Development and building trade capacity
World Trade Report 2003
The World Trade Report is a new annual WTO publication focused on trade trends and policy issues. The 2003 edition examines developments in South-South trade trends in commodity markets and the growth of Regional Trade Agreements.
Rapport sur le Commerce Mondial 2003
Le rapport sur le commerce mondial 2003 est entièrement centré sur le développement. En expliquant la génèse du problème et en proposant un cadre d'analyse dans lequel traiter la question des rapports entre commerce et développement il vise à aider chacun à débattre en toute connaissance de cause et à mieux évaluer les options qui s'offrent aux gouvernements pour faire face aux défis du moment.
Informe sobre el Comercio Mundial 2003
El tema principal del Informe sobre el Comercio Mundial 2003 es el desarrollo. Al explicar el origen de esta cuestión y ofrecer un marco analítico para abordar la cuestión de la relación entre comercio y desarrollo se pretende que el Informe contribuya a un debate más informado y a una mejor apreciación de las distintas opciones disponibles para abordar los problemas de política.
Mainstreaming Trade to Attain the Sustainable Development Goals
The WTO is central to achieving the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development and its Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) which set targets to be achieved by 2030 in areas such as poverty reduction health education and the environment. The SDGs put significant emphasis on the role that trade plays in promoting sustainable development and recognize the contribution that the WTO can make to the 2030 Agenda. By delivering and implementing trade reforms which are pro-growth and pro-development and by continuing to foster stable predictable and equitable trading relations across the world the WTO will play an important role in delivering the Sustainable Development Goals just as it did with the Millennium Development Goals before them. This report identifies steps which would help to ensure that international trade contributes to accelerating progress in achieving the SDGs
Strengthening Africa’s Capacity to Trade
Open global trade has had positive effects for African industrialization and development. Keeping markets open and predictable as well as fostering a more generally favourable business environment will be critical to spur renewed investment in Africa and support the continent’s economic recovery from the COVID-19 pandemic. This report looks at efforts to help African countries build capacity and to take fuller advantage of the benefits that trade brings. It examines various activities and projects the WTO is implementing in the continent including in the areas of trade facilitation compliance with sanitary and phytosanitary regulations and capacity building for trade and production. The report also looks into projects aimed at mainstreaming trade into the national development strategies of African countries. International cooperation a multilaterally coordinated response to the COVID-19 crisis and a reinvigorated multilateral trading system have the potential to lessen the effects of the pandemic and bolster Africa’s economic growth.
Rapport sur le Commerce Mondial 2014
Le Rapport sur le commerce mondial 2014 examine comment quatre grandes tendances économiques récentes ont modifié la façon dont les pays en développement peuvent se servir du commerce pour favoriser leur développement. Ces tendances sont l'essor économique des pays en développement l'intégration croissante de la production mondiale à travers les chaînes d'approvisionnement la hausse des prix des produits agricoles et des ressources naturelles et la plus grande interdépendance de l'économie mondiale. Le Rapport examine aussi le rôle de l'OMC.
Trade and Poverty Reduction
Global trade has contributed strongly to reducing poverty but important challenges remain in making trade work for the poorest. This publication presents eight case studies to reveal how trade can help to reduce poverty in developing countries. It focuses on four constraints faced by the extremely poor – namely that they tend to live in rural areas work in the informal sector live in fragile and conflict-affected regions and face gender inequality. The case studies identify ways to overcome these constraints including through the adoption of policies that maximize the contribution of trade to poverty reduction. The studies also highlight the ongoing gaps in data and research that constrain policy-making. The publication is a follow-up to The Role of Trade in Ending Poverty co-published by the WTO and the World Bank in 2015 which examined the challenges the poor face in benefiting from trade opportunities. The country-specific approach of this new publication complements the global perspective of the previous report.
World Trade Report 2013
The world is changing with extraordinary rapidity driven by many influences including shifts in production and consumption patterns continuing technological innovation new ways of doing business and of course policy. The World Trade Report 2013 focuses on how trade is both a cause and an effect of change and looks into the factors shaping the future of world trade. One of the most significant drivers of change is technology. Not only have revolutions in transport and communications transformed our world but new developments such as 3D printing and the continuing spread of information technology will continue to do so. Trade and foreign direct investment together with a greater geographical spread of income growth and opportunity will integrate a growing number of countries into more extensive international exchange. Higher incomes and larger populations will put new strains on both renewable and non-renewable resources calling for careful resource management. Environmental issues will also call for increasing attention.
Training and Technical Assistance
Over 14700 participants from developing countries benefited from WTO training courses and distance learning programmes in 2014. This training has been instrumental in helping government officials gain a greater understanding of the multilateral trading system and in helping developing countries tackle the challenges of being a WTO member enforce their rights and meet their obligations.
World Trade Report 2014
The World Trade Report 2014 looks at how four recent major economic trends have changed how developing countries can use trade to facilitate development: the economic rise of developing economies the growing integration of global production through supply chains the higher prices for agricultural goods and natural resources and the increasing interdependence of the world economy. It also looks into what role the WTO can play.
Informe sobre el Comercio Mundial 2014
El Informe sobre el Comercio Mundial 2014 analiza la forma en que cuatro importantes tendencias económicas recientes han cambiado la manera en que los países en desarrollo pueden utilizar el comercio para impulsar su crecimiento. Esas tendencias son el auge de las economías en desarrollo la integración creciente de la producción mundial a través de las cadenas de suministro el aumento de los precios de los productos agropecuarios y los recursos naturales y la interdependencia creciente de la economía mundial. Además en el informe se expone la función que puede desempeñar la OMC en ese proceso.
Globalization and informal jobs in developing countries
This study focuses on the relationship between trade and the growth of the informal economy in developing countries. Based on existing academic literature complemented with new empirical research by the ILO and the WTO the study discusses how trade reform affects different aspects of the informal economy. It also examines how high rates of informal employment diminish the scope for developing countries to translate trade openness into sustainable long-term growth.
Global Value Chain Development Report 2019
This report takes stock of the evolution of global value chains (GVCs) in light of technological developments such as robotics big data and the Internet of Things. It discusses how these technologies are reshaping GVCs and examines the effect of these changes on labor markets in developed and developing economies and on supply chain management. The report discusses how technological developments are creating new opportunities for the participation of small and medium-sized enterprises in global value chains and reviews issues related to GVC measurement. The report is a follow-up to the first Global Value Chain Development Report which revealed the changing nature of international trade when analyzed in terms of value chains and value-added trade.
Trade Impacts of LDC Graduation
A new report issued by the WTO on 8 May seeks to help least developed countries (LDCs) better understand the trade-related implications of graduation from LDC status. The product of a joint effort between the WTO and the Enhanced Integrated Framework (EIF) “Trade Impacts of LDC Graduation” looks at how graduation may affect LDCs’ participation in world trade including their access to export markets and implications for their WTO commitments.
Rapport sur le Commerce Mondial 2013
Le monde change à une incroyable vitesse et ce sous l’influence de nombreux facteurs y compris l’évolution des modes de production et de consommation l’innovation technologique permanente les nouvelles façons de faire du commerce et bien sûr la politique. Le Rapport sur le commerce mondial 2013 montre en quoi le commerce est à la fois une cause et un effet du changement et examine les facteurs qui façonnent l’avenir du commerce mondial.
African Perspectives on Trade and the WTO
Twenty-first century Africa is in a process of economic transformation but challenges remain in areas such as structural reform governance commodity pricing and geopolitics. This book looks into key questions facing the continent such as how Africa can achieve deeper integration into the rules-based multilateral trading system and the global economy. It provides a range of perspectives on the future of the multilateral trading system and Africa's participation in global trade and underlines the supportive roles that can be played by multilateral and regional institutions during such a rapid and uncertain transition. This volume is based on contributions to the Fourth China Round Table on WTO Accessions and the Multilateral Trading System which took place just before the WTO's Tenth Ministerial Conference in Nairobi in December 2015.
