Trade Facilitation

The UPU works on the following trade policy issues:

Trade in goods - WTO Trade Facilitation Agreement and regional trade facilitation agreements.

The UPU collaborates with WTO, WCO, UNCTAD and other related trade organisations to explore policy issues for trade in goods.

We aim to inform UPU member countries and increase their understanding of the various elements of the issues, and provide detailed analysis and publish relevant information that can help member countries to tackle the challenges in trade facilitation and to enhance use of the capability of the postal sector to support e-commerce and SMEs participation in global value chains.

Trade in services - WTO Trade in Services Agreement and services chapters in regional and free trade  agreements.

The UPU collaborates with the WTO and other regional organisations for the development of relevant policies for trade in services as they relate to the postal sector.

The UPU has been granted observer status to WTO Council for Trade in Services meetings relating to postal affairs, and provides UPU member countries with regular updates on developments in trade in services, including the classification of postal and courier services in the WTO and other issues of common concern.

Through seminars, technical analysis and the publication of relevant studies, we seek to assist member countries in their understanding of the policy and regulatory impacts of such negotiations on the regulatory frameworks for the postal sector and, in particular, the universal postal service and domestic postal universal service obligations.

Trade facilitation concerns many segments of the postal network and supply chain – physical services, financial services, electronic services, customs, airlines, and security. 

The UPU provides a legal, regulatory, and technical framework to support trade facilitation through the postal infrastructure.  The UPU also provides technical assistance and capacity building to countries in developing their trade capabilities.

Stakeholder engagement

The UPU engages with all key stakeholders concerned with trade facilitation. Seminars and workshops serve to raise awareness of issues and secure commitments. The UPU is active in trade facilitation activities and events organized by other stakeholders.

Supply chain capacity building and technical assistance

UPU capacity building and technical assistance aims to enhance enhancing human resource capacity to implement easy export/easy import solutions targeted at small enterprises. These activities are undertaken in close collaboration with the various actors in the trade facilitation and import/export value chain: logistics and transport, payments, customs, security, e-commerce, EMS and parcels.

The UPU offers a new Postal Easy Export program (Exportá Facil), which aims to build capacity in member countries to support SME inclusion and enhance SME exports via the postal network.

Knowledge 

The UPU provides Posts with knowledge and information about the market and how they can better support SME trade activities through policy, regulatory and operational measures.

Case studies illustrating MSME inclusion in underserved communities

This section lists cases studies from countries that have enhanced MSME inclusion in trade through the Post, ensuring growth in exports and jobs, and progress towards the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals.

Throughout the year a series of webinars will explore the role of the post in trade inclusion and trade facilitation, especially for underserved communities.

The upcoming webinar is scheduled for 18 October 2023.

More details and how to register can be found here