Economic research and trade policy analysis
Subventions, commerce et coopération internationale
Il est essentiel de traiter de manière constructive les subventions dans le commerce mondial pour atteindre l'objectif des dirigeants du G-20 qui consiste à réformer et à renforcer le système commercial multilatéral. Le recours croissant à des subventions ayant un effet de distorsion modifie les courants d'échanges et d'investissements affaiblit la valeur des consolidations tarifaires et des autres engagements en matière d'accès aux marchés et ébranle le soutien du public en faveur du libre-échange. Cette publication indique en conclusion que les gouvernements doivent coopérer davantage en ce qui concerne les subventions. Elle vise à mettre en évidence les avantages que pourrait présenter une coopération plus étroite et examine certains domaines dans lesquels cette coopération pourrait être poursuivie de manière constructive.
Subsidies, Trade, and International Cooperation
Dealing constructively with subsidies in global commerce is central to G20 leaders’ goal of reforming and strengthening the multilateral trading system. The growing use of distortive subsidies alters trade and investment flows detracts from the value of tariff bindings and other market access commitments and undercuts public support for open trade. This publication finds that governments need to cooperate more on subsidies. It seeks to highlight the potential benefits of closer cooperation and considers some areas where this might be pursued constructively.
Trade therapy
The COVID-19 (coronavirus) pandemic has exposed the upsides and downsides of international trade in medical goods and services. Open trade can increase access to medical services and goods—and the critical inputs needed to manufacture them—improve quality and variety and reduce costs. However excessive concentration of production restrictive trade policies supply chain disruptions and regulatory divergence can jeopardize the ability of public health systems to respond to pandemics and other health crises. Trade Therapy: Deepening Cooperation to Strengthen Pandemic Defenses coordinated by Nadia Rocha and Michele Ruta at the World Bank and Marc Bacchetta and Joscelyn Magdeleine at the World Trade Organization provides new data on trade in medical goods and services and medical value chains surveys the evolving policy landscape before and during the pandemic and proposes an action plan to improve trade policies and deepen international cooperation to deal with future pandemics. As the COVID-19 pandemic lingers the focus of policy action is on the response which includes actions aimed at removing bottlenecks and providing government support to promote equitable access to vaccines. As the emergency subsides the focus should shift to prevention and preparedness. Steps to close information gaps—building on the Multilateral Leaders Task Force on COVID-19 the ACT-Accelerator and the open markets for example—by negotiating tariff reductions on medical goods and greater market access in services should take priority. Also important are measures to improve the efficiency of markets which include harmonizing regulation through mutual recognition or equivalence of standards and creating international standards for essential medical goods inputs and production processes. Agreement on a crisis rulebook to be deployed during an emergency—including clear and agreed limits on export policy flexibility and shared rules on intellectual property flexibilities—would provide a more solid policy foundation to address future challenges.
Rapport sur le commerce mondial 2022
Le changement climatique a une incidence profonde sur la vie des populations dans l'ensemble du monde. L'atténuation de ce changement et l'adaptation à celui-ci rendent nécessaires des investissements économiques majeurs et une action coordonnée en vue de la transition vers une économie durable et sobre en carbone. Le Rapport sur le commerce mondial 2022 examine les liens complexes qui existent entre le changement climatique le commerce international et les politiques climatiques et commerciales. Le commerce international bien qu'il entraîne des émissions de gaz à effet de serre qui contribuent aux catastrophes naturelles d'origine climatique peut aussi être essentiel pour aider les pays à réduire leurs émissions en rendant plus disponibles et plus abordables les biens les services et les technologies environnementaux. De même le commerce international peut jouer un rôle clé en soutenant les pays dans leur adaptation aux effets du changement climatique et dans le renforcement de leur résilience à l'avenir. Le Rapport sur le commerce mondial 2022 montre comment le commerce international et les règles commerciales peuvent contribuer à la lutte contre le changement climatique. Afin que les politiques en matière de commerce et de changement climatique se renforcent mutuellement il faut assurer au niveau mondial la coordination et la transparence des mesures gouvernementales. L'OMC joue déjà un rôle important pour aider les pays à combattre le changement climatique en maintenant un environnement commercial prévisible fondé sur des règles spécifiques à l'Organisation qui rendent possible le commerce international des produits et services essentiels lesquels sont nécessaires pour faire face aux conséquences de ce changement et pour réduire les émissions. La poursuite de la coopération internationale à l'OMC pourrait renforcer la complémentarité des politiques commerciales et des politiques relatives au changement climatique afin que le monde soit mieux à même d'évoluer vers une économie sobre en carbone.
