Desarrollo y creación de capacidad comercial

Trade facilitation is central to Africa’s competitiveness in the global economy. Costs related to trade facilitation make up a significant proportion of overall trade-related costs, which in Africa are higher than in any other developing region. This acts as a barrier for the integration of African countries into global markets, as well as greater intra-African integration. Improving trade facilitation is essential for lowering costs for African agricultural producers as well as supporting the development of higher value-added activities in agribusiness, manufacturing, and services, including participation in regional and global value chains. Diagnostic tools used by the World Bank Group, such as the Logistics Performance Index, as well as country-specific diagnostics, highlight the key challenges faced. The evidence also shows that performance varies, with some countries making significant progress on reform programs to improve trade facilitation. With other developing regions having generally more advanced trade facilitation regimes, the lessons from these regions can be instructive in designing and implementing reforms in Africa, which the World Bank Group is actively supporting at the national and regional levels. A priority for the Bank Group is implementing trade facilitation programs that do more to reduce trade-related costs facing the extreme poor, given the concentration of extreme poverty in Africa.

De plus en plus de personnes s’accordent à penser que le facteur ayant eu la plus forte incidence sur le commerce ces dernières années est l’introduction de technologies nouvelles et innovantes. L’évolution des technologies de l’information, de par sa vitesse et son intensité, a une incidence sur le commerce et plus généralement sur notre vie quotidienne comme jamais auparavant. Elle a rendu possible des interactions entre les humains, entre les humains et les machines, et entre les machines d’une manière qui aurait été inconcevable il y a encore quelques années. L’ère du numérique est une nouvelle réalité et c’est elle qui porte la croissance et le développement économiques. Elle pose des difficultés et ouvre des possibilités à tous les niveaux. Elle donne la possibilité aux pays en développement de mieux s’insérer dans les échanges internationaux, par le biais des chaînes de valeur mondiales (CVM) par exemple, mais il n’existe pas de mode d’emploi.

The nature of technology used in products plays a major role in determining the governance structure of value chains and the benefits of participation for developing countries. Standardization through breaking production into modules with a high degree of functional autonomy (limited mutual interference between modules) can dramatically reduce the amount of research and development (R&D), learning by doing, and the number of complementary skills needed to produce a good. This greatly increases opportunities for developing country firms to participate in formerly capital-intensive industries through reducing entry costs into global value chains. However, widespread access to standardized products with little ability to modify technical features can lead to an excessive supply of homogeneous products in a local market, resulting in intense price competition and limited technology transfer. By contrast, technology that facilitates scope for product modification and greater interaction with technology owners can help boost technology transfer and product upgrading by developing country firms. The chapter illustrates this interaction between changes in technology and opportunities for developing countries through developments in the automotive and mobile phone handset industries, with a particular reference to China’s growth experience. It also finds that automation is likely to have only a limited impact on developing countries’ opportunities to participate in value chains through the offshoring of production by high-income countries, at least in the short term.

Structural transformation is imperative for Africa’s economies. An unprecedented policy unanimity has emerged amongst African government and business leaders that to achieve sustained growth and development, Africa must industrialize and secure a greater share of the benefits of its participation in global value chains. This requires further advances in a programme for ‘development integration’ that simultaneously combines market integration with purposeful industrial development intervention and cooperation to strengthen regional value chains, underpinned by efforts to develop and rehabilitate cross-border infrastructure for greater connectivity across Africa.

The World Trade Report has been written under the general direction of Patrick Low, Director of the Economic Research and Statistics Division. The main authors of the Report are Bijit Bora, K. Michael Finger, Marion Jansen, Alexander Keck, Patrick Low, Hildegunn Nordas, Roberta Piermartini and Robert Teh. Trade statistics and tariff information were provided by the Statistics Group of the Economic Research and Statistics Division, co-ordinated by Guy Karsenty, Julia de Verteuil, Andreas Maurer and Jürgen Richtering.

