Trade Facilitation Expert Says Developing World Implementing Trade Facilitation Reforms

Even as mercantilistic policies spread, José Raúl Perales said there's good news in global trade -- developing countries' commitment to trade facilitation. Perales was speaking on a panel at the American Association of Exporters and Importers Annual Conference in Washington June 27.

Perales, deputy director of the Global Alliance for Trade Facilitation, noted that many countries have agreed to come into compliance earlier than they are obligated to according to their developing country status at the World Trade Organization. All these reforms are part of the WTO Trade Facilitation Agreement (see 1702140068).

"India is a country that is silently and under the radar undergoing a massive customs reform," he said. He said India is launching a pilot for post-clearance auto-correction in the manifest. He said the country also just created a ministry of logistics.

In Vietnam, they're separating customs clearance from cargo release, he said. In that country, he said, it's not just TFA motivating reforms, but "because there is a tremendous amount of investment moving from China to Vietnam."