Sharing the Gains of Globalization in the New Security Environment : The Challenges to Trade Facilitation

This document is about the idea that policy dialogue is important for the establishment of a system of international trade facilitation which would contribute to equitable development worldwide. Trade facilitation looks at the problems that come from inefficient trade procedures, which incur high transaction costs. These hinder trade and economic growth as well as the adoption of cutting edge technologies worldwide. The UNECE has developed and promoted trade facilitation standards and measures for more than 40 years and is aiming to build on this to foster dialogue for the construction of a fair, predictable and secure international trading system. In 2002 and 2003 two international forums on trade facilitation were organized, the papers of the May 2003 Forum are presented in this document.