Multi-year Expert Meeting on Transport, Trade Logistics and Trade Facilitation, seventh session

Trade facilitation and transit in support of the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development

Following up on the discussions at the sixth session that focused on trade logistics and the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development, the seventh session will investigate in greater detail how trade facilitation and transit can contribute to the achievement of sustainable development.

Discussions will focus on general trade facilitation reforms and the implementation of the World Trade Organization (WTO) Agreement on Trade Facilitation, which entered into force in February 2017. More than 140 WTO members have ratified the Agreement on Trade Facilitation and are currently implementing its provisions, in many cases with the assistance of international organizations, including UNCTAD.

Full implementation of the Agreement is expected to considerably boost international trade and contribute to the development of developing and least developed countries, including the achievement of the Sustainable Development Goals.

The meeting will provide an opportunity to: discuss developments related to trade facilitation and transit issues; consider recent UNCTAD work aimed at assisting developing and least developed countries implementing trade facilitation reforms; and share experiences, including by reviewing best practices associated with new and rapidly evolving technological developments.

Contributed Papers

Experts are encouraged to prepare and submit brief papers (maximum 10 pages) related to their studies, findings and/or national experiences. These papers will be made available at the meeting in the original form and language in which they are received.