Steady increases in trade volumes and complexity have significantly changed the operating environment for the international trading community and for involved government agencies. This has laid bare the inefficiencies of outdated modes of operation and motivated an essential rethinking of border procedures both within national administrations and at the international level.

Prompted by concerns of economic operators over the impact of inefficient border procedures on global economic welfare, WTO Members undertook to review, clarify and improve existing GATT provisions and identify related needs and priorities of members and in July 2004 launched negotiations in the area of trade facilitation. OECD work is devised as a direct contribution to this undertaking.

Analysis underway includes reflections on core trade facilitation principles, such as transparency, predictability, non-discrimination and simplification, and on possible approaches for implementing facilitation measures at the national level, based on country best practices and experience. Particular approaches such as harmonisation, risk management or automation are systematically reviewed.

OECD research also seeks to evaluate the costs of inefficient trade procedures and the benefits of remedial trade facilitation action for businesses and for governments in developed and developing economies. Possible variations with respect to different types of products or companies, and appropriate methodologies for self-evaluation by concerned countries are also investigated.