Home About UNCTAD Digital Library Meetings Press Programmes Statistics Technical Cooperation
Programmes   Technology and Logistics   transport & Trade Logistics

Print page
Interest

 

Transport & Trade Logistics
WHAT´S NEW
 
Global Preparatory Meeting on the Mid-Term Review of the Implementation of the Almaty Programme of Action: Trade Facilitation Opportunities for Landlocked and Transit Developing Countries
Room XXVI, Palais des Nations, Geneva, 8-9 July 2008.

The purpose of this meeting is to review the recent progress relating to trade facilitation for the benefit of Landlocked and Transit Developing Countries. The outcome of the meeting will contribute to further discussions on the review and implementation of the Almaty Plan of Action for the next five years.

UNCTAD member States are invited to nominate experts at an early date, no later than 27 June 2008. Experts may be selected from governmental and non-governmental organizations, private entities or academia.

The meeting will be of particular interest to government officials and representatives of the private sector who deal with:

  • Transit, trade and transport, and related issues

  • Trade facilitation

  • Customs modernization

  • The use of ICT in trade and transport

  • Trade logistics

Specialized agencies and intergovernmental bodies wishing to participate in the meeting - as well as non-governmental organizations in the general category and those in the special category wishing to participate as observers - are requested to inform the UNCTAD secretariat of the names of their representatives by 27 June 2008.


Language(s):
English, French, Spanish, Arabic, Russian, Chinese

Contact:
Mr. Poul Hansen
Division on Technology and Logistics
T.: +41 (0) 22 917 3258
F.: +41 (0) 22 917 0050
E.: poul.hansen@unctad.org


 


Transport Newsletter No. 38, 2008
UNCTAD/SDTE/TLB/MISC/2008/1

Welcome to the first 2008 issue of the UNCTAD Transport Newsletter. The present edition covers the last quarter of 2007 as well as the first quarter of 2008. Our apologies to the numerous readers who already asked us about the fourth quarter 2007 issue – its production was delayed mostly due to the heavy workload in relation to the preparation of UNCTAD XII in April in Ghana.

Six articles in this issue look at transport and trade logistics, including the globalization of port logistics, global value chains, transit corridors and freedom of transit, maritime freights and commodity prices, as well as the modal split of international trade, where we discuss if it is actually true that “shipping moves 90 per cent of global trade”.

We then report on some or our activities in the area of trade facilitation, including our support to the negotiations on trade facilitation at the World Trade Organization (WTO) and a new UNCTAD project in Pakistan. Another article presents an update on UNCTAD’s Port Training Programme.

A number of shorter articles inform about events, publications and other activities related to international trade and its transport: (a) the introduction of an electronic certificate of origin in Sri Lanka, (b) the Economic Commission for Latin America and the Caribbean’s (ECLAC’s) maritime profile, (c) a meeting of Latin American container terminals, (d) a maritime education and training conference and a new master of science (MSc) in Transport and Logistics in Scotland, (e) meetings on “green ports” and on climate change, (f) one recent and one upcoming Economic Commission for Europe (ECE)/Economic and Social Commission for Asia and the Pacific (ESCAP) workshop on trade facilitation, (g) the European Free Trade Association’s (EFTA’s) revised Trade Facilitation Manual, (h) the recent annual Transportation Research Board (TRB) meeting, and (i) a viewpoint of the Boksburg Group on the multilateral trade negotiations.

For feedback, comments and suggestions for our next UNCTAD Transport Newsletter (No. 39), please contact Jan Hoffmann at jan.hoffmann@unctad.org before June 2008.


More ...

Quick Links: | Subscription page | Direct Download (PDF) |

Transport Newsletter No. 37, 2007
UNCTAD/SDTE/TLB/MISC/2007/8

In 2006, world seaborne trade reached 7.4 billion tons. At the beginning of 2007, the world fleet reached 1.04 billion deadweight tons (dwt), an annual increase of 8.6 per cent. World container port throughput increased by 13.4 per cent to reach 440 million TEUs in 2006. This and extensive further information on maritime developments is included in the 2007 edition of UNCTAD’s Review of Maritime Transport (see page 5).

2007 data on liner shipping connectivity is the topic of two articles (see pages 7): Produced in its fourth year, the development of the UNCTAD Liner Shipping Connectivity Index (LSCI) confirms a trend towards a growing “connectivity divide”.

Please mark your agenda for the UNCTAD XII Pre Event on the “Globalization of port logistics: Opportunities and challenges for developing countries”, on 12 December 2007, Palais des Nations, Geneva (page 4).

