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Handbook on Measuring Digital Trade
What is “digital trade” and how can it be measured and monitored to support policymakers in navigating the digital transformation of international commerce? Digital technologies have made it increasingly feasible for buyers and sellers to place and receive orders on a global scale. They also enable the instantaneous remote delivery of services directly into businesses and homes including internationally. By focusing on these two criteria – digital ordering and digital delivery across borders – the Handbook on Measuring Digital Trade sets out a conceptual and measurement framework for digital trade that aligns with the broader standards for macroeconomic statistics. This second edition of the Handbook is the outcome of a partnership between the International Monetary Fund (IMF) the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD) the United Nations Conference on Trade and Development (UNCTAD) and the World Trade Organization (WTO) resulting in a comprehensive agreed approach. This Handbook aims to help statistical compilers to address policymakers’ needs for statistical evidence on digital trade. It includes extensive compilation guidance drawing upon substantive inputs and case studies from both developed and developing economies and covering a variety of survey and non-survey sources. A reporting template is also proposed to support compilers in the production and dissemination of digital trade statistics. This Handbook thereby establishes a valuable shared foundation for understanding and measuring digital trade in a way that is internationally comparable. Furthermore it provides a crucial resource for an active programme of technical assistance and statistical capacity-building through which the four co-authoring partner organizations can support statistical compilers as they seek to measure monitor and respond to the challenges of digital trade.
Annual Report 2024
This report covers WTO activities in 2023 and the early part of 2024. At the start of the report Director-General Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala reflects on the current challenges facing world trade and the role of the WTO in helping the world address these challenges. The report also covers the 13th WTO Ministerial Conference which took place from 26 February to 2 March 2024.
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.