On January 22, 2021, the Agreement creating, on a permanent basis, the National Trade Facilitation Committee (hereinafter the “Agreement”) was published in the Official Gazette of the Federation (“DOF”). The purpose of the creation of the National Trade Facilitation Committee (the “Committee”) is to facilitate coordination among the agencies, entities of the Federal Public Administration and autonomous constitutional bodies that, within the scope of their different competencies, participate in the regulation of programs related to foreign trade.
The foregoing responds both to the National Development Plan 2019-2024, as well as to the Protocol of Amendment to the Marrakesh Agreement Establishing the World Trade Organization (hereinafter “Protocol”), which states in the second paragraph of article twenty-three, the institutional provisions, that each member shall establish and/or maintain a National Trade Facilitation Committee. The purpose of trade facilitation is to eliminate those procedures, formalities and requirements that are inefficient, resulting in the reduction of trade costs and the simplification of administrative procedures.
The Agreement seeks to materialize the provisions of the Protocol, in order to expedite the application of the provisions on trade facilitation, based on the applicable national and international regulations.
The Committee will be comprised of representatives of the following agencies: Ministry of Economy, Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Ministry of Defense, Ministry of Finance and Public Credit, Ministry of Environment and Natural Resources, Ministry of Energy, Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development, Ministry of Communications and Transportation, and Ministry of Health. All of the above, with the right to speak and vote in the sessions in which they are present.
It is also expected to have as permanent guests representatives of the Bank of Mexico, the Tax Administration Service, the National Commission for Regulatory Improvement and the Federal Economic Competition Commission. It also emphasizes that when deemed necessary, the Committee may include representatives of the private sector, civil society organizations, academic institutions and experts in the field as guests at its meetings. All of the above, with the right to speak in the sessions in which they are present.
Among the important functions of the Committee, we can highlight, among others, the following:
To act as a coordinating body for the different agencies of the Federal Public Administration that have competence and are involved in the implementation and application of the Trade Facilitation Agreement.
To cooperate with the Ministry of Economy and the Ministry of Foreign Affairs in the design of policies, programs and actions aimed at simplifying and automating foreign trade processes.
Propose issues related to matters pertaining to the implementation and application of the Trade Facilitation Agreement.
Analyze and, if necessary, issue recommendations to improve the efficiency of foreign trade processes and procedures in order to reduce costs and eliminate barriers to trade.
The creation of the Committee will promote the strengthening of foreign trade policies, benefiting our country.
