Cross-border trade resembles a relay race where goods are the runners and customs procedures serve as critical baton handoff points. Any delay in this exchange disrupts the entire race's rhythm, ultimately impacting trade efficiency. Burkina Faso's customs authority has discovered an effective acceleration strategy through the World Customs Organization's (WCO) Time Release Study (TRS) methodology.
Burkina Faso's Commitment to Trade Facilitation
As a landlocked West African nation, Burkina Faso has consistently prioritized trade facilitation improvements. To better understand bottlenecks in its goods clearance processes and identify solutions, Burkina Faso Customs sought assistance from the WCO. With support from the Swedish government-funded WACAM project, the country launched its first Time Release Study.
The Diagnostic Power of Time Release Studies
The WCO-developed TRS serves as a comprehensive diagnostic tool measuring the duration from goods' arrival at borders to final release. By systematically collecting and analyzing data, TRS enables customs administrations to pinpoint procedural bottlenecks and delays, facilitating targeted improvements that enhance clearance efficiency and trade facilitation.
Conceptually, TRS functions as a thorough medical examination for customs processes—identifying systemic ailments and prescribing appropriate remedies to smoothen goods movement.
Capacity Building Through WCO Workshop
From February 5-9, 2018, the WCO conducted a five-day French-language TRS workshop in Ouagadougou, attended by approximately 30 customs managers and clearance process stakeholders. This event combined technical training with collaborative solution development.
Participants received detailed instruction on TRS methodology and specialized software applications. The workshop facilitated collective mapping of clearance procedures for goods entering through the Ghana border to Ouagadougou-Route customs, enabling visual identification of improvement opportunities.
Leadership Commitment to Reform
Customs Director General Adama Sawadogo emphasized the initiative's significance during his opening remarks, noting TRS's role in identifying clearance bottlenecks and fostering collaborative solutions to enhance trade facilitation and business environments. This demonstrated Burkina Faso Customs' strong commitment to operational improvements that stimulate economic growth.
Alignment With International Standards
The TRS implementation directly supports Burkina Faso's compliance with Article 7.6 of the WTO Trade Facilitation Agreement, which encourages members to regularly measure and publish average goods release times using WCO-approved methodologies. This positions TRS as both a domestic efficiency tool and an instrument for global trade integration.
The Multidimensional Value of TRS
Time Release Studies deliver comprehensive benefits across several dimensions:
- Operational Efficiency: Identifying and resolving procedural bottlenecks significantly reduces clearance times
- Cost Reduction: Faster clearance decreases inventory costs and working capital requirements
- Business Environment: Efficient processes attract investment and stimulate economic development
- Institutional Development: Enhances customs' service quality and public perception
- Global Cooperation: Facilitates cross-border customs collaboration on trade challenges
Implementation Framework
TRS implementation typically follows six key phases:
- Scope definition (goods types, border points, involved agencies)
- Data collection (declaration, inspection, release timelines)
- Analytical assessment of bottlenecks
- Corrective action planning
- Implementation of improvements
- Performance evaluation and adjustment
Overcoming Implementation Challenges
While transformative, TRS adoption presents several challenges:
- Data collection requires strong customs-business cooperation
- Complex analysis demands specialized skills
- Multi-stakeholder coordination needs careful management
Effective mitigation strategies include enhanced public-private communication channels, staff capacity building, and integrated information systems to streamline data processes.
WACAM Project Support
The WCO's WACAM initiative provided crucial technical assistance for Burkina Faso's TRS implementation, including knowledge transfer and regional experience sharing. Funded by Sweden, this capacity-building program supports multiple customs modernization areas across West and Central Africa.
Burkina Faso's TRS adoption demonstrates how developing nations can leverage international expertise to enhance trade efficiency. This case offers valuable insights for other countries pursuing customs modernization within global trade frameworks.