FIATA E-Flash No. 124 - April 15 2016
본문
E-Flash 124 - April 15th
We
apologise for the delay in sending out this e-flash. We have had some IT
problems. Thank you for your patience and taking the time to read the e-flash.
ASSOCIATIONS' AFFAIRS
1. Addis Ababa,
Ethiopia, FIATA's 2016 RAME Meeting May 19-22 - Take advantage of early
registration before end of April
The Ethiopian Freight
Forwarders and Shipping Agents (EFFSA) and FIATA invite all delegates to this
impactful gathering in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia, the Capital City in Africa which
is gateway to southern, central and western African regions from the Middle
East and is the host of this year's Region Africa Middle East FIATA meeting.
This gathering shall be held as
a forum filled with interesting topics and discussions that shall present the
challenges and opportunities of doing business in the region and in the hosting
country in particular. To register and find more information please visit:
http://www.rame2016.org/rame2016-registration
INTERNATIONAL TRADE
2. Macao, China
latest WTO member ratify Trade Facilitation Agreement
Macao, China has become the
latest WTO member to ratify the new Trade Facilitation Agreement (TFA). Macao,
China deposited its instrument of acceptance with the WTO Secretariat on 11
April.
A Trade Facilitation Agreement
Facility (TFAF) was also created at the request of developing and
least-developed country members to help ensure that they receive the assistance
needed to reap the full benefits of the TFA and to support the ultimate goal of
full implementation of the new agreement by all members.
For a further look please
visit: https://www.wto.org/english/news_e/news16_e/fac_12apr16_e.htm
3. UNCTAD -
e-Commerce, Trade and Development
More than 200 experts gather at
the United Nations Office in Geneva to discuss implications of new ways of
trading for developing countries
The second UNCTAD e-Commerce
Week tackles topical issues such as online data privacy, policy discussions
about cross-border transfers of data, the growth of e-commerce, and concerns
over waning trust in online transactions. The event will also feature
consultations with stakeholders on a new global initiative aimed at enhancing
the capacity of developing countries to engage in and reap benefits from
e-commerce.
To read more please visit: http://unctad.org/en/Pages/MeetingDetails.aspx?meetingid=1068
4. UNCTAD -
Empowerment Program for National Trade Facilitation Committees
UNCTAD's new program is an
intensive professional program for the Secretariat and the members of National
Trade Facilitation Committees. The aim is to help them implement trade
facilitation reforms, including the provisions of the WTO Trade Facilitation
Agreement.
5. EU and Indonesia
Advance Towards Free Trade Negotiations
On Monday 7 April, EU Trade
Commissioner Cecilia Malmström held a meeting with Mr. Thomas T. Lembong, the
Minister of Trade of Indonesia, with the aim of defining the scope of a
potential bilateral free trade agreement that the two partners are getting
ready to negotiate. Cecilia Malmström, EU Commissioner for Trade, said:
"I'm very happy with the progress that we have been able to make so far
towards a free trade deal with Indonesia. These constructive discussions have
confirmed that Indonesia is making free trade with the EU a priority. Some work
still remains to be done, and we are making progress in our efforts to solve
outstanding issues."
To read more please visit: http://ec.europa.eu/trade/policy/countries-and-regions/countries/indonesia/
6. Indian, Australian
Officials Eye Possible 2016 Conclusion for Trade Talks
Indian and Australian officials have said in recent weeks that they aim to
speed up their ongoing trade negotiations, with some raising the possibility
that a deal could be clinched in the coming months.
Talks for the trade deal kicked
off in May 2011. The two sides had previously aimed to ink an accord by
end-2015, with then-Prime Minister Tony Abbott and top Australian trade
officials putting that date forward after Canberra finished trade talks with
three other major Asian economies: China, Japan, and South Korea.
To read more please visit: http://www.ictsd.org/bridges-news/bridges/news/indian-australian-officials-eye-possible-2016-conclusion-for-trade-talks
AMERICA
7. FDA Releases Final Rule
on Safe Transportation of Food Rule
The Food and Drug
Administration (FDA) released the Final Rule for the Sanitary
Transportation of Human and Animal Food on April 6, 2016. This Final Rule will
advance FDA's efforts to protect foods from farm to table by keeping them safe
from contamination during transportation.
The earliest compliance dates
for some businesses begin on April 6, 2017, while "small businesses"
have until April 6, 2018, to comply. The Agency defines a small business as,
"businesses other than motor carriers who are not also shippers and/or
receivers employing fewer than 500 persons and motor carriers having less than
$27.5 million in annual receipts."
The information is provided
courtesy of TIA. To read more please visit: http://tianet.informz.net/TIAnet/data/images/2016%20Documents/FDA%20Releases%20Final%20Rule%20on%20Safe%20Transportation%20of%20Food%20Rule2.pdf
AFRICA
8. UNCATD - Trade
Facilitation in Africa
On 21 July 2016, UNCTAD and Trade
Mark East Africa (TMEA) will host a joint side event at UNCTAD 14. The panel
will discuss linkages between trade facilitation reforms and regional
integration, with a special focus on the East African Community (EAC). The
following article aims at providing some initial considerations for this
discussion.
9. ASYCUDA Single
Window for Rwanda
Following extensive training
for all stakeholders, who included RRA, Rwanda Development Board (RDB), Rwanda
Standards Board (RSB), the Magasins Generaux du Rwanda (MAGERWA) freight
forwarders and clearing agents, the ReSW was piloted in February 2012, before
eventual rollout in January 2013.
