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Digest Content

Digest Content

• UNCTAD, IATA extend partnership to facilitate global trade
• Statement from Ambassador Katherine Tai on Senate Passage of the Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act
• Remarks from Assistant United States Trade Representative Daniel Watson on the Entry into Force of the Protocol to the Trade and Investment Council Agreement Between the U.S and Ecuador
• Call for papers issued for WTO Trade for Peace Programme

UNCTAD, IATA extend partnership to facilitate global trade[1]

The two organizations will leverage their leadership in their respective fields to boost e-commerce in developing countries through improved exchanges of trade data.

UNCTAD and the International Air Transport Association (IATA) have extended their collaboration to facilitate international trade, particularly e-commerce.

The extended partnership will enrich their history of working together. This includes the successful integration of air cargo messaging standards (Cargo-XML) into UNCTAD’s automated customs management system, ASYCUDAWorld.

For the 100 counties choosing to deploy the latest version of ASYCUDAWorld, this enables more efficient processing of air cargo shipments.  

This year marks the 40th anniversary of ASYCUDA, an integrated customs management system that plays a key role supporting countries’ efforts to mobilize domestic revenues through implementing trade facilitation policies, efficient procedures and regional integration, while building capacity and safeguarding natural resources.

Stepping up collaboration

The next stage of the collaboration between UNCTAD and IATA will focus on enabling ASYCUDAWorld to manage e-commerce shipments more efficiently. It will include adding a risk assessment for mail shipments and facilitating access to the IATA enhanced partner identification and connectivity (EPIC) platform.

This will enable customs authorities to share advance cargo/mail information requirements across the digitized supply chain (airlines, freight forwarders, ground handlers and third-party messaging service providers).

The collaboration will also include the potential exchange of additional operational electronic information such as air cargo rules, flight schedules and others that can assist customs officials in their risk assessments.

Statement from Ambassador Katherine Tai on Senate Passage of the Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act[2]

“Today’s overwhelmingly bipartisan vote brings us one step closer to making historic, once-in-a-generation infrastructure investments that will create millions of good-paying union jobs and decades of economic growth. The bill will improve our roads, bridges and ports, build resilient energy networks that combat climate change, and strengthen our supply chains. Finally, the strong Buy America provisions will support our workers and revitalize domestic industries while maintaining America’s competitive edge.

The infrastructure deal, along with our worker-centered trade policy, demonstrates the Biden-Harris Administration’s full commitment to investing in our workers and creating economic opportunity for overlooked communities so we can place America on the strongest footing possible to compete in the world economy for years to come. I congratulate President Biden on this important step forward and urge the House of Representatives to quickly pass this bill so we can continue building back better.”

Remarks from Assistant United States Trade Representative Daniel Watson on the Entry into Force of the Protocol to the Trade and Investment Council Agreement Between the U.S and Ecuador[3]

The Protocol was negotiated under the auspices of the 1990 United States – Ecuador Trade and Investment Council Agreement and signed in Quito in December 2020. The agreement is composed of four annexes on Trade Facilitation and Customs Administration, Good Regulatory Practices, Anti-Corruption, and Small and Medium-Sized Enterprises.

Collectively, these four annexes promote smarter, more efficient regulatory processes, high standards of integrity for public officials, more efficient customs procedures, and cooperation between governments to create opportunities for small and medium enterprises, including those owned by women and other communities.

Call for papers issued for WTO Trade for Peace Programme[4]

A call for papers is being issued for a new publication examining linkages between trade and peace. Papers must be submitted by 15 October 2021.

The Trade for Peace Programme aims to promote trade as a pathway to development and sustainable peace in fragile and conflict-affected states by highlighting the potential role of trade and economic integration in the peace, security and humanitarian fields.

The Trade for Peace Programme is looking to gather, generate and deepen knowledge and understanding on the linkages between trade and peace. The research seeks to identify the socio-political, governance and economic conditions that enable trade to make a positive contribution to peace.

Selected research papers will be invited to be presented at the Trade for Peace Conference, tentatively scheduled to be held on the first quarter of 2022.

Applicants are invited to submit a preliminary paper and/or a detailed abstract defining their research questions, methodological approach, and anticipated outcomes. Submitted abstracts must include sufficient detail in order to provide a fair understanding of the work to be expected in the final paper.

Applications should be submitted electronically to T4Pcallforpaper@wto.org
with the subject “Trade for Peace — Call for Papers” by 15 October 2021.

Selected applicants will be notified by 31 October 2021.


[1] https://unctad.org/news/unctad-iata-extend-partnership-facilitate-global-trade

[2] https://ustr.gov/about-us/policy-offices/press-office/press-releases/2021/august/statement-ambassador-katherine-tai-senate-passage-infrastructure-investment-and-jobs-act

[3] https://ustr.gov/about-us/policy-offices/press-office/speeches-and-remarks/2021/august/remarks-assistant-united-states-trade-representative-daniel-watson-entry-force-protocol-trade-and

[4] https://www.wto.org/english/news_e/news21_e/tfp_13aug21_e.htm

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