The Government of the Republic of Serbia adopted the Decision establishing the National Trade Facilitation Body at a session held on November 2, 2017. The body gathers 12 state institutions, inspection and border agencies, which by joint efforts and cooperation with the private sector should contribute to facilitating trade and eliminating obstacles to the free flow of goods.
In December 2014, the Customs Administration of the Ministry of Finance and the Ministry of Trade, Tourism and Telecommunications collaborated with the International Finance Corporation (IFC)/World Bank Group and the USAID Regional Economic Growth (REG) Project to conduct an initial assessment of compliance with requirements of the WTO Trade Facilitation Agreement. A revised assessment for Category B and C provisions took place in June 2017.
The NTFB is required to submit an annual report to the Government at the latest by 31 March of the following year. It must also provide additional reports as and when required.
The NTFB meets as and when required, and at a minimum twice every year.
The NTFB may invite managers and officers of other government authorities, institutions, and organizations able to contribute to trade facilitation to attend its meetings.
The meetings may also be attended by representatives of the business community, professional chambers and other associations, and academia, as well as by other members of the NTFB’s Expert Groups when issues from their respective remits are under consideration.
In its first year of operation, the National Trade Facilitation Body dealt with the defining the rules of procedures and the establishment of expert groups tasked to addressed particular issues and initiatives to facilitate trade. Also, the special focus of the work of the National Trade Facilitation Body was the elimination of barriers in bilateral trade in selected products with Bosnia and Herzegovina and the Republic of Macedonia.
Description of the issue: Provide a brief explanation of where and how the issue occurs…
Additional Protocol 5 to the CEFTA Agreement provides a closer definition of the set of rules referred to in Articles 14.4, 12, and 13 of the CEFTA Agreement. Additional Protocol 5 is a regional framework for CEFTA parties that envisages improvements to risk management systems of all border control bodies by introducing electronic exchange of data and enhancing transparency beyond what is required by basic WTO standards.