联合国西亚经济社会委员会-2023年阿拉伯地区的数字和可持续贸易便利化（英）

Digitalandsustainabletradefacilitation

intheArabregion2023

E/ESCWA/CL3.SEP/2024/TP.1

EconomicandSocialCommissionforWesternAsia

DigitalandsustainabletradefacilitationintheArabregion2023

UnitedNations

Beirut

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2400030E

Keymessages

•Arabcountrieshavemadenotableadvancesintheimplementationoftradefacilitationmeasures.

•SeveralArabcountrieshavereportedthatthelackofprogressregardingtheelectronicissuanceofpreferentialcertificatesoforigin,theelectronicexchangeofcertificatesoforigin,andtheelectronicexchangeofsanitaryandphytosanitarycertificatesrepresentsthebiggestobstacletotheimplementationoftradefacilitationmeasures.

•Despitesignificantbreakthroughsinthedigitalizationoftrade

operationsglobally,Arabcountriescontinuetolagbehindintheadoptionofpaperlesstradesolutions.

•Byembracingdigitaltechnologyandputtingelectronictradesystemsinplace,Arabcountriescanstreamlinetheircustomsprocedures,reducepaperwork,andpromoteefficiencyand

transparencyininternationaltrade.

•Overall,someprogresswasmadebetween2021and2023,

however,mucheffortisstillneededtoachievethesamelevelascomparableincomegroupcountries.

v

Executivesummary

ThefiveRegionalCommissionsoftheUnited

Nations,includingtheEconomicandSocial

CommissionforWesternAsia(ESCWA),have

since2015trackedtheimplementationofdigitalandsustainabletradefacilitationmeasures,

includingtheWorldTradeOrganization(WTO)

TradeFacilitationAgreement(TFA),by

conductingaglobalsurvey.Thepresentreportfocusesontheresultsofthe2023survey

regardingtheimplementationof58trade

facilitationmeasuresin18Arabcountries;theprogressachievedbetween2021and2023;andtheimplementationofdifferentgroupsoftradefacilitationmeasuresincludingtradefacilitationintimesofcrisis.

ParticipatingcountriesfromtheArabregionmadesignificantprogressbetween2021and2023inimplementingformalities,paperlesstradeandcross-borderpaperlesstrade.

Limitationshavebeenrecordedinmeasures

relatedtotransparencyandinstitutional

arrangementsandcooperation.In2023,the

implementationrateofthe31coremeasuresoftradefacilitationwas61percent,drivenbytherelativelyhighperformanceofparticipating

countriesfromtheGulfCooperationCouncil

andmiddle-incomeArabcountries.Arableast-developedcountriesandcountriesinconflictarestilllaggingbehindinimplementingtrade

facilitationmeasures,despitesomeimprovementsfromthelattergroup.

ThemostimplementedcategoriesintheArab

regionaretradefacilitationintimesofcrisisandpandemic,transparency,andinstitutional

arrangementandcooperationmeasures,withaverageimplementationratesof75,74and73percent,respectively.TheArabregionis

laggingintermsofwomenintradefacilitationandcross-borderpaperlesstrade,withaverageimplementationratesbetween46and47

percent,respectively–Arabcountries’lowestperformancewasinthesetwocategories.Themostseriouschallengesfacedbymany

countriesfromtheregionincludethelackofelectronicexchangeofsanitaryand

phytosanitarycertificates,electronicapplicationandissuanceofpreferentialcertificatesof

origin,andelectronicexchangeofcertificatesoforigin.Severalcountriesfromtheregionarestilllaggingintermsoftheimplementationof

paperlessmeasures,digitizationofprocedures,andelectronicpayments.

vii

Contents

Keymessagesiii

Executivesummaryv

Introduction1

1.TradefacilitationimplementationintheArabregion5

A.OverallperformanceintheArabregion5

B.Implementationinsubregions6

C.Mostandleastimplementedtradefacilitationmeasures6

D.Progressinimplementationbetween2021and20239

2.Theimplementationoftradefacilitationmeasures11

A.Generaltradefacilitationmeasures11

B.Digitaltradefacilitation17

C.Sustainabletradefacilitation20

D.Othertradefacilitation24

E.Progressandchallengesinimplementation26

3.Conclusionsandrecommendations29

Listoftables

Table1.Groupingoftradefacilitationmeasures2

Table2.MostandleastimplementedmeasuresintheArabregion,20237

Listoffigures

Figure1.Overallimplementationoftradefacilitationmeasuresin2023(18Arabcountries)5

Figure2.Implementationofdifferentgroupsoftradefacilitationmeasures:Arabcountries’average,20236

