ASEAN: Regional Trends in Economic Integration, Export ... - USITC

it maximally useful, such as the ability to file an import declaration electronically from a
point outside the country of importation 96 or the opportunity to register with an
“integrated trader database” that would make traders eligible for expedited clearance
throughout the region. 97 Finally, while firms appreciated the opportunities that they had
had for dialogue with ASEAN member countries and the ASEAN Secretariat, they
wanted the discussions to occur more regularly, perhaps through a dedicated body
through which the private sector could provide suggestions for the ASW. They also
hoped for clearer indications that the dialogue was leading to tangible progress. 98
There are signs that these concerns are being addressed. The launch of the
aforementioned ASW Pilot Project and completion of a recently expanded “ASEAN Data
Model” specifying standard data elements for key trade documents 99 suggest that work on
the ASW is accelerating. Members are also intensifying their efforts to develop a legal
framework for the ASW. 100 For example, in August 2009, members adopted a
memorandum of understanding on the legal terms for the exchange of data through the
ASW Pilot Project, providing a foundation upon which to base the ASW’s
comprehensive legal framework. 101 In regard to private sector engagement, ASEAN
Secretariat staff are increasing their efforts to exchange ideas with the private sector, such
as through a roundtable discussion with the US-ASEAN Business Council in Singapore
in March 2010. 102 Continued public-private engagement and consistent demonstration of
progress will be vital to sustaining the business community’s enthusiasm for the ASW. 103
Trade facilitation activities sponsored by other entities
Several ASEAN member countries participate in trade facilitation programs that are not
coordinated by ASEAN. For example, Burma, Thailand, Cambodia, and Vietnam (along
with China’s Yunnan province) participate in the Greater Mekong Subregion (GMS)
program, which is sponsored principally by the Asian Development Bank. Its agenda
includes “hard” infrastructure improvements (e.g., road and rail infrastructure), as well as
facilitation of the cross-border transport of goods and people. The GMS Cross-Border
Transport Agreement (CBTA) aims to permit trucks to make a single stop to complete all
border procedures (as opposed to stopping at multiple agencies’ posts on each side of the
border). As of 2010, implementation of the CBTA’s single-stop procedures had not
progressed beyond pilot applications at select locations (e.g., the crossing between Lao
Bao, Vietnam, and Dansavanh, Laos). Observers noted the challenges of harmonizing
countries’ regulations and reaching agreement for procedures at the single-stop sites. 104
96 Industry representative, e-mail message to USITC staff, April 7, 2010.
97 Hiebert, written testimony to the USITC, March 12, 2010, 5.
98 Industry representative, interview by USITC staff, Singapore, March 4, 2010; Hiebert, written
testimony to the USITC, March 12, 2010, 6.
99 At the time of writing (April 2010), members were reviewing (but had not yet adopted) the expanded
data model. The model spans 13 trade documents: the intra-ASEAN preferential certificate of origin (CEPT
Form-D), the ACDD, air waybill, bill of lading, cargo manifest, commercial invoice, fishery certificate, nonpreferential
certificate of origin, packing list, phytosanitary certificate, purchase order, trade license, and
veterinary certificate. Katsiak, “ASW Project Improves ASEAN Capacity,” January 2, 2010.
100 Le, “Briefing on ASEAN Single Window,” March 9, 2010.
101 ASEAN, “Memorandum of Understanding on the Implementation of the ASEAN Single Window
Pilot Project,” February 5, 2010; ASW Project, “ASW Legal Memorandum of Understanding Agreed,”
September 27, 2009.
102 US-ASEAN Business Council Web site, http://www.usasean.org/newcalendar/index.php (accessed
April 14, 2010).
103 Hiebert, written testimony to the USITC, March 12, 2010, 5–6.
104 Government officials, interview by USITC staff, Hanoi, Vietnam, March 9, 2010.
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