This year’s World Trade Report looks at how trade and other forces of change are affecting our world. It combines contemporary analysis with conjecture about the future. The approach is eclectic, reflecting many different forces at work. The intermingling of these drivers of change is multidirectional and complex, and the pace of change is rapid.

International trade rebounded in 2002 from its contraction in the preceding year, growing at about 2.5 per cent in volume terms, which was faster than the growth of global output. The rebound occurred despite the weakness of the global economic recovery, greatly reduced capital flows, major changes in exchange rates, increased restrictions on international trade transactions to mitigate risks from terrorism, and rising geopolitical tensions. Trade growth was strong in Asia and the transition economies, largely reflecting better economic performance in those regions. However trade was stagnant in Western Europe, and contracted in Latin America as a result of economic turmoil in a number of countries in the region. North America’s imports recovered in line with stronger domestic demand, while exports continued to decrease in 2002.

Following the so-called “Asian option” of transition, from the early 1990s Viet Nam adopted the Doi Moi (renovation) process, a combination of liberalization, stabilization and structural reforms. This included two main waves of trade liberalization, one in the 1990s and a second in the 2000s (Coello at al., 2010). The first wave lasted from the initial opening of the country until approximately 2001 and foresaw the total abolition of trade licences and the removal of most quantitative restrictions (Thanh and Duong, 2009). The second wave—still ongoing—includes the full involvement of the country in the global network of reciprocal trade agreements (both multilateral, WTO accession in January 2007, and bilateral, such as agreements signed with the United States in 2001 as well as FTA negotiations with the EU concluded in 2016).

Although small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) represent the vast majority of firms worldwide, their participation in international trade remains limited relative to their share of overall economic activity and employment as compared to large firms. The rise of the digital economy could, however, open a range of new opportunities for small firms to play a more active role in global value chains (GVCs). This chapter reviews evidence of SME participation in international trade and production networks and looks at how the digitalization of our economies is already affecting, or could affect future, SME contributions to GVCs. New research by Lanz et al. (2018) finds evidence that digitally-connected SMEs in developing countries tend to import a higher share of their inputs than non-digitally-connected firms. Additionally, it is shown that this positive digital effect is greater for SMEs than it is for large firms. The chapter reviews the various opportunities that the digital economy opens for SMEs, especially in terms of cost reductions and the emergence of new business models, but also discusses policy measures that could be taken to promote SME participation in GVCs. Indeed, significant challenges remain for SMEs to enter GVCs, some of which are exacerbated by the new digital economy. A holistic approach that combines investment in ICT infrastructure and human capital with trade policy measures and measures to improve the business environment, access to finance and logistics, and promote innovation and R&D is necessary. Improving the availability of data would also help to better understand and integrate SMEs in GVCs.

La valeur en dollars des transactions électroniques effectuées en Chine a considérablement augmenté au cours des 20 dernières années, notamment grâce à l’amélioration des infrastructures, à la croissance rapide de la téléphonie mobile et à l’accroissement des financements. Le marché se caractérise également par une diversité croissante, notamment à la lumière de l’accroissement des services médicaux électroniques, de l’expansion du commerce électronique transfrontières et du développement des transactions en ligne à hors ligne. Le gouvernement national de la Chine a joué un rôle important dans le développement du commerce électronique grâce à l’élaboration de politiques dans le cadre de plans quinquennaux, tandis que les gouvernements régionaux ont quant à eux participé à la planification et à l’ajustement du cadre de la politique relative au commerce électronique en fonction de la situation locale.

The WTO supports African countries’ capacity-building needs through its technical assistance (TA) programme. In 2019, the WTO continued to enhance human and institutional capacity development on multilateral trade issues in Africa through the biennial Training and Technical Assistance Plan (TA Plan). The TA Plan is the framework that identifies priorities and mechanisms for implementation of TA activities, sources of funding and anticipated results. African countries are accorded priority in the implementation of many of the traderelated technical assistance activities.