Figure3.ImplementationofdifferentgroupsoftradefacilitationmeasuresintheArabregion,2021and20239

Figure4.TradefacilitationimplementationbyArabregionalgroups,2021and202310

Figure5.Implementationoftransparencymeasuresbysubregion,2023(18countries)11

Figure6.StateofimplementationoftransparencymeasuresfortheArabregion,2023(18countries)12

Figure7.Implementationofformalitiesmeasuresbysubregion,2023(18countries)13

Figure8.StateofimplementationofformalitiesmeasuresfortheArabregion,2023(18countries)13

Figure9.Implementationofinstitutionalarrangementandcooperationmeasuresbysubregion,

2023(18countries)14

Figure10.StateofimplementationofinstitutionalarrangementandcooperationmeasuresfortheArabregion,

2023(18countries)15

Figure11.Implementationoftransitfacilitationmeasuresbysubregion,2023(18countries)16

Figure12.StateofimplementationoftransitfacilitationmeasuresfortheArabregion,2023(18countries)16

Figure13.Implementationofpaperlesstrademeasuresbysubregion,2023(18countries)17

Figure14.StateofimplementationofpaperlesstrademeasuresfortheArabregion,2023(18countries)18

Figure15.Implementationofcross-borderpaperlesstrademeasuresbysubregion,2023(18countries)19

Figure16.Stateofimplementationofcross-borderpaperlesstrademeasuresfortheArabregion,2023

(18countries)19

Figure17.ImplementationoftradefacilitationinSMEpolicyframeworkmeasuresbysubregion,2023(18countries)20

viii

Figure18.StateofimplementationoftradefacilitationinSMEpolicyframeworkmeasuresfortheArabregion,2023

(18countries)21

Figure19.Implementationofagriculturaltradefacilitationmeasuresbysubregion,2023(18countries)22

Figure20.StateofimplementationofagriculturaltradefacilitationmeasuresfortheArabregion,2023(18countries)22

Figure21.Implementationofwomentradefacilitationmeasuresbysubregion,2023(18countries)23

Figure22.StateofimplementationofwomenintradefacilitationmeasuresfortheArabregion,2023(18countries)23

Figure23.Implementationoftradefinanceintradefacilitationmeasuresbysubregion,2023(18countries)24

Figure24.StateofimplementationoftradefinanceintradefacilitationmeasuresfortheArabregion,2023

(18countries)24

Figure25.Implementationoftradefacilitationintimesofcrisisandpandemicmeasuresbysub-region,2023

(18countries)25

Figure26.Stateofimplementationoftradefacilitationintimesofcrisisandpandemicmeasures

fortheArabregion,2023(18countries)26

Figure27.TradefacilitationmeasuresmostfullyimplementedinArabcountries(18countries)27

Figure28.TradefacilitationmeasuresleastimplementedinArabcountries(18countries)27

Introduction

Backgroundandobjective

TheWorldTradeOrganization(WTO)Trade

FacilitationAgreement(TFA)hasbeenratified

by156WTOMemberStates,amongwhichwere11ArabStates.ThefiveRegionalCommissionsoftheUnitedNations,includingtheEconomic

andSocialCommissionforWesternAsia

(ESCWA),havebeentrackingthe

implementationofdigitalandsustainabletradefacilitationmeasures,includingtheWTOTFA,byconductingaglobalsurveysince2015.

Conductedeverytwoyears,thissurveyissenttoallcountries,includingnon-WTOMemberStates.Theresultsofthe2023surveyinthe

Arabregionarepresentedinthisreport.

