GLOSSARY
Single Window
A single electronic interface where traders submit all import/export filings — customs, sanitary, security — to one government endpoint that distributes data to the relevant agencies. Required by WTO TFA Article 10.4.
A Single Window is a national or regional electronic platform that lets traders file all the documents required for import, export, and transit through a single interface — customs declarations, sanitary certificates, security filings, licence permits — and the platform forwards data to each competent agency. The WCO's recommendation defines the architecture; WTO TFA Article 10.4 requires implementation by all members.
Why it matters
Single Window maturity varies dramatically: Singapore TradeNet (operational since 1989) and South Korea UNI-PASS clear in minutes; some implementations are barely more than a portal that emails legacy forms downstream. For a corridor risk assessment, Single Window status is one of the cleanest proxies for how operational a market actually is.
Related terms
- Trade Facilitation Agreement
- TradeNet
- AEO
- Pre-arrival Processing