1. Introduction

Although "trade facilitation" was added to the World Trade Organisation agenda in December 1996, international trade barriers are still common among overseas countries. Trade facilitation is defined as "the simplification and harmonization of international trade procedures, which include activities, practices and formalities involved in collecting, presenting, communicating and processing data required for the movement of goods in international trade". This definition relates to a wide range of activities such as import and export procedures (e.g. customs or licensing procedures); transport formalities; payments, insurance, and other financial requirements, in order to fasten the cross-border trade and distribution of goods. These have lately created a strong interest from international business in the improvement of the infrastructure for international trade. The losses that business suffers through delays at borders, complicated and unnecessary documentation requirements and lack of automation of government mandated trade procedures are estimated to exceed in many cases of costs of tariffs.

In view of the problem traders face during exportation, we generalise the situation on overseas import policy on Hong Kong and China's exports for easy reference. It includes customs charges, import licensing, documentation requirements, preshipment inspection, rules of origin, technical barriers to trade and application of sanitary, phytosanitary measures and useful contacts.

Trade Bloc

Trade Bloc aims to establish a common market, to promote harmonious and balanced development of economic activities and closer relations among its Member States. The main purpose of trade bloc is to strengthen the negotiation to external parties. With a trade bloc, customs procedures and external tariffs are usually uniform and internal trade among members is usually free.

There are several well-known trade blocs in different regions, such as European Union (EU), North American Free Trade Agreement (NAFTA), Common Market of South Treaty (MERCOSUR), etc.

European Union (EU) -15 members : Austria, Belgium, Denmark, Finland, France, Germany, Greece, Rep. of Ireland, Italy, Luxembourg, the Netherlands, Portugal, Spain, Sweden and the United Kingdom.

North American Free Trade Agreement (NAFTA) - 3 members : Canada, Mexico, and the United States.

Common Market of South Treaty (MERCOSUR) "Mercado Comun de Sur" - 4 members : Argentina, Brazil, Paraguay and Uruguay. Associate members : Bolivia and Chile.