Informe sobre el Comercio Mundial 2013
El mundo está cambiando con extraordinaria rapidez bajo la influencia de numerosos factores entre otros la evolución de las pautas de producción y consumo la constante innovación tecnológica las nuevas formas de comerciar y evidentemente las políticas. El Informe sobre el Comercio Mundial 2013 se centra en el comercio como causa y efecto del cambio y examina los factores que configuran el futuro del comercio mundial.
Trade Impacts of LDC Graduation
Graduation from the status of least-developed country (LDC) marks an important milestone in the development path of each LDC. At the same time the phasing-out of international support measures associated with LDC status including trade preferences and special treatment in the WTO could present challenges for graduating LDCs in their efforts to continue integration into the global economy. A quarter of LDCs were on track to graduate from LDC status prior to the outbreak of the COVID-19 pandemic. “Trade impacts of LDC graduation: Insights from countryspecific market access analyses” complements the report “Trade impacts of LDC graduation” issued in May 2020 and examines in greater detail the impact of graduation on preferential market access for each of the 12 graduating LDCs. The report looks at the export structure of graduating LDCs the likely increase of tariffs on their exported products and projected changes in trade flows employing a partial equilibrium model. It sheds light on products and destination markets that require specific attention from graduating LDCs as they prepare for graduation.
The Role of Trade in Ending Poverty
The Role of Trade in Ending Poverty looks at the complex relationships between economic growth poverty reduction and trade and examines the challenges that poor people face in benefiting from trade opportunities. Written jointly by the World Bank Group and the WTO the publication examines how trade could make a greater contribution to ending poverty by increasing efforts to lower trade costs improve the enabling environment implement trade policy in conjunction with other areas of policy better manage risks faced by the poor and improve data used for policy-making.
Connecting to Global Markets
This book brings together contributions from the 14 WTO chair-holders of the first phase of the WTO Chairs Programme (2010-2014). The volume is divided into four sections focusing on export diversification the role of non-tariff measures the rule of law in connecting to global markets and the role of the Aid for Trade initiative in building trade capacity and overcoming supply side constraints.
Adaptación a la era del comercio digital
El informe Adaptación a la era del comercio digital: desafíos y oportunidades analiza cómo la rápida adopción de tecnologías digitales podría ayudar a los países en desarrollo a aumentar su participación en el comercio mundial. También examina la manera en que las políticas nacionales y la cooperación internacional pueden contribuir a crear un futuro más próspero e inclusivo para esos países. Esta publicación marca la conclusión de la segunda fase del Programa de Cátedras OMC (PCO). En ella se recogen las contribuciones de los titulares de las Cátedras OMC (fases I y II) los miembros del Consejo Consultivo el equipo del PCO de la OMC y otros funcionarios de la Secretaría de la Organización. El PCO es una parte importante de las iniciativas de la OMC destinadas a crear capacidad comercial y colaborar con las instituciones académicas de los países en desarrollo.
S’adapter à l’ère du commerce numérique
S’adapter à l’ère du commerce numérique : défis et possibilités examine comment l’adoption rapide des technologies numériques pourrait aider les pays en développement à accroître leur participation au commerce mondial. Il analyse également le rôle que les politiques nationales et la coopération internationale peuvent jouer dans la création d’un avenir plus prospère et plus inclusif pour ces pays. Cette publication marque la conclusion de la deuxième phase du Programme de chaires de l’OMC (PCO). Elle rassemble des contributions de titulaires de chaires du PCO de membres du Conseil consultatif de l’équipe PCO à l’OMC et d’autres fonctionnaires du Secrétariat. Le PCO joue un rôle important dans les efforts déployés par l’OMC pour renforcer les capacités commerciales et travailler conjointement avec les institutions universitaires des pays en développement.
Adapting to the Digital Trade Era
Adapting to the digital trade era: challenges and opportunities looks at how the rapid adoption of digital technologies could help developing countries increase their participation in world trade. It also reviews the role that domestic policies and international co-operation can play in creating a more prosperous and inclusive future for these countries. This publication marks the conclusion of the second phase of the WTO Chairs Programme (WCP). It brings together contributions from the WCP Chairholders of Phases I and II Advisory Board members the WCP team at the WTO and other WTO Secretariat staff. The WCP is an important part of the WTO's efforts to build trade capacity and to work jointly with academic institutions in developing countries.
Easing Trade Bottlenecks of Landlocked Developing Countries
Without direct access to a sea or ocean and isolated from the world’s largest markets landlocked developing countries (LLDCs) face many challenges to integrate into global supply chains. This report identifies specific trade bottlenecks in LLDCs which have increased trading costs lengthened the time to process goods at the border and restricted the movement of goods across borders. Compounded by the devastating effect of the COVID-19 pandemic LLDCs have seen trade decline more sharply and for longer than the rest of the world. The report demonstrates the vital role the WTO Trade Facilitation Agreement (TFA) can play in boosting output and facilitating world trade by simplifying modernizing and harmonizing the movement release and clearance of goods. Participation in the TFA can broaden the opportunities for developing countries – and LLDCs in particular – to participate more fully in global value chains. The report concludes with recommendations on the steps that LLDCs neighbouring transit countries and international organizations can undertake to ease trade bottlenecks to keep trade flowing smoothly and to make trade more inclusive.
Mitigar los escollos comerciales en los países en desarrollo sin litoral
Al no tener acceso directo a un mar o un océano y estar aislados de los mayores mercados del mundo los países en desarrollo sin litoral (PDSL) se enfrentan a muchas dificultades para integrarse en las cadenas de suministro mundiales. En el presente informe se describen los cuellos de botella comerciales específicos de los PDSL que aumentan los costos del comercio alargan el tiempo necesario para procesar las mercancías en la frontera y restringen la circulación de mercancías a través de las fronteras. Además del efecto devastador de la pandemia de COVID-19 los PDSL han experimentado una disminución del comercio más pronunciada y prolongada que el resto del mundo. En este informe se muestra la función esencial que puede desempeñar el Acuerdo sobre Facilitación del Comercio (AFC) de la OMC para impulsar la producción y fomentar el comercio mundial mediante la simplificación modernización y armonización del movimiento el levante y el despacho de las mercancías. La participación en el AFC puede ampliar las oportunidades de los países en desarrollo y los PDSL en particular para participar más plenamente en las cadenas de valor mundiales. El informe se concluye con recomendaciones sobre las medidas que pueden adoptar los PDSL los países de tránsito vecinos y las organizaciones internacionales en aras de mitigar los cuellos de botella comerciales para mantener la fluidez del comercio transfronterizo y lograr que este sea más inclusivo.
Atténuer les goulets d'étranglement d'ordre commercial dans les pays en développement sans littoral
Sans accès direct à la mer ou aux océans et isolés des plus grands marchés du monde les pays en développement sans littoral (PDSL) rencontrent de nombreuses difficultés pour s'intégrer dans les chaînes d'approvisionnement mondiales. Ce rapport recense les goulets d'étranglement commerciaux spécifiques qui existent dans les PDSL et qui accroissent les coûts de l'activité commerciale allongent les délais de traitement des marchandises aux frontières et limitent la circulation transfrontières des marchandises. Voyant leur situation aggravée par les effets dévastateurs de la pandémie de COVID-19 les PDSL ont enregistré une baisse plus marquée des échanges et pendant plus longtemps que le reste du monde. Ce rapport montre le rôle vital que peut jouer l'Accord sur la facilitation des échanges (AFE) pour stimuler la production et faciliter le commerce mondial en simplifiant en modernisant et en harmonisant les procédures pour la circulation la mainlevée et le dédouanement des marchandises. La participation à l'AFE peut accroître les possibilités des pays en développement – et en particulier les PDSL – de participer plus pleinement aux chaînes de valeur mondiales. Le rapport se conclut par des recommandations concernant les mesures pouvant être prises par les PDSL les pays de transit voisins et les organisations internationales pour atténuer les goulets d'étranglement d'ordre commercial afin de maintenir la fluidité des échanges et de rendre le commerce plus inclusif.
