REPORT TO THE COUNCIL FOR TRADE IN GOODS ON THE STATUS OF NOTIFICATIONS
BY THE CHAIRPERSON OF THE COMMITTEE ON TRADE FACILITATION

1  Background

1.1.  This report was prepared by the Chairperson of the Committee on Trade Facilitation (CTF), with the assistance of the Secretariat, at the request of the Chairperson of the Council for Trade in Goods (CTG).[1]

1.2.  The CTG report contained in _G/C/W/859 ("Status of Regular/Periodic and One-Time Only Notifications in the Goods Area (1995-2024)") reviewed the submission rate of Member notifications. With respect to the TFA, the report evaluated the submission of transparency notifications required of all WTO Members under Articles 1.4 (Publication and Availability of Information), 10.4.3 (Single Window), 10.6.2 (Use of Customs Brokers) and 12.2.2 (Customs Cooperation).

1.3.  The report found that the average submission rates of one-time only notifications in the goods area was 82% overall and 60% for LDC Members. The average submission rate for the covered TFA notifications was 85% overall and 58% for LDC Members.

1.4.  In a subsequent document contained in _JOB/CTG/67, the CTG Chairperson requested each of the subsidiary bodies to: (1) discuss the additional steps that could be taken to improve the regular/periodic and one-time only notification requirements they oversee; (2) identify the steps needed to improve the quality and timeliness of notification; and (3) inform the Council of past actions that have worked well in improving the number of submitted notifications.

1.5.  This report responds to the request by the CTG Chair and focuses on the following: (1) discussions held by Members; (2) factors affecting the timeliness and quality of TFA notifications; (3) work of the Committee; and (4) Secretariat tools and support.

2  Discussions in the committee

2.1.  As requested by the CTG Chairperson, this item was placed on the agenda of the CTF's formal meeting, held on 4-5 June 2025. At that meeting, no Member requested the floor.

2.2.  The CTF Chairperson then added the item to the agenda of an informal meeting, held on 10 July 2025 (_ICN/TFA/10). At that meeting, Members expressed broad support for technical assistance. Suggestions included enhanced use of digital tools, simplified templates, and streamlined processes to facilitate timely and accurate notification. Delegations also advocated for peer-to-peer learning and thematic and knowledge-sharing training sessions. Virtual platforms were seen as key tools to facilitate this exchange, especially for capital-based officials.

2.3.  Members supported the use of a centralized digital platform for all committees, standardized templates, and step-by-step guidance documents. Some Members supported the idea of informal reminders ahead of deadlines and regular agenda space to discuss notifications at meetings. Members also endorsed the sharing of practical experiences to identify good practices and the use of existing processes, such as the Trade Policy Review Mechanism, to further incentivize compliance.

2.4.  While the discussion represented a first exploratory consideration of these issues and reflected a range of views, there was broad acknowledgement of the importance of improving both the timeliness and the quality of transparency notifications under the TFA, and recognition that further work in this area would be valuable.

3  factors affecting the timeliness and quality of TFA notifications

3.1.  Regarding the timeliness of TFA notifications, developing and LDC Members were allowed to stagger their implementation of provisions following entry into force, and may have committed themselves to submit transparency notifications at different points in time, including dates that could remain in the future. Where such commitments are currently outstanding and notifications have not been provided, they are considered overdue. Addressing any backlog in notifications is a measure of progress in improving timeliness, while taking into account that certain notifications may have not yet, or only recently, become due for certain Members.

3.2.  The quality of transparency notifications is also critical to their utility for Members. Notifications should contain an appropriate number of references and links – i.e. information that is sufficient to direct the reader clearly to the information required, but not so numerous as to undermine their accessibility or utility. Links should be functional and point directly to the information foreseen in the relevant provisions. Reducing the incidence of broken or outdated links, as well as avoiding unnecessary references, could also be a measure for improving the clarity and utility of transparency notifications. Moreover, the quality of notifications may depend on Members corroborating that information once notified remains current. Updated notifications can ensure that changes in regulations, procedures, or contact points are properly reflected for the use of other Members.