Further articles in this issue of the Transport Newsletter look at Regional Cooperation in Transit Transport (page 6) and the TIR convention (page 16), as well as meeting reports (page 14), publications and proceedings (page 19), and upcoming events (page 20).

For feedback, comments, and suggestions for our next UNCTAD Transport Newsletter, please contact Jan Hoffmann at jan.hoffmann@unctad.org.


More ...

Quick Links: | Subscription page | Direct Download (PDF) |

 
Review of Maritime Transport 2007
UNCTAD/RMT/2007

The 2007 edition of the Review of Maritime Transport provides a detailed account of main developments affecting world seaborne trade, freight markets and rates, ports, surface transport, logistics services as well as world fleet-related issues, including ownership, control, age, tonnage supply and productivity.

The Review contains a chapter on legal and regulatory developments as well as a regional chapter that focuses on Asia.

Key developments reported in the 2007 edition include the following:

  • In 2006, world seaborne trade (goods loaded) increased by 4.3 per cent to reach 7.4 billion tons
  • At the beginning of 2007, the world fleet, breaking for the first time the 1 billion deadweight tons (dwt) mark, expanded by an impressive 8.6 per cent and reached 1.04 billion dwt. Developed countries controlled 65.9 per cent of the world total, with developing countries and economies in transition controlling 31.2 per cent and 2.9 per cent, respectively
  • At the beginning of 2007, the average age of the world fleet dropped marginally to 12 years. Containerships represented the youngest fleet with an average of 9.1 years
  • According to the latest data available for 2005, global freight costs represented 5.9 per cent of the value of world imports. Developing countries and the economies in transition continued to bear the incidents of high transport costs
  • In 2006, world container port throughput increased by 13.4 per cent to reach 440 million TEUs. Developing countries handled 65 per cent of this total. During the same year, international rail freight transport also expanded, lead by growth in China and India, while the global road transport market grew by 4.5 per cent
  • Important regulatory developments in 2007 include the resumption of negotiations on trade facilitation at the World Trade Organization (WTO) and the adoption of a new International Convention on the Removal of Wrecks under the auspices of the International Maritime Organization (IMO)
  • Relevant developments in the field of transport and supply chain security include those under the auspices of the World Customs Organization (WCO) and the IMO. In 2007, UNCTAD published a report relating the results of a wide-ranging survey which, for the first time, establishes some actual data on the range and order of magnitude of costs related to the implementation and compliance with the International Ship and Port Facility Security Code (ISPS).


More


Ad hoc Expert Meeting on Globalization of Port Logistics - Opportunities and Challenges for Developing Countries: UNCTAD XII pre-event
Geneva, 12 December 2007

An ad hoc expert group meeting on "globalization of port logistics: opportunities and challenges for developing countries" will be held on Wednesday, 12 December 2007, in room IX of the Palais des Nations, Geneva, starting at 10 a.m.

The purpose of the meeting is to examine the most suitable ways for developing countries to meet the challenges and opportunities that the globalization of logistics may pose to their national trade and investment policies, in the light of recent trends in international maritime transport and developments in sea, river and inland terminals.


 

Quick Links: | Notification | DocumentsProgramme | PDFs | Presentations |

Expert Meeting on Regional Cooperation in Transit Transport — Solutions for Landlocked and Transit Developing Countries
Geneva, 27–28 September 2007

The issue of transit transport is at the forefront of deliberations by the international community, including through the process initiated by the Almaty Programme of Action, which was adopted in 2003. The United Nations General Assembly has confirmed that an Almaty mid term review will take place in 2008 with the aim to take stock of the developments and progress thus far.

The lack of territorial access to the sea adversely affects the competitiveness of landlocked countries in the global economy and hence their ability to participate in and benefit from international trade. UNCTAD has for many years worked on removing obstacles faced by landlocked developing countries and transit developing countries, and has brought tangible solutions. In its experience, the establishment of efficient transit transport systems which use infrastructure and facilities along the transit route depends mainly on successful cooperative arrangements between landlocked developing countries and their neighbours. To this extent, emerging transport management techniques, such as those incorporating information and communication technology in integrated transport systems and door-to-door logistic services, can be highly relevant in improving transit transport efficiency.

The expert meeting will analyse recent trends in regional cooperation in transit transport. It will identify models and best practices to improve international transit transport operations based on practical solutions, including the use of information technologies and systems. It will also review the institutional operational arrangements for multimodal door-to-door transport operations and best practices of successful transit arrangements, and will elaborate central elements for improving the efficiency of transit transport operations.