InMarch2023,ESCWAsentthequestionnairetoover50expertsfromgovernmentagenciesandtheprivatesectorfrom22Arabcountries.Thepresentreportsetsouttheresultsreceivedfrom18Arabcountries,fromfoursub-regions:theGulfCooperationCouncil(GCC)countries,middle-incomecountries(MICs),countriesin

conflict(CICs)andleastdevelopedcountries(LDCs).Itgatheredinformationonthestatusoftradefacilitationmeasuresandthechallengesfacedbythesecountriesindevelopingadigitalandsustainableframeworkthatsupports

tradingacrossborders.Itrecordedthe

responsesandchangesadoptedovertheyears.Thispresentreportcoverstheresultsreceivedfrom18Arabcountries.Responseswere

verifiedbyESCWAthroughsupporting

evidencetojustifytheratingprovided.

CountriesthatarecoveredbybothESCWAandtheUnitedNationsEconomicCommissionfor

Africa(ECA)weredouble-checkedbyboth

agenciesforconsistency.Answerswereratedas:fullyimplementedmeasure(rating3),

partiallyimplementedmeasure(rating2),

pilotstageimplementation(rating1),

notimplemented(rating0),anddon’tknow(rating0).

Thepresentreportisstructuredasfollows:thefirstsectiondescribestheobjectiveand

methodologyoftheglobalsurvey.Thesecondsectionpresentstheresultsforparticipating

Arabcountries.Thethirdsectionprovides

detailsontheimplementationofeachcategoryoftradefacilitationmeasuresandthefourth

sectionconcludesthereport.

Surveyinstrumentandmethodology

The2023UnitedNationsGlobalSurveyon

DigitalandSustainableTradeFacilitation

investigates58tradefacilitationmeasures

groupedintofourcategories,surpassingthe

establishedcommitmentslistedintheWTOTFA

(table1)

.Theinitialcategoryoftradefacilitation

measures,referredtoasgeneraltrade

facilitation,encompassesfoursubgroupsthataddresstransparency,formalities,institutionalarrangementandtransitfacilitation.Thesecondcategory,knownasdigitaltradefacilitation,

specificallytargetsthefacilitationofpaperlesstradeandcross-borderpaperlesstrade.The

thirdgroup,whichisdedicatedtosustainabletradefacilitation,focusesonthree

subcategories:smallandmediumenterprises(SMEs),agricultureandtheinclusionofwomen

2

intrade.Thefinalcategorycomprisesadditionaltradefacilitationmeasuresandisdividedinto

twosubgroups:tradefinancefacilitationandtradefacilitationduringperiodsofcrisis.

Table1.Groupingoftradefacilitationmeasures

Groups

Subgroups

Measures

Relevant

TFA

Articles

Generaltradefacilitation

Transparency

(5measures)

Advancepublication/notificationofnewtrade-relatedregulationsbeforetheirimplementation

2.1

Advancerulingontariffclassificationandoriginofimportedgoods

3

Independentappealmechanism

4

Stakeholders'consultationonnewdraftregulations(priortotheirfinalization)

2.2

Publicationofexistingimport-exportregulationsontheInternet

1.2

Formalities

(8measures)

Tradefacilitationmeasuresforauthorizedoperators

7.7

Acceptanceofcopiesoforiginalsupportingdocumentsrequiredforimport,exportortransitformalities

10.2.1

Expeditedshipments

7.8

Pre-arrivalprocessing

7.1

Separationofreleasefromthefinaldeterminationofcustomsduties,taxes,feesandcharges

7.3

Riskmanagement

7.4

Post-clearanceaudits

7.5

Establishmentandpublicationofaveragereleasetimes

7.6

Institutional

arrangementand

cooperation

(5measures)

Governmentagenciesdelegatingcontrolstocustomsauthorities

Nationallegislativeframeworkand/orinstitutionalarrangementsforborderagenciescooperation

8

Nationaltradefacilitationcommitteeorsimilarbody

23

Alignmentofworkingdaysandhourswithneighbouringcountriesatbordercrossings

8.2(a)

Alignmentofformalitiesandprocedureswithneighbouringcountriesatbordercrossings

8.2(b)

Transitfacilitation

(4measures)

Supportingpre-arrivalprocessingfortransitfacilitation

11.9

3

Groups

Subgroups

Measures

Relevant

TFA

Articles

Transitfacilitation(4measures)

Paperlesstrade

(10measures)

Customsauthoritieslimitthephysicalinspectionsoftransitgoodsanduseriskassessment

10.5

Cooperationbetweenagenciesofcountriesinvolvedintransit

11.16

Transitfacilitationagreement(s)

