Paperless Data and Document Exchange in the Cross-Border Transport of Specific Goods between the Eurasian Economic Union and the European Union
In the context of the recovery from the COVID-19 pandemic and the general direction of building back better this project aims to develop and practically test paperless data and document exchange in the cross-border transport of specific goods between the Eurasian Economic Union and the European Union.
Focusing on a specific pilot case of multimodal delivery of goods author of this study conducted research and offered practical recommendations how to align used by different participants in the supply chain in their IT systems to the UN/CEFACT standards and Multimodal Transport Reference Data Model, allowing for a seamless exchange of electronic data and documents (B2B exchange), as well as developing electronic B2G documents for submission to regulatory authorities.
How to develop real world electronic document equivalents using UN/CEFACT standards and reference data models
The digitalization of the supply chain is the dominant trend in international trade and transport at present and the main tool for facilitating trade procedures. Due to the essence of the supply chain as a process of interaction between many parties within many jurisdictions, ensuring interoperability plays a key role both in the supply chain and in the digitalization processes. In this regard, the development, maintenance and adoption of standards at the international level play an extremely important role. This explains the continued focus on standardization in trade and transport facilitation by UN institutions: notably, the United Nations Economic Commission for Europe (UNECE) and the United Nations Centre for Trade Facilitation and Electronic Business (UN/CEFACT).
Readiness Assessment for Cross-Border Paperless Trade: Azerbaijan
This report provides an assessment of the Republic of Azerbaijan’s readiness for cross-border paperless trade, i.e., the conduct of international trade on the basis of electronic data and documents. Following a brief review of the state of play in trade facilitation implementation in the Republic of Azerbaijan, findings from the technical and legal readiness assessments for cross-border paperless trade are presented. Recommendations on both technical and legal aspects of cross-border paperless trade are then provided, followed by an initial action plan for the Republic of Azerbaijan to move forward.
The complete set of Cross-Border Paperless Trade Readiness Assessment reports can be accessed here.
Using the UN/CEFACT Multimodal Transport Reference Data Model and Semantic Standards In Roll-Out Projects, Notably for Road Transport
This project was undertaken in the context of implementing the UN Development Account project in response to the challenges of the COVID-19 pandemic to connectivity, trade, and transport, as well as to support the development of digital multimodal transport corridors with a view to increasing the harmonization and standardization of data exchange in multimodal international transport, trade, and logistics to encourage electronic data exchange and thereby to reduce person-to-person contacts during and after the COVID-19 crisis in the post-pandemic recovery.
It aims to develop and test electronic document equivalents for the e-CMR: XML schemas and JSON API specifications aligned to the UN/CEFACT Reference Data Model and other standards, the e-CMR Protocol to the CMR Convention, and the Eurasian Economic Commission Data Model, to be used in the Belarus-Ukraine and Eurasian Economic Union multimodal corridors. Another important element of the project consisted in exploring the use of specific instruments (trusted third party, blockchain or other) ensuring acceptability of electronic equivalents of documents accompanying goods (e-CMR and other documents).
Readiness Assessment for Cross-Border Paperless Trade: Philippines
This report provides an assessment of the Philippines’ readiness for cross-border paperless trade, i.e., the conduct of international trade based on electronic data and documents.
A team of experts conducted this assessment following readiness checklists developed by the ESCAP Interim Intergovernmental Steering Group on Cross-Border Paperless Trade Facilitation, of which the Philippines is a member. National consultation on facilitating cross-border paperless trade was co-organized by the Philippine Bureau of Customs (BOC) and ESCAP on 8 March 2021, when preliminary findings from the visits and interviews were further reviewed, consolidated and validated.
The report is co-published by ESCAP and the Philippine Bureau of Customs (BOC).
The complete set of Cross-Border Paperless Trade Readiness Assessment reports can be accessed here.
Technical Specification for Uniform Customs Information Page in Central Asia
This Standard describes the installation and set up procedures necessary to deploy a specified information page at the web-sites of the Customs authorities of the Central Asian countries. Such page would contain all relevant information on border checkpoints in a universal and easy-to-use form.
Both documents are prepared in Russian.
Настоящий Стандарт описывает процедуры установки и настройки, необходимые для развертывания и введения в эксплуатаци. специализированной информационной страницы на веб-сайтах таможенных органов центральноазиатских стран. Такая страница будет содержать соответствующую информацию о пунктах пересечения границы в универсальной и легкодоступной форме.
Оба документа подготовлены на русском языке.
Digital and Sustainable Trade Facilitation: Global Report 2021
This report reviews the progress of trade facilitation reforms across 144 countries, based on the fourth UN Global Survey on Digital and Sustainable Trade Facilitation. The analysis is based on 58 trade facilitation measures that are classified into four groups (General Trade Facilitation, Digital Trade Facilitation, Sustainable Trade Facilitation and Other Trade Facilitation) covering both binding and non-binding WTO TFA measures, as well as measures beyond the scope of WTO TFA. The report aims at enabling countries and development partners to take a forward-looking approach to trade facilitation, better understand and monitor progress, support evidence-based public policies, share best practices, and identify emerging capacity-building and technical assistance needs.
For more information on the UN Global Survey on Digital and Sustainable Trade Facilitation and other reports, please visit untfsurvey.org
Air Way Bill Standard Package
The Air Way Bill Standard Package was developed as part of the United Nations response to the challenges of the COVID-19 pandemic under the United Nations multiagency project “Transport and Trade Connectivity in the Age of Pandemics: UN solutions for contactless, seamless and collaborative transport and trade” in cooperation with ICAO.
This electronic document equivalent Standard Package consists of the following elements:
Air Dangerous Goods Declaration
The Air Dangerous Goods Declaration Standard Package was developed as part of the United Nations response to the challenges of the COVID-19 pandemic under the United Nations multiagency project “Transport and Trade Connectivity in the Age of Pandemics: UN solutions for contactless, seamless and collaborative transport and trade” in cooperation with ICAO.
This electronic document equivalent Standard Package consists of the following elements:
Air Consignment Security Declaration
The Air Consignment Security Declaration Standard Package was developed as part of the United Nations response to the challenges of the COVID-19 pandemic under the United Nations multiagency project “Transport and Trade Connectivity in the Age of Pandemics: UN solutions for contactless, seamless and collaborative transport and trade” in cooperation with ICAO.
This electronic document equivalent Standard Package consists of the following elements: