Why the Trade Facilitation Agreement is a Big Deal

WASHINGTON, DC, USA - The Washington International Trade Association proudly presents:

Why the Trade Facilitation Agreement is a Big Deal
Opening the World to International Trade

In December 2013, the World Trade Organization (WTO) concluded negotiations on the Agreement on Trade Facilitation, the first new fully multilateral trade agreement in 20 years. When fully implemented by all WTO members, the agreement has the potential to increase efficiency by eliminating red tape and bureaucratic delay for goods shipped around the globe.

The Agreement could help businesses by reducing costs and delays, increasing transparency in customs practices, reducing documentation requirements, and allowing for the processing of documents before goods arrive, as well as encouraging the use of electronic payments. The OECD estimates that the agreement can cut trade costs by almost 15 percent for low-income countries and 10 percent for high-income countries.

Join featured speakers for a panel discussion as they set the scene on the Trade Facilitation Agreement and review the next steps to implement this multilateral agreement.

• Virginia BROWN, Director of the Office of Trade and Regulatory Reforms, USAID
• Ralph CARTER, Managing Director, Trade & International Affairs, FedEx Express
• Mark LINSCOTT, Assistant U.S. Trade Representative for WTO and Multilateral Affairs, USTR

• Laurie SHERMAN, Senior Legal Advisor, Transparency International-USA (TI-USA)

More Speakers TBA