REPORT ON
THE IMPLEMENTATION OF THE TRADE FACILITATION AGREEMENT
COMMUNICATION FROM SAINT LUCIA
The following communication, dated 9
December 2025, is being circulated at the request of the delegation of Saint
Lucia.
_______________
In accordance with the recommendation resulting from
the first review of the operation and implementation of the Trade Facilitation
Agreement (_G/TFA/2, paragraph 9.2 vi.)[1], Saint Lucia hereby confirms, for information
purposes, that it has fulfilled the following commitment under Trade
Facilitation Agreement, as detailed below:
|
Provision
|
Heading/Description
|
Category
|
Definitive date for implementation
|
|
Article
7.2
|
Electronic
payment
|
B
|
28 April 2023
|
|
The
E-payment functionality within ASYCUDA World processing system was launched
on 14 July 2025. The launch of the E-payment facility included a publicity
campaign to inform and encourage the trading community to use this payment
method rather than cheques or cash payments facility. A notice was placed on
the Customs website and ASYCUDA web portal informing of the availability of
this payment option to traders and Customs Brokers. Representative
associations such as the Saint Lucia Chamber of Commerce was also engaged to
inform their members of the ASYCUDA e-payment system in order to encourage greater
utilization of this facility. Payments however can also be made via credit
card at Customs offices.
Saint
Lucia is satisfied that it has fully met this provision.
|
__________
[1] Building on the discussions during this
first review of the operation and implementation of the Trade Facilitation
Agreement, and with a view to furthering its work in regard to Section II of
the TFA, the Committee:
vi. recommends that Members whose
implementation dates have passed for their category B or C provisions, and on a
voluntary basis and for informational purposes only: (i) confirm the passing of
implementation dates in any form or reporting (orally or in writing); and/or
(ii) share their implementation experiences with the Committee while explicitly
mentioning the provision they have implemented. Category B and Category C
provisions shall be implemented on the definitive dates as notified by Members
as per Article 16.5 of the Agreement. The Committee could encourage
those Members who have implemented category B provisions in particular to take
the actions above. It should be noted that this proposal never intends to
modify the Members' obligations under the TFA.