Achieving better economic growth and better environmental outcomes is an indispensable condition for achieving the SDGs. If economic growth continues along its current environmentally unsustainable trajectory, the world risks compromising the prospects for future growth and human well-being, and even undoing much of the progress made on both fronts during the past 50 years, according to an OECD study. Forests, wetlands and other forms of “natural capital”, which make up almost 40% of the total wealth in developing and least-developed countries, are under increased pressure due to air, water and soil pollution along with rising greenhouse gas emissions, says a recent World Bank report.

El comercio electrónico ha experimentado un rápido crecimiento en Kenya, apoyado por las leyes que regulan los servicios de tecnología de la información y las comunicaciones (TIC), las transacciones de comercio electrónico, la protección de datos y el acceso a la información. El Gobierno ha creado ventanillas únicas para la prestación de servicios públicos a los ciudadanos y para la logística comercial. El país está bien posicionado para ampliar su comercio digital con la creación de la Zona de Libre Comercio Continental Africana AfCFTA), habida cuenta de las políticas esbozadas en el Plan para la Economía Digital del Gobierno. El crecimiento del comercio digital ofrecerá nuevas oportunidades para la prestación de servicios en línea, promoverá la diversificación de las exportaciones, impulsará la eficiencia y el crecimiento en el sector manufacturero, mejorará la competencia en el sector financiero, aumentará el acceso a información relacionada con los mercados e incrementará el acceso de las microempresas y las pequeñas y medianas empresas (mipymes) a los mercados. Sin embargo, el potencial del comercio digital está limitado por la falta de acceso a servicios financieros, los bajos ingresos, una escasa cobertura de la banda ancha y de la fibra, una mala infraestructura de transporte y déficits de competencias. El marco jurídico y reglamentario de Kenya es insuficiente para ofrecer protección contra la ciberdelincuencia, garantizar la privacidad, apoyar la interoperabilidad de las plataformas móviles para la transferencia de dinero y los bancos, promover la confianza de los consumidores en las transacciones en línea, proteger la propiedad intelectual y proteger los sitios digitales de las responsabilidades derivadas de lo que publican los consumidores.

Cette section examine plusieurs caractéristiques de l’OMC qui aident à soutenir le développement et explique leur logique économique. Elle se divise en quatre sous-sections. La première sous-section montre comment l’OMC a aidé les pays en développement à gérer les défis liés aux quatre tendances décrites dans les sections précédentes et à en tirer parti. La deuxième examine, du point de vue économique, l’importance des engagements et des flexibilités prévus dans les accords commerciaux pour le développement. La littérature économique démontre que les règles et les disciplines de l’OMC favorisent la croissance en instaurant l’environnement prévisible dont les entreprises ont besoin pour prospérer. Dans le même temps, elle justifie l’existence des flexibilités, y compris le traitement spécial et différencié, par les dysfonctionnements du marché et par le fait que les Membres de l’OMC n’ont pas tous la même capacité de mise en oeuvre des obligations. La troisième sous-section décrit les règles et disciplines spécifiques qui s’appliquent expressément aux pays en développement. La quatrième et dernière sous-section décrit les mécanismes institutionnels qui intéressent tout particulièrement les pays en développement Membres.

In 2015, the World Bank and the World Trade Organization published a flagship report on the role of trade in the effort to end poverty by 2030. Over the past three years, the two organizations have collaborated in various ways to advance that goal, from supporting implementation of the WTO Trade Facilitation Agreement; to assisting the poor, including women and small-scale traders, to take advantage of trade opportunities; to supporting trade reforms in the world’s poorest countries.

