Trade Obstacles Alert Mechanism

    Trade regulations and procedures represent a major source of obstacles to international trade and a particular challenge for small and medium-sized enterprises. The International Trade Centre’s Trade Obstacles Alert Mechanism (TOAM) is a tool to support businesses to overcome such trade barriers.  

    Overview

    TOAM: a tool to identify and tackle trade barriers

    ITC’s Trade Obstacles Alert Mechanism (TOAM) reports and tackles trade barriers faced by small and medium-sized businesses.
     

    How can the Trade Obstacles Alert Mechanism work for you?

    • Report and inform: Companies can report online the obstacles they face when exporting or importing.
    • Dispatch automatic alerts: National authorities and trade operators will be mutually alerted about the obstacles reported and the responses provided.
    • Monitor progress: Policymakers and trade support institutions can access an up-to-date information database on the obstacles  faced by the  private sector and put in place the appropriate policies.

    What are the Trade Obstacles Alert Mechanism components?

    • An online platform connecting companies and fostering the exchange of information about trade regulations and procedures between the private and public sectors.
    • An institutional network ensuring the cooperation of different actors involved in the identification and resolution of problems reported through the online platform.

    What are the impacts?

    • Improving the business environment and regional economic integration by simplifying the flow of information between the public and private sectors.
    • Assisting national and regional authorities in the design of trade facilitation policies.
    • Providing the public and private sectors with the trainings and equipment needed to deepen the understanding of regulatory and procedural obstacles.

    Video

    12 April 2022

    ITC contact

    Vianney
    Lesaffre
    Email
    vlesaffre [at] intracen.org