• Istanbul Convention (50)
• Revised Kyoto Convention (50)

More efforts required
Not only the numbers but the balances of the
members, e.g., in terms of geography and/or level
of developments are also important in order to
establish international standards.
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You should change yours to mine
Low ? Country Xs welfare ? High
Status quo
International Standards based on Xs
High ? Country Ys welfare ? Low
International Standards MRA
International Standards based on Ys
(Situation can be not only cross countries but
also cross sectors.)
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Participation
36
41
86
56
69
74
All 6 regions participation is secured. Circle
charts indicate the participation in the meetings
( to the total number of the WCO). Bar charts
indicate the participation of developing
countries ( to the total number of attending
countries).
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WCO standards evolution (not exhaustive)
Harmonization of coding and data
Standardization of procedures
Support tools for national TF initiatives
Simplification and modernization of procedures
HS Convention (2007)
AEO Guidelines (2006)
Post-clearance audit Guidelines (2006)
Data Model Version 2.0 (Guide) (2005)
Diagnostic Framework (Guide) (2003)
ISCM Guidelines (2005)
Resolution on UCR and Implementation Guide (2004)
ICT Guidelines (2004)
Time Release Study (Guide) (2003)
Immediate Release Guidelines (2003)
HS Convention (2002)
Benchmarking Manual (Guide) (2003)
Recommendation on the use of WWW (1999)
Risk Management Guide (2003)
Data Model Version 1.1 (Guide) (2003)
Revised Kyoto Convention and its Guidelines(1999)
Data Model Version 1.0 (Guide) (2002)
Recommendation on Pre-entry classification (1996)
Guidelines for Express Consignments Clearance
(1993)
HS Convention (1996)
Istanbul Convention (1990)
Kyoto Convention (1973)
HS Convention (1987)
ATA Convention (1963)
Convention establishing CCC (1950)
Diagnostic Framework is a living document and
contains entire Customs themes, including the TF
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3rd Generation Use of international standards --
TN/TF/W/131 --

• shall use relevant international standards or
  parts as a basis
• in addition, are encouraged to use regional
  standards
• exception with rationale that must be accountable
  (to explain why not use them)
• are encouraged to take part in standard-setting
  and managing work
• WCO is listed in the annex

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For more information www.wcoomd.org www.gfptt.or
g e-mail tadatsugu.matsudaira_at_wcoomd.org