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Comparative analysis of four advanced single windows in Asia: Hong Kong, China; Japan; Republic of Korea and Singapore

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Comparative analysis of four advanced single windows in Asia: Hong Kong, China; Japan; Republic of Korea and Singapore

Author: Koh, Jonathan Physical Description: 45 pages. Editorial: CEPAL Date: September 2024 ECLAC symbol: LC/TS.2024/85

Description

The establishment of a single window is a crucial step in the move towards paperless trade, generating significant savings in time and money for companies as well as the different public bodies involved in foreign trade. Under the Trade Facilitation Agreement of the World Trade Organization, which entered into force in 2017, all the Organization’s members committed to maintaining or establishing a single window. Asia is home to some of the world’s largest trading economies and to several of the most advanced single windows. This report analyses and compares the main functionalities of four: those of Hong Kong, China; Japan; the Republic of Korea and Singapore. The experience of these economies offers important insights for policymakers in Latin America and the Caribbean, where single windows are generally at a much earlier stage of development. Of particular interest is the inclusion in advanced single windows in Asia of several functionalities aimed at internationalizing micro-, small and medium-sized enterprises, including by facilitating their participation in e-commerce.

Table of contents

Introduction .-- I. Framework to characterize single windows according to their maturity level .-- II. Historical background of the four Asian single windows .-- III. Integrative analysis of main functionalities of the four Asian single windows .-- IV. Main features of selected Asian single windows .-- V. Specific technology characteristics of the four Asian single windows .-- VI. Characterizing the four Asian single windows according to their stage of development.