UN secretary general has stressed the vital contribution of TIR and its digital solutions to global trade particularly in the time of coronavirus pandemic.
In a recent report by the UN entitled “Shared responsibility, global responsibility: responding to socio-economic effect of COVID-19”, António Guterres suggested member states to use UN eTIR/eCMR systems saying: “Innovative tools such as UN eTIR/eCMR systems and other tools that allow to exchange electronic information without physical contact and facilitate the flow of goods across borders should be used.”
Managed by the International Road Transport Union (IRU) under UN mandate, the International Road Transports (TIR) is a globally applicable international customs transit and guarantee system which enables goods to be shipped from a country of origin, through transit countries, to a country of destination in sealed load compartments that are controlled by customs via a multilateral, mutually recognised system.
The system in mandated under the Convention on International Transport of Goods Under Cover of TIR Carnets (TIR Convention) which was concluded at Geneva on 14 November 1975 as a multilateral treaty.
It covers Europe and reaches out to North Africa and the Near and Middle East. More than 33,000 operators are authorized to use the TIR system and around 1.5 million TIR transports are carried out per year.
The map shows the 76 contracting parties to the TIR Convention.
“A global crisis such as COVID-19 requires global action. TIR offers just that kind of global response,” IRU Secretary General Umberto de Pretto said.
“The TIR system provides the best solution to ensuring safe and secure trade flows during and post COVID-19,” he added according to the IRU website.
The TIR system accelerates the border crossing process via dedicated green lanes to allow the fast transport of essential goods and everyday supplies, the IRU says.
The TIR has 76 contracting countries around the world and is expanding with more than 20 other countries looking to join. The Iran Chamber of Commerce, Industries, Mines and Agriculture (ICCIMA) is the designated national authority which manages TIR procedures in Iran.