World Trade Report 2022
Climate change is having a profound impact on people’s lives across the world. Mitigating and adapting to climate change will require major economic investment and coordinated action to transition to a sustainable low-carbon economy. The World Trade Report 2022 explores the complex interlinkages between climate change international trade and climate and trade policies. Although international trade generates greenhouse gas emissions which contribute to climate-related natural disasters it can also play an essential role in helping countries reduce emissions by increasing the availability and affordability of environmental goods services and technologies. International trade can also play a key role in helping countries adapt to the impacts of climate change and build future resilience. The World Trade Report 2022 shows how international trade and trade rules can contribute to addressing climate change. Ensuring trade and climate change policies are mutually supportive requires global coordination and transparency about government measures. The WTO already plays an important role in helping countries tackle climate change by maintaining a predictable trading environment underpinned by WTO rules that allow for international trade in critical goods and services needed to cope with the consequences of climate change and to reduce emissions. Further international cooperation at the WTO could strengthen the mutual supportiveness of trade and climate change policies so that the world is better equipped to transition to a low-carbon economy.
Informe sobre el Comercio Mundial 2022
El cambio climático está afectando seriamente la vida de las personas en todo el mundo. La mitigación del cambio climático y la adaptación a sus consecuencias exigirán una gran inversión económica y una actuación coordinada para lograr la transición a una economía sostenible y con bajas emisiones de carbono. En el Informe sobre el comercio mundial 2022 se examina la compleja interrelación entre el cambio climático el comercio internacional y las políticas climáticas y las políticas comerciales. Si bien el comercio internacional genera emisiones de gases de efecto invernadero lo que contribuye a los desastres naturales relacionados con el clima también puede desempeñar una función esencial para ayudar a los países a reducir sus emisiones aumentando la disponibilidad y la asequibilidad de los bienes servicios y tecnologías ambientales. Asimismo el comercio internacional puede jugar un papel fundamental para ayudar a los países a adaptarse a las repercusiones del cambio climático y reforzar su resiliencia de cara al futuro. El Informe sobre el comercio mundial 2022 muestra cómo el comercio internacional y las normas comerciales pueden contribuir a hacer frente al cambio climático. Para garantizar que las políticas comerciales y ambientales se apoyan mutuamente es necesario que las medidas gubernamentales sean transparentes y estén coordinadas a nivel mundial. La OMC ya desempeña una función importante ayudando a los países a afrontar el cambio climático mediante el mantenimiento de un entorno comercial previsible basado en las normas de la OMC que permite el comercio internacional de bienes y servicios esenciales necesarios para hacer frente a las consecuencias del cambio climático y reducir las emisiones. Una mayor cooperación internacional en la OMC puede facilitar que las políticas comerciales y las políticas relativas al cambio climático se refuercen mutuamente y hacer de este modo que el mundo esté mejor preparado para lograr la transición a una economía de bajas emisiones de carbono.
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.
Perspectives du commerce mondial et statistiques
Les « Perspectives du commerce mondial et statistiques » de l’OMC analyse l’évolution récente du commerce mondial jusqu’au deuxième trimestre de 2023 et présente les prévisions actualisées de l’OMC concernant le volume du commerce de marchandises en 2023 et 2024. L’évolution des échanges de marchandises et de services commerciaux en valeur est également présentée avec des ventilations par secteur et par région. La publication du rapport coïncide avec celle des dernières statistiques commerciales trimestrielles et annuelles de l’OMC qui peuvent être téléchargées à partir de la base de données en ligne de l’OMC à stats.wto.org.
Global Trade Outlook and Statistics
The WTO’s “Global Trade Outlook and Statistics” analyses recent global trade developments through the second quarter of 2023 and presents the organization’s updated forecasts for merchandise trade volume in 2023 and 2024. Developments in merchandise and commercial services trade in value terms are also shown with breakdowns by sector and region. The report is timed to coincide with the release of the WTO’s latest quarterly and annual trade statistics which can be downloaded from the WTO’s online database at stats.wto.org.