Electronicapplicationforcustomsrefunds

Digitaltradefacilitation

Paperlesstrade

(10measures)

Cross-borderpaperlesstrade

(6measures)

Electronicapplicationandissuanceofpreferentialcertificateoforigin

Electronicsinglewindowsystem

10.4

E-paymentofcustomsdutiesandfees

7.2

Electronicsubmissionofaircargomanifests

Electronicapplicationandissuanceofimportandexportpermit

Electronicsubmissionofcustomsdeclarations

Internetconnectionavailabletocustomsandothertradecontrolagencies

Automatedcustomssystem

Electronicexchangeofsanitaryandphytosanitarycertificates

Cross-borderpaperlesstrade

(6measures)

TradefacilitationinSMEpolicyframework

(5measures)

Recognizedcertificationauthority

Electronicexchangeofcertificateoforigin

Paperlesscollectionofpaymentfromadocumentaryletterofcredit

Lawsandregulationsforelectronictransactions

Electronicexchangeofcustomsdeclaration

OtherspecialmeasuresforSMEs

Sustainabletradefacilitation

TradefacilitationinSMEpolicyframework

(5measures)

Tradefacilitationandagriculturetrade

(3measures)

SMEsinauthorizedeconomicoperator(AEO)schemes

SMEsaccesssinglewindow

SMEsinnationaltradefacilitationcommittee

Trade-relatedinformationmeasuresforSMEs

Electronicapplicationandissuanceofsanitaryandphytosanitarycertificates

Nationalstandardsandaccreditationbodiestofacilitatecompliancewithsanitaryandphytosanitaryrequirements

4

Groups

Subgroups

Measures

Relevant

TFA

Articles

Tradefacilitationandagriculturetrade

(3measures)

Womenintradefacilitation

Testingandlaboratoryfacilitiesavailabletomeetsanitaryandphytosanitaryrequirementsofmaintradingpartners

Specialtreatmentforperishablegoods

7.9

Women’smembershipinthenationaltradefacilitationcommittee

Womenintrade

facilitation

Tradefinancefortrade

facilitation

(3measures)

Tradefacilitationpolicy/strategyincorporatesspecialconsiderationofwomentraders

Tradefacilitationmeasuresaimedatwomentraders

Customsand/orotherregulatoryauthoritiesengagedinblockchain-basedsupplychainprojectscoveringtradefinance

Othertradefacilitation

Tradefinancefortradefacilitation

(3measures)

Tradefacilitationin

timesofcrisisand

pandemic

(5measures)

Singlewindowfacilitatestraders’accesstofinance

Varietyoftradefinanceservicesavailable

Preparednessoftradefacilitationmeasuresforfuturecrises

Tradefacilitationin

timesofcrisisand

pandemic

(5measures)

Coordinationofemergencytradefacilitationmeasureswithothercountries

Implementationofadditional(cross-border)paperlesstrademeasuresintimesofcrisesandemergencies

Anagencyavailabletomanagetradefacilitationmeasuresintimesofcrisesandemergencies

Publicationofemergencytradefacilitationmeasuresonline

Source:UnitedNationsGlobalSurveyonDigitalandSustainableTradeFacilitation,2023.

5

1.TradefacilitationimplementationintheArabregion

A.OverallperformanceintheArabregion

Focusingonthecore31tradefacilitation

measures,relevanttoallArabcountriesand

includedinprevioussurveys,theoverall

implementationrateintheparticipating

countriesoftheArabregionwas61percentin

2023,comparedto54percentintheprevioussurvey.SaudiArabiahadthehighest

performancewitha95percentoverall

implementationrate,followedbyQatarwith89percentandBahrainwith84percent

(figure1)

.

ComorosandtheStateofPalestinehadthe

lowesttwoperformances,withimplementationratesof27and33percent,respectively.

Figure1.Overallimplementationoftradefacilitationmeasuresin2023(18Arabcountries)

Bahrain

Kuwait

Oman

Qatar

SaudiArabia

Egypt

Jordan

Lebanon

Morocco

Tunisia

Iraq

StateofPalestine

SyrianArabRepublic

Yemen

Sudan

Comoros

Mauritania

Somalia

100.00%90.00%80.00%70.00%60.00%50.00%40.00%30.00%20.00%10.00%0.00%

GCCcountries(82.3%)

Middle-incomecountries(69%)

Leastdeveloped

Countriesin

uTransparencyuFormalitiesuInstitutionsuPaperlesstradeuCross-borderpaperlesstrade

conflict(38.44%)

countries

(47.58%)

Source:UnitedNationsGlobalSurveyonDigitalandSustainableTradeFacilitation,2023.

