11 December - 13 December 00:00 - 00:00 (CET) 2012

Joint AU-EU Customs and Trade Facilitation Forum

Event

Conference

Last Updated: 11 May 2023

Organised by:

European Commission (DG DEVCO, DG TAXUD, DG TRADE), African Union Commission (Trade and Customs Division)

Location:

200 Rue de la Loi, European Commission, Berlaymont Building , Brussels , Belgium

2840

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Description

JOINT CUSTOMS AND TRADE FACILITATION FORUM: A CUSTOMS STRATEGY FOR THE CONTINENTAL FREE TRADE AREA (CFTA)

Organised by the African Union and European Union Commissions with the African Regional Economic Communities

Background:

The purpose of the Forum is to contribute to the identification of the concrete measures to be taken by the African Union, its RECs and Member States in the area of customs in order to contribute to the set up and implementation of the CFTA.

This concerns in particular the consolidation and harmonisation of initiatives already taken or in progress at the continental and regional level, focussing on the requirements necessary for the CFTA to operate effectively and efficiently and in particular on any "missing link" at the regional or continental level. Any needs identified at country level should be dealt with under other follow-up actions. The Forum is expected to contribute to the elaboration of an AUC customs strategy that would become part of the overall AUC working plan in the coming years.

In order to provide an overview of the current situation at regional and AU level, a study has been commissioned to consolidate information from the organisations active in this area on what has been achieved so far, work in progress and what remains to be done (e.g. the WCO Columbus programme diagnostics or the WB needs assessment relating to the DDA TF negotiations, subject to the agreement of the countries concerned) and the main obstacles encountered by RECs in their integration agenda in this matter. The Forum is also expected to provide additional data relevant for the study final report.

Scope of the Forum and expected outcome

Using experts' presentations and open debate between participants, the Forum will provide an overview of the current situation in the RECs concerning the essential customs elements of a free trade area (classification of goods within a harmonised tariff nomenclature, value and origin rules, customs border procedures) and try to identify the missing links and the concrete needs for harmonisation between RECs in order to establish the CFTA.

The Forum is expected to agree on recommendations for future work on those areas, within an Africa Customs Strategy for the CFTA to be considered by the AU institutions.(...)

For more information on the Forum, read the concept note

Dont miss out on the Summary Outcome and Final Recommendations CTF Forum

Agenda

(You can download it here)

Day 1 - 11 December 2012

9h15-9h40

Arrival and registration of participants

9h40-10h00

Welcome statements
Mr Mark Vanheukelen, Head of Cabinet of EC Trade Commissioner De Gucht.
Mr Jean-Noel François, Head of Customs Cooperation Division of the African Union Commission

10h00-10h15

Organization of the Forum: Explanation by the co-chairs about the working modalities and practical arrangements of the Forum (organizers)

10h15-10h30

Presentation by AUC Customs Division

The presentation will cover work done and future plans in the area of Customs and Trade Facilitation, in relation to the CFTA (AUC – Mr Chenjerai Chibaya)

10h30-10h50

Study on the role of African customs administrations toward the establishment of a Continental Free Trade Area.

Presentation of the preliminary findings and questions for the participants to be discussed during the Forum by consultants
(Mr Trevor Simumba, Mr Chongo Mukupa, Mr Shumon Khalid).

10h50-11h10

Coffee break

11h10-11h30

Trade Facilitation:

Overview of the international debate on Trade Facilitation and the European experience
(EC DG TRADE – Mr Paolo Garzotti).

11h30-11h50

The role of international customs standards in trade facilitation (WCO – Mr Gaozhang Zhu).

11h50-12h10

WTO presentation on the content of the draft Trade Facilitation Agreement (WTO – Ms Sheri Rosenow)

12h10-12h45

Exchange of views

12h45–14h15

Business lunch (Grand Hall)

14h15–15h00

Trade Facilitation (follows)

Agenda and state of implementation at regional level.

Presentation by Pan African Institutions : AfDB - Mr Patrick Kanyimbo

and African Regional Economic Communities: EAC and CEEAC

15h00–15h30

Presentation on integrated/coordinated border management and the interface between customs, other border agencies and the private sector by consultants

15h30-15h45

Coffee break

15h45–17h15

Trade Facilitation (follows)

Open debate.

This Session will be dedicated to drawing specific recommendations on how to improve Customs and Trade Facilitation in Africa, drawing from concrete cases encountered by African countries, regions and private sector (presentation by consultants) and the European experience and contributions from the participants, e.g. on information and communication aspects.

17h15–17h30

Presentation on recent Aid for Trade activities of the European Commission
Mr Kristian Schmidt, Director (Acting), Sustainable Growth and Development, EC Directorate-General for Development and Cooperation - EuropeAid;

Day 2 - 12 December

09h30-09h45

Free trade areas (FTAs)

Presentation on the required steps to implement a free trade area: rules of origin, valuation and classification, interconnectivity and transit. (EC DG TAXUD[i] – Ms Heidi Jonkman)

09h45-10h00

Customs tariff nomenclature

Introduction of the topic (EC DG TAXUD – Mr Eric Jouangrand)

10h00-10h30

Presentation by the concerned RECs on the state of play in each region.

10h30-10h45

Open debate on possible recommendations

10h45-11h00

Coffee break

11h00-11h15

Customs valuation

Introduction of the topic (EC DG TAXUD – Mr John Malone)

11h15-12h00

Presentation by the concerned RECs on the state of play in each region.

12h00-13h00

Open debate on possible recommendations

13h00–14h30

Business lunch (Grand Hall)

14h30-14h45

Rules of origin

Introduction of the topic (EC DG TAXUD – Mr Guillaume Dorey)

14h45-15h00

Presentation by AUC of the on-going harmonization work.

15h00-15h30

Presentation by the concerned RECs on the state of play in each region.

15h30-15h45

Coffee break

15h45-16h30

Rules of origin (follows)

Open debate on possible recommendations

16h30–16h45

Transit procedures

Introduction of the topic (EC DG TAXUD – Mr Michael Rathje)

16h45–17h00

Interconnectivity of computerised customs systems

Introduction of the topic (EC DG TAXUD – Mr Juan José García Sánchez)

17h00–18h00

Exchange of experiences on transit procedures and interconnectivity of computerised customs systems and possible recommendations.

Day 3 – 13 December 2012

09h30 – 10h45

Trade Facilitation, transit and interconnectivity: Finalisation of recommendations

10h45 – 11h00

Coffee break

11h00 – 12h30

Tariff nomenclature: Finalisation of recommendations

12h30 – 14h00

Business lunch (Grand Hall)

14h00 – 15h30

Customs valuation: Finalisation of recommendations

15h30 – 15h45

Coffee break

15h45 – 17h00

Rules of origin: Finalisation of recommendations

17h00 – 17h15

Closing remarks: Mr. Kastrissiannakis, Director Security and Safety, Trade facilitation and International coordination, EC Directorate General for Taxation and Customs Union.

[i] Directorate General Taxation and Customs Union of the European Commission.

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Created: 18 January 2013 12:13

Please visit the official website of the "Africa Europe in Partnership", you will find a dedicated article on the Joint Customs and Trade Facilitation Forum - http://www.africa-eu-partnership.org/node/2833. Enjoy your reading!

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