Perspectivas del comercio mundial y estadísticas
Las “Perspectivas del comercio mundial y estadísticas” analiza la evolución reciente del comercio mundial hasta el segundo trimestre de 2023 y presenta las previsiones actualizadas de la Organización para el volumen del comercio de mercancías en 2023 y 2024. También se muestra la evolución del comercio de mercancías y servicios comerciales en términos de valor con desgloses por sectores y regiones. La publicación del informe coincide con la de las últimas estadísticas comerciales trimestrales y anuales de la OMC que pueden descargarse de la base de datos en línea de la OMC en stats.wto.org.
WTO Dispute Settlement: One-Page Case Summaries 1995–2022
This publication provides handy one-page summaries of the key findings of every dispute panel report issued up to the end of 2022 and the relevant Appellate Body reports issued over this period. Each one-page summary comprises the core facts the key findings contained in the reports and any other matters of particular significance. Two indexes list the disputes by WTO agreement and by WTO member responding to the complaint.
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.
World Trade Report 2023
The establishment of the multilateral trading system over seven decades ago was based on the understanding that interdependence and cooperation contribute to peace and shared prosperity. More recently however new challenges such as geopolitical tensions rising inequalities and climate change have led to fears that globalization exposes countries to excessive risks. Such fears have increased pressures to unwind trading relationships and turn to unilateral policies through a process of fragmentation. This year’s World Trade Report examines the benefits of integration into world trade as well as the risks of fragmentation. It shows that trade has proved to be a source of security and peace a driver of poverty reduction and a critical tool for addressing climate change. The Report argues that to make our economies more secure inclusive and sustainable re-globalization – or integrating more people economies and pressing issues into global trade and strengthening multilateral cooperation – is a much more effective solution to global challenges than fragmentation. Global problems need global solutions meaning that today’s world needs more cooperation not less. A reinvigorated multilateral trading system overseen by the WTO has an important role to play in this process.
Profils commerciaux 2023
Les Profils commerciaux 2023 fournissent une série d’indicateurs clés sur le commerce des marchandises et des services de 197 économies. Concernant le commerce des marchandises les principales exportations et importations de produits agricoles et non agricoles sont répertoriées avec les principales origines et destinations de ces produits. Concernant le commerce des services une ventilation détaillée est donnée pour les services de transport les services relatifs aux voyages et d’autres services commerciaux. La publication contient également des statistiques sur la propriété intellectuelle. Lesinformations sont disponibles pour tous les Membres de l’OMC et les observateurs et pour certaines autres économies. Par souci de commodité les données pour chaque économie sont présentées sur deux pages ce qui permet d’avoir un aperçu rapide du commerce mondial. La publication est un précieux outil de référence pour tous ceux qui ont besoin de statistiques commerciales de base.
Trade Profiles 2023
Trade Profiles 2023 provides a series of key indicators on trade in goods and services for 197 economies. For merchandise trade major exports and imports are listed for both agricultural and non-agricultural products as well as major origins and destinations for total merchandise trade. For trade in services a detailed breakdown is provided for transport travel and other commercial services. Statistics on intellectual property are also provided. The information is available for all WTO members and observers and for other selected economies. For each economy the data is presented in a handy two page format providing a concise overview of global trade. The publication is an invaluable reference tool for anyone looking for essential trade statistics.
Global Value Chain Development Report 2023
The Global Value Chain Development Report 2023 the fourth in this biennial series is released at a critical juncture in the evolution of Global Value Chains (GVCs). In response to the diverse shocks of recent years this report explores approaches to build resilient and sustainable GVCs. It provides an overview of the most recent trends in GVCs assesses the effects of the trade tensions and the COVID-19 pandemic on GVCs and illustrates particular changes of energy and semiconductor supply chains. It also analyzes the challenges of climate change to GVCs and proposes a framework of greening value chains and policy options for enhancing inclusive development through GVC participation.
Trade Policy Tools for Climate Action
Trade Policy Tools for Climate Action a publication by the WTO Secretariat looks into the trade policies that governments could consider as part of their strategies for climate change mitigation and adaptation. The publication covers ten policy areas where governments have introduced measures to support the transition to a low-carbon economy improve the flow of climate-friendly goods and services decarbonize supply chains and build resilience to extreme weather events and climate change. Launched at COP28 the publication is intended to shed light on how trade policy actions for climate could accelerate the transition to a climate-friendly global economy as part of the WTO Secretariat’s efforts to encourage the full use of the power of trade to deliver on collective sustainable development objectives including those in relation to the climate crisis.