WTO contribution to the 2022 UN High-Level Political Forum
The WTO is playing an important role in the achievement of the UN's Agenda 2030 for Sustainable Development and collaborates closely with the UN's Department for Economic and Social Affairs in monitoring progress in attaining the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). Since 2016 the WTO has submitted annual reports to the UN's High-level Political Forum (HLPF) on WTO efforts to achieve trade-specific targets in the SDGs. In its 2022 report the WTO provides a comprehensive overview of the relationship between trade and SDGs 4 (“quality education”) 5 (“gender equality”) 14 (“life below water”) 15 (“life on land”) and 17 (“partnerships for the Goals”) as well as the WTO’s role in contributing to the realisation of these five goals.
Textiles and clothing in Asian graduating LDCs
The textiles and clothing sector has been a key driver of export growth in least-developed countries (LDCs) that are on the path of graduation especially from Asia. Graduation from LDC status would imply loss of LDC trade preferences. This report a product of inter-agency collaboration examines impacts of graduation for Asian graduating LDCs; it looks at market access scenario after graduation the nature of their participation in global value chains and business insights including at the firm level. The report also offers a forward-looking perspective to ensure a smooth transition from LDC status. It sheds light on possible strategies to maintain market access after graduation and to support industrial upgrade and economic diversification. In addition the report points to other factors affecting export potential of textiles and clothing including increased attention to environmental and social standards. LDC-focused development assistance could play an important role in supporting these countries with bolstering the overall competitiveness of their textiles and clothing sector.
Boosting trade opportunities for least-developed countries
This report looks at progress over the past decade in supporting the integration of least-developed countries (LDCs) into the multilateral trading system. Prepared as the WTO's contribution to the 5th United Nations Conference on the Least Developed Countries (LDC5) the report highlights that international efforts to help LDCs increase their participation in global trade are needed more than ever before in view of the enormous challenges posed by the COVID-19 pandemic. Important progress has been achieved in boosting LDC exports over the last decade by improving market access opportunities for LDCs and by granting them flexibilities in the implementation of WTO rules. Further efforts will be needed to support trade growth in LDCs in the next decade. LDC5 can set a path for allowing LDCs to fully realize their trade potential and to take advantage of emerging opportunities. The integration of LDCs into global trade is still a priority as trade can play an important role in driving economic growth and supporting sustainable development.
Le financement du commerce en Afrique de l'Ouest
Le 12 octobre 2022 la Directrice générale de l’OMC Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala et le Directeur général de la Société financière internationale (SFI) Makhtar Diop ont lancé une publication conjointe sur le financement du commerce en Afrique de l’Ouest (Trade Finance in West Africa) à Washington DC. S’appuyant sur les résultats d’une enquête menée auprès des banques des quatre plus grandes économies de la Communauté économique des États de l’Afrique de l’Ouest (CEDEAO) — Côte d’Ivoire Ghana Nigéria et Sénégal — la publication évalue l’insuffisance du financement du commerce dans ces pays. Elle souligne également les moyens de supprimer les obstacles aux facilités de crédit et de libérer le potentiel commercial de la région.
Aid for Trade at a Glance 2022
This report analyses the evolution of Aid for Trade flows in a context marked by crises of unprecedented magnitude with significant impacts on trade and investment. Under the theme “Empowering Connected Sustainable Trade” it shows that Aid for Trade was an important tool in the fight against the COVID-19 pandemic and can help address emerging challenges such as the environmental and digital transitions while ensuring that no one is left behind. Recent data indicate that a shift is under way to put sustainability including green transition and women’s empowerment at the heart of Aid for Trade and point to its potential to support an inclusive and sustainable recovery.
Trade finance in West Africa
A joint publication on “Trade Finance in West Africa” was launched by Director-General Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala and International Finance Corporation (IFC) Managing Director Makhtar Diop on 12 October in Washington DC. Using the results of a survey of banks in the four largest economies of the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) — Côte d’Ivoire Ghana Nigeria and Senegal — the publication assesses the shortfall in trade finance in these countries. It also outlines ways of removing obstacles to credit facilities and of unleashing the trade potential of the region.
Harnessing Services Trade for Sustainable Growth
The services sector has been the main source of economic growth in recent decades. Logistics finance and information technologies are essential to the functioning of modern economies while business services healthcare and entertainment are among the world’s fastest growing sectors. This publication – co-published by the WTO and the World Bank – underlines the contribution that trade and investment in services can make to economic growth and development. It highlights in particular the importance of re-energizing international cooperation on services trade and encourages reflection on how best to mobilize assistance for developing and least-developed economies in implementing services sector reforms so that they can reap the gains from expanded trade and investment in services.
Renforcer les capacités commerciales de l’Afrique
La apertura del comercio mundial ha tenido efectos positivos en la industrialización y el desarrollo de África. Mantener la apertura y la previsibilidad de los mercados y promover de manera más general un entorno favorable para la actividad empresarial será esencial para estimular la reactivación de las inversiones que se requiere para una rápida recuperación económica tras la pandemia de COVID-19. En este informe se examinan los esfuerzos realizados para ayudar a los países africanos a crear capacidad y aprovechar más plenamente los beneficios que reporta el comercio. Se consideran diversas actividades y proyectos que la OMC está llevando a cabo en el continente en particular en el ámbito de la facilitación del comercio el cumplimiento de la reglamentación sanitaria y fitosanitaria y la creación de capacidad para el comercio y la producción. También se examinan proyectos destinados a incorporar el comercio en las estrategias nacionales de desarrollo de los países africanos. La cooperación internacional una respuesta multilateral coordinada a la crisis de la COVID-19 y la revitalización del sistema multilateral de comercio pueden mitigar los efectos de la pandemia e impulsar el crecimiento económico de África. L’ouverture du commerce mondial a eu des effets positifs sur l’industrialisation et le développement de l’Afrique. Pour stimuler le renouvellement des investissements sur le continent et soutenir le redressement économique de ce dernier après la pandémie de COVID-19 il sera essentiel de maintenir l’ouverture et la prévisibilité des marchés ainsi que de favoriser un environnement économique généralement plus favorable. Le présent rapport examine les efforts déployés pour aider les pays africains à renforcer leurs capacités et à mieux tirer parti des avantages du commerce. Il analyse les activités et projets divers que l’OMC met en oeuvre sur le continent notamment dans les domaines de la facilitation des échanges du respect des réglementations sanitaires et phytosanitaires et du renforcement des capacités en matière de commerce et de production. Il rend également compte des projets visant à intégrer le commerce dans les stratégies nationales de développement des pays africains. La coopération internationale une réponse coordonnée à la crise liée à la COVID-19 au niveau multilatéral et un système commercial multilatéral redynamisé peuvent atténuer les effets de la pandémie et stimuler la croissance économique de l’Afrique.
Fortaleciendo la capacidad comercial de África
La apertura del comercio mundial ha tenido efectos positivos en la industrialización y el desarrollo de África. Mantener la apertura y la previsibilidad de los mercados y promover de manera más general un entorno favorable para la actividad empresarial será esencial para estimular la reactivación de las inversiones que se requiere para una rápida recuperación económica tras la pandemia de COVID-19. En este informe se examinan los esfuerzos realizados para ayudar a los países africanos a crear capacidad y aprovechar más plenamente los beneficios que reporta el comercio. Se consideran diversas actividades y proyectos que la OMC está llevando a cabo en el continente en particular en el ámbito de la facilitación del comercio el cumplimiento de la reglamentación sanitaria y fitosanitaria y la creación de capacidad para el comercio y la producción. También se examinan proyectos destinados a incorporar el comercio en las estrategias nacionales de desarrollo de los países africanos. La cooperación internacional una respuesta multilateral coordinada a la crisis de la COVID-19 y la revitalización del sistema multilateral de comercio pueden mitigar los efectos de la pandemia e impulsar el crecimiento económico de África.
