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Present: Representatives from the following economies attended the meeting:
A list of the names and contact details of attendees at the meeting is attached to this report. Welcome and Introductory Comments: Ms Joanne Blackburn of Australia opened the meeting and welcomed all present and thanked them for their attendance. She introduced Ms Michaela Browning from the Australian High Commission in Singapore who is involved in an electronic health certification (SANCRT) pilot between Australia and Singapore. The meeting considered the following papers issued by Australia for TPT WG17: 1. Progress Report on the APEC Paperless Trading Initiative (TPTWG17/SC/EC/1/1) 2. APEC Paperless Trading Demonstration Project Proposal (TILF funding) (TPTWG17/SC/EC/2/1) 3. Electronic Port Manifest Project Proposal (Port Experts Group) (TPTWG17/SC/PEG/) 4. Progress Report on Phase 1 of the Program to Assist the Implementation of Electronic Commerce for Commercial Messages (TPTWG17/SC/EC/5/1) 5. Progress Report on the Pilot Electronic Commerce Training in Maritime Transport (TPTWG17/SC/EC/3/1)
The meeting noted the progress report including the information that at the direction of the APEC Electronic Commerce Steering Group, Australia, on behalf of the TPT-WG is coordinating the development of an expanded matrix recording the progress of economies in eliminating the requirements for paper documents. The matrix will be used as the basis for continuing reports to Trade Ministers on progress in achieving the Paperless Trading Initiative established by leaders. Recommendation: The progress of the paperless trading initiative be noted and economies continue to participate in activities under this initiative. Ms Michaela Browning from the Australian High Commission in Singapore made a presentation on a current project between Singapore and Australia involving the development and use of an electronic sanitary certificate (known as SANCRT) which is an essential information requirement in the export and import of fresh products. Ms Browning advised that advice received in the context of her work suggests that up to 7% of the value of any consignment of goods goes to meet the costs of auxiliary paperwork and that 85% of the data included in the SANCRT has a commercial purpose. The meeting then considered the project proposal submitted by Australia for work which would include identification of key documents in the export/import chain and implementation of an electronic demonstration project involving up to four APEC economies using an electronic version of one or more of those documents. Australia advised that in preparing the project proposal it had identified an Australian firm which exports fresh products into the APEC region which is interested in participating in a trail of an electronic SANCRT certificate with its APEC trading partners. Economies noted that the proposed project is a specific initiative in answer to Ministers’ call for priority and quick action on paperless trading. In addition, it would be the first TPT-WG project involving other working groups such as the SCCP, TEL and other APEC agencies. The meeting noted that the project is not put forward as a joint project with the SCCP. However, Australia advised that the project is supported by the Australian representatives to the SCCP and Mr James Goh, representing the United States and who is also a participant in SCCP meetings, advised that the SCCP is supportive of the proposal. The meeting also that the funding proposed for the project is intended to enable a trial involving up to 4 APEC economies, that participation in the project is voluntary, that economies which wish to participate would need to have adequate infrastructure to do so and that it will be an important point for economies wishing to participate to gain the support of their Customs Administrations before committing to the project. Australia advised that the Australian Customs Service has advised its support for the project. Japan mentioned some that the project involves work with Customs and other agencies which is outside the terms of reference of the TPT-WG and that it would duplicate work being undertaken by the Senior Official Meeting (SOM) which work is expected to be completed and announced at the APEC Trade Ministers meeting in June 2000. Australia advised that the project is a direct response to the APEC Leaders and Trade Ministers call for all APEC sub-fora to take quick action to implement the paperless trading initiative and the call for all APEC sub-fora to work cooperatively to achieve this objective. Australia further expressed confidence in the fact that the proposal meets an existing need in APEC and does not ‘infringe’ the territory of other working groups, based on discussions with the Australian representatives to the SCCP (where Australia leads the electronic commerce work) and with the Australian representatives to the Telecommunications Working Group (where Australia leads the Business Facilitation Working Group which is responsible for these matters in the Telecommunications Working Group). Australia is responsible for preparing the report to SOM in June and advised that the report to be provided in June will be an essential resource for the commencement of the proposed project. After further discussions Japan indicated that they could agree to the project proposal going forward for approval by the Steering Committee on the basis that Australia bring forward an information paper on the project for discussion at the next meeting of the SCCP in September 2000. Australia agreed to make those arrangements. In discussing the budget for the proposed project the Philippines advised that in undertaking the initial research stage of the project, the consultant should have regard to the work undertaken in the Bolero project to identify key documents in the trade chain. A questionnaire was used which should provide significant information for the initial stages of the project. The Philippines agreed to provide the information to Australia. It was agreed that the RFP for the project should include this information for the consultant. In discussion the proposal received active support from the delegates from Chile and the United States. With the exception of the delegates from Japan, all other delegates agreed to the proposal. Chile has agreed to cosponsor the project. The delegate from the United States indicated that he would advise whether or not the United States would also cosponsor the project. Recommendation: It is recommended that the Steering Committee approve the funding application for the proposed "APEC Paperless Trading Demonstration Project" for approval by the Plenary and submission to the BMC for funding approval subject to another economy agreeing to cosponsor the project and noting that Australia will ensure that the project is drawn to the attention of the SCCP at its next meeting in September 2000.