 


Transport Newsletter No. 36, 2007
UNCTAD/SDTE/TLB/MISC/2007/2

TN 33 2006UNCTAD will hold its expert meeting on “Regional cooperation in transit transport” 27-28 September in Geneva. The date for our ad hoc expert meeting on “Globalization of port logistics services: Opportunities for developing countries” has been set for 12 December (page 5). Notification, agenda and documents are available at: http://www.unctad.org/Templates/Meeting.asp?intItemID=4233&lang=1. For more information please contact Poul Hansen, Trade Logistics Branch, poul.hansen@unctad.org.

Two articles in this issue of the Transport Newsletter look at shipping issues, covering “Liner shipping connectivity and trans-shipment” (page 4) and “The process of concentration in port and shipping business” (p. 6).

The Global Facilitation Partnership (GFP) featured topic is the World Customs Organization (WCO) Columbus Program (p. 10). We further report on proceedings of conferences and meetings of the Transportation Research Board (TRB) Committee (p. 9), the International Association of Ports and Harbours (IAPH, page 9), the United Nations Centre for Trade Facilitation and Electronic Business (UN/CEFACT) Forum Management Group FMG, p. 8), as well as the International Port Training Conference (IPTC, p. 11).

We further provide an update on the United Nations Code for Trade and Transport Locations (UN-LOCODE, p. 10).

Please also note that UNCTAD’s Trade Logistics Branch wishes to update and expand its roster of consultants in trade and transport facilitation. We seek experts who would be available to work on ongoing and potential future projects in the field. Please see p. 12 for more details.


More ...

Quick Links: | Subscription page | Direct Download (PDF) |

Maritime Security: ISPS Implementation, Costs and Related Financing
UNCTAD/SDTE/TLB/2007/1

On 1 July 2004, the 2002 amendments to the 1974 International Convention for the Safety of Life at Sea (SOLAS) and the new International Ship and Port Facility Security Code (ISPS Code), entered into force and became mandatory for all SOLAS Member States. The SOLAS amendments and the ISPS Code (hereinafter the ISPS Code) impose wide-ranging obligations on governments, shipping companies, and port facilities. Implementing these obligations entails costs and potential economic implications. 

Against this background, UNCTAD conducted a global study based on a set of questionnaires designed to obtain first hand information from all affected parties. The main objective was to establish the range and order of magnitude of the ISPS Code-related expenditures made from 2003 through 2005 and to gain insight into the financing mechanisms adopted or envisaged. In addition the study sought to clarify matters relating to the implementation process, level of compliance and other less easily quantifiable impacts. Due to limited responses received from the shipping sector the report presents responses received from ports and governments only.

More ...

Quick Links: | Direct Download (PDF) |

Commission on Enterprise, Business Facilitation and Development, 11th session
Geneva, 19–23 February 2007

Item4: Efficient Transport and trade facilitation 
Developing countries need to consider new developments in the area of transport and trade facilitation when identifying their priorities and formulating related policies. Lack of transport connectivity and trade facilitation, and high transport costs, increase the risk of marginalization of landlocked developing countries. Enabling legal and regulatory frameworks, and access to global transport networks, are paramount to transport and trade facilitation.

More >>
 


Transport Newsletter No. 35, 2007
UNCTAD/SDTE/TLB/MISC/2007/1

TN 33 2006UNCTAD’s next Expert Meeting will deal with “Regional Cooperation in Transit Transport Solutions for Landlocked Developing Countries”. Please mark your agendas for 27–28 September 2007 (page 4).

In this Transport Newsletter we report on the outcome and recommendations of UNCTAD’s Commission on Enterprise, Business Facilitation and Development (page 4), as well as on two new UNCTAD publications: one on maritime security (page 8), and the other on trade in services (page 13). The previously announced “Trade Facilitation Handbook Part II: Technical Notes on Essential Trade Facilitation Measures” is now also available in French and Spanish (page 7). Two topical articles look at “Developments in the Field of Carriage of Goods by Air: Status Update for Montreal Convention 1999” (page 12) and “Liner Shipping Freight Rates and Competition among Carriers” (page 14).

The featured topic of the Global Facilitation Partnership (GFP) is “A Business Prospective on Capacity-Building for Trade Facilitation” (page 7). We also report on activities of the Mekong River Commission (page 11) and the Business Alliance for Secure Commerce (BASC) (page 12).

Finally, we include the regular update on “New Contracting Parties to International Conventions Adopted under the Auspices of UNCTAD” (page 16) and on upcoming events (page 16).


