The National Workshop on ATR/NTR/NTMs and Notification Procedures under the ATIGA was organized on 20th – 21st October 2014, at Lao Plaza Hotel, Vientiane Capital. The worskshop was hosted under honorable chaired Ms. Manivone  Vongxay, Deputy Director General of Import and Export Department, and was sponsored by  ARISE  (ASEAN Regional Integration Support from the EU). There were 41 people joined this workshop, which was mainly lectured by Mr. Paolo R. Vergano, Ms. Eugenia Costanza Laurenza from ARISE, and Mr. Anki Agustrin from ASEAN Secretariat.

The purpose of this workshop is to distribute the ideal of ASEAN Trade Repository (ATR), National Trade Repository (NTR), Non-Tariff Measures (NTMs), and notification procedures under the ASEAN Trade in Goods Agreement (ATIGA). The workshop includes cases study on how to identify rules and regulations regarding trade by using UNCTAD 2012 NTM Classification. Moreover, Department of Import and Export also introduced Lao PDR Trade Portal website which connecting to NTR conditions under the ATIGA for the comprehensive on the importance of NTR.

The workshop has built up capability to Lao PDR Trade Facilitation, especially strengthening structures of trade repository for transparency which will enhance economic, trade, and investment development, as well as to avoid trade disputes.  In order to complete ASEAN Trade Repository, it is require for ASEAN Member State to create National Trade Repository by 2015 comply with 9 elements on ATIGA as follows:

1.      Tariff nomenclature;
2.      MFN tariffs, preferential tariffs offered under the ATIGA and other                      agreements of ASEAN with its Dialogue Partners;
3.      Rules of origin;
4.      Non-tariff measures;
5.      National trade and customs laws and rules;
6.      Procedures and documentary requirements;
7.      Administrative rulings;
8.      Best practices in trade facilitation applied by each AMS; and
9.      List of authorised traders of AMSs.

Currently, Lao PDR Trade Portal has already covered 8 elements, and another one element is still on going. Mr. Paolo R. Vergano mentioned that the National Trade Repository of Lao PDR or Lao PDR Trade Portal is one of the bests NTR in regionally and globally.

Department of Import and Export indicated that what made Lao Trade Portal (LTP) different from other NTR is a dynamic website that contains diversity of database for example: tax rate, regulation, import and export procedures, forms, etc. Such information is searchable on the LTP website that related to trade in accordance with Article 13 of ATIGA.

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