With connection of all relevant
authorities to the central ReSW, clearances for cargo have been more swiftly
processed resulting in major time-savings.
To read more please visit: http://unctad.org/en/PublicationsLibrary/webdtltlb2016d1_en.pdf?utm_source=UNCTAD+Transport+and+Trade+Facilitation+Newsletter&utm_campaign=1ce1a4bd63-UNCTAD_s_Transport_Newsletter_n69&utm_medium=email&utm_term=0_f6141a63dd-1ce1a4bd63-44494137#page=18
EUROPE
10. EU - Updated Authorised
Economic Operator Guidelines now Available
The updated EU AEO Guidelines
are in line with the new Union Customs Code (UCC) provisions which will apply
from 1 May 2016. Economic operators can apply for an AEO status either to have
easier access to customs simplifications or to be in a more favourable position
to comply with the new security requirements. Under the security framework,
which has been applicable since 1 July 2009, economic operators have to submit
pre-arrival and pre-departure information on goods entering or leaving the EU.
11. EU - The
Investment Plan for Europe: First EFSI-financed Project online
State of play in April 2016 -
The first example of a transport project financed through the European Fund for
Strategic Investment (EFSI) is now available online. The project involving
Italy's Trenitalia will create both temporary and long terms jobs while
improving travel for passengers. So far the European Investment Bank has
approved 54 projects through EFSI, of which 10 are transport related. More
projects are expected to be approved soon.
To read more please visit: http://ec.europa.eu/priorities/publications/examples-efsi-financed-projects-march-2016_en
12. EU Commission
adopts New Rules to Rail Infrastructure
The Commission has adopted
rules to create fair conditions for new train services making better use of the
available rail infrastructure.
Throughout the EU, rail service
markets are characterised by dominant operators, which in some cases have close
ties with infrastructure managers. Railway undertakings can block
infrastructure for many years by way of framework agreements with
infrastructure managers. In such a situation, the new rules will give better
chances to operators that provide new services to get access to particular
important lines thereby creating new opportunities for employment and
investment.
To read more please visit: http://ec.europa.eu/transport/modes/rail/news/2016-04-07-new-rules-access-to-rail-infrastructure_en.htm
SUSTAINABLE LOGISTICS
13. Shifting Towards
Sustainable Freight Transport in Nairobi
UNCTAD, in cooperation with the
Northern Corridor Transit and Transport Coordination Authority (NCTTCA) and the
Central Corridor Transit Transport Facilitation Agency (CCTTFA) organised a
training and capacity building workshop on 14-18 March 2016, Nairobi, Kenya.
The workshop was carried out
under the framework of the UNCTAD technical assistance project entitled
"Building Capacities of Developing Countries to Shift Towards Sustainable
Freight Transport". The project aims to strengthen the capacity of policy
makers (in transport, infrastructure and finance), transport operators (in
rail, road, internal waterways and ports), and key financial institutions, in
sub-Saharan Africa, in particular East Africa and in the small island
developing States of the Caribbean (SIDS), to promote and finance sustainable
freight transport systems through sound transport policy measures and adequate
financing actions and mechanisms.
14. ICAO completes
Regional Consultation for Global Market-based Scheme
ICAO has successfully concluded
its second round of Global Aviation Dialogues (GLADs) on Market-based Measures
(MBMs) to address climate change from international flight emissions, a key
priority under the UN agency's strategic objective of environmental protection.
The five, two-day GLADs events
were conducted in Cairo, Egypt; Dakar, Senegal; Legian, Indonesia; Utrecht,
Netherlands; and Mexico City, Mexico. They covered a wide range of topics
including the proposed global MBM's simplicity, environmental integrity,
cost-effectiveness, possible means for differentiation without discrimination
amongst States, and the assistance and capacity-building which may be needed to
support its effective implementation.
To read more please visit: http://www.icao.int/Newsroom/Pages/ICAO-Completes-Regional-Consultation-Round-Supporting-Global-Market-Based-Measure-(GMBM)-Scheme-For-Aviation.aspx
15. US, China
Pledge Swift Accession to Paris Climate Deal
US President Barack Obama and
Chinese President Xi Jinping will sign the recent multilateral deal on climate
change at a UN ceremony on 22 April, according to a joint statement issued last
Thursday. They also pledged to take the necessary steps to ratify the pact in
their respective nations as early as possible this year.
The leaders of the world's two
largest economies and carbon dioxide emitters further committed to work
together and with other actors to promote the Paris Agreement's full
implementation in order to "win the fight" against climate change.
To read more please visit: http://www.ictsd.org/bridges-news/bridges/news/us-china-pledge-swift-accession-to-paris-climate-deal
16. HFC Amendment
to Montreal Protocol Edges Closer
Talks for a deal geared towards
phasing down climate-warming hydrofluorocarbon (HFC) emissions held last week
in Geneva, Switzerland, reportedly made good progress on addressing thorny
issues, such as how to deal with different capacity levels and access to
alternative technologies. Participants also discussed the role of intellectual
property rights and financial support.
Montreal Protocol parties will
gather from 22-23 July in Vienna, Austria, for an extraordinary ministerial
meeting geared towards moving the HFC amendment process forward. An informal
preparatory meeting will be held prior to that occasion in order to continue
discussions on financing and other matters.
To read more please visit: http://www.ictsd.org/bridges-news/bridges/news/hfc-amendment-to-montreal-protocol-edges-closer