More ...

Quick Links: | Subscription page | Direct Download (PDF) |

Manuel de facilitation du commerce (Deuxième partie) 
UNCTAD/SDTE/TLB/2005/2

La deuxième partie du présent manuel est un regroupement de notes techniques sur les mesures les plus importantes de facilitation du commerce que les pays membres devraient envisager lorsqu'ils procèdent à une réforme du fonctionnement des échanges commerciaux, des transports et des opérations douanières. Rédigées par des experts des divers domaines concernés, elles fournissent des détails techniques et pratiques. Ces notes techniques constituent un complément à la première partie du Manuel sur les organismes nationaux de facilitation des échanges, consacré aux structures institutionnelles et à la réalisation d'un consensus entre les parties prenantes du secteur public et du secteur privé concernant l'établissement et la mise en œuvre des mesures de facilitation du commerce dans tel ou tel pays. 


Quick Links: | A télécharger (PDF) | English |

Transport Newsletter No. 34, 2006
UNCTAD/SDTE/TLB/MISC/2006/5

TN 33 2006Highlights in this fourth 2006 issue of our Transport Newsletter include:

UNCTAD’s Commission on Enterprise, Business Facilitation and Development that is scheduled to meet in February. 

Four articles in this edition of the Transport Newsletter look at shipping issues, introducing the 2006 Liner Shipping Connectivity Index, information on direct liner shipping services between countries, a new OECD tonnage system to measure shipbuilding activities and the SAFE Port Act.

Two articles deal with trade facilitation issues, notably our joint UNCTAD/ECE workshop on Strengthening National and Regional Trade Facilitation Organizations and the GFP featured topic regional partnerships.

Finally, we briefly present recent publications and proceedings on the time factor in liner shipping services, the Panama Canal expansion, and the role and governance of seaports.

More ...

Quick Links: | Subscription page | Direct Download (PDF) |

Transport Newsletter No. 33, 2006
UNCTAD/SDTE/TLB/MISC/2006/4

TN 33 2006This third 2006 issue of our Transport Newsletter is published slightly later than usual so as to include information on the latest Review of Maritime Transport and on our Expert Meeting on ICT Solutions to Facilitate Trade at Border Crossings and Ports.

Trade facilitation is the topic of two articles, notably our UNCTAD Technical Notes and the featured topic of the Global Facilitation Partnership. Two articles look at liner shipping issues, notably freight rates and concentration in liner shipping. Further, we introduce several new and upcoming publications that deal with trade and transport security, and provide information on conventions affecting multimodal transport.

More ...

Quick Links: | Subscription page | Direct Download (PDF) |

Technical Notes on Trade Facilitation Measures in English and in Spanish Language

UNCTAD has produced several Technical Notes on trade facilitation measures. The topics of the Technical Notes include: · Publication of Trade Regulations and their Uniform Administration, · Levy of Fees and Charges, · Use of Customs Automation Systems, · Release of Goods in Event of Appeal, · Customs Procedures - Post Clearance Audit, · Single National Enquiry Points, · Maintenance of Integrity among Officials, · Freedom of Transit and Regional Transit Arrangement, · Documentation Requirements in Maritime Transport, · Right of Appeal against Customs and other Agency Rulings and Decisions, · Prerequisites for Internet Publication, · Risk Management in Customs Procedures, · Simplification of Trade Documentation Using International Standards, · Border Agency Coordination, · Pre-arrival Customs Clearance, · The Electronic Submission of Trade Documentation, · Bonded Transport Regimes, · Border Cooperation and Coordination amongst Agencies, · Authorities and the Private Sector in Relation to Transit, · Separating Release from Clearance Procedures, · Trade Transaction Modelling, · ASYCUDA, · Advance Ruling. More ...

Quick Links: | List page |

Workshop on Strengthening National and Regional Trade Facilitation Organizations
Geneva, 31 October - 1 November 2006

The United Nations Conference on Trade and Development (UNCTAD) and the United Nations Economic Commission for Europe’s Centre for Trade Facilitation and Electronic Business (UN/CEFACT) are organizing a two-day workshop to strengthen the work of national and regional trade facilitation bodies.

