Facilitating Trade on the Silk Road Economic Belt through the TIR SystemShanghai, 17th June 2014

Cédric Oelhafen – Project Director

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This is the IRU

Uphold the interests of bus, coach, taxi and truck operatorsto ensure economic growth and prosperity via the sustainable mobility of people and goods by road worldwide.

•Mission 

•UN Mandate

Managed by the IRU since 1949

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This is the IRU

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Evolution of IRU Membership

2014: 170 Members in 75 countries2014: 170 Members in 75 countries

1948: eight founder countries

…and CRIPA: 27 Members + FESARTA in 38 countries

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IRU Secretariat General

1948 – IRU founded in Geneva

1973 – IRU Permanent Delegation to the European Union in Brussels

1998 – IRU Permanent Delegation to Eurasia in Moscow

2005 – IRU Permanent Delegation to the Middle East and Region in Istanbul

2012 – IRU Secretariat for Africa in Geneva

2013 – IRU Permanent Delegation to the United Nations in New-York

Next Steps – Office in China

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Securing and facilitating trade and international road transport

Transports Internationaux Routiers

Managed by the IRU since 1949

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What is the TIR System?

• A tried and tested, affordable facilitation instrument for international transport and trade

• Global

• Intermodal (road-rail, road-maritime)

• Secure• Based on TIR Convention of 1975, signed by 68 contracting parties

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Geographical Scope of the TIR Convention

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WHAT IS THE TIR SYSTEM VIDEO

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The Six Pillars of the TIR System

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Benefits of the TIR System

Ensure the secure and sustainable development of international trade and road transport (controlled access, traceability)

Gives access to 58 TIR operational countries

Through mutual recognition of Customs Controls and the guarantee, transport costs, formalities and delays are reduced

Secures and facilitates trade through the implementation of harmonised controls & documents

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3 million TIR operations per year

Main users are Turkey, EU and CIS countries

New usage of TIR develops notably through intermodal transport

Geographic expansion of TIR to China, the Arab Peninsula, South America and Africa

TIR Today

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TIR 的扩展2013 年 9 月 –阿富汗对 TIR 开放

Since 2013 – Cooperation increased between China and IRU towards China’s accession to the TIR Convention

2014 年 4 月 – 阿联酋海关签署了担保协议

阿根廷、巴西、伊拉克、沙特阿拉伯和许多非洲国家纷纷表示了对 TIR的兴趣

2014 年 4 月 – 巴基斯坦确认即将加入 TIR

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Strategy to revive the ancient Silk Road

Major investments in Western China

Need to find more effective alternatives to air / sea transport

Investments in road infrastructure in Eastern China and Kazakhstan

New routes under finalisation between Lianyungang and Northern Europe through Kazakhstan

Current Developments in China

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Common Vision: Revitalising the Silk RoadChina’s accession into TIR = potential to further develop maritime transport, road transport and international trade

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The Lisbon-Vladivostok Caravan The Beijing-Berlin-Brussels Caravan

IRU-ECO Silk Road Truck Caravan

Results of IRU Caravans Clearly in Favour of TIR

Black Sea Highway Caravan

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IRU New Eurasian Land Transport Initiative (NELTI)

From September 2008 Monitoring over 200,000 border crossings

57% of transport time lost at border crossings38% of transport costs due to unofficial levies

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• The TIR Convention provides for intermodal use of the TIR Carnet:

• TIR applies as long as one leg of the journey is carried out by road

• TIR guarantee covers road legs of itinerary, and is suspended on sea or rail legs

• Successful applications of TIR for intermodal transport include:• RO/RO transports through ferry services mainly in

Mediterranean

• Block trains (ECO region)

TIR for Intermodal Transport

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Potential for Intermodal TIR

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Improved traffic flow in ports

Customs procedures lighter with transit than with import/export

Shorter overall transport

Secure transit system and cost-efficient international guarantee

TIR Guarantee covering whole load compartment, simplifying clearance

Intermodal TIR benefits

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Facilitate Intermodal traffic with TIR• Improve sea-road interface in ports with help of terminal operators, Customs

and port authorities• Develop TIR in ports with active RO/RO lines• Identify areas where TIR could provide further benefits • Improve electronic data exchanges between stakeholders• Share experiences and draft Intermodal TIR best practices

Prepare entry of China and Latin America into the TIR system• Develop an efficient TIR intermodal procedure for containers that benefits all

key stakeholders of the intermodal transport supply chain

Participate with stakeholdersin joint studies, pilots and field visits

The IRU TIR Intermodal Program

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• Faster and cheaper delivery of goods for the benefit of producers and consumer

• Improvement of efficiency and competitiveness

• Expansion of TIR System to China will have positive effect on international trade

• More efficient road transport between China and existing TIR countries (through Central Asia)

• Development of intermodal TIR to benefit wider group of trading partners with China and other stakeholders

• Opportunity for other Asian countries to increase their trade to existing TIR countries through China

Conclusions

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CONTACT INFORMATIONTIR-IN-CHINA@IRU.ORG +86-185 1085 2972