3.3.  By working towards fewer overdue notifications, ensuring prompt updates of existing ones, and improving the quality and accuracy of the information provided, there is further scope for improving the timeliness and quality of TFA transparency notifications.

4  Work of the committee

4.1.  Meetings of the CTF begin with a standing agenda item reviewing all notifications submitted since the previous formal meeting. This provides Members an opportunity to present the information contained in their notifications and to comment on those submitted by other Members.

4.2.  Following the first review of the TFA (_G/TFA/2), Members agreed to add an agenda item dedicated to overdue notifications, including transparency notifications. Unlike the standing review of submitted notifications, this item allows the Committee to consider notifications that are due but not yet presented. Under this item, Members may inform the Committee of progress made in preparing overdue notifications, share challenges faced in their preparation, or recall the commitments undertaken.

4.3.  At each meeting, the Secretariat provides an update on the state of notifications and ratifications under the Agreement. These updates go beyond presenting raw figures; they seek to explain the data and its evolution over time. Members may also request additional breakdowns or clarifications, to which the Secretariat responds at subsequent meetings. This interactive process has informed enhancements to the TFA Database, and other analytical features, thereby providing Members with a clearer understanding of notification trends and gaps.

5  SECRETARIAT tools and support

5.1.  The Secretariat maintains the Trade Facilitation Agreement Database, which contains a dedicated webpage where Members can view the status of transparency notifications. In addition, following guidance received from the Committee at its informal meeting of 10 July 2025 (_JOB/TF/251), the Secretariat has taken further steps to address the timeliness and quality of transparency notifications. These activities build on earlier outreach and provide practical support to Members in fulfilling their obligations.

Timeliness of submissions

5.2.  The Secretariat has several tools to assist Members in tracking and addressing overdue notifications. Principally, this information is displayed on each Member's profile page on the TFA Database, signalling which notifications are overdue in red (Figure 1) and a feature was recently introduced which allows delegations to sign up for automated alerts when provisions enter into force and notifications become due (Figure 2).

5.3.  The Secretariat has also carried out direct outreach to delegations with outstanding notifications. In 2024, 36 delegations were contacted and offered support in preparing their transparency notifications. A further exercise this year reached out to 34 Members with a total of 69 outstanding notifications. Several Members have since submitted notifications, with additional drafts in preparation. The Secretariat will provide an update at the next Committee meeting.

5.4.  As a result of the Reform by Doing process (_G/TFA/8), the Secretariat also organizes regular training activities for new delegates, and the training scheduled for fall 2025 will, for the first time, focus particular attention on transparency notifications, including a panel for peer-to-peer learning. While primarily aimed at Geneva-based delegates, these sessions will also be accessible online to capital-based officials, thereby broadening their reach.

Quality of submissions

5.5.  The Secretariat also supports Members in enhancing the quality of their notifications, particularly with respect to the accuracy and reliability of references and links. Pursuant to paragraph 9.1 of document _G/TFA/2, the Secretariat regularly verifies the operability of web links contained in notifications submitted under Article 1.4 of the TFA. Where broken or outdated links are identified, the Secretariat contacts the relevant Members to request updates and assists in repairing them. The Secretariat has currently been engaging in another review of the operability of weblinks notified by Members under Article 1.4 and has been contacting those whose links appear to be broken. The Secretariat will also provide an update on this exercise at the next Committee meeting.

5.6.  As noted, prompt updates of existing notifications are important to ensure that information remains accurate when there are changes in regulations, procedures, or contact points. Some Members already provide such updates on a regular basis, and Secretariat training activities raise awareness of the need for timely updates. However, outreach efforts to date have prioritised those Members that have not yet submitted any transparency notifications and where the original deadline has already passed.

6  Conclusion

6.1.  The Committee has reviewed the status of overdue transparency notifications and proposed efforts to help Members address some of the underlying issues that have prevented or hampered their submission. These initiatives, including the development of database tools, direct outreach, link verification, and targeted training, have supported incremental progress and may continue to form part of the Committee's work. At the same time, it is recognized that such efforts cannot by themselves resolve all gaps, as in some cases notifications depend on underlying implementation steps that remain in progress. Continued attention to transparency notifications remains important in sustaining and strengthening the operation of the TFA.

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