The workshop aims to identify best practices in establishing effective national and regional trade facilitation bodies and ensuring their sustainability. It will highlight the needs and main challenges in facilitating trade at the national and regional level. Speakers will also present the latest developments in trade facilitation tools and instruments


 


Expert Meeting on ICT Solutions to Facilitate Trade at Border Crossings and Ports
Geneva, 16–18 October 2006

Recent developments in international trade and transport have led to an increased use of information and communication technologies (ICTs) by traders and transport service providers. This also has a significant bearing on Customs and other operations at border crossings and in ports. In the context of the Doha Round, Members of the World Trade Organization have now started text-based negotiations on trade facilitation. Possible commitments resulting from these negotiations will invariably be linked to the availability of trade and transport related ICT tools in developing countries. ICTs are expected to play an increasing role in the design and implementation of Customs modernization programmes and other trade and transport facilitation measures. ICT applications can reduce waiting times at border crossings and at ports, secure appropriate processing of fees and Customs duties, simplify formalities, and provide timely information to transport operators. The use of ICTs in areas such as Customs automation, electronic documentation and advance information in logistics is likely to continue to grow in coming years. Developing countries must be proactive in reaping full benefits from ICT tools available worldwide to reduce transaction costs and enhance supply capacities.

During the three-day meeting, experts will analyse recent trends in the use of ICT in global trade and transport, as well as the resulting requirements for Customs modernization and other trade and transport facilitation measures. These requirements will be related to available ICT tools and their applicability to the realities of developing countries and least developed countries. Experts will further discuss capacity building and technical assistance requirements to implement specific technology-based trade facilitation measures, including those concerning the institutional, commercial, legal and operational environment for Customs and other operations at border crossings and in ports.

Immediately after this three-day event, a Global ASYCUDA Users´ Meeting has been scheduled to be held on Thursday, 19 October 2006. The objective of this meeting is to present the latest developments of the ASYCUDA Programme, including the web-based ASYCUDAWorld system.

 

Quick Links: | Notification | DocumentsKey Issues | Speakers |

Transport Newsletter No. 32, 2006
UNCTAD/SDTE/TLB/MISC/2006/2

TN 32 2006The 32nd edition of the Transport Newsletter contains several articles on port and shipping issues, notably on port benchmarking, liner shipping connectivity, flag registration, and containerized trade, as well as a list of past UNCTAD publications on port and shipping issues that are now available in electronic format on-line.

A new UNCTAD publication related to air transport is announced. Two further articles introduce new UNCTAD Technical Notes on Trade Facilitation as well as the featured topic of the Global Facilitation Partnership GFP.

The next UNCTAD Expert Meeting on ICT Solutions to Facilitate Trade at Border Crossings and Ports has been set for 16-18 October 2006.

More ...

Quick Links: | Subscription page | Direct Download (PDF) |

Carriage of Goods by Air: A Guide to the International Legal Framework
UNCTAD/SDTE/TLB/2006/1

One important recent development in the field of international transport law was the entry into force, on 4 November 2003, of the Convention for the Unification of Certain Rules Relating to International Carriage by Air, the so-called Montreal Convention 1999. Although the Convention has already attracted 70 Contracting States, it continues, for the foreseeable future, to co-exist at the international level with the earlier Warsaw system conventions. As a result, the international legal framework for carriage by air remains complex. Given the increasing economic importance of air transport and its inherent development potential, modernization, transparency and easy accessibility of laws and regulation in this field are key, in particular for developing countries. Against this background, the UNCTAD secretariat has prepared a report to assist officials and traders in developing countries and in countries with economies in transition in their understanding of the existing legal framework governing the transport of goods by air and to facilitate effective national implementation and application of international conventions in the field. Part A of the report provides a general overview of the international legal liability framework applicable to international carriage of goods by air by considering the relevant international agreements on the subject in chronological order. It also highlights some practical aspects, which are important for the effective national implementation of these international agreements. Part B provides a brief guide to the key substantive provisions of the international legal liability regime, treated in thematic order. In both parts, specific emphasis is placed on the carriage of goods by air, but where appropriate for purposes of comparison, some reference is made to passenger carriage.

Quick Links: | Direct Download (PDF) |

TRADE FACILITATION HANDBOOK, PART II
UNCTAD/SDTE/TLB/2005/2

Part II of this Handbook consists of a collation of technical notes on the most important trade facilitation measures countries should consider when reforming their trade, transport and customs operations. Written by experts in the respective areas, they provide technical and practical detail. The technical notes complement Part I of the Handbook on National Facilitation bodies, which focused on institutional structures and consensus building between government and private sector stakeholders for identifying and implementing trade facilitation measures in a given country. 

More ...

