Economic research and trade policy analysis
Uso integral de la tecnología en las aduanas inteligentes del futuro
El año 2021 puso de relieve el papel fundamental que desempeñan las aduanas como entidades facilitadoras del comercio mundial. Para que las cadenas de suministro mundiales sean más eficientes en el futuro, las aduanas inteligentes han de reducir al mínimo los plazos y los costos que comporta el despacho, además de gestionar de manera inteligente la entrada y salida de productos y vehículos. Tecnologías disruptivas como los dispositivos conectados a la Internet de las cosas permiten que equipos autónomos supervisen de manera efectiva la mercancía y hagan un seguimiento de las rutas.
Avant-propos de la Directrice générale de l’OMC
Nous vivons une époque d’évolution technologique rapide qui peut changer en profondeur les pratiques du commerce international. La nécessité de suivre cette évolution technologique et de bien comprendre ses implications peut effrayer bon nombre d’entre nous. Ce rapport permettra d’éclairer les « technologies de rupture » les plus pertinentes pour la gestion des frontières et aidera les gouvernements à mieux comprendre les défis et les avantages liés à l’utilisation de ces technologies dans l’environnement douanier.
Agradecimientos
La actualización del Informe de estudio sobre las tecnologías disruptivas (2022) es fruto del esfuerzo colectivo de las secretarías de la Organización Mundial de Aduanas (OMA) y la Organización Mundial del Comercio (OMC), que han trabajado en estrecha colaboración con las administraciones de aduanas de los Miembros, representantes del sector privado y otras partes interesadas. El informe ha sido elaborado por Milena Budimirovic, Özlem Soysanli, Vyara Filipova y Lesego Mmolai de la OMA y Emmanuelle Ganne y Sheri Rosenow de la OMC. Zakaria Imessaoudene, de la OMC, ayudó en las tareas de investigación.
Prólogo de la Directora General de la OMC
Vivimos en una época de rápidos cambios tecnológicos que pueden alterar profundamente el desarrollo del comercio internacional. Para muchos, estar al día de las últimas tecnologías y entender plenamente sus implicaciones puede ser una tarea abrumadora. Este informe arrojará luz sobre las llamadas “tecnologías disruptivas” que revisten mayor interés para la gestión de fronteras y ayudará a los Gobiernos a comprender mejor los desafíos y los beneficios de su utilización en las aduanas.
Introducción: ¿tecnologías «disruptivas…» o (solo) «emergentes»?
¿A qué nos referimos exactamente cuando hablamos de “tecnologías disruptivas”? Según el diccionario de Cambridge, una tecnología disruptiva es una nueva tecnología que cambia radicalmente la forma de hacer las cosas. Aunque no podemos estar seguros de qué tecnologías lograrán este cometido en el futuro, en los últimos años, el público ha aceptado de manera generalizada el término “tecnologías disruptivas” para referirse a la cadena de bloques, la Internet de las cosas, la inteligencia artificial, la realidad virtual, los drones, la impresión 3D y otras tecnologías de vanguardia, que son objeto de este Informe de estudio.
Avant-propos du Secrétaire général de l’OMD
Conscients de la nécessité de rester au fait des avancées dans le domaine des technologies de rupture et de nous efforcer de comprendre les défis et opportunités inhérents à ces technologies pour les administrations des douanes et la gestion des frontières, nous présentons une version actualisée du Rapport d’étude sur les technologies de rupture. Au cours de ces trois années écoulées depuis sa première publication, ce rapport s’est avéré être une source d’informations précieuse. Cependant, compte tenu des nombreux projets pilotes et progrès réalisés entre temps, nous avons pensé que l’heure était venue d’actualiser ce document pour garantir aux membres, à la communauté des opérateurs et aux autres parties prenantes une information de qualité à propos des dernières évolutions sur le terrain et offrir un soutien supplémentaire en vue de la mise en oeuvre des normes de l’OMD telles que la Convention de Kyoto révisée.