Examen global 2022 de l'Aide pour le commerce
L’Aide pour le commerce vise à permettre aux pays en développement et en particulier aux pays les moins avancés (PMA) d’utiliser le commerce comme moyen de promouvoir la croissance économique le développement durable et la réduction de la pauvreté. Elle favorise l’intégration des pays en développement en particulier les PMA dans le système commercial multilatéral et vise à stimuler le soutien pour renforcer les capacités du côté de l’offre et l’infrastructure liée au commerce dans ces pays afin d’améliorer les résultats commerciaux. Cette publication s’appuie sur les réponses au questionnaire fournies par les personnes interrogées dans le cadre de l’exercice 2022 de suivi et d’évaluation de l’Aide pour le commerce de l’OCDE et de l’OMC qui sert de base à l’Examen global de l’Aide pour le commerce 2022 de l’OMC. Elle présente une analyse des réponses au questionnaire de suivi et d’évaluation et détaille les domaines et questions prioritaires pour l’Initiative Aide pour le commerce pour 2022 et les années à venir.
Examen Global de la Ayuda para el Comercio 2022
La Ayuda para el Comercio tiene por objeto permitir a los países en desarrollo y en particular a los países menos adelantados (PMA) utilizar el comercio para fomentar el crecimiento económico el desarrollo sostenible y la reducción de la pobreza. Promueve la integración de los países en desarrollo especialmente los PMA en el sistema multilateral de comercio y su objetivo es movilizar el apoyo necesario para crear capacidad de oferta e infraestructura relacionada con el comercio en estos países a fin de mejorar los resultados comerciales. La presente publicación se basa en las respuestas al cuestionario facilitadas por los participantes en el marco del ejercicio conjunto de vigilancia y evaluación de la OCDE y la OMC de 2022 en el que se sustenta el Examen Global de la Ayuda para el Comercio 2022 de la OMC. En ella se analizan las respuestas al cuestionario de vigilancia y evaluación y se describen las esferas y cuestiones prioritarias relativas a la iniciativa de Ayuda para el Comercio para 2022 y los próximos años.
Aid for Trade Global Review 2022
Aid for Trade seeks to enable developing countries and in particular least-developed countries (LDCs) to use trade as a means of fostering economic growth sustainable development and poverty reduction. It promotes the integration of developing countries especially LDCs into the multilateral trading system and aims to galvanize support to build supply-side capacity and trade-related infrastructure in these countries to improve trade performance. This publication draws on the responses provided by participants to the questionnaire of the 2022 OECD–WTO Aid for Trade monitoring and evaluation (M&E) exercise which underpins the WTO’s 2022 Global Review of Aid for Trade. This publication presents an analysis of the M&E questionnaire responses and describes priority areas and issues for the Aid for Trade Initiative for 2022 and the coming years.
WTO’s Contribution to Attaining UN Sustainable Development Goals
This report which was submitted to the UN High-level Political Forum on Sustainable Development in 2023 highlights the role of trade in helping countries recover from the COVID-19 pandemic and meet the United Nations’ Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). It also underlines the WTO’s contribution to improving livelihoods and making trade work for people.
Making trade work for women
In December 2022 the Gender Research Hub organized alongside the WTO the World Trade Congress on Gender – the first international research conference to focus on trade and gender. This high-level event brought together eminent trade and gender experts to present the latest research in the field. It also provided a platform for researchers and policymakers to exchange views and build partnerships to promote further innovative research. This publication builds on many of the research papers presented by trade and gender researchers at the Congress. The research presented at the Congress and in this publication reaffirms key gender principles and provides evidence that women face higher barriers than men when seeking to access opportunities created by trade. It also shows that trade policy can help women overcome obstacles. In addition the research reaffirms the importance of making trade inclusive and demonstrates that making trade policies more responsive to gender issues improves gender equality in trade supports poverty reduction and fosters sustainable growth.
El comercio de servicios para el desarrollo
El sector de los servicios ha sido la principal fuente de crecimiento económico en los últimos decenios. La logística las finanzas y las tecnologías de la información son esenciales para el funcionamiento de las economías modernas; por otro lado los servicios prestados a las empresas la atención sanitaria y el esparcimiento son algunos de los sectores que más rápido han crecido a nivel mundial. Esta publicación conjunta de la OMC y el Banco Mundial pone de relieve la contribución que el comercio y la inversión en el sector de los servicios pueden hacer al crecimiento económico y al desarrollo. Destaca en particular la importancia de revitalizar la cooperación internacional en el sector del comercio de servicios y fomenta la reflexión sobre la mejor manera de movilizar la asistencia para las economías en desarrollo y las menos adelantadas respecto de la aplicación de las reformas relacionadas con los servicios a fin de que esas economías puedan aprovechar los beneficios de la expansión del comercio y la inversión en el sector de los servicios.
Le commerce des services pour le développement
Au cours des dernières décennies le secteur des services a été la principale source de croissance économique. Si la logistique la finance et les technologies de l'information jouent un rôle essentiel dans le fonctionnement des économies modernes les services fournis aux entreprises les soins de santé et les loisirs figurent parmi les secteurs dont la croissance est la plus forte au monde. Cette publication – publiée conjointement par la Banque mondiale et l'OMC – met en avant la contribution que le commerce et l'investissement dans le secteur des services peuvent apporter à la croissance et au développement économiques. Elle souligne en particulier qu'il est important de redynamiser la coopération internationale dans le commerce des services et invite à réfléchir sur la manière de mobiliser au mieux l'aide pour les économies en développement et les économies les moins avancées dans la mise en œuvre des réformes du secteur des services afin que celles-ci puissent tirer parti de l'expansion du commerce et de l'investissement dans ce secteur.
International Trade and Green Hydrogen
Hydrogen produced exclusively from renewable power – known as green hydrogen – is widely recognised as a key pillar in replacing fossil fuels and decarbonizing sectors that cannot easily be electrified such as some industrial processes shipping and aviation. This publication – jointly produced by the International Renewable Energy Agency (IRENA) and the World Trade Organization (WTO) – explores how trade policies can support the development of green hydrogen markets. The publication highlights in particular how lowering tariffs on key products building reliable infrastructure realigning domestic support programmes and developing green government procurement can foster the development of green hydrogen supply chains and the transition to a low-carbon economy. International trade could also play a significant role in matching supply and demand for green hydrogen as the potential for domestic production in some economies might not be enough to satisfy domestic demand. The publication also addresses the challenges and opportunities for developing economies offered by green hydrogen and its derivatives such as green methanol and green ammonia. It underscores the importance of international cooperation and the need to align regulatory frameworks to encourage technology development enhanced transparency and market growth.
Aid for Trade at a Glance 2024
Aid for Trade seeks to enable developing economies and in particular least-developed countries (LDCs) to use trade as a means of fostering economic growth sustainable development and poverty reduction. It promotes the integration of developing economies especially LDCs into the multilateral trading system and aims to galvanize support to build supply-side capacity and trade-related infrastructure in these economies to improve trade performance. This publication draws on the responses provided by participants to the questionnaire of the 2024 joint OECD–WTO Aid for Trade monitoring and evaluation (M&E) exercise which underpins the 2024 Global Review of Aid for Trade. It presents an analysis of the M&E questionnaire responses and provides information on Aid for Trade financing flows up to the year 2022. Drawing on the responses to the survey it describes priority areas for the Aid for Trade Initiative for 2024 and the coming years.
Aid for trade in Action
The transition to clean energy offers opportunities for developing economies and least-developed countries (LDCs) to exploit the export potential of this transition and to accelerate their growth prospects. The WTO-led Aid for Trade initiative provides significant support to these economies to help them develop their energy sectors and transition to clean energy. However sustained support is required to ensure that firms benefit from the trade opportunities that will emerge as a result of the clean energy transition. This report highlights the role that Aid for Trade can play in mobilizing financial resources to deliver targeted assistance and to help developing economies unlock export opportunities created by clean energy. It also underlines the role of development partners in helping firms integrate into clean energy value chains by investing in the production of clean energy technologies such as green hydrogen and solar power.
