Trade Facilitation The SCCP has contributed to a key APEC objective for 2007, namely the goal of achieving a further five percent reduction in transaction costs by 2010. The SCCP identified a list of collective actions to facilitate the reduction and presented it to the Committee on Trade and Investment. The list was incorporated into the new Trade Facilitation Action Plan (TFAP2) which was endorsed by the Ministers Responsible for Trade on 6 July, 2007.
Ongoing agenda The SCCP's achievements in relating to its ongoing agenda are outlined in a report released in August 2007, the "SCCP 2007 Blueprint: A Window to the Future." It contains comprehensive information about the activities of the SCCP and the implementation of its Collective Action Plan (CAP) items and work program. The CAP items on which progress has been made include:
Harmonization of Tariff Structure with the HS Convention
Simplification and Harmonization Based on the Revised Kyoto Convention
Harmonizsed APEC Data Elements
Integrity
Implementation of APEC Framework based on the WCO Framework of Standards to Secure and Facilitate Global Trade
At the meeting the SCCP Single Window Strategic Plan and the SCCP Single Window Development Plan were endorsed and adopted. The Strategic Plan provides a framework for the development of Single Window systems by members to achieve paperless trading targets and enable seamless data sharing. It contains six recommendations to assist members in this endeavour and provides the mechanisms for APEC members to work collaboratively and agree on various issues where appropriate. The recommendations are that:
The SCCP establish a working group to further single window activities across APEC. The working group will engage the private and public sectors and other relevant APEC sub-fora and international bodies.
The United Nations Centre for Trade Facilitation and Electronic Business (UN/CEFACT) definition of "single window" be adopted by APEC economies. This definition is provided in UN/CEFACT Recommendation 33 which states: "A facility that allows parties involved in trade and transport to lodge standardized information and documents with a single entry point to fulfill all import, export and transit related regulatory requirements. If information is electronic, then individual data elements should only be submitted once."
APEC economies adopt the use of internationally recognised instruments and standards in single window design to increase international interoperability.
The SCCP establish a repository to capture information regarding relevant single-window related initiatives in international trade facilitation and supply chain security.
The SCCP identify and coordinate relevant capacity building single window activities.
The SCCP prepare a roadmap and implementation plan to achieve the single window vision.
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