Over the past decade, world trade has expanded signifi cantly. By 2007, global trade had reached more than 60 per cent of world GDP, compared with less than 30 per cent in the mid-1980s. Few would contest that increased trade has contributed to global growth and job creation. However, strong growth in the global economy has not, so far, led to a corresponding improvement in working conditions and living standards for many. Absolute poverty has declined, thanks to the economic dynamism of recent years, the efforts of private companies, migrant workers and their remittances and the international development community. Nevertheless, in many instances, labour market conditions and the quality of employment growth have not improved to the same degree. In many developing economies job creation has mainly taken place in the informal economy, where around 60 per cent of workers fi nd income opportunities. However, the informal economy is characterized by less job security, lower incomes, an absence of access to a range of social benefi ts and fewer possibilities to participate in formal education and training programmes – in short, the absence of key ingredients of decent work opportunities.

The Global Value Chains Development Report is a joint publication of the World Trade Organization (WTO), the Institute of Developing Economies (IDE–JETRO), the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD), the Research Center of Global Value Chains (RCGVC-UIBE), the World Bank Group, and the China Development Research Foundation, based on joint research efforts to better understand the ongoing development and evolution of global value chains and their implications for economic development.

Cette section examine les défis et les possibilités inhérents aux stratégies de croissance et de développement fondées sur les produits de base, dans le contexte de prix relativement élevés mais volatiles. Elle présente d’abord un aperçu de l’évolution historique des prix des produits agricoles et des ressources naturelles. Puis elle analyse la façon dont les pays en développement sont arrivés à exploiter leur potentiel d’exportation de produits agricoles et de ressources naturelles dans ce contexte de prix élevés, pour asseoir leur développement. Elle met en évidence les politiques qui ont été utiles, mais aussi les défis qui restent à surmonter pour réaliser pleinement ce potentiel d’exportation. Enfin, elle examine les problèmes posés par une volatilité accrue, notamment pour les pays importateurs de produits alimentaires et pour les pays exportateurs de ressources naturelles, vulnérables aux cycles d’expansion et de récession.

This report has examined the forces that will shape the future of world trade. These forces are complex and numerous. They interact with trade itself and with each other, as well as being influenced by government policy. One thing seems clear: the landscape and nature of world trade are changing fast. As trade evolves, new policy challenges will arise. If properly managed, international trade will further increase prosperity around the globe. What are the main issues, therefore, that policy-makers need to take into account?

Ces dernières années ont été marquées par le rôle de plus en plus important des économies en développement dans l’économie mondiale. Cette section examine comment, en dix ans, de nombreux pays sont parvenus à une croissance économique remarquable, tout en faisant reculer à grands pas la pauvreté. Certains de ces pays sont devenus d’importants producteurs et exportateurs de produits manufacturés, de produits agricoles et de services commerciaux, éclipsant parfois les pays industriels. Il s’agit, en particulier, des grandes économies en développement qui se sont imposées dans des enceintes internationales comme le G-20.

World trade growth fell to 2.0 per cent in 2012 from 5.2 per cent in 2011, and remained sluggish in the opening months of 2013 as the economic slowdown in Europe suppressed global import demand. The abrupt deceleration of trade in 2012 was mainly attributable to slow growth in developed economies and recurring bouts of uncertainty over the future of the euro. Flagging output and high unemployment in developed countries reduced imports and fed through to a lower pace of export growth in both developed and developing economies. More positive economic developments in the United States in the early months of 2013 were offset by lingering weakness in the European Union, as peripheral euro area economies continued to struggle and even core euro area economies increasingly felt the impact of the downturn in the region.

La section précédente a montré que l’avenir du commerce et de la croissance économique dépend de plusieurs facteurs. Les prévisions peuvent changer en fonction de l’évolution de chacun de ces facteurs. Cette section examine comment les facteurs économiques fondamentaux qui déterminent l’avenir du commerce international – à savoir la démographie, l’investissement, la technologie, l’énergie et les autres ressources naturelles, les coûts de transport et le cadre institutionnel – sont susceptibles d’évoluer dans les années à venir.