Quick Links: | Direct Download (PDF) | Part I |

Negotiations on Transport and Logistics Services: Issues to Consider
UNCTAD/SDTE/TLB/2005/3

The current Doha Round negotiations on the General Agreement on Trade in Services (GATS) under the auspices of the World Trade Organization (WTO) cover, among other services, the transport services sector. New ideas seeking to extend negotiations on maritime transport services to reflect the underlying logic of door-to-door transport have emerged during the negotiations. Highlighting the importance of supply chain efficiency for trade, growth and development, several WTO Members have called for an extension of the scope of the negotiations to cover multimodal transport and logistics services. It is argued that emerging market realities and recent trends in the fields of transport and trade should be reflected in the Doha Round of negotiations. Against this background, this paper reviews relevant developments in WTO negotiations on transport and logistics services and examines issues that call for consideration by developing countries when they are devising their negotiating strategies and formulating their GATS market access requests and offers. To conclude, the paper offers suggestions on how developing countries could contribute in a positive manner to the negotiations, while aware of the potential implications of new commitments.


Quick Links: | Direct Download (PDF) |

Self-practice exercise: Customs and transit conventions affecting multimodal transport
UNCTAD/SDTE/TLB/2005/5 (cd)

This CD-Rom provides information on existing Customs and transit conventions and procedures with an opportunity of a self-practice exercise.

International transportation of goods is increasingly carried out on a door-to-door basis, involving more than one mode of transportation. International multimodal transport may reduce transit times and transaction costs, but unless Customs formalities at each border crossing are simplified, the potential advantages of multimodal transport will not be achieved. Various multilateral conventions have been ratified by developed countries and increasingly so by developing countries to solve Customs problems affecting transit. To strengthen understanding of the impact of international conventions on international transport, this CD-Rom provides an introduction to transit-related Customs procedures and reviews the main international Customs and transit conventions. The self-practice exercise allows for an individual learning process and provides feedback on progress made.

To order a copy of the CD-ROM please contact trade.logistics@unctad.org


Quick Links: | E-mail to order CD |

Maritime Security: Elements of an Analytical Framework for Compliance Measurement and Risk Assessment
UNCTAD/SDTE/TLB/2005/4

This document reviews the current approach to maritime transport security and suggests an alternative analytical framework that reflects better the complex nature of increasingly integrated international transport systems. The development and application of risk assessment and management techniques to maritime security must take into account the complex regulatory and operational context in which the maritime industry operates. The focus is to shift the subject of maritime security from the current agenda of facility-security to an extended framework of supply chain security.

The paper introduces an initial security risk assessment and management framework capable of reflecting the logistics scope of transport networks. The document also reviews existing approaches to measuring transport security compliance costs and funding schemes adopted by industry and governments in order to finance the costs of security regulations.

While advocating the adoption of any particular security measure is not within the scope of this analysis, the paper nevertheless argues that the new international security regulatory framework is not only a challenge, but also an opportunity to be seized. Although the new security requirements impose an additional regulatory burden on all concerned parties, security-driven business practices and operational procedures have the potential of improving efficiency and trade competitiveness.

Quick Links: | Direct Download (PDF) |

Transport Newsletter No. 31, 2006
UNCTAD/SDTE/TLB/MISC/2006/1

TN 31 2006Coverage in this issue of the Transport Newsletter includes articles dealing with trade transaction modelling, the liberalization of trade in transport and logistics services, the role of ports in international maritime transport costs, and on liner shipping connectivity in Latin America. It also introduces a number of new documents and web pages such as information on legal issues in international trade and trade logistics, technical notes on trade facilitation measures, facilitation bodies, and maritime security.

As regards projects and activities, the Newsletter covers reports on the adoption of the Maritime Labour Convention of the ILO, the Global Facilitation Partnership meeting and its featured topic Electronic Commerce and Business, the Trade Facilitation Toolkit and Forms Repository of the UN Regional Commissions, the International Multimodal Transport Association, an UNCTAD project on transit corridors, as well as an UNCTAD project on trade facilitation and multimodal transport in the Economic Cooperation Organization region.

More ...

Quick Links: | Subscription page | Direct Download (PDF) |

TRADE FACILITATION HANDBOOK, PART I
UNCTAD/SDTE/TLB/2005/1

In view of the importance of trade facilitation measures to improve a country’s trading performance, Part I of this Handbook is intended to guide users in creating the institutional structure for processing trade facilitation measures. It focuses on one platform — the trade facilitation body — in the form of an interdisciplinary committee where private sector managers, public sector administrators and policymakers can work together towards the effective implementation of trade facilitation measures. Approaches to the setting up of a trade facilitation body by different developing countries are reviewed on the basis of case studies carried out by UNCTAD and relevant work by other institutions. From the review, key lessons are drawn for developing countries intent on establishing and operating trade facilitation committees.