6

B.Implementationinsubregions

GCCcountriesdemonstratedthehighest

subregionalaverage(around92percent),

followedbyMICs(69percent).CICsandLDCswerelagginginimplementingtradefacilitationmeasures

(figure1)

.Thesetwosubregionsarestillfacingsignificantbarriersthatareimpedingsmoothandefficienttradeacrossborders,

particularlyrelatingtocross-borderpaperlesstradeandinstitutionalarrangementand

cooperation.

C.Mostandleastimplementedtradefacilitationmeasures

Examiningthe58tradefacilitationmeasures,distributedacross11categoriesand4groups,

itcanbenotedthatonaverage,trade

facilitationintimesofcrisisandpandemic,transparency,andinstitutionalarrangementandcooperationmeasuresarethemost

implementedcategoriesintheArab

region,withanaverageimplementationrateof75,74and73percentrespectively

(figure2)

,followedbyformalities

measureswithanaverageimplementation

rateof71percent.Twoofthenine

measuresinthepaperlesstradecategory

werethemostimplementedacrossalltradefacilitationmeasures,todifferentextents

(pilotstagetofullimplementation).Nationaltradefacilitationcommitteeorsimilar

body,riskmanagement,specialtreatment

forperishablegoods,andautomatedcustomssystem,werethefourmostimplementedmeasures.

Figure2.Implementationofdifferentgroupsoftradefacilitationmeasures:Arabcountries’average,2023

Transparency

Formalities

Institutionalarrangementand

cooperation

Paperlesstrade

Cross-borderpaperlesstrade

Transitfacilitation

TradefacilitationinSMEpolicy

framework

Tradefacilitationandagriculture

trade

Womenintradefacilitation

Tradefinancefortradefacilitation

Tradefacilitationintimesofcrisis

andpandemic

100%

90%80%70%60%50%40%30%

20%

10%

0%

Source:UnitedNationsGlobalSurveyonDigitalandSustainableTradeFacilitation,2021.

Note:theredlinesindicatetheregionalaverageineachcategory,whilethebluedotsrefertotheperformanceofindividualcountrieswithineachcategory.

7

TheArabregionislaggingbehindintermsoftradefacilitationforwomen(46percent)andcross-borderpaperlesstrade(47percent).Two

ofthesixmeasuresinthecross-border

paperlesstradecategorywereamongtheleastimplementedmeasures(around35percent

implementationrate).Oneofthesemeasures,theelectronicexchangeofsanitaryand

phytosanitarycertificates,wasnotfully

implementedbyanycountryintheregion.The

slowimplementationofthesemeasuresaddsanon-tariffburdenontradeandhinderstrade

facilitation.Theimplementationratesof

measuresrelatedtosupportingwomentradersandtradefinancefacilitationarealsolow(35

and33percent,respectively).Enforcingtheimplementationofthesemeasuresnotonlycontributestotradefacilitationbutalso

increasesinclusivenessandtheimpactoftradeondevelopment.

Table2.MostandleastimplementedmeasuresintheArabregion,2023

Mostimplementedmeasures

Leastimplementedmeasures

Category

Measure

Implemented

fully,partially

andonapilot

basis/Full

implementation

(percentage)

Measure

Implemented

fully,partially

andonapilot

basis/Full

implementation

(percentage)

Transparency

Independentappealmechanism

82.3

Advance

publication/notification

ofnewtrade-related

regulationsbefore

theirimplementation

60.78

Formalities

Riskmanagement

84.3

Establishmentand

publicationofaverage

releasetimes

Separationofrelease

83.3

55.56

Expeditedshipments

81.2

Institutionalarrangementand

cooperation

Nationaltradefacilitationcommitteeorsimilarbody

87.4

Governmentagenciesdelegatingcontrolstocustomsauthorities

58.82

Nationallegislative

frameworkand/or

institutionalarrangements

forborderagencies’

cooperation

72

Paperlesstrade

Internetconnectionavailab