Efficient implementation of the Trade Facilitation Agreement

During 5-7 April, EBA engaged in a series of workshops concerning the implementation of the World Trade Organisation (WTO) Trade Facilitation Agreement with the participation of governmental and private sector representatives, organized by the World Bank Group in Moldova. The talks were initiated under the National Committee for Trade Facilitation, whose function has been assigned to the Economic Council to the Prime Minister.

The purpose of the workshops was to review the 2014 WTO Trade Facilitation Agreement Assessment of the Republic of Moldova and draft an action plan with the public and private sectors stakeholders in the framework of the recently created National Trade Facilitation Committee of Moldova.

Ecaterina Chirilenco, EBA Lobby & Policy Manager, participated in the consultations and assessment exercises, and presented the trade facilitation issues that EBA has addressed within the Economic Council working group on Trade Facilitation, which EBA is chairing. These issues were focused primarily on taking better advantage of trade opportunities offered by DCFTA, reform of public services procedures in order to facilitate trade, such as customs administration and procedures, pollution tax, import of GMOS products, reforming of ANSA (National Agency for Food Safety), and others. EBA has also offered some recommendations to the newly set-up National Trade Facilitation Committee.