The purpose of this workshop is to review previous coordination work with related sectors on responding questions on Non-Tariff Measures and the list of commodities control by sectors and issuing importation - exportation; in order to improve list of goods subject to automatic, non-automatic licensing, and prohibited goods for import and export. Furthermore, the workshop also present on future work plan on reviewing on analyzing non-tariff measures to NTM focal points.
The workshop included lectures by Department of Import and Export on the outcome of work with focal points on responding detail questions regarding Non-Tariff Measure. The speaker provided reasons why the measures are needed, particularly managing and following up, collecting statistics, sanitary and phytosanitary measures (SPS), Technical Barrier to Trade (TBT), in order to comply with international treaties that Lao PDR participated in. The implementation of requesting for import-export measures mostly came out with satistified results such as the procedures for general import and export permission will take 2-5 working days if require documents are fulfilled, it may take one day for some goods. However, issuing permissions for some authorizers still take long time to proceed which it could not be specified due to interior procedures. The meeting had raised up issuing permission through electronics system and many sectors are interested in using modern online system to facilitate trade to individuals but currently we still lack of budgets to implement.
Besides, the meeting had opened for the opportunity to share comments and questioning the related goods regarding the review of analyzing non-tariff measures with intimate environment that results friendly and comprehensive to participants.
The workshop had concluded future work plan for the upcoming year, especially analyzing and estimating the effects of NTMs on national economic system, as well as regional and global level by using STATA program in which the Work Bank is currently utilizing. It is expected that the training of this program will be held in March 2015.
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