World Bank Group Seminar on the WTO Trade Facilitation Agreement

The World Trade Organization (WTO) Trade Facilitation Agreement (TFA) entered into force on February 22, 2017. The TFA provides an opportunity to improve Sanitary and Phytosanitary (SPS) border controls through enhancing border agency coordination and collaboration and national and regional levels to facilitate safe trade in agricultural goods. Through the World Bank Group’s flagship Trade Facilitation Support Program (TFSP), the WBG is assisting developing and least developed countries to fully and effectively implement the TFA. TFSP works closely with other international partners including the Standards and Trade Development Facility housed at the WTO (STDF) to enhance coordination between SPS agencies and other border agencies. During this seminar we will hear from WBG and STDF experts how this critical partnership is facilitating more efficient and safer trade of agriculture products in LDCs using the TFA as a framework to implement change. Opening Remarks:  Jos Verbeek, WBG Special Representative to the WTO and UN Presentations by:  William Gain, Global Lead for Trade Facilitation & Border Management, WBG Washington DC  Melvin Spreij, Head, STDF, housed at the WTO Geneva. Followed by discussion