Digital Trade for Development
This report explores the opportunities and challenges for developing economies arising from digital trade and discusses the role of international cooperation in tackling these opportunities and challenges. The report considers policy actions in the areas of digital infrastructure skills international support for capacity development and the regulatory and policy environment. Specific policy issues include the WTO e-commerce moratorium regulation of cross-border data flows competition policies and consumer protection.
Trade finance in the Mekong region
Cambodia the Lao People’s Democratic Republic and Viet Nam – the so-called Mekong-3 - have experienced rapid trade growth over the last ten years. However growth could be boosted even further by improving access to trade finance such as loans and guarantees for locally owned businesses seeking to trade globally. This publication presents the results of two surveys undertaken by the IFC to determine the level of trade finance available to businesses in the Mekong region. An analysis of the data conducted by the WTO explores the potential impact of an expansion in trade finance and how this could lead to greater integration into world trade and more inclusiveness with increased participation in global supply chains by small businesses and women-owned enterprises. The publication is intended to serve as a guide to how domestic financial sectors can reorient their operations to support cross-border trade and enhanced access to global markets.
World Tariff Profiles 2023
World Tariff Profiles 2023 provides comprehensive information on the tariffs and non-tariff measures imposed by over 170 countries and customs territories. The publication starts with a breakdown of the tariffs imposed by these economies. Tariff data are presented in comparative tables and in one-page profiles for each economy. A summary table on selected indicators on the imports and exports profile for these economies is also presented. Statistics on non tariff measures by country and by product group complement the data on tariffs. Under the special topics part there are two technical papers. The first one analyses the evolution of market access over 16 years of World Tariff Profiles and the second one focuses on Product classification for WTO trade statistics and policy analysis - Multilateral Trade Negotiations (MTN) Categories. The publication is jointly prepared by the World Trade Organization the United Nations Conference on Trade and Development (UNCTAD) and the International Trade Centre (ITC).
Perfiles Arancelarios en el Mundo 2023
La publicación “Perfiles arancelarios en el mundo 2023” ofrece información exhaustiva sobre los aranceles impuestos por más de 170 países y territorios aduaneros. La publicación comienza con un desglose de los aranceles impuestos por esas economías. Los datos se presentan en cuadros sinópticos y en perfiles individuales de una página para cada economía. Se proporciona también una tabla recapitulativa sobreeterminados indicadores relativos a los perfiles de importación y de exportación para estas economías. A continuación figura una sección sobre la utilización de las medidas no arancelarias que están adquiriendo una importancia cada vez mayor en el comercio internacional. En el apartado/la sección de los temas especiales figuran dos documentos técnicos. En el primero se analizan la evolución del acceso a los mercados en los 16 años de la publicación Perfiles Arancelarios en el Mundo y el segundo se centra en la Clasificación de productos utilizada por la OMC en las estadísticas comerciales y el análisis de políticas – Categorías de las Negociaciones Comerciales Multilaterales.
Informe sobre el Comercio Mundial 2023
El establecimiento del sistema multilateral de comercio hace más de siete decenios se basó en el entendimiento de que la interdependencia y la cooperación contribuyen a la paz y a la prosperidad compartida. Sin embargo más recientemente los nuevos desafíos como las tensiones geopolíticas el aumento de las desigualdades y el cambio climático han suscitado temores de que la globalización expone a los países a riesgos excesivos. Estos temores han aumentado las presiones para romper las relaciones comerciales y recurrir a políticas unilaterales a través de un proceso de fragmentación. En el Informe sobre el Comercio Mundial de este año se examinan los beneficios de la integración en el comercio mundial así como los riesgos de fragmentación. En él se indica que el comercio ha demostrado ser una fuente de seguridad y paz un motor de reducción de la pobreza y un instrumento fundamental para hacer frente al cambio climático. En el informe se afirma que para que nuestras economías sean más seguras inclusivas y sostenibles la reglobalización —o bien la integración de más personas economías y cuestiones apremiantes en el comercio mundial y el fortalecimiento de la cooperación multilateral— es una solución mucho más eficaz a los desafíos mundiales que la fragmentación. Los problemas mundiales exigen soluciones mundiales lo que significa que el mundo actual necesita más cooperación no menos. Un sistema multilateral de comercio revitalizado supervisado por la OMC tiene una importante función que desempeñar en este proceso.
