World Trade Organization Organisation Mondiale du Commerce Organización Mundial del Comercio

Colombia 12, 13:

According to paragraph 170 [Translator's note: paragraph 169] of the Secretariat Report, the Department of Commerce has provided support for trade facilitation, such as the single window for clearance of goods and e trading facilities.

12. How many entities are involved in the issuing of documents via the single window? What trade transactions can be conducted through this window? Has this portal made it possible to reduce the costs and time involved in foreign trade operations?

Reply: As an important partner in the "eTRADE" project, the endeavour is to successfully integrate with all relevant network partners. Department of Commerce has implemented an automated environment for web based electronic filing and provided a retrieval and authentication system of electronic documents based on an agreed protocols and message exchange with its community partners primarily customs, banks and export promotion councils, other export promotion bodies at all the regional offices of the DGFT. Payment of authorization fee is made through the electronic fund transfer mode (EFT). Digital signature has been integrated into the authorization application processing. Message exchange on Registration Cum Membership Certificate (RCMC) data with Export Promotion Council's has been started in August 2010.

Significant progress has been made to implement e trade project in a time bound manner to bring all stakeholders including Customs, DGFT, banks, ports, airlines etc. on a common platform. This will obviously add to our endeavour to achieve the objective of single window concept for foreign trade, which will further reduce the cost and the transaction time.

13. In order to streamline procedures, does India have or envisage having goods simultaneously inspected by all control bodies involved in export and import procedures? What has been its experience in this regard?

Reply: To the extent possible, Customs tries to ensure that examination, if any for customs purposes is carried out in the presence of other regulatory bodies. As such, it is Government's endeavor to ensure that the imported goods and export goods are inspected, where necessary by all regulatory bodies simultaneously.

(3) Measures Affecting Production And Trade

(vi) Intellectual property rights

(i) Trade secrets