Contexte
Au cours de ses 207e/208e sessions de mars 2015, et sur proposition de ses délégués, le Comité technique permanent (CTP) de l’OMD a lancé le débat sur le thème de l’avenir de la douane. L’idée a surgi à l’occasion de discussions sur le rôle du CTP, lors desquelles les délégués sont convenus que le Comité devait jouer un rôle plus actif et débattre de questions stratégiques et de thèmes tournés vers l’avenir.
Executive summary
The war in Ukraine is causing immense human suffering. At the same time, it has delivered another severe challenge to the global economy already strained by the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic. However, the multilateral trading system has withstood this disruption relatively well so far.
Way forward and policy implications
The war in Ukraine is causing immense human suffering. At the same time, it has delivered another major challenge to the global economy already strained by the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic. This series of crises has given rise to a move for reshoring, nearshoring and for “friend-shoring” – either making strategically important goods at home or procuring them from allies.
Introduction
The war in Ukraine started one year ago. The human and economic costs are enormous and growing. Through trade, particularly in food and some raw materials, its effects have spread globally, manifested by supply chain disruptions and increased food insecurity. Early assessments of the impact of the war, including a WTO Secretariat note (WTO, 2022), laid out different scenarios for spill-overs to other regions and identified countries and sectors at heightened risk. After one year of war, the WTO Secretariat has reassessed the situation and examined how the multilateral trading system has reacted to the crisis.
Introduction
COVID-19 is a forerunner of more, and possibly worse, pandemics to come. Scientists have repeatedly warned that without greatly strengthened proactive strategies, global health threats will emerge more often, spread more rapidly, and take more lives. Together with the world’s dwindling biodiversity and climate crisis, to which they are inextricably linked, infectious disease threats represent the primary international challenge of our times. Recognizing this new reality of a pandemic era is not fearmongering but rather prudent public policy and responsible politics. We must organize ourselves on a whole-of-society basis within nations and rethink how we collaborate internationally to mitigate its profound consequences for livelihoods, social cohesion, and global order.
Deepening Cooperation on Medical Goods and Services Trade
This chapter examines how improved cooperation in trade and trade-related issues contributes to global health security. Starting from the gaps in cooperation that emerged during the COVID-19 pandemic, the chapter outlines what is needed to ensure that rules in trade agreements and mechanisms of cooperation beyond trade can support efforts to better respond to the next pandemic.
Preface
COVID-19 (coronavirus), the most severe pandemic in a century, tested the ability of the global system of open trade to deliver medical goods and services swiftly to the people who needed them most, anywhere in the world. In some respects, the trade system met the test; in others, it fell short. This report draws lessons from the pandemic experience and suggests concrete ways that trade can be leveraged to strengthen global health security and better prepare collectively for a future crisis.
Overview
The COVID-19 pandemic has exposed the upsides and downsides of international trade in medical goods and services. Open trade can increase global access to medical services and goods (and to the critical inputs needed to manufacture them), improve quality, and reduce costs. Better global access to medical goods and services, in turn, contributes to global health security, which the World Health Organization (WHO) defines as “the activities required, both proactive and reactive, to minimize the danger and impact of acute public health events that endanger people’s health across geographical regions and international boundaries.” But excessive concentration of production, restrictive trade policies, supply chain disruptions, and regulatory divergence can jeopardize the ability of public health systems to prepare for and respond to pandemics and other health crises—for instance, by limiting universal access to essential goods and services.
Acknowledgments
Trade Therapy: Deepening Cooperation to Strengthen Pandemic Defenses is a joint report by the World Bank and the World Trade Organization (WTO). Nadia Rocha and Michele Ruta from the World Bank and Marc Bacchetta and Joscelyn Magdeleine from the WTO are the coordinators of the report. The team members are grateful for the guidance and support of Mona Haddad (Global Director, Trade, Investment and Competitiveness) and Antonio Nucifora (Practice Manager, Trade and Regional Integration Unit) from the World Bank; and Anabel Gonzalez (WTO Deputy Director-General).
Trade Flows in Medical Goods and Services
This chapter has two goals: (a) it looks at the main demand and supply charac‑teristics of markets for medical goods and services and how they shape gains and risks from trade in these products; and (b) it provides stylized facts on trends in international trade in medical goods and services, including the functioning of medical supply chains, before and during the COVID-19 pandemic.
