APD | Eight of ten ASEAN member countries to begin its “single window”

By APD writer Melo M. Acuña

The Department of Finance said the Philippines and seven other members of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) are expected to exchange customs and other trade-related documents over a single integrated online platform by yearend. This is part of the efforts of the 10-nation bloc to further improve cross-border trade and reduce the cost and time of doing business within the region.

In a statement released today, Finance Undersecretary Gil Beltran said apart from the Philippines, the other ASEAN member-states that will go “live” on ASEAN Single Window (ASW) platform are Indonesia, Malaysia, Singapore, Thailand, Vietnam, Brunei and Cambodia.

Myanmar and Laos are expected to join the ASEAN single window by the later part of the year.

Mr. Beltran said ASEAN member-states that are already “live” on the ASW are Indonesia, Malaysia, Singapore, Thailand, Vietnam and Brunei, now exchange over 460,000 customs and other trade-related documents a year at only 10 percent of the usual cost to traders.

Beginning next year, additional documents that are expected to be exchanged through the ASW and will include sanitary and phytosanitary certificates, animal health certificates, self-certification of product origin, and shipping documents. Mr. Beltran reported the details to the Department of Finance (DOF) Executive Committee (Execom) in its latest meeting.

Undersecretary Beltran said the United States, Australia and New Zealand will provide technical assistance to ASEAN to ensure that its members take full advantage of the ASW by next year.

“Once the ASW is streamlined and used across ASEAN, businesses will benefit through lower transactions costs and less time to export their goods to countries within the region,” Mr. Beltran added. He explained lower transaction costs will, in turn, enhance ASEAN’s trade competitiveness.

The Philippines will join the ASW through its National Single Window (NSW) also known as TradeNet which will facilitate online the processing of permits, licenses and other clearances for the export and import of goods within the region. TradeNet will soon be connected and integrated to the NSWs of the ASEAN members to facilitate cargo clearance and promote regional integration.

The country hopes to have all 76 trade regulatory government agencies across 18 government departments to be fully interconnected. Accordingly, TradeNet will simplify import and export documentary processes covering an initial of 7.400 regulated products.

(ASIA PACIFIC DAILY)