Project

A. General Information

1. Title

Asia-Pacific Trade Agreement Certificate of Origin

2. Status of the project
Operating
3. Implementation period of the project/service:
From
2021
To
present
4. Website
https://www.unescap.org/kp/2024/advancing-cross-border-paperless-mongolia-revie…
5. Geographical coverage
Regional: Asia and the Pacific
Participating countries: Bangladesh, China, India, Lao People’s Democratic Republic, Mongolia, Republic of Korea, Sri Lanka
Hub Point: Afghanistan
6. Participating agencies/entities of the project/service:
a. Development stage
Lead agencies/entities
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Other participating agencies/entities
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b. Operational stage
Lead agencies/entities (op)
From Mongolia: Relevant trade authorities and the Ministry of Foreign Affairs or equivalent body overseeing international trade agreements.
APTA Member States: Trade authorities such as the Directorate General of Foreign Trade in India and corresponding bodies in other Participating States.
Other participating agencies/entities (op)
--
7. Main stakeholders/beneficiaries of the project
Traders (big enterprises)
Traders (SMEs)
Customs
8. Business process category of the project
Regulatory/official control

B. Lessons Learned

9. Summary description of the project/service
Brief Summary
Asia-Pacific Trade Agreement, which aims to liberalize trade in goods and services and promote economic cooperation among member states.
a. Objective(s)

The electronic exchange of certificates of origin under APTA is expected to reduce trade barriers, decrease the administrative burden on exporters, and enhance the overall efficiency of customs operations in member countries. It also serves to confirm that products exported from Mongolia to other APTA members meet the preferential trade agreement's requirements.

b. Business need for the project (background)

To modernize and facilitate the trade of goods within the Asia-Pacific Trade Agreement (APTA) region by adopting electronic certificates of origin (e-CO), ensuring the goods are manufactured or produced in the originating country, thus qualifying for preferential treatment under the agreement.

c. Business process covered*
--
d. Overall architecture and functionalities*

Development of an electronic data interchange system for the issuance, exchange, and verification of e-COs among APTA Participating States. This system would integrate with national customs databases to ensure efficient clearance and compliance with APTA's trade liberalization measures.

e. Relevant document/figure
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10. Documents and data exchanged via the project

Certificate of Origin

11. Data models/databases, proprietary solutions, hybrid approaches
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12. Main challenges faced during the project
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13. Lessons learned from the project

The necessity for a Certificate of Origin is for custom clearance in the importing country. In case goods imported do not come with a Certificate of Origin, the importing country custom authorities will tax the goods. The Certificate of Origin is used by the importing country to ensure that the products are duty free and the goods are originating from the country under free trade agreement.

14. Main benefit(s) of the project
Simplified process
14A. Elaborations/detailed description on benefits gained
--
15. Technical/financial/capacity building/other assistance
--
16. Future plan for expansion of the project
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17. Other information or relevant references on the project
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18. Relevant document regarding the project
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C. Relevant Standards

19. Name(s) of any international, national legal instrument underpinning the project
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20. Electronic message standard
20A. Electronic message standard supporting the project
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20B. Type of standard for electronic message applied for the project
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21. Technical communication standard
21A. Technical communication standard supporting the project
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21B. Type of technical communication standard applied for the project
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22. Security-related standards*
22A. Security-related standard supporting the project
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22B. Type of security-related standard applied for the project
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23. Other Technical Information
23A. Interface developed for data exchange with an internal system
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23B. Other technical implementation information
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