Panorama de l'Aide pour le commerce 2022
Le présent rapport analyse l’évolution des flux d’Aide pour le commerce dans un contexte marqué par des crises d’une ampleur sans précédent qui ont des conséquences importantes pour le commerce et l’investissement. Intitulé «Permettre un commerce connecté et durable» il montre que l’Aide pour le commerce a été un outil important dans la lutte contre la pandémie de COVID-19 et peut aider à relever des défis nouveaux comme la transition écologique et la transition numérique et dans le même temps à faire en sorte que nul ne soit laissé de côté. Des données récentes font ressortir le changement qui s’opère actuellement pour placer la durabilité y compris la transition verte et l’autonomisation des femmes au coeur de l’Aide pour le commerce et soulignent le potentiel de celle-ci à l’appui d’une reprise inclusive et durable.
La Ayuda para el Comercio en síntesis 2022
En el presente informe se analiza la evolución de las corrientes de Ayuda para el Comercio en un contexto marcado por crisis de una magnitud sin precedentes y con fuertes repercusiones en el comercio y la inversión. El informe titulado “Posibilitar un comercio conectado y sostenible” muestra que la Ayuda para el Comercio ha sido un instrumento importante en la lucha contra la pandemia de COVID-19 y puede ayudar a afrontar los desafíos emergentes como la transición ambiental y digital y al mismo tiempo hacer que nadie se quede atrás. Según datos recientes se está produciendo un cambio orientado a que la sostenibilidad que pasa entre otras cosas por la transición verde y el empoderamiento de la mujer ocupe un lugar central en la Ayuda para el Comercio y esta tiene el potencial de respaldar una recuperación inclusiva y sostenible.
World Trade Report 2024
Over the past 30 years the world has witnessed a period of unprecedented income convergence as the wide gap in income levels between economies has narrowed. Economic growth has improved living conditions and prospects for many people around the world. However not all individuals regions and economies have benefited equally from the changes brought about by more open trade. The World Trade Report 2024 explores the complex interlinkages between trade and inclusiveness across and within economies.Openness to international trade can drive economic growth but many low- and middle-income economies struggle to diversify or to integrate into world trade. Although trade supports numerous jobs and provides access to affordable goods and services some individuals can face challenges in adapting to new economic conditions following trade openness. However trade protectionism neither protects the overall economy nor promotes inclusiveness within economies. Diversifying global value chains reducing trade costs through digitalization and transitioning to a low-carbon economy can create new opportunities for low- and middle-income economies. Addressing remaining barriers to trade and investment facilitating the implementation of existing WTO agreements and ensuring that the WTO is fit for new challenges are crucial to support inclusiveness across and within economies. Furthermore trade policies need to be complemented by domestic measures such as labour education and competition policies so that the gains from trade can flow to workers and consumers and so that those individuals can move to benefit from those gains. WTO cooperation with other international organizations can magnify combined action on inclusiveness across and within economies.
Preferential Trade Agreements in Africa: Lessons from the Tripartite Free Trade Agreements and an African Continent-Wide FTA
Economic transformation is an important pre-requisite for African countries to maximize the benefits of globalization. The development outcomes of the transformation process are conditioned on the one hand by the level of inclusiveness and on the other by the sustainability of the development pathways among other factors. Building on experiences since the new millennium in which Africa has witnessed rapid and sustained high levels of economic growth and informed by the policy discourse that accompanied the formulation of the Common African Position on Sustainable Development Goals African countries have charted a transformation path in which they aspire to play to their comparative advantages.
Las nuevas normas sobre el comercio digital en América Latina: los acuerdos comerciales regionales
Aunque los recientes avances tecnológicos han propiciado el auge del comercio digital este auge se ha desarrollado sin normas claras y definidas lo que se ha convertido en un problema para los países de América Latina. Con el estancamiento del régimen multilateral de comercio han surgido acuerdos regionales y bilaterales más complejos. La reglamentación del comercio digital plantea muchas cuestiones. En este capítulo abordamos las nuevas normas sobre el comercio digital incluidas en los acuerdos comerciales regionales (ACR) que han negociado recientemente las economías latinoamericanas. En este trabajo se hace especial hincapié en la comparación del Tratado Integral y Progresista de Asociación Transpacífico (CPTPP) y el Tratado entre México Estados Unidos y Canadá (T-MEC) los ACR más avanzados en lo que respecta a estas cuestiones.
Avant-propos
Nous sommes heureux de formuler des remarques préliminaires au sujet de la présente compilation de travaux de recherche sur le commerce électronique établie par les titulaires de chaires de l’OMC par les membres du Conseil consultatif et par l’équipe du Secrétariat de l’OMC chargée du Programme de chaires (PCO).
Remerciements
Le Rapport sur le commerce mondial a été rédigé sous la supervision de Patrick Low Directeur de la Division de la recherche économique et des statistiques. Ses principaux auteurs sont Bijit Bora K. Michael Finger Marion Jansen Alexander Keck Patrick Low Hildegunn Nordas Roberta Piermartini et Robert Teh. Les données sur le commerce et les informations sur les droits de douane ont été fournies par les statisticiens de la Division de la recherche économique et des statistiques dont les travaux ont été coordonnés par Guy Karsenty Julia de Verteuil Andreas Maurer et Jürgen Richtering.
Convergence en matière de commerce électronique : les cas de l’Argentine, du Brésil et du MERCOSUR
Le commerce électronique connaît une croissance rapide en Argentine et au Brésil et dans ces deux pays la part de la population qui effectue des transactions en ligne dépasse la moyenne enregistrée pour l’ensemble de l’Amérique latine. Les deux pays ont établi un cadre juridique pour la protection des données la réglementation d’Internet la protection des consommateurs la fiscalité du commerce électronique et les contrats et signatures électroniques. L’Argentine et le Brésil ont également soumis des propositions de négociations sur le traitement des transactions effectuées en ligne par le truchement d’accords de l’OMC et ont inclus des dispositions relatives au commerce électronique dans les accords de libre-échange (ALE). Cependant les différentes approches adoptées en matière de réglementation interne du commerce électronique et les divergences de positions exprimées lors des négociations internationales sont révélatrices des différences d’approches réglementaires qui ne feront qu’accroître l’incertitude juridique et partant limiter les investissements et l’expansion du marché dans ce secteur. Il existe une seule exception qui concerne la réglementation de la protection des données puisque les deux pays suivent les principes énoncés dans le Règlement général de l’Union européenne sur la protection des données (RGPD). Le meilleur moyen d’engager de nouvelles négociations entre les deux pays concernant la convergence des réglementations en matière de commerce électronique serait de le faire sous l’égide du Marché commun du Sud (MERCOSUR).
Introduction
The United Nations least-developed countries (LDC] category comprises the poorest and most vulnerable countries in the work! - those that face structural handicaps to their sustainable development. There are currently 47 LDCs of which 33 are situated in Africa 9 in Asia 4 in the Pacific and 1 in the Caribbean. The LDCs account for 12% of the global population but for less than 2% of world’s gross domestic product (GDP) and less than 1% of global exports. So far only five LDCs have graduated from the category since its inception in 1971 i.e. Botswana (1994) Cabo Verde (2007) Maldives (2011) Samoa (2014) and Equatorial Guinea (2017).
