“I received ratifications from Rwanda, Oman, Chad and Jordan, bringing the total number of ratifications to 112.” said WTO DG Roberto Azevêdo. These four ratifications put the WTO Trade Facilitation Agreement (TFA) over the finish line achieving the required threshold of two-thirds of WTO’s Membership in order to enter into force. Such a milestone agreement as the WTO TFA will no doubt turn the tide and remind governments that trade, and logistics at its service, are key stimuli to economic growth. In anticipation of the final step, FIATA just published a position paper to sway momentum in the direction of open free trade highlighting the freight forwarders stance for trade policy that focusses on sustainable development and harmonisation. Progress translates into investing in infrastructure and trade facilitation instruments such as those described in the WTO TFA. To further showcase the important role logistics has played throughout the centuries, FIATA also released a public statement detailing the history of the freight forwarding industry and how it has evolved and grown to increase its own efficiency. “The WTO TFA is hailed by the freight forwarding industry as a great achievement for the WTO and the international trading community. As the coin turns to implementation, FIATA and its members in 160 countries stand ready to play its part and collaborate with all governments as appropriate.” said FIATA’s Customs Affairs Institute (CAI) Chairman, Mr Steve Morris, who has followed development of the WTO TFA since its inception in Bali in 2013.