Azevedo said that the ratification of the agreement was a confirmation of Montenegrin government’s contribution to multilateral trading system and the active role that Montenegro was building in the WTO since it became a full member in 2012.
The Trade Facilitation Agreement was completed in 2013 at the Ninth Ministerial Conference of the WTO in Bali and it contains provisions to facilitate the movement and customs clearance of goods, including goods in transit.
“This agreement also defines measures for effective international cooperation of customs services related to the simplification and harmonisation of customs clearance procedures, which directly affects the cost reductions in trade and a greater transparency of the market. It also contributes to intensifying regional cooperation and includes measures and instruments for technical assistance to the member states in capacity building for greater transparency of customs service”, the Foreign Ministry stated.
During preparations for ratification of the agreement in 2015, Montenegro received significant assistance by the WTO and its partners for improving professional skills of the Customs Administration staff related to this area and implementing the plan of activities of the government’s coordination team for the Agreement on Trade Facilitation Agreement execution.
The Agreement shall enter into force when ratified by two thirds of the WTO member states. Montenegro is the 78th member which accepted the implementation of this agreement. All the members of the European Union, the United States, the Russian Federation, India, Brazil, Mexico, Japan, as well as the WTO members from our region – Macedonia and Albania, have already done that.