Oportunidades y desafíos del comercio electrónico en Mauricio
En el presente estudio se analizan la situación los desafíos y las oportunidades del comercio electrónico en Mauricio. La proporción de la población que realiza compras en línea era del 14% en 2017 el segundo nivel más alto (después de Libia) en África debido en gran parte al aumento de la utilización y de la tasa de penetración de Internet unido al incremento del uso de las tarjetas de crédito y al desarrollo de sistemas seguros de pago en línea. Mauricio se colocó a la cabeza del índice de comercio electrónico de empresa a consumidor (B2C) (preparación para el comercio electrónico) de la Conferencia de las Naciones Unidas sobre Comercio y Desarrollo (UNCTAD) para África. Una encuesta realizada a clientes puso de manifiesto altos niveles de satisfacción con las compras en línea debido a una mayor posibilidad de elección la capacidad de ahorrar tiempo la accesibilidad y la relativa facilidad para buscar productos en línea. Las principales preocupaciones incluían la inquietud sobre la divulgación de información personal y la limitada capacidad para contactar a los vendedores. Las personas encuestadas que no habían realizado compras en línea expusieron preocupaciones sobre la navegación en línea la seguridad en los pagos y los elevados costos. Los vendedores en línea se mostraron bastante optimistas con respecto al crecimiento futuro del mercado pero también expresaron su preocupación por el sesgo local en favor de las páginas web internacionales las limitaciones técnicas del servicio de Internet y el reducido tamaño del mercado. En las entrevistas llevadas a cabo con los responsables de la formulación de políticas se invocó el sólido marco jurídico y reglamentario que respalda los pagos electrónicos pero se formuló la necesidad de una cooperación más robusta con otros países en materia de reglamentación sobre el comercio electrónico y de mayores esfuerzos para recopilar estadísticas. La asistencia técnica sería útil en esta labor.
Aid for Trade and building trade capacity: The case of Morocco
The aim of this chapter is to examine the broad framework which has been evolved for the reception of Aid for Trade (AFT) in Namibia. The economic situation before this period included the prevalence of poverty the HIV/AIDS pandemic low educational opportunities and a very highly skewed or unequal distribution of the wealth of the country which has increased income inequalities and unsustainable economic growth as outlined in Namibia Vision 2030 (Namibia Office of the President 2004). In this regard Namibia shares this economic dependency at the regional level and most trade and economic relationships are mainly with Botswana Lesotho Swaziland and South Africa all of which are members of the Southern African Customs Union (SACU) and Southern African Development Community (SADC). The objective is to create a free trade area in the Southern Africa region.
Understanding Supply Chain 4.0 and its potential impact on global value chains
The reorganization of supply chains using advanced technologies such as the Internet of Things (IoT) big data analytics and autonomous robotics is transforming the model of supply chain management from a linear one in which instructions flow from supplier to producer to distributor to consumer and back to a more integrated model in which information flows in an omnidirectional manner to the supply chain. While e-commerce is uniquely suited to many of these techniques they also hold the promise of improving efficiency in brick-and-mortar stores. These technologies are generating enormous benefits through reducing costs making production more responsive to consumer demand boosting employment (employment in supply chain sectors where such technologies are most likely to be applied has grown much more rapidly than in other supply chain sectors and in the economy as a whole) and saving consumers’ time. The impact of these technologies on the length of supply chains is uncertain: they may reduce the length of supply chains by encouraging the reshoring of manufacturing production to high-income economies thus reducing opportunities for developing countries to participate in GVCs or they may strengthen GVCs by reducing coordination and matching costs.
LDC graduation: Impact on development cooperation
This section outlines the main trends in the area of development cooperation over the most recent decade for which data are available. It provides an outline of the expected impact of graduation on several initiatives with a particular focus on Official Development Assistance (ODA) Aid for Trade (AfT) technical cooperation capacity building and participation in the UN system.
Integrating small African economies into global value chains through foreign aid: The case of Namibia
The aim of this chapter is to examine the broad framework which has been evolved for the reception of Aid for Trade (AFT) in Namibia. The economic situation before this period included the prevalence of poverty the HIV/AIDS pandemic low educational opportunities and a very highly skewed or unequal distribution of the wealth of the country which has increased income inequalities and unsustainable economic growth as outlined in Namibia Vision 2030 (Namibia Office of the President 2004). In this regard Namibia shares this economic dependency at the regional level and most trade and economic relationships are mainly with Botswana Lesotho Swaziland and South Africa all of which are members of the Southern African Customs Union (SACU) and Southern African Development Community (SADC). The objective is to create a free trade area in the Southern Africa region.
El desarrollo del comercio electrónico en China y la importancia de las políticas
El valor en dólares de las transacciones de comercio electrónico en China ha aumentado enormemente durante los 20 últimos años con el apoyo de una mejora de la infraestructura el rápido crecimiento de la telefonía móvil y una mayor financiación. El mercado también se caracteriza por una mayor diversidad ejemplo de la cual son el crecimiento de los servicios médicos electrónicos la expansión del comercio electrónico transfronterizo y el aumento de las transacciones en línea/fuera de línea. El Gobierno nacional de China ha desempeñado un papel importante en el desarrollo del comercio electrónico mediante las políticas elaboradas en los planes quinquenales mientras que los Gobiernos regionales también han participado en la planificación y el ajuste del marco de políticas de comercio electrónico teniendo en cuenta las condiciones locales. *
The facilitation of trade by the rule of law: The cases of Singapore and ASEAN
Geography is unkind. This could be a result of historical accident wars or colonial boundaries but the results are the same. The classical definition of the factors of production is land labour and capital. It is a fact of life that some countries have a limited supply of all three.
WTO Accession Reforms and Competitiveness – Lessons for Africa
This chapter evaluates the impact on competitiveness of reforms undertaken by recently acceded countries and draws lessons for African countries pursuing the goal of becoming emerging economies. By comparing reform outcomes before and after accessions relative to control groups using the difference-in-difference evaluation method the chapter concludes that the recently acceded members improved their international competitiveness although the overall impact was relatively small and differed substantially across economies economic sectors and time. African economies aspiring to become emerging economies could build on the experience of recently acceded countries by designing long-term reform agendas similar to the accession reform packages locking them into a credible policy framework through a series of domestic and international agreements frontloading reforms to gain credibility and persisting in their implementation balancing short-term costs with long-term benefits and learning from Article XII peers who have gained substantial experience in managing complex reforms.
Blockchaining international trade: a way forward for women’s economic empowerment?
Blockchain technology holds considerable promise to boost women’s participation in international trade. Blockchain’s anonymity and efficiency could enable many women who otherwise would be constrained by law custom or high costs to engage in financial and business transactions. Blockchain can be used to enable women who lack identification documents to undertake transactions that otherwise would require official identification and to prove their ownership of assets without interventions from male family members. Blockchain can help micro small and medium-sized enterprises (MSMEs) more than 30 per cent of which are owned by women to overcome costs associated with exporting and importing and interact easily with consumers other businesses engaged in the supply chain customs officers and regulatory bodies. Blockchain also can increase women farmers’ access to information on crops and market conditions thus improving their bargaining position. However if not regulated properly the expanded use of blockchain also could increase the relative return to sophisticated technology skills that men are more likely to have and increase the digital divide between men and women. The World Trade Organization (WTO) could play a key role in developing guidelines for the use of blockchain in international trade to support the efficient and inclusive adoption of blockchain technology.
Economic resilience: Dynamics of informality
Informality is associated with increased vulnerability of countries to economic shocks. At the same time informality raises the likelihood of being affected by (external) shocks. The combination of these two tendencies can create a vicious circle weakening the long-term performance of a country lowering the potential benefi ts it can derive from trade and reducing economic well-being. This chapter discusses how informal employment evolves over the cycle – differentiating among different segments of informal labour markets – and the consequences for economic resilience to shocks. It presents evidence of the extent to which informal economies increase volatility in growth performance and the frequency of extreme economic events. Moreover the chapter discusses the particular interaction between international capital fl ows and labour market informality in worsening a country’s vulnerability to shocks. It emphasizes the potentially adverse effects of offi cial development aid and international investment by multinationals within global production networks.
Aspects du commerce et des politiques commerciales
Considéré comme un moyen de réduire la dépendance des pays en développement vis-à-vis des marchés des pays développés et de diversifier les exportations du Sud au-delà des seuls produits primaires le commerce Sud-Sud est depuis longtemps encouragé. Pour l’essentiel les mécanismes mis en place en vue de favoriser la coopération entre pays en développement ont pris la forme d’arrangements sous-régionaux ou régionaux de nature souvent préférentielle. Durant les années 50 et 60 la promotion du commerce Sud-Sud s’est inscrite bien souvent dans un ensemble de mesures ancré dans une stratégie qui visait à substituer aux importations des productions nationales protégées par des obstacles au commerce élevés. Le commerce Sud-Sud a progressé par à-coups car les économies en développement alternaient alors les phases d’expansion et de repli. En dépit des efforts déployés pour promouvoir et diversifier le commerce Sud-Sud les flux de produits primaires sont restés prédominants dans la plupart de ces régions et ce commerce Sud-Sud ne représentait que 65 pour cent du commerce mondial en 1990.
