Quarterly Report: LIBERIA TRADE POLICY AND CUSTOMS (LTPC) June 2012 – September 2012

The project aims to improve Liberia's trade policy and customs environment, with a focus on trade liberalization, trade facilitation, and intellectual property rights. During the fifth quarter of the project, which spanned from June to September 2012, the LTPC team made significant progress in all areas of the project. The team addressed the issues affecting the counterpart Ministries, which had hindered the project's progress. The new Deputy Minister of the Ministry of Commerce and Industry (MOCI) was appointed, and the permanent appointment of a Commissioner in the Bureau of Customs and Excise (BCE) is pending. The project team continued to maintain strong relationships with other donors, ensuring that the project does not duplicate efforts or undo work previously completed by donor partners. The team was prudent in its use of Short-Term Technical Assistance (STTA) personnel, anticipating the need for their services in the final three months of the program. The LTPC team collaborated closely with the MOCI and the MOF/BCE, providing advice and assistance as needed. The team's Chief of Party (COP), Deputy Chief of Party (DCOP), and team members remained deployed in both Ministries, working closely with their counterparts. Key activities planned for the fifth quarter included: * The introduction of the new Customs regulations, which is pending the acceptance of the new Customs legislation. * The implementation of the Standard Operating Procedures Manual, which will be introduced to 120 BCE staff through training events in November and December. * The plan for the Price & Marketing Division, which is in the implementation phase, with the STTA Advisor scheduled to assist during Q6. * The LTPC strategy for the Consumer Protection Unit within MOCI, which has been finalized, and a qualified candidate is being sourced to implement it. * The broker regime, which is at the implementation phase, with a significant portion of the work expected to be completed by the end of Q6. * The NTB study, which has been completed, and the implementation plan is being drafted. * The hosting of the new Trade Facilitation Forums (NTFF), which was not possible to achieve during Q5 due to inter-Ministerial dialogue, but is expected to take place in December. The LTPC team also continued to work on WTO accession activities, facilitating a workshop with Swedish colleagues in November, which is a precursor to the Long-Term, SIDA-funded program slated to begin in January 2013. In addition, the team conducted a review of needs/requirements in both counterpart Ministries, which led to the proposal to implement a Human and Institutional Capacity Development (HICD) project, which was approved by USAID and commenced in October. The team is making great progress in training intensively in the coming months, with a focus on ToT, to ensure counterparts' ownership and sustainability. The LTPC team is committed to responding to the changing needs of the Government of Liberia and engaging with their counterparts outside the official project remit. The project personnel deployed on a full-time basis include: * Mr. Glenn Mackenzie-Frazer, Chief of Party (COP) * Philip Pleiwon, Deputy Chief of Party (DCOP) – IBI International * Rufus Chamberlain, CCN Operations/Security – RSM * Edwin Martin, CCN IPR Advisor – Deloitte * Edwin