Acknowledgements
The updated Study Report on Disruptive Technologies (2022) is the result of the collective effort of the World Customs Organization (WCO) and the World Trade Organization (WTO) Secretariats working closely with the Member Customs administrations, private sector representatives and other stakeholders. The Report was prepared by Milena Budimirovic, Özlem Soysanlı, Vyara Filipova and Lesego Mmolai from the WCO and Emmanuelle Ganne and Sheri Rosenow from the WTO. Research assistance was provided by Zakaria Imessaoudene from the WTO.
Background
Based on the proposal submitted by the WCO Permanent Technical Committee (PTC) delegates, the Future of Customs topic was launched at the 207th/208th Sessions of the PTC in March 2015. This came as a result of discussions on the role of the PTC, where it was agreed that the Committee would take a more active role in discussing strategic matters and future-oriented topics.
Introduction: “disruptive…” or (just) “emerging” technologies?
When we talk about “disruptive technologies”, what exactly do we mean? According to the Cambridge Dictionary, a disruptive technology is a new technology that completely changes the way things are done. Even though we cannot be certain which technologies will accomplish this in the future, the public has over the past years broadly accepted “disruptive technologies” as a term which refers to blockchain, the Internet of Things, artificial intelligence, virtual reality, drones, 3D printing and other cutting-edge technologies, which are the subject of this Study Report.
Conclusion
The findings from the Study Report and the case studies provided in the Annex reflect a high level of Customs interest and activity in the testing and implementation of three groups of technologies in particular. Over half of the Members that responded to the WCO’s 2021 ACS are already using IoT, AI, and ML, while only two respondents are currently deploying blockchain technology. Information on numerous pilot projects and PoCs shared by the Customs administrations and other stakeholders show the interest in expanding the use of these technologies, as well as the confidence in the benefits they will bring to Customs in achieving its objectives and supporting cross-border trade.
Foreword by the WCO Secretary General
Understanding the need to keep abreast of developments in the field of disruptive technologies and to seek to understand the challenges and opportunities they bring to Customs and border management, we are presenting an updated version of the Study Report on Disruptive Technologies. In the three years since it was first published, it has served as an important source of information. However, considering the numerous pilot projects and progress that has been achieved in the meantime, we believe the time is right to provide an update to ensure that Members, the trading community and other stakeholders are well informed about the latest developments on the ground, that can further support implementation of WCO standards, such as the Revised Kyoto Convention.
Foreword
This updated edition of WTO Dispute Settlement: One-Page Case Summaries has been prepared by the Legal Affairs Division of the WTO with assistance from the Rules Division. This new edition includes all panel and Appellate Body reports adopted by the WTO Dispute Settlement Body up to 31 December 2022. It also includes a separate section with summaries for panel reports that have been circulated to WTO Members and made available on the WTO website, but that have not been adopted by the DSB as they remain subject to pending appeals. Given the unfilled vacancies on the Appellate Body these appeals cannot be advanced or completed.
Prefacio
La pandemia de COVID-19 (coronavirus), la más grave en un siglo, puso a prueba la capacidad del sistema mundial de comercio abierto para suministrar rápidamente bienes y servicios médicos a las personas que más los necesitaban, en cualquier parte del mundo. En algunos aspectos, el sistema de comercio superó la prueba; en otros, no estuvo a la altura. En el presente informe se extraen lecciones de la experiencia adquirida con la pandemia y se sugieren formas concretas de aprovechar el comercio para reforzar la seguridad sanitaria mundial y prepararse mejor colectivamente para futuras crisis.
General note and abbreviations
The statistics related to applied tariffs and imports are calculated using data which are based on the HS nomenclature adopted by the country for the reference year. For statistics on bound tariffs, the calculations are based on the approved schedule of concessions of the WTO member. In previous issues of World Tariff Profiles, each schedule is based on the HS version which the member used when it acceded to the WTO. Starting with the 2010 issue of this publication, bound tariff statistics are based on the approved schedule of concessions for each member in the most recent HS version. This might have some implications on the historical series of various bound tariff indicators affected by the use of a different nomenclature. While the member’s commitments have not changed as a result of the transposition, some aggregate statistics might have been affected as a consequence of the change to another HS version.