African Perspectives on Trade and the WTO
Twenty-first century Africa is in a process of economic transformation but challenges remain in areas such as structural reform governance commodity pricing and geopolitics. This book looks into key questions facing the continent such as how Africa can achieve deeper integration into the rules-based multilateral trading system and the global economy. It provides a range of perspectives on the future of the multilateral trading system and Africa’s participation in global trade. It also underlines the supportive roles that can be played by multilateral and regional institutions during such a rapid and uncertain transition.
Opportunities and challenges of e-commerce in Mauritius
This study explores the status challenges and opportunities of e-commerce in Mauritius. The share of the population making online purchases was 14 per cent in 2017 the secondhighest level (after Libya) in Africa largely due to increases in internet use and penetration coupled with increased credit card usage and the development of secure online payment systems. And Mauritius topped the United Nations Conference on Trade and Development (UNCTAD) B2C E-commerce Index (e-readiness) for Africa. A survey of customers revealed high levels of satisfaction with online shopping due to wider choices the ability to save time accessibility and the relative ease of searching for products online. Major concerns included uneasiness over disclosure of personal information and limited ability to contact vendors. Respondents who have not shopped online cited concerns over navigating online payment security and high costs. Online sellers expressed considerable optimism over future market growth but also were concerned over a local bias towards international websites technical limitations of internet service and the small market size. Interviews with policymakers cited the strong legal and regulatory framework supporting electronic payments but described a need for stronger regulatory cooperation with other countries on e-commerce and more work to collect statistics. Technical assistance would be useful in these efforts.
The effect of COVID-19 on the economies of Africa
On 14 February 2020 Africa confirmed its first COVID-19 case in Egypt. To date over 1 million cases have been reported and there have been cases in every country on the continent. A study in May 2020 from the WHO Africa Regional Office posited that within the first year of the pandemic between 83000 and 190000 deaths and 5 million related hospitalizations could occur and a further 29 to 44 million people could be infected if containment measures failed (WHO Africa 2020). As of 1 December 2020 a total of 2179843 COVID-19 cases and 51915 deaths had been reported in 55 African countries. This makes up 3.5 per cent of all cases reported globally (Africa CDC 2020).
La economía y el comercio mundiales en 2013 y comienzos de 2014
En 2013 el comercio mundial de mercancías siguió creciendo a un ritmo moderado del 22% casi idéntico al incremento en el 23% del año anterior. Tanto en 2012 como en 2013 el crecimiento fue inferior al promedio del 53% de los 20 últimos años y también considerablemente inferior al promedio del 6% de los 20 años inmediatamente anteriores a la crisis de 2008-2009. El volumen del comercio mundial de mercancías siguió aumentando lentamente durante los primeros meses de 2014 a un ritmo del 21% en el primer trimestre en comparación con el mismo período de 2013. El incremento anual previsto irá en aumento a medida que la economía mundial cobra impulso a lo largo del año.
The new rules on digital trade in Latin America: regional trade agreements
While recent technological advances have supported an increase in digital trade this growth has occurred with a lack of clear and defined rules. This deficiency has become an issue for Latin American countries. With the multilateral trade regime impasse more complex regional and bilateral agreements have emerged. The formulation of digital trade regulation raises many questions. In this chapter we deal with the new rules on digital trade in regional trade agreements (RTAs) recently negotiated by Latin American economies. In this work special emphasis is given to comparing the Comprehensive and Progressive Agreement for Trans-Pacific Partnership (CPTPP) and the United States-Mexico-Canada Agreement (USMCA) the most advanced RTAs regarding these issues.
La reglamentación de los datos en los acuerdos comerciales: diferentes modelos y opciones para el futuro
“Los datos son el nuevo petróleo”. Al igual que el petróleo que impulsó la economía en el siglo pasado los datos mueven el mundo hoy en día especialmente en el caso del comercio internacional. El papel crucial que desempeñan los datos puede observarse en cada paso del proceso desde la concepción de un nuevo producto y el abastecimiento de materias primas y piezas hasta el proceso de fabricación y el transporte de los productos a través de las fronteras para que finalmente estos lleguen a las manos de los consumidores de todos los rincones del mundo.
Fundamental economic factors affecting international trade
The previous section has shown that the future of trade and economic growth depends on a range of factors. Predictions may change depending on how each of these factors develops. This section discusses how the fundamental economic factors shaping the future of international trade – namely demography investment technology energy and other natural resources transportation costs and the institutional framework – are likely to evolve in the coming years.
Openness to trade and informality
Globalization and the opening of markets in developing economies to trade is believed to have affected informal employment in these countries. This chapter summarizes the theoretical arguments for such a link and presents the relevant empirical evidence. In particular it asks the questions: What roles do trade reforms and trade expansion play in explaining changes in the share of informal employment? How does trade opening affect the relative wage of informal compared to formal workers? While the long-term allocative effects of trade opening have been extensively studied by trade economists since at least the eighteenth century the short- and medium-term impact of trade reforms on the composition of employment the wage structure and unemployment only started to attract the attention of researchers in the early 1990s (Agénor 1995). This chapter contains two parts. First a summary of theoretical approaches concerning the impact of trade on informality is provided. Second empirical studies aimed at validating different theoretical hypotheses are discussed.
Is Tunisian Trade Policy Pro-poor?
Trade liberalization policies affect the domestic economy through their impact on prices of goods and services. Consequently these policies also can affect average productivity and lead to industrial restructuring. The main goal of this research is to estimate the distributional effects of trade policy at the micro level using household survey data and to determine whether trade liberalization affected different groups of poor people differently. To our knowledge this question has not yet been addressed for Tunisia.
Résumé analytique
Le Rapport sur le commerce mondial 2013 analyse les tendances probables du commerce mondial et la manière dont les facteurs économiques sociaux et politiques présents et futurs pourraient influer sur ces tendances. Les relations ne sont pas unidirectionnelles dès lors que le commerce est à la fois la cause et l’effet de certaines évolutions.
Las cadenas de valor mundiales en la era de Internet: ¿qué oportunidades hay para África?
En el presente capítulo se analizan los efectos de Internet en las cadenas de valor mundiales (CVM) de África. En concreto analizamos qué repercusión tiene el uso de Internet en la participación progresiva y regresiva de los países africanos en las CVM. Nuestras estimaciones se basan en datos por países de la base de datos EORA de la Conferencia de las Naciones Unidas sobre Comercio y Desarrollo (UNCTAD) sobre las CVM y en datos de empresas procedentes de la Encuesta de Empresas del Banco Mundial. Lo que queremos es verificar si el uso de Internet facilita la participación de los países y las empresas de África en las CVM. Nuestros resultados sugieren que el uso de Internet y la infraestructura de Internet son factores más importantes para la participación progresiva de las empresas y países africanos en las CVM. Nuestra conclusión es que los resultados empíricos muestran que el uso de Internet incrementa la participación en las CVM en África. Los países y empresas africanos deben mejorar la infraestructura de Internet si quieren asegurar la mejor integración posible en las CVM.
The economic dimension of trade in the SDGs
Trade can play an important role in boosting economic growth and supporting poverty reduction. The increased market access opportunities it offers can help countries create jobs improve incomes and attract investments. The SDGs put significant emphasis on the role that trade plays in promoting sustainable development and recognize the contribution that the WTO can make to the 2030 Agenda.