Rapport sur le commerce mondial 2023
L'établissement du système commercial multilatéral il y a plus de 70 ans reposait sur l'idée que l'interdépendance et la coopération contribuaient à la paix et à la prospérité de tous. Plus récemment toutefois de nouveaux défis sont apparus comme les tensions géopolitiques l'augmentation des inégalités et les changements climatiques et ont suscité la crainte que la mondialisation n'expose les pays à des risques excessifs. Ces craintes ont intensifié les pressions exercées pour revenir sur les relations commerciales et se tourner vers des politiques unilatérales au moyen d'un processus de fragmentation. Le Rapport sur le commerce mondial de cette année examine les avantages de l'intégration dans le commerce mondial ainsi que les risques liés à la fragmentation. Il montre que le commerce s'est révélé être une source de sécurité et de paix un vecteur de réduction de la pauvreté et un outil essentiel pour lutter contre les changements climatiques. Le rapport fait valoir que pour rendre nos économies plus sûres plus inclusives et plus durables la remondialisation à savoir l'intégration d'un plus grand nombre de personnes d'économies et de questions urgentes dans le commerce mondial et le renforcement de la coopération multilatérale est une solution beaucoup plus efficace que la fragmentation pour relever les défis mondiaux. Les problèmes mondiaux appellent des solutions mondiales ce qui signifie que dans le monde d'aujourd'hui il faut davantage de coopération pas moins. Un système commercial multilatéral redynamisé chapeauté par l'OMC a un rôle important à jouer dans ce processus.
Le règlement des différends dans le cadre de l’OMC : un différend, une page (1995-2022)
La présente publication contient des résumés pratiques d’une page des principales constatations de chaque rapport de groupe spécial publié jusqu’à la fin de 2022 et des rapports pertinents de l’Organe d’appel publiés pendant cette période. Chaque résumé d’une page comprend les faits principaux les constatations clés contenues dans les rapports et d’autres points d’une importance particulière. Deux index énumèrent les différends par Accord de l’OMC et par Membre de l’OMC répondant à la plainte.
Profils tarifaires dans le monde 2023
La publication intitulée « Profils tarifaires dans le monde 2023 » donne des renseignements complets sur les droits imposés par plus de 170 pays et territoires douaniers. La publication commence par une ventilation des droits de douane appliqués par ces économies. Les données sont présentées dans des tableaux récapitulatifs et sous forme de profils individuels d’une page pour chaque économie. Un tableau récapitulatif concernant certains indicateurs relatifs au profil des importations et des exportations pour ces économies est aussi disponible. Vient ensuite une section qui porte sur l’utilisation des mesures non tarifaires qui sont de plus en plus importantes dans le commerce international. La partie consacrée aux sujets spéciaux comprend deux documents techniques. Le premier analyse l’évolution de l’accès aux marchés au cours de 16 années de « Profils tarifaires dans le monde » et le second met l’accent sur la classification des produits aux fins des statistiques commerciales et analyses de politiques établies par l’OMC – catégories utilisées dans les négociations commerciales multilatérales (NCM).
Examen estadístico del comercio mundial 2023
El Examen estadístico del comercio mundial pasa revista a las tendencias más recientes del comercio mundial y analiza en profundidad qué se comercia y quiénes son los actores clave. Los capítulos analíticos se complementan con más de 65 cuadros en que se desglosan de forma detallada las mercancías y los servicios objeto de comercio y los principales exportadores e importadores.
World Trade Statistical Review 2023
“World Trade Statistical Review” looks into the latest trends in global trade with in-depth analysis of what is being traded and who the key players are. Analytical chapters are complemented by over 65 tables providing a detailed breakdown of the goods and services being traded and the leading exporters/importers.
Solución de diferencias en la OMC: Resúmenes de una página por caso (1995-2022)
Esta publicación contiene resúmenes útiles de una página de las principales constataciones contenidas en cada uno de los informes de los Grupos Especiales publicados hasta finales de 2022 así como en los informes correspondientes del Órgano de Apelación publicados en ese período. Cada resumen de una página se compone de los hechos fundamentales las constataciones principales que figuran en los informes y otras cuestiones especialmente importantes. La publicación incluye dos índices en los que se enumeran las diferencias en función de los Acuerdos de la OMC abordados y del Miembro de la OMC demandado.