More ...

Quick Links: | Direct Download (PDF) |

Commission on Enterprise, Business Facilitation and Development, 10th session
Geneva, 21–24 February 2006

Item4: Transport and trade facilitation 
are crucial for the competitiveness and development potential of developing countries. At the same time, a country´s level of development affects its capacity to implement facilitation measures, and this should be considered during the ongoing multilateral negotiations on this issue at the World Trade Organization. Ongoing changes in the legal and regulatory framework of international trade and transport also have important implications for development. UNCTAD´s research and analytical work, advisory services and technical assistance should further support developing countries in these matters. In this context, the Commission will consider the report of the Expert Meeting on Trade Facilitation as an Engine for Development. (See EM24)

More >>
 

Quick Links: | Notification | DocumentsKey Issues | Agenda | Programme |

Transport Newsletter No. 30, 2005
UNCTAD/SDTE/TLB/MISC/2005/6

TN 30 2005Trade and transport facilitation and development mutually benefit each other. Many facilitation measures make a positive contribution to development. In turn, financial, technical, human and institutional capacities are part of the overall stage of development that benefit the implementation of specific trade and transport facilitation instruments.

This issue of the Transport Newsletter includes introductions to several publications, including UNCTAD's Review of Maritime Transport, 2005, Technical Notes on Trade Facilitation, a book on Transport Logistics and a UN-ECLAC publication on coastal shipping in Central America.

Various initiatives are also presented that aim at promoting trade facilitation, including a UN-ECE symposium on single window standards and interoperability, UN-ESCAP's ARTNet, the Trade Facilitation Alliance and the regular featured topic of the Global Facilitation Partnership GFP. More ...

Quick Links: | Subscription page | Direct Download (PDF) |

UNCTAD Trust Fund for Trade Facilitation Negotiations: Technical Notes on Trade Facilitation Measures

The technical notes have been produced by technical experts contracted by UNCTAD within the Trust Fund project "Capacity building in developing countries and least developed countries to support their effective participation in the WTO Negotiations Process on trade facilitation", financed by the Governments of Sweden and Spain. Their purpose is to assist Geneva- and capital-based negotiators to better understand the scope and implications of the various trade facilitation measures being proposed in the context of negotiations at the WTO. More ...


Transport Newsletter No. 29, 2005
UNCTAD/SDTE/TLB/MISC/2005/5

TN 29 2005In this Transport Newsletter UNCTAD informs about the various meetings that took place at the Palais des Nations in Geneva in September 2005, including the Expert Meeting on Trade Facilitation as an Engine for Development, the biannual meeting of the Global Facilitation Partnership, the launch of the GFP website upgrade, and a workshop for Asian LDCs and landlocked countries. This is complemented with background information and considerations on the ongoing negotiations on trade facilitation at the WTO. More ...

Quick Links: | Subscription page | Direct Download (PDF) |

Review of Maritime Transport 2005
UNCTAD/RMT/2005

This year´s Review indicates that, while world output grew by 4.1 per cent in 2004, world seaborne trade (goods loaded) increased by 4.3 per cent. Worldwide fleet expansion continued at a pace of 4.5 per cent. World container port traffic expanded by 9.6 per cent over that of the previous year, reaching 303.1 million TEUs (20-foot equivalent units), with ports of developing countries handling 122.4 million TEUs, or 40.4 per cent of the total...  More


Expert Meeting on Trade Facilitation as an Engine for Development
Geneva, 21–23 September 2005

Long waiting times at border crossings or at ports, inappropriate fees or formalities, and unclear trade and transport rules and regulations can all become serious obstacles to trade and as a consequence adversely affect investment and the creation of employment. Developing countries depend on effective trade facilitation for their development process; they will only benefit from the opportunities arising from the "new geography of trade", including increased exports of manufactured goods and more South-South trade, if their imports and exports are not confronted with excessive transaction costs, uncertainty and delays. Developing countries must be proactive in designing and implementing trade and transport facilitation measures for enhancing efficiency, reducing transaction costs and maintaining supply capacities. 

With its inclusion in the WTO General Council Decision (the July Package), trade facilitation remains at the forefront of the development agenda of most developing countries, with increased activities aimed at raising awareness and capacity building. WTO Members have started a negotiating process on trade facilitation with a focus on the clarification and improvement of GATT 1994 Articles V, VIII and X, which deal respectively with transit issues, fees and formalities, and the transparency of trade procedures. 