Australia provided information to the meeting of the discussion at the Port Experts Group on the morning of 27 March 2000 of an Australian proposal for a project to identify options for the development of an electronic manifest which satisfies both customs and port requirements. While the project impacts on the work of the Electronic Commerce Group the group, Australia advised that in progressing that project, it will be necessary to have input from members experienced in port procedures and documentation. Accordingly, Australia advised that it was considered that the project be considered and sponsored as part of the work of the Port Experts Group. The Electronic Commerce Group welcomes the Port Experts Group’s involvement in electronic commerce issues and notes that the proposed project would complement the work of the APEC Paperless Trading Initiative including the work conducted by the Electronic Commerce Group. Recommendation: The Electronic Commerce Group noted that the proposed project "Towards a Joint Electronic Document for Port Manifests and Customs Declarations" is to be further considered by the Port Experts Group at its meeting on Tuesday 28 March.
The meeting noted that this electronic commerce awareness-raising project has been delivered with great success in the Republic of the Philippines; Singapore; Peoples’ Republic of China; Mexico; Hong Kong, China; Thailand and Indonesia. The course in Brunei Darussalam is expected to follow in June 2000. A final report will be delivered at TPT-WG 18 in Japan. Reports were provided on the project courses by Indonesia, the People’s Republic of China (TPTWG17/SC/EC/5/2), Mexico (TPTWG17/SC/EC/5/5) and Thailand. The reports provided by Thailand and Indonesia will be distributed through publication on the APEC TPTWG website. The reports from the People’s Republic of China and Mexico will also be loaded onto the website following the meeting of TPTWG17. Recommendation: The progress report on Phase 1 be noted and all economies consider suggestions for follow up action and advise Australia.
The meeting noted that this Internet-based training project was endorsed at TPT-WG15 and received the final funding approval by the BMC in July 1999. The selection of the consultant will start shortly after TPT-WG17 so that work on the project can start as soon as funding becomes available (expected in May or June 2000 from the TILF special account). Australia advised that as the project is under the $US50,000 limit, an international tender process will not be undertaken. However, Australia further advised that the RFP for the project will be circulated to all Heads of Delegation and participants in the Electronic Commerce Group and that firms from other economies are welcome and encouraged to submit tenders for the project. At this stage it is expected that tenders will be called for during April, for submission in May with a decision on the successful tenderer to be made by 30 June 2000. Work on the project would commence shortly thereafter. In response to a question from the delegate from the United States it was noted that the pilot training course, which is to be provided through an internet based interactive classroom environment will be available to participants from all economies, and available to both public and private sector participants. The only requirement is that participants have a personal computer which is able to access and browse the world wide web. Recommendation: The progress report be noted and that economies advise Australia if they are interested to participate in the project. CONCLUSION In conclusion, Australia noted the significant increase in attendance at the meeting (26 delegates attended the meeting) and thanked all participants for their active participation in the discussion and contribution to the work of the meeting. CONTACT DETAILS FOR
DELEGATES ATTENDING Chair Ms Joanne Blackburn Participants Michael Browning (For further information regarding the Australia/Singapore SANCRT project please contact: Mr Jon Christian Jennifer Little Ray Kaduck Eric Petri Liu Yan Qin Bermawi PT Ayuberga Kengo Nishimura Jae Choon Lee Yie Jinhaeng Chris Kissling Valeriano del Rosario Chen I-Ping (Contact Persons: Mr Tyh-Ming Lin Francis Yan James Goh (US Delegate) Andrew Da Roza This page was last updated on 12 March, 2008 |
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