Examen statistique du commerce mondial 2023
" L'Examen statistique du commerce mondial" étudie les évolutions récentes du commerce mondial et fournit une analyse détaillée de la nature des échanges et des principaux acteurs. Les chapitres analytiques sont complétés par plus de 65 tableaux qui détaillent les marchandises et services échangés et les principaux exportateurs et importateurs.
Global Trade Outlook and Statistics
The WTO’s “Global Trade Outlook and Statistics” analyses recent global trade developments up to the fourth quarter of 2023 and presents the organization’s forecasts for world trade in 2024 and 2025. Breakdowns of merchandise and commercial services trade by sector and region are provided together with details on leading traders. The report is timed to coincide with the release of the WTO’s latest quarterly and annual trade statistics which can be downloaded from the WTO’s online database at stats.wto.org.
Perspectives du commerce mondial et statistiques
Les « Perspectives du commerce mondial et statistiques » de l’OMC analyse l’évolution récente du commerce mondial jusqu’au quatrième trimestre de 2023 et présente les prévisions de l’OMC concernant le commerce mondial pour 2024 et 2025. Il contient des ventilations du commerce des marchandises et du commerce des services commerciaux par secteur et par région ainsi que des renseignements détaillés concernant les principaux pays commerçants. La publication du rapport coïncide avec celle des dernières statistiques commerciales trimestrielles et annuelles de l’OMC qui peuvent être téléchargées à partir de la base de données en ligne de l’Organisation à l’adresse suivante : stats.wto.org.
Perspectivas del comercio mundial y estadísticas
Las “Perspectivas del comercio mundial y estadísticas” de la OMC analizan la evolución reciente del comercio mundial hasta el cuarto trimestre de 2023 y presentan las previsiones de la Organización sobre el comercio mundial en 2024 y 2025. Se proporcionan desgloses del comercio de mercancías y servicios comerciales por sectores y regiones así como información detallada sobre los principales interlocutores comerciales. La publicación del informe coincide con la de las últimas estadísticas comerciales trimestrales y anuales de la OMC que pueden descargarse de la base de datos en línea de la OMC en la dirección siguiente: stats.wto.org.
Services provisions in regional trade agreements: Stumbling blocks or building blocks for multilateral liberalization?
A remarkable feature of the recent wave of regional trade agreements (RTAs) is the inclusion of a trade in services component in many agreements. At the end of 2006 the WTO counted fifty-four such service accords of which only five predate the conclusion of the Uruguay Round.2 The rising interest in service trade agreements reflects a number of developments. First as tariffs have come down policymakers have turned their attention to other barriers restricting international commerce. Second the growth of world trade in goods and the emergence of international production networks have highlighted the importance of an efficient services infrastructure – whether in telecommunications finance logistics or legal advice. Market openings in services offer the prospect of performance improvements in services and allow goods producers to draw on multinational service networks in organizing their business.
Remerciements et avertissement
Le Rapport sur le commerce mondial 2020 a été établi sous la responsabilité générale de Xiaozhun Yi Directeur général adjoint de lOMC et de Robert Koopman Directeur de la Division de la recherche économique et des statistiques. La rédaction du Rapport a été coordonnée par Marc Auboin et Ankai Xu. Les auteurs du rapport sont Marc Auboin Marc Bacchetta Cosimo Beverelli Eddy Bekkers Kian Cassehgari Posada Emmanuelle Ganne John Hancock Kathryn Lundquist Gabrielle Marceau José-Antonio Monteiro Roberta Piermartini Stela Rubínová Victor Stolzenburg Ankai Xu et Qing Ye (Division de la recherche économique et des statistiques).
Merchandise and services trade, value (nominal) terms, 2009
The US dollar value of world merchandise trade fell 23 per cent in 2009 to US$ 12.1 trillion down from US$ 16.1 trillion in 2008. Some of this decline was due to changes in trade volumes while much of the rest can be explained by falling commodity prices in 2009 particularly for oil. After rising to record levels in 2008 world crude oil prices plunged 37 per cent in 2009 from US$ 95 per barrel to US$ 60 per barrel on average. As a result nominal trade developments for particular countries and regions may differ substantially from developments in volume terms particularly for oil exporters on the export side and oil importers on the import side.
