The reporter learned from the Ministry of Commerce that on February 21, the "framework Agreement on Facilitation of Cross-border Paperless Trade in Asia and the Pacific" (hereinafter referred to as the "Agreement") initiated by the United Nations Economic and Social Commission for Asia and the Pacific (hereinafter referred to as ESCAP) Officially entered into force.
The person in charge of the Department of International Affairs of the Ministry of Commerce pointed out that the Agreement is the first multilateral agreement to promote trade facilitation under the framework of the United Nations that came into effect after my country entered the 14th Five-Year Plan period. The new advantages of cooperation and competition are of great significance.
According to reports, the "Agreement" requires all parties to realize the exchange of trade data and documents in electronic form by using existing or creating new cross-border paperless trading systems. In particular, it encourages all parties to speed up the construction of a "single window" system and implement it. Used for cross-border paperless trade. The Agreement promotes the establishment of a cross-border mutual recognition mechanism for trade data and documents in electronic form among members, and allows members to conclude bilateral and multilateral mutual recognition arrangements for the implementation of cross-border mutual recognition of trade data and documents in electronic form. The Agreement also encourages all parties to work hard to adopt international standards to ensure the compatibility of paperless trade, to develop safe, insurance and reliable data exchange and communication methods, and to actively participate in the formulation of relevant international standards and best practices.
The above-mentioned person in charge said that the "Agreement" will further enhance the level of trade facilitation in China and help domestic reform and development. The facilitation of paperless trade is an important measure to strengthen the construction of information infrastructure, improve customs clearance efficiency, and reduce customs clearance costs. The entry into force and implementation of the "Agreement" will help me to further improve relevant domestic policies and mechanism construction, integrate advantageous resources, accelerate the construction of "single window", form a high-standard international business environment, and build a high-level socialist market economic system.
He also pointed out that these arrangements will effectively improve the efficiency and transparency of cross-border paperless trade in the region, and significantly reduce the time and cost of customs clearance. Especially in the post-epidemic era, it can help local enterprises, especially small and medium-sized enterprises, to more effectively deal with the challenges brought by the new crown pneumonia epidemic, better participate in international trade and enhance their competitiveness.
It is understood that the "Agreement" was initiated by the United Nations ESCAP and aims to enhance the compatibility between national and subregional single windows and other paperless trading systems by promoting the exchange and mutual recognition of trade data and documents in electronic form. Cross-border paperless trade, thereby improving the efficiency and transparency of international trade, and creating a favorable legal regulatory environment.
Negotiations on the Agreement were launched in April 2015, and nearly 30 ESCAP members including China, Russia, South Korea, India and Indonesia joined the negotiations. China signed the Agreement in August 2017 and will complete the domestic approval process in 2020. At present, the "Agreement" has entered into force for the five founding contracting parties that have completed domestic approvals in China, Azerbaijan, the Philippines, Iran and Bangladesh. Armenia and Cambodia have signed the "Agreement" and are in the process of domestic approval. The country is actively seeking to join the Agreement.
(Source: Economic Information Daily)