During the three-day meeting, experts and resource persons will analyse the increased need for trade and transport facilitation and the insertion of facilitation measures into the development process. They will further discuss ways of establishing national needs and priorities as regards trade and transport facilitation, as well as the requirements in terms of technical assistance and capacity building to implement specific trade facilitation measures that aim at building the required institutional, commercial, legal and operational environment for effective integration into the global economy.
 


Global Partnership for Transportation and Trade (GFPTT)/ United Nation Trade Facilitation Network (UNTF) Meeting
Geneva, 20 September 2005

A day before the Expert Meeting on Trade Facilitation as an Engine for Development, the GFPTT/UNTFN will hold its biannual meeting at the Palais des Nations, Geneva.

The programme of the meeting includes:
1. The Changing Scenario for Trade and Transport Facilitation
2. Mobilizing Institutional Support: An Exercise in International Cooperation
3. Panel: The Private Sector's Role in the Support to the Trade Facilitation Agenda

For further information, please contact: Jan.Hoffmann@UNCTAD.org

 


Transport Newsletter No. 28, 2005
UNCTAD/SDTE/TLB/MISC/2005/3

TN 24 2004Trade and transport facilitation is increasingly important for developing countries’ competitiveness. Although trade competitiveness on its own is not sufficient to overcome poverty and achieve sustainable development, it is a necessary condition without which economic growth, development and poverty reduction will not usually be achievable. In this issue of the Transport Newsletter, you will find several articles that deal with recent developments in international trade and transport and related topics, including a Trade Facilitation Maturity Model, and Paperless Trade. We would like to particularly highlight the invitations to our “Expert Meeting on Trade Facilitation as an Engine for Development”, to take place on 21–23 September 2005 in Geneva, and to the next meeting of the Global Facilitation Partnership GFP, to take place on 20 September2005. More ...

Quick Links: | Subscription page | Direct Download (PDF) |

Transport Newsletter No. 27, 2005
UNCTAD/SDTE/TLB/2005/1

TN 24 2004This issue of the Transport Newsletter includes several articles about different aspects of trade efficiency, including transport connectivity, transport costs, and trade and transport facilitation. In addition to providing a summary of the outcome of the ninth session of the Commission on Enterprise, Business Facilitation and Development (February 2005) and information on recent UNCTAD publications in the field of transport and trade facilitation, the Newsletter contains articles on the Global Facilitation Partnership and on FIATA and announces forthcoming events in the maritime field.

Quick Links: | Subscription page | Direct Download (PDF) |

Assessment of a seaport land interface: an analytical framework
UNCTAD/SDTE/TLB/MISC/2004/3

Although landside expansions are a cornerstone of strategic port planning, inland infrastructure/ superstructure development plans are usually designed to satisfy the needs of shipping services, e.g. through the provision of container freight stations and marshalling areas to accommodate ships’ cargo. Similarly, the segmentation of the port market has traditionally been oriented towards the sea-leg component of the transport chain; with port marketing and competitive strategies being typically formulated to meet the requirements of sea transport and related shipping services. This situation is far from being desirable not only because it disintegrates the port system from the total transport and logistics chain, but also because it unnecessarily binds the entire port system to sea transport and impedes ports’ potential to integrate land operations and management. This study attempts to analyse ports’ potential to develop landside connections and facilities and integrate the land-leg interface of the trade, logistics, and supply chain system. It examines main operational and management practices in international shipping services versus those of land transport systems, and proposes a framework for port's landside integration, with particular emphasis on appropriate tools of assessment and analysis. Finally, a number of policy initiatives, such as organizational reform and technological developments, are put forward with a view to ensure successful landside integration and management particularly for ports in developing countries.

Quick Links: | Direct Download (PDF) |

The Establishment and Operation of an Electronic Single Window: Case Study of Guatemala
UNCTAD/SDTE/TLB/MISC/2004/5

A Single Window is a facility that allows parties involved in trade and transport to lodge standardized information and documents with a single entry point to fulfil all import, export, and transit-related regulatory requirements. Guatemala introduced a first Single Window for export procedures in 1986. This first initiative led to a reduction of the time to process and issue an export licence from 10–12 days to 6–8 days. In 2000, a pilot of an electronic and more advanced version of the Single Window was successfully launched. By 2003, the new system covered companies accounting for 65 per cent of all export transactions and an export licence can now be obtained within a few minutes. Other advantages of the new system include a reduction of costs, the possibility to obtain licences