WTO Notification Training Session and Joint IMPACT-SAFE Workshop on Non-Tariff Measures (NTM) and Trade Promotion in Timor Leste

The Joint National Workshop on Non-Tariff Measures (NTM) and Trade Promotion will take place on 22 September 2023 from 9:00 – 17:15 at the Novo Turismo Resort and Spa in Dili, Timor Leste. The workshop is co-organized by the UNCTAD and the Pacific Community (SPC) under their respective projects called “Improving Pacific Island Customs and Trade (IMPACT)” and “Safe Agriculture trade Facilitation through Economic integration in the Pacific (SAFE)”. Both projects are funded by the European Union.

A broad spectrum of participants is expected to attend, ranging from government officials to private sector representatives. Invited participants are from various sectors and areas because NTMs affect almost all merchandise goods from agricultural products and food to petroleum, vehicles, and other manufactured products.

The first session of the workshop aims to sensitize participants to the impact of NTMs on trade and introduce the NTM component within the IMPACT project. UNCTAD will present the first ever collected NTM data of Timor Leste and demonstrate how to find market information of the European Union through the TRAINS Portal and Global Trade Helpdesk.

The second session of the workshop will allow government departments, including plant protection and trade, with inputs from the private sector, to discuss key challenges and opportunities for export. It aims to generate collective discussions on ways to address some of the issues and the type of assistance the projects may be able to provide.

The objective of the third session of the workshop is to inform participants about the work of the Pacific Organic and Ethical Trade Community (PoetCom) and assistance available to both public and private sector through the SAFE project. SPC will delve into sanitary and phytosanitary standards and biosecurity requirements – explaining why compliance is important and how trade (that is, businesses) are affected when biosecurity risks are detected.

The interactive workshop expects to increase the participants’ understanding on NTMs including SPS requirements and facilitate the discussion of how to address NTMs in view of trade promotion and other public objectives.

The day before the workshop on 21 September 2023, UNCTAD will hold the WTO Notification Training Session for the government officials to enhance their preparedness for complying with transparency obligations under the WTO and other trade agreements such as the Economic Partnership Agreements (EPA).