Conclusiones
En el presente informe se han abordado cuatro cuestiones fundamentales relacionadas con el comercio de los recursos naturales. La primera es la forma en que las características económicas esenciales de los recursos naturales y el modo en que se comercia con ellos influyen en la estructura del comercio de este tipo de bienes. En segundo lugar se ha examinado en qué medida la ausencia de obstáculos al comercio permite asegurar eficazmente el acceso a los recursos naturales y su viabilidad a largo plazo. La tercera cuestión guarda relación con los incentivos que tienen los gobiernos en la elaboración de su política comercial sobre los sectores de recursos naturales y las consecuencias de esa estructura de incentivos. Por último en el informe se ha analizado cómo afecta la cooperación internacional a la gestión del comercio de recursos naturales con especial atención a la función de la OMC.
Multiproduct Firms, Tariff Liberalization, and Product Churning in Vietnamese Manufacturing
Multiproduct firms are the dominant players in international production and trade (Bernard Jensen and Schott 2010; Goldberg et al. 2010a). Moreover these firms are active in alternating their combination of product varieties. In fact Bernard Jensen and Schott (2010) have documented a frequent change in the product mix in the United States (US) where almost 50% of multiproduct firms change their product mix every 5 years. Indeed firms’ adjustment in product scope constitutes one important layer of firm heterogeneity (Nocke and Yeaple 2006).
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.
Supply chains and trade in value-added
The increasing importance of global supply chains challenges the way statistics on trade are collected. Statistics on international trade flows are measured in gross terms and hence record the value of intermediate inputs traded along the value chain multiple times. Trade in global supply chains can be measured using firm surveys customs statistics that record trade flows under special schemes of tariff reduction or exemption or the Standard International Trade Classification (SITC) classifying goods as being intermediate or final. Because of several limitations associated with these methods however using input-output tables has become the preferred method for measuring trade in global supply chains. They are used to compute the value of imported inputs embodied in goods that are exported. A more complete measure of a country’s participation in global value chains combines foreign value-added in exports (upstream links) with exports that are incorporated in other products and re-exported (downstream links). Estimates of the ratio of valueadded exports to gross exports suggests that the double counting in gross trade flows and hence international production sharing has intensified in recent years especially for fast growing countries undergoing structural transformation. Relying on national inputoutput tables however has its limitations. Combining it with bilateral trade data is difficult because there is no standard international classification the level of sectoral aggregation is often different and their publication is infrequent. On-going efforts from the international statistics community to estimate trade in value-added go beyond the limitations of the input-output approach.
Enforcement of Labour Regulation and the Labour Market Effects of Trade: Evidence from Brazil
This chapter examines how enforcement of labour regulation shapes the labour market effects of trade. To do so we focus on the early 1990s Brazilian trade liberalization episode which was a unilateral and extensive tariff reduction process.
Estimating trade in value-added: Why and how?
Global value chains (GVCs) have become a dominant feature of today’s global economy. This growing process of international fragmentation of production driven by technological progress cost access to resources and markets and trade policy reforms has challenged our conventional wisdom on how we look at and interpret trade and in particular the policies that we develop around it. Indeed traditional measures of trade that record gross flows of goods and services each and every time they cross borders alone may lead to misguided decisions being taken.
Foreword
The global economy is going through unprecedented times. The COVID-19 pandemic has shaken the world threatening the lives and livelihoods of millions of people in both developed and developing economies with a particularly devastating impact on small businesses. World trade plummeted in the first half the year and despite signs of trade bouncing back WTO estimates in October 2020 still forecast a 9.2 per cent decline in the volume of world merchandise trade for 2020.
Aspects économiques de l’impact des technologies numériques sur le commerce
La présente section examine comment les nouvelles technologies transforment le commerce international créant de nouvelles possibilités d’établir un système commercial plus inclusif et soulevant de nouveaux défis. Elle analyse d’abord l’influence des technologies numériques sur les coûts du commerce international. Puis elle examine comment ces technologies modifient ce qui est échangé par qui et comment. Enfin l’impact potentiel des grandes tendances de l’évolution technologique est quantifié et des projections à long terme concernant le commerce international sont faites au moyen du Modèle du commerce mondial de l’OMC.
