National Workshop on the Agreement on Trade Facilitation (TFA)National Workshop on the Agreement on Trade Facilitation (TFA)

Background
Agreement on Trade Facilitation (ATF) is an agreement that adopted in the 9th WTO Ministerial Conference in Bali December 2013. ATF contains provisions for expediting the movement, release and clearance of goods, including goods in transit. It also sets out measures for effective cooperation between customs and other appropriate authorities on trade facilitation and customs compliance issues. Although trade facilitation is not an unfamiliar issue, collective understanding amongst stakeholders both in national and local level still needs to be addressed. Since trade facilitation issue has turned into a formal regulation in WTO, collective understanding will enable stakeholders to achieve better collaboration both in ratifying ATF to national regulations and implement it in each authorities.

As part of the effort to enhance the collective understanding, the Center for World Trade Studies (CWTS) Universitas Gadjah Mada will be organizing Short Course Series in International Trade (SCSIT). The theme of this event is “Understanding WTO Agreement on Trade Facilitation (ATF): Advantages, Disadvantages and Implementations.” Therefore, this event will focus on discussing the agreement, its implication and its implementations particularly in developing countries like Indonesia.

Output
1. The Establishment of Indonesia Trade Facilitation Stakeholders Forum.
2. Action plan for the establishment of National Taskforce on Trade Facilitation Agreement.

Course Topics
1. ATF’s Background and goals
2. Trade Facilitation’s (TF) Measures
3. Categorization in each TF Measures
4. ATF’s assessment and implementation

Keynote Speaker
Mr. Alejandro Gamboa-Alder, World Trade Organization (WTO)

Time and Venue
Hotel Santika Premierre, Yogyakarta-Indonesia, July 27th to 29th 2016.

Event Schedule
The short course will be held in the City of Yogyakarta, Indonesia for 2 and half days. The agenda will begin on 27th until 29th July 2016. Below are the following detail activities of Short Course Series of International Trade (SCSIT),

Day 1: Wednesday 27 July 2016
08.30 – 09.00   Participants’ Registration
09.00 – 09.15    Opening Ceremony
Session 1
09.15 – 10.30     The WTO Trade Facilitation Agreement: background, objectives, and state of play
10.30 – 10.45     Coffee break
Session 2
10.45 – 12.00     Overview of Section I of the TFA: substantive provisions
12.00 – 13.00    Lunch break
13.00 – 14.00    Overview of Section I of the TFA: substantive provisions (cont.)
14.00 – 14.15     Coffee break
Session 3
14.15 – 15.30      Overview of Section II of the TFA: Special and Differential Treatment

Day 2: Thursday 28 July 2016
Session 4
08.30 – 09.00   Requirements and benefits of Article 6.3; Article 7.1; Article 10.6
09.00 – 10.00   Break-out session on Indonesia’s implementation of Category A provisions
10.00 – 10.30    Conclusions by rapporteurs
10.30 – 10.45     Coffee break 
Session 5
10.45 – 11.00      Key implementation challenges for Indonesia
11:00 – 12.00     Break-out sessions on:
– Transparency; opportunities to comment; appeals and reviews; fees and charges; and formalities
– Release and clearance procedures
12.00 – 13.00     Lunch break
Session 6
13.00 – 14.00     Border agencies and TFA procedures/tasks
14.00 – 14.20     Conclusions by rapporteurs
14.20 – 14.30     Presentation of the STDF film on trade solutions
14:30 – 14:45      Coffee break
Session 7
14.45 – 15.30      Indonesia’s National Committee on Trade Facilitation

Day 3: Friday 29 July 2016
Session 7 (Cont.)
08.30 – 09.00   Break-out session on the establishment and functioning of the Indonesian NCTF
09.00 – 09.15    Conclusions by rapporteurs
Session 8
09.15 – 10.30     Identification of provisions that might require more time, technical assistance and/or capacity building
10.30 – 10.45     Coffee break
10.45 – 11.45       Identification of priorities and discussion of an Action Plan/Road Map
11:45 – 12:00      Closing Ceremony

Participants
SCSIT expects participants from stakeholders in both central and local level, business association, also academics to enrich the perspectives. Participants will be limited to approximately 20 persons. Here are the following institutions which are expected to participate in SCSIT,
1. Coordinating Minister for The Economy
2. Ministry of Finance –Directorate General of Customs and Excise.
3. Ministry of Trade – Directorate General of Internatiojnal Trade Negotiation.
4. Ministry of Transportation
5. Ministry of Agriculture
6. Members of People’s Representative Council
7. Local Government (from related region)
8. Indonesian Businessman Association
9. Indonesia Port II (PT. Pelabuhan Indonesia)

Registratin fee and facilities
Registration fee: Rp 2.000.000/participant
Facilities:
– Seminar kit and certificate
– Course material
– Lunch and coffee break

Other Information

  • Please be advised to send your confirmation before 20 July 2016 as this event is limited to only 20 participants (FCFS, first come first served).
  • The course will be conducted in English.
  • Please send your completed confirmation form to cwts@ugm.ac.id or fax: 0274-580273
  • Please complete your payment by transfer to:
    Bank Mandiri UGM an. UGM-PS-PSPD-krjsama
    Account number 137-00-1403-2078
    Message for beneficiary: SCSIT Registration Fee
  • Further inquiries please contact our contact person:
    Ms. Ari Setyawati: 081328247811 / 0274-580273