National Trade Facilitation Roadmap 2018-2022

Mongolia had joined the WCO in 1991, acceded to the International Convention on the Harmonized Commodity Description and Coding System in the same year and ratified the Agreement on Implementation of Article VII of the GATT (the Customs Valuation Code) and other WTO multilateral trade agreements in 1996. The WTO agreements came into force for Mongolia in 1997. The membership to these two organizations (the WCO and the WTO) regulating and implementing trade policies at an international level requires Mongolia to follow their instruments and conduct its foreign trade activities in accordance with the world standards.

Goods declaration for importation, exportation, and transit of goods through the national border had been introduced in 1991. At first, it was filled in manually by using a typewriter. Since 1993, with financial and technical assistance provided by the UNCTAD (the UN Conference on Trade and Development), the ASYCUDA (Automated System for Customs Data) was introduced. Also, with its accession to the Revised Kyoto Convention in 2006, Mongolia was obliged to simplify and harmonize its Customs procedures in accordance with international standards.

In order to draw national trade facilitation roadmap, it is necessary to determine our vision, mission, and values. They will help us in setting the point to reach in 5 years, give support to solution of development issues and encourage our actions.

Within the framework of implementation of category B and C commitments, the national roadmap defines 39 objectives and plans 98 actions. If we group the objectives into common coverages, we can get the following picture:

• Improvement of domestic laws and regulations: in cooperation of the main principles of the TFA into national legislation and development of relevant regulations, guidelines and handbooks;
• Strengthening cooperation between the foreign (international) trade stakeholders: data exchange, mutual recognition of controls, coordinated (integrated) border control, risk management, and exchange of experiences (best practices);
• Development of IT infrastructure: creation of databases, software development, introduction of electronic signature and electronic data exchange;
• Capacity building: training, creation of specialized national experts’ team, overseas study tours, interactive discussions and meetings, development of an infrastructure to harmonize processes and improve control results, procurement of modern control equipment and development of road and constructions.