ICC Welcomes WTO Trade Agreement
The International Chamber of Commerce (ICC) has welcomed the entry into force of the World Trade Organization’s (WTO) Trade Facilitation Agreement (TFA).
Regarded as the first multilateral trade agreement to enter into force in over two decades, the TFA aims to make trade easier and simpler by cutting red-tape at borders. ICC has estimated that the deal could support the creation of some 20 million jobs worldwide, especially in the developing countries of the world.
The TFA is regarded a landmark global trade agreement which could provide a boost to global trade flows of over $1trillion. At the last count, no fewer than two-thirds of WTO member states have ratified the TFA.
Rwanda, Chad, Oman, and Jordan recently become the latest of 110 countries to ratify the agreement. Reaching this threshold means the TFA now becomes an official part of the multilateral trading system which covers more than 96 percent of global gross domestic product (GDP).
Apparently pleased with the development, ICC Chairman, Mr. Sunil Bharti Mittal in a statement obtained by THISDAY said: “The entry into force of the TFA is a watershed moment for global trade. The reality today is that many small businesses find themselves unable to trade internationally due to complex customs requirements. By cutting unnecessary red-tape at borders, the TFA will have a transformational effect on the ability of entrepreneurs in developing countries to access global markets.”
Continuing, Mittal said: “The TFA can help ensure that, for the first time, all companies—regardless of size or location—can benefit from global trade. The entry into force of the agreement could not come at a more important moment given the imperative to make global growth more inclusive.”
It is on record that ICC has been a leading proponent of the TFA, playing a key role in the 2013 negotiations that led to the agreement and working closely with the WTO and other international organizations to coordinate and support the deal’s implementation.
ICC Secretary General, Mr. John Danilovich, said: “ICC has tirelessly championed the TFA because we know that making trade easier through simple customs reforms can provide a major boost to small business growth. It is estimated that the TFA could increase SME exports by 80 percent in some economies.
This means more jobs, more consumer choice and—ultimately—more inclusive development.”
He called on governments to take action to implement the TFA, even as he enumerated the benefits that member state stand to gain from it.
His words: “The entry into force of the TFA is just one step to making the potential benefits of this landmark agreement a reality. Governments must work without delay to implement the provisions of the TFA working hand-in-hand with local businesses to identify key bottlenecks to trade across national borders.”
Several stakeholders across the globe have also welcome the development with ICC Ghana Secretary General, Mr. Emmanuel Doni-Kwame saying that ICC Ghana with the support of AGI, World Trade Centre Accra, GUTA, Ship owners Association of Ghana, Ghana Institute of Freight Forwarders, FAGE, Ghana Employers Association, Ghana Journalists Association, West Blue Consulting, Ghana Shippers Authority and the BUSAC Fund encouraged the Ministry of Trade and the Parliament of Ghana to ratify the Trade Facilitation Agreement. This goal was achieved in January when Ghana became the 104th member country to ratify the TFA.