International trade in air transport: Recent developments and policy issues
Air transport like other transport services is associated with international trade in two distinct ways. First air transport is traded as a service in its own right. Second it is a key intermediate service for many other kinds of trade in the domain of both goods and services (such as tourism). Numerous studies have highlighted the importance of an efficient effective and reliable air transport infrastructure especially in developing countries to ensure the materialization of the gains from trade (WTO 2004). These studies also highlight the important role of international civil aviation in contributing to the development process and its role in the leisure and commercial decisions of many people. This importance is expected to increase as a result of technological innovation deregulation and enhanced market access for foreign companies which are all making air transport more accessible to a wider set of customers in a broader range of countries.
Introduction
Over the last few decades the internet has entered every corner of our lives from social interactions to entertainment and work and has fundamentally reshaped our economies slashing the cost of acquiring and trading information. It has fuelled the digital revolution fundamentally changing the ways in which we communicate consume and produce and it has profoundly transformed international trade in terms of what we trade how we trade and who is trading.
Foreword by the Director-General
This year’s World Trade Report explores the role of trade in a world characterized over the last several decades by increasing dependence among nations. This inter-dependency – what we all call globalization today – is a multi-layered and complex phenomenon involving intensive political social and economic interaction nationally and internationally. Few would contest the benefits that globalization has brought in terms of greater prosperity for hundreds of millions as well as greater stability among nations. But many individuals in different societies across the world have shared little or not at all in the benefits of globalization. The challenges facing national governments in managing globalization are formidable and success in spreading prosperity more widely requires a strong common purpose.
Algunos objetivos declarados por los gobiernos para la utilización de subvenciones
En esta Sección se examinan los principales objetivos que alegaron los gobiernos para seguir concediendo subvenciones entre otros el desarrollo industrial la innovación y la ayuda a las grandes empresas nacionales la protección del medio ambiente y la redistribución. En la categoría general de “redistribución” se examinan tres objetivos más específicos: la utilización de subvenciones para fines de política regional el apoyo a ramas de producción en decadencia para el ajuste y las obligaciones de servicio universal. Esta selección no pretende ser exhaustiva pero comprende algunos de los objetivos más importantes que tratan de alcanzar los gobiernos de los países en desarrollo y desarrollados.
Executive summary
This report deals with the relevant WTO Agreements and the way they may influence health and health policies. In undertaking this joint study the WHO and WTO Secretariats seek to examine the linkages between trade and health policies so as to enable both trade and health officials to better understand and monitor the effects of these linkages.
Responding to trade-related changes in skills demand
In recent decades global and regional trade policies have helped less developed countries in pursuing comparative advantages in higher-productivity activities and in exploiting these to drive development raise income levels and give workers a better standard of living. Skills development has had and continues to have an important enabling role in this process.
The economics of how digital technologies impact trade
This section focuses on how new technologies are transforming international trade creating new opportunities for a more inclusive trading system and raising new challenges. The section opens with a discussion of how digital technologies affect international trade costs. This is followed by an assessment of how digital technologies change the nature of what is traded how we trade and who trades what. Finally the potential impact of important trends in technological development is quantified and long-term projections on international trade are made using the WTO Global Trade Model.
Acknowledgments
The Global Value Chain Development Report 2021 the third in the series draws on contributions from 25 background papers presented and discussed at the First Authors’ Workshop for the Global Value Chain Development Report 2021 during 8–9 October 2020. The drafts of the report’s six chapters were presented at the Chapter Authors’ Workshop for the Global Value Chain Development Report 2021 during 26–28 May 2021 (Appendix). The Asian Development Bank (ADB) organized both online workshops. The editors thank the authors of these papers and the chapters and the discussants and participants at the two workshops for their insightful comments and suggestions.
Los efectos del comercio en el funcionamiento del mercado de trabajo
En esta sección se examinan datos empíricos sobre los efectos del comercio en los salarios y el empleo y se plantean las siguientes cuestiones cruciales: ¿qué datos hay sobre la repercusión de la competencia de las importaciones y la deslocalización en los salarios y el empleo? ¿Cómo afectan al empleo un mayor acceso a los mercados de exportación y el abaratamiento de los insumos importados? ¿Cómo pueden compaginarse datos empíricos heterogéneos de diferentes países? ¿Cómo afecta la naturaleza del mercado de trabajo a los resultados? ¿De qué magnitud son los costos de ajuste a los cambios ligados al comercio? Esta sección se centra en particular en los salarios y el empleo porque la investigación sobre otros aspectos del mercado de trabajo como la estabilidad y la seguridad en el empleo está mucho menos avanzada debido a la falta de datos nacionales lo que impide examinar la incidencