Saint Lucia
| Articles |
3.1
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3.2 (a), (b)
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3.3
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3.4
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3.5
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3.6 (a), (b), (c)
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3.7
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3.8
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3.9 (a) (i), (ii), (i), (ii), (iii), (iv), (c), (d)
View measure text |
|---|---|
| Indicative date of implementation | 28 May 2021 |
| Definitive date of implementation | 30 June 2024 |
| Extension of time |
Request received
29 August 2022
Original definitive date
31 December 2022
New date requested
30 June 2024
Date approved
30 June 2024
Reason
The technical assistance notified as a requirement for implementation support has not been secured. The Government of Saint Lucia is engaged in ongoing discussions with the International Financial Corporation of the World Bank Group for assistance to implement this measure and is at present awaiting further details as to the status of this request.
Committee approval:
Approved
Link to notification
|
| Assistance required for implementation |
• Legal drafter for the establishment of a legal or administrative document that addresses this measure. • Technical assistance to develop and administer the system. |
| Donor / Agency |
World Bank |
| Progress reported |
11 December 2025
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G/TFA/N/LCA/5/Rev.1
Further to the WTO notification of October 2023, and with the support of the World Bank Group, Saint Lucia prepared draft legislation to amend the Customs (Control and Management) Act to enable the issuance of Advance Rulings as per Article 3 of the WTO Trade Facilitation Agreement. This process was approved by the Cabinet of Ministers and was subsequently presented to the Sitting of the House of Assembly on 19 August 2025.The Customs (Control and Management) (Amendment) Act No.15 was passed in the House of Assembly on 19 August 2025 and in the Senate on 21 August 2025 and was published in the Saint Lucia Government Gazette on 8 September 2025. The World Bank also provided capacity building support and training to Customs officials who will form a classification committee and will be responsible for drafting advance rulings. Further technical assistance is required from the World Bank to enhance the overall competence of Customs officials who will form the newly convened Classification Committee as well as to map and document the whole AR process, draft Terms of Reference (TOR) for the Committee, develop standard operating procedures, sensitize the trading community and then formally implement the AR regime. Working in this regard is ongoing, including finalization of the AR regulations. It is anticipated that these tasks can be concluded by June 2026.
13 October 2023
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G/TFA/N/LCA/5
The Government of Saint Lucia has been successful in securing assistance from the World Bank Group under its Trade Facilitation Support Programme for technical assistance and capacity building to implement an Advance Ruling Regime for Saint Lucia in accordance with Article 3 'Advance Rulings' of the TFA. An in-country mission was conducted by a team from the World Bank from 7-10 March 2023 to undertake a needs assessment to determine what Saint Lucia requires to implement an Advance Ruling Regime. On 21 August 2023, the Saint Lucia Cabinet of Ministers granted approval for the development of the legislative, regulatory, administrative and operational framework required for the implementation of an Advance Ruling Regime with the support of the World Bank Group. Having received Cabinet's endorsement to proceed with the necessary legal reforms, regulatory and administrative work, efforts are continuing towards developing the framework for Saint Lucia's Advance Ruling Regime. |