Recognized as the most effective approach to the global trade growth, trade facilitation, once again, becomes the focus of the ongoing Sixth WTO Ministerial Conference.

All delegates of the WTO members have shown their concerns over this issue, to different extents, in their plenary meeting speeches and bilateral or multilateral consultations on Friday.

Since the WTO General Council passed the July framework agreement in 2004, which initiated trade facilitation negotiations, the 150-member organization has held twelve meetings on this issue.

The negotiation report on trade facilitation at the Hong Kong meeting is the only one submitted in the name of almost all the negotiators, whereas reports on other issues are only submitted in the name of the facilitators due to great divergencies, said Yin Liqun, director of the China General Administration of Customs's WTO affairs office.

"This demonstrates that the importance of this issue is widely recognized by the members."

In the Hong Kong Conference, China's proposals on this issue, including intensifying the transparency of customs and simplifying clearance procedures, win wide acclaim from the delegates, Yin said.

As the world's third largest trade nation, China's attitude toward trade facilitation is quite positive, the official said, not only because it enables more domestic companies to step into the world market, but also complies with China's effort to improve customs efficiency and infrastructure.

As a matter of fact, China has already exhibited sincerity in

boosting trade facilitation, and its customs have tried their best to provide round-the-clock services.

Currently, most customs have set up task forces to deal with some emergencies and give counseling when necessary.

Meanwhile, China is in full swing computerizing its ports. As of December, more than 200,000 enterprises have been linked with the port network, a sign that an early uniform information platform has been established to cover different sectors and places.

Yin said China will continue simplifying the customs procedures while enhancing its transparency in the future.

In the long run, trade facilitation will be undoubtedly embraced by all the developing and least developed countries because it helps expand the scale of foreign trade, said Gong Baihua, director of the Shanghai WTO Affairs Consultation Center's information division.

However, the developing members will shoulder great pressures and challenges in the process because trade facilitation needs a remarkable amount of funds and great technological supports, Gong said.

The expert held that the goals of the negotiation concerning trade facilitation should be set by fully considering the economic development situation of these countries.

Source: Xinhua