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Legal framework for transit transport cooperation at global levelTIR Convention, 1975 and Harmonization Convention, 1982Artur BoutenUNECE TIR secretariat
On some major routes:
57 % of transport time is lost at border crossings
38 % of transport costs are due to unofficial levies •Long waiting times at borders result in major human suffering for drivers blocked in queues for hours/days
•harmful impact on the environment
•Border waiting times also cost billions annually => increasing the cost of goods for the end consumer, not to mention lost business opportunities.
Border crossing facilitation is:•Key to international trade, exports and imports
•Essential for growth and competiveness
•A driver of regional integration
Border crossing facilitation :
UNECE’s 3600 approach to Border crossing facilitation (2)
Crossing borders requires:
•Appropriate and resilient infrastructure•Reliable and harmonized international legal framework•Harmonized or at least aligned procedures (e.g. customs)•International cooperation and exchange of best practices
The TIR Convention, 1975
TIR Convention, 1975• Establishes and regulates the only existing and
operational global customs transit system
• Administered under UNECE auspices
• 69 Contracting Parties from 4 continents, among which Afghanistan, Armenia, Azerbaijan, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Mongolia, Republic of Moldova,Tajikistan, The Former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia, Uzbekistan
• Pakistan recently acceded
• China expressed interest to join• Border crossing facilitation through an internationally
recognized and harmonized procedure with a single internationally valid customs document and guarantee
• Effective revenue protection and security without excessive administrative burden for customs and time/cost losses for operators
Geographical scope
Contracting parties to the TIR Convention
TIR operational countries
Countries about to implement the TIR System
Countries in admission
Interested Parties
The 5 pillars of the TIR system
Secure vehicles or containers
International guarantee
TIR Carnet
Mutual recognition of
customs controlsControlled
access
TIR computerization status
e
Computerization process (eTIR) is underway
eTIR Reference Model (conceptual) Adaptation of the legal framework (legal) Development of the required systems (technical) Corridor based step-by-step implementation, through,
e.g. eTIR pilot projects:Between Iran (Islamic Republic of) and Turkey in the
UNECE-IRU eTIR Pilot ProjectUNDA project to strengthen the capacities of
developing countries and countries with economies in transition to facilitate legitimate border crossing, by means of increased secure electronic exchange of information between customs administrations (Georgia and Turkey).
TIR Carnets issued in LLDCLLDC 2000 2004 2012 2013 2014 ITDB
Afghanistan
- - - 50 0 1
Armenia - 200 3,800 2,200 0 59
Azerbaijan 4,000 3,950 11,400 10,300 4,800 48
Georgia 1,000 1,050 8,200 10,500 7,500 461
Kazakhstan
10,400
17,000 19,000 25,000 24,200 338
Kyrgyzstan
100 4,900 17,100 22,200 20,900 121
Moldova 18,000
46,900 81,000 77,450 65,200 734
Mongolia - 150 100 100 50 0
Tajikistan - - 2,950 3,500 4,000 0
Uzbekistan
2,400 - 14,100 17,500 9,000 204
FYROM 17,050
27,400 25,400 29,300 34,000 1,968
2015 Prices14 Volet in USD
Preliminary analysisRegression line vs plotted data
The Harmonization Convention, 1982
- International Convention on the Harmonization of Frontier Controls of Goods
- 56 Contracting Parties-Latest accessions: Iran, Tajikistan -Other LLDC: Armenia, Azerbaijan, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Mongolia, Republic of Moldova, FYROM, Uzbekistan
- Expressed interest to join: China
Objective and Scope
To facilitate cross border transport of goods through nationally coordinated, internationally harmonized, shorter, reduced formalities and controls of goods at borders
It covers:
• All goods moved across borders (exported, imported or in transit)
• All control services
• All modes of transport
• Specific provisions for certain transport modes and goods
• Also addresses certain issues with regard to vehicles and drivers
•Framework providing for a high degree of flexibility in organizing national and international cooperation
•No universal ‘one size fits all’ solution
•Examples of best practice are essential
•Integrated operational annexes are included, such as Annex 8 for road, Annex 9 for rail and (draft) Annex 10 for seaports
General principles vs. detailed provisions
TIR Green lanesRepublic of Moldova
Handbook of Best Practices at Border Crossings
•Reference material and more than 120 best practice
examples at border crossings.
•It covers available legal instruments, inter-agency and
international co-operation, balancing security and facilitation
measures, processing of freight, risk management, design
of border crossing points, use of ICT technologies, human
resource management and benchmarking.
•Available
at:http://www.unece.org/fileadmin/DAM/trans/bcf/publication
s/OSCE-UNECE_Handbook.pdf
Inland clearance in AfghanistanThe debate about BCP or inland clearance also applies inAfghanistan. Traditionally, all goods entering Afghanistanwere cleared at the first point of entry (border), butduties collected at the border were often diverted bythe provincial authorities, to the detriment of the Statebudget. The system was characterized by revenue losses,inadequate control, and a high level of corruption.
An inland clearance scheme was introduced, with dutiesbeing collected in major cities where accounts were easierto control. State Customs revenue increased significantly.The scheme was supported by a World Bank Emergency
Thank you
Artur BoutenUNECE TIR SECRETARIAT
Sustainable Transport Division
8-14, Avenue de la PaixCH-1211 Geneva 10
SwitzerlandPhone: +41 22 917 2433
Fax: +41 22 917 0614Email: [email protected]