Trade, value chains and labor markets in advanced economies
Trade is a major source of employment. Nevertheless trade has recently been caught in the crossfire in discussions around the decline of manufacturing employment and the polarization of labor markets in advanced economies. In this chapter we examine what the academic literature has to say on the relationship between trade and labor markets with a specific focus on studies with a value chain perspective. We find that trade has only modest effects on aggregate employment and is unlikely to have been a major contributor to the decline of manufacturing. However the effects vary considerably across regions and individuals with different skill levels. This implies that policy has a central role to play in making sure that the gains from trade are shared evenly. Our findings highlight that a value chain perspective is important for assessing the impact of trade on labor markets. The emergence of value chains has strengthened linkages between sectors magnified trade’s impact on skill demand and requires novel trade statistics. Ignoring this leads to a biased view of trade and overestimates its role in the decline of manufacturing employment.
El comercio electrónico en África: cuestiones en juego y desafíos
En el presente capítulo se analiza el potencial del comercio electrónico en África. El rápido crecimiento de Internet y de la telefonía móvil junto con la adopción de innovaciones móviles que han impulsado en gran medida la inclusión financiera y fomentado el uso de los medios de pago electrónicos han sentado una sólida base para el desarrollo del comercio electrónico en el continente. Por otro lado la tasa de penetración bancaria (que sigue siendo baja) las deficiencias en las leyes y reglamentos por los que se rige el sector y su falta de armonización transfronteriza limitan el desarrollo del comercio electrónico en África. La reducción de la ciberdelincuencia el aumento de la participación en el sector financiero y el fortalecimiento del marco jurídico son indispensables para promover el comercio electrónico.
Are digital advances and inclusive growth compatible goals? Implications for trade policy in developing countries
Recent years have seen policymakers give increasing attention to two significant widespread phenomena: rising inequality (the result of uneven access to productive employment) and the quickening pace of the Fourth Industrial Revolution (4IR) or “digital era”. This chapter explores the concept of inequality and why it is important to promote more inclusive growth especially in developing countries. It also offers insights into how digital advances can serve to accelerate inclusive growth provided countries have well-informed policies regulations and institutions to drive the necessary changes. It is evident from a crosssection of the literature and the initial results from a study on the effects of digital advances on inclusive growth in Africa that digitalization and inclusive growth are ideologically compatible. The areas requiring special attention by policymakers in developing countries include: (i) the problem of data inadequacy; (ii) uneven and costly digital connectivity; and (iii) education systems that are not preparing entrepreneurs for in-demand jobs or for the workplace of the future. Two of the prerequisites for leveraging digital technologies in order to drive more inclusive growth are an effective regulatory framework and a commercial environment that is both trade- and investment-friendly.
L’économie créative numérique et le commerce : options stratégiques pour les pays en développement
Le secteur créatif est une source importante de croissance dans l’économie mondiale et le commerce des produits et services créatifs numériques a fortement augmenté ces dernières années en particulier pendant la pandémie de COVID-19. Le contenu numérique remplace les biens physiques par exemple dans les segments de la musique des livres et des jeux. Les agrégateurs numériques comme Amazon Apple Netflix Spotify TikTok et YouTube ont alimenté une croissance rapide et diversifié les recettes en mettant l’accent sur la diffusion en continu la publicité et la monétisation des données. Les recettes liées aux droits d’auteur sont également en hausse et les perceptions de redevances liées au numérique constituent le segment qui connaît la croissance la plus rapide. La participation des pays en développement au secteur semble augmenter bien que l’on dispose de peu de données sur la question. Pour tirer parti des avantages potentiels de l’économie créative numérique les pays en développement doivent soutenir une transformation : le modèle classique du créateur indépendant exerçant une activité à faible valeur ajoutée doit faire place à une approche de collaboration stratégique qui permet de relever les niveaux d’entrepreneuriat créatif et numérique. À cette fin il convient de mettre en place un cadre juridique et institutionnel plus solide pour améliorer l’exploitation des droits d’auteur et les monétiser de soutenir financièrement la commercialisation des activités créatives d’amener les pouvoirs publics à participer au soutien aux entreprises (qui prend la forme entre autres d’activités de formation d’incubateurs de laboratoires d’innovation d’incubateurs de marché et de programmes de développement de groupements et de marchés) de créer des institutions pouvant représenter les intérêts des travailleurs et des entreprises du secteur créatif et d’harmoniser les politiques publiques concernant le secteur.
Resumen
El Informe sobre el Comercio Mundial 2013 examina las tendencias que probablemente marcarán el comercio mundial y el modo en que podrían influir los factores económicos sociales y políticos actuales y futuros en dichas tendencias. No se trata de relaciones unidireccionales ya que el comercio es a un tiempo causa y efecto de determinados fenómenos.
Constraints faced by the poor
Analysis of the role of trade in contributing to poverty reduction needs to go beyond its impact on economic growth. As discussed in the preceding chapter economic growth will remain the key driver of poverty reduction globally and trade will continue to be a critical driver of growth. Nevertheless in the areas in which extreme poverty is now concentrated — South Asia and Sub-Saharan Africa — with predicted growth more than 370 million people in these regions are likely to remain extremely poor in 2030 amounting to around 4.5 percent of the global population. Strikingly 80 percent of these extreme poor will be in Sub-Saharan Africa.
Integrating small and medium-sized enterprises into global trade flows: The case of China
In China the term “small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs)” refers to “different forms of enterprises under different ownerships that are established within the territory of the People’s Republic of China that meet the social needs and create more job opportunities and comply with the industrial policies of the State”. This definition is rather more complex than that in other countries where the definition of SMEs tends to be based purely on their size. It is nevertheless the case that in China also SMEs tend to be enterprises which have fewer employers lower sales volume and lower gross assets. Most Chinese enterprises are SMEs. Indeed they account for more than 98 per cent of industry and contribute to 60 per cent of China’s GDP 75 per cent of its industrial value-added output and 50 per cent of its revenue (as of June 2012). Chinese SMEs also provide for 75 per cent of China’s urban employment opportunities and absorb more than 50 per cent of the workers laid off from the state-owned enterprises. They employ more than 70 per cent of the new entrants to the labour market (Jianjun 2006). Hence Chinese SMEs play an important role in China’s economic development due to their contribution to GDP and the employment they create as well as their vigorous creative ability.
Les nouvelles règles sur le commerce numérique en Amérique latine : les accords commerciaux régionaux
Bien que les progrès technologiques récents aient été favorables à l’essor du commerce numérique cette croissance s’est produite en l’absence de règles claires et précises. Cette lacune est devenue problématique pour les pays d’Amérique latine. Des accords régionaux et bilatéraux plus complexes ont fait leur apparition face à l’impasse dans laquelle se trouve le régime commercial multilatéral. L’élaboration d’une réglementation du commerce numérique soulève de nombreuses questions. Dans le présent chapitre nous examinons les nouvelles règles sur le commerce numérique qui figurent dans les accords commerciaux régionaux (ACR) récemment négociés par les économies d’Amérique latine. Nous nous sommes particulièrement attachés dans ce cadre à comparer l’Accord de partenariat transpacifique global et progressiste (PTPGP) et l’Accord Canada–États-Unis–Mexique (ACEUM) – les deux ACR les plus avancés concernant ces questions.
Aid for Trade
Launched during the 2005 WTO Ministerial Conference which was held in Hong Kong China the WTO-led Aid for Trade initiative aims to help developing countries particularly LDCs build the supply-side capacity and trade-related infrastructure that they need to implement and benefit from WTO agreements and more broadly to expand their trade. The Aid for Trade Global Review which usually takes place biennially provides a platform to examine how developing countries and in particular LDCs can better utilize market access opportunities through targeted Aid for Trade; how this aid is assisting their integration into the global economy; how development partners are helping in this process; and above all the effectiveness of this support.
Introduction and Overview
This volume the work of more than twenty authors grew out of the Fourth China Round Table and the WTO’s Tenth Ministerial Conference two seminal events held back-to-back in Nairobi Kenya in December 2015. The work presented here provides comprehensive substantive insights of the African trade policy and development context in which these two meetings took place.