NTM Identification and Classification Training

Phnom Penh, 23 March 2023 - In collaboration with the Department of Economic Integration and ASEAN of the Ministry of Economy and Finance (MEF), the ARISE Plus Cambodia project and Cambodia National Trade Repository (NTR) and Non-Tariff Measures (NTM) secretariats co-organized the NTM identification and classification training, which was held from 20-22 March 2023. Non-tariff measures are generally defined as policy measures other than ordinary customs tariffs that can potentially have an economic effect on international trade in goods, changing quantities traded, or prices, or both (UNTAD/DITD/TAB/2009/3).

The overall objective of this training is to equip and strengthen the capacity of the NTR and NTM secretariats to identify, collect, classify, package, and validate the NTMs, based on the 2012 version of UNCTAD’s classification while also drawing attention to key changes in the 2019 version.

During the welcoming remarks, Mr. Till Ahnert, Head of ARISE Plus Cambodia stressed the importance of the NTM to trade facilitation and the implementation of the commitments under the ASEAN Trade in Goods Agreement. While Mr. Paul Mandl, Team Leader of ARISE Plus regional pointed out the importance of the continued work on the identification, classification, and updating the NTM to the NTR and ASEAN Trade Repository (ATR). The training also featured a sharing session with Mr. Paolo Vergano, a Trade Facilitation Expert from the ARISE Plus Regional Project on the concept of the NTR and ATR.

Throughout the training, all participants had a very fruitful discussion and exchanges on the practices and challenges with the trainers and among their internal team, because the course relates closely to their daily work.

During the closing remarks, Mr. Paolo Vergano shared his impression on the result of the training and appreciated the good bilateral collaboration between ARISE Plus Cambodia and ARISE Plus regional projects. At the end, Mr. Ngorn Viseth, Deputy Director of Economic Integration, and ASEAN Department of General Department of Policy, also expressed his appreciation for our support on this useful training and as well as our future support to the secretariats.

There were 8 participants, one senior and accompanied by 7 new recruits from the NTR and NTM secretariats, participated in the training with both theory and practice sessions for all the three days. The training was guided and coordinated by Ms. Maria Esperanza Alconcel and Ms. Alya Mahira, senior regional experts supporting the ARISE Plus regional project. The participants said:

“It is useful and practical for the NTM and NTR work where it cannot be found anywhere else.”

“As a late beginner involving in work related to the NTM/NTR, this training serves as a platform that enables me to have a foundation and gain much understanding of how to distinguish Sanitary and Phytosanitary Measures (SPS) and Technical Barriers to Trade (TBT), how to upload the legal documents vis-à-vis NTM into ATR/NTR, how to read the code for UNCTAD and ATR classification, and especially, be aware of various interpretation as some legal documents description can be tricky and difficult to differentiate.”

“This training is useful and relevant to my work. The trainers are experienced and very engaged. We all had a fruitful discussion and I have learned many new things from this training.”

“The consultants did a wonderful job throughout the training, from having in-depth knowledge to having effectively communicated with all the trainees.”  

The ARISE Plus Cambodia project, co-funded by the European Union (EU) and the German Federal Ministry for Economic Cooperation and Development (BMZ), and implemented by GIZ, is set to support greater connectivity and economic integration between Cambodia and the rest of ASEAN through implementing the ASEAN Economic Community Blueprint 2025 and strengthening institutional capacity.

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For more information, please contact:

Ms. Kamrang Ke

Advisor – Trade-related Coordination and Transparency

Email: kamrang.ke@giz.de

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