NOTIFICATION UNDER ARTICLE 10.4.3 OF THE
AGREEMENT ON TRADE FACILITATION
COMMUNICATION FROM VANUATU
The following communication, dated 31 July
2025, is being circulated at the request of the delegation of Vanuatu.
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Vanuatu hereby makes the following
notification based on Article 10.4.3 of the Agreement on Trade Facilitation.
Article 10, paragraph 4.3
Established in 2017, the Vanuatu
electronic Single Window (VeSW) system is a trade facilitation initiative by
the Vanuatu Government, as recommended under the WTO Trade Facilitation
Agreement Article 10.4. The VeSW Project began in 2016 and has now entered its
3rd and final Phase.
The system is used primarily by
Customs to facilitate the online clearance of international goods, to collect government
revenue and to protect the country from illicit trade. Built on the ASYCUDA
technology, the system is also used by traders to facilitate the online
application of permits and certificates for regulated goods. These applications
are processed and issued online by the respective regulatory agencies
concerned. Once approved, the permits and certificates are electronically
linked to the customs clearance process in the system.
The system now has over 500
active users, both within the Government and in the trading community. It
assists with achieving transparency and predictability to trade formalities,
and in a paperless environment. The VeSW system is one of the major
revenue-generating system of Government revenue and a contributor to Vanuatu's
economic prosperity.
The regulatory requirements and trade
formalities that have been digitized and automated online in the VeSW system
includes, but not limited to:
1._
Customs
clearance formalities for import, exports, warehouse and transit;
2._ Most of
Customs back-office operations, which includes Cargo management, Customs
service fees, Offence management, and Vessel and aircraft clearances;
3._ Sanitary
and Phytosanitary certificates and permits;
4._ Concessions;
5._ Certificates
of Origin;
6._ Energy
Efficient Appliance certificates;
7._ Ozone
Depleting Substances import permits;
8._ Pharmaceutical
import permits;
9._ Telecommunication
certificates and permits.
The remaining trade procedures to be
implemented in the VeSW system, includes:
1._ Forestry
export permits;
2._ Fisheries
export permits;
3._ Civil
Aviation Authority import permits;
4._ Interface
with other Government and trade entities, including the stevedores.
The current participating VeSW agencies are:
1._ Department
of Customs;
2._ Biosecurity;
3._ Department
of Industry;
4._ Department
of Tourism;
5._ Department
of Energy;
6._ Department
of Environment Protection and Conservation;
7._ Department
of Health;
8._ Telecommunication
Radiocommunications and Broadcasting Regulator.
Other Government agencies have also
been given access to the system primarily for the information required for
their own operations.
The other agencies to be included in the VeSW
system are:
1._ Department
of Forestry;
2._ Department
of Fisheries;
3._ Civil
Aviation Authority.
For more information, please
visit https://singlewindow.gov.vu
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