Pre-Clearance Of Goods At Major Border Posts

Article 7.1 of the World Trade Organisation (WTO) Trade Facilitation Agreement (TFA) requires Members to adopt or maintain procedures allowing for the submission of import documentation and other required information, including manifest, to begin processing prior to the arrival of goods with a view to expediting the release of goods upon arrival. This provision must be viewed together with Standard 3.25 of the World Customs Organisation’s (WCO’s) International Convention on the Simplification and Harmonization of Customs Procedures which provides that Customs administrations shall allow the lodging and registering of goods declarations and supporting documents prior to the arrival of goods.