Establishing international trade procedures

The European Union's position focuses on developing and agreeing a framework of World Trade Organisation (WTO) commitments to simplify and harmonise trade procedures, to include the following components: (1) application of WTO principles of non-discrimination and national treatment, together with transparency and the concept of proportionality; (2) harmonisation and simplification of trade and transport documents and data, drawing on international standards; (3) commitments to strengthen compliance and control, and processing, drawing on the WTO's Kyoto Convention, by introduction of modern customs techniques, including automation of customs procedures; (4) technical assistance for capacity building to strengthen trade management in developing countries; and (5) consideration of the scope for provision to lower costs associated with banking and payment transactions.