Situation des mesures de subvention dans le monde
Notre compréhension des subventions reste inégale et incomplète. Notre connaissance des pratiques de subvention est lacunaire; si l’information est assez développée concernant certains secteurs, elle est encore peu avancée pour d’autres. Au niveau mondial, nous avons une meilleure idée du nombre de mesures de subvention que de leur taille ou de leur importance relative, mais les chiffres peuvent induire en erreur – si par exemple tel pays cite un grand nombre de mesures de subvention de faible importance, et tel autre un seul programme global (de grande ampleur). La compréhension est aussi faussée par la transparence inégale des mesures de subvention selon les secteurs et les pays. À partir des renseignements disponibles, la présente section indique ce que nous savons – ou non – de l’utilisation des subventions.
Medidas de ayuda permitidas sin límites en el marco del Acuerdo sobre la Agricultura
Como se indica en la sección IV.B, en el Acuerdo sobre la Agricultura de la OMC se permiten algunas categorías de ayuda sin límites. Se considera que esas categorías no distorsionan el comercio o tienen efectos mínimos de distorsión del comercio o la producción (“compartimento verde”), se conceden en el marco de programas de limitación de la producción (“compartimento azul” o ayuda prevista en el artículo 6.5) o con fines de desarrollo (ayuda prevista en el artículo 6.2), y, por consiguiente, están exentas de los “compromisos de reducción”. Aunque las dos primeras categorías de ayuda están a disposición de todos los Miembros de la OMC, la ayuda prevista en el artículo 6.2 solo puede ser concedida por los países en desarrollo Miembros.
Budgetary Support to Agriculture
Budgetary support to agriculture remains significant at $447 billion a year over 2018–20 across the 54 economies measured by the OECD Agriculture Monitoring and Evaluation report. The main subsidizers vary, depending on whether support is measured in absolute numbers or as a percentage of Gross Farm Receipts (GFR).
Domaines d’action prioritaires
Il existe des raisons indéniables de renforcer la coopération concernant les pratiques de subventionnement. Certaines subventions ont des effets de distorsion des échanges et de l’investissement, perturbent les marchés étrangers et alimentent un sentiment d’iniquité s’agissant de la concurrence internationale. L’instauration de nouvelles subventions est susceptible de compromettre les avantages tirés des négociations antérieures sur les droits de douane et l’accès aux marchés. D’autres subventions ont des effets préjudiciables pour l’environnement. Lorsqu’ils jugent la coopération insuffisante, certains gouvernements réagissent en prenant des mesures unilatérales plus agressives afin de limiter les perturbations et les dommages touchant directement leurs branches de production nationales. Cependant, ces mesures n’ont qu’une influence limitée sur les pratiques étrangères de subventionnement et elles peuvent avoir des conséquences imprévues sur d’autres branches de production nationales.
Resumen
Tratar las subvenciones del comercio mundial de manera constructiva es un elemento central del objetivo de los líderes del G20 de reformar y reforzar el sistema multilateral de comercio. La utilización cada vez mayor de subvenciones causantes de distorsión altera los flujos comerciales y de inversión, menoscaba el valor de las consolidaciones arancelarias y otros compromisos de acceso a los mercados y erosiona el apoyo público al libre comercio. Las pronunciadas diferencias en torno a las subvenciones están contribuyendo a las tensiones comerciales mundiales, que perjudican al crecimiento y los niveles de vida.
Soutien budgétaire à l’agriculture
Le soutien budgétaire à l’agriculture se maintient à un niveau élevé: au cours de la période 2018-2020, il s’est établi à 447 milliards de dollars par an dans les 54 économies étudiées dans le rapport de l’OCDE sur le suivi et l’évaluation du secteur agricole. Les principaux pourvoyeurs de subventions varient selon que le soutien est mesuré en chiffres absolus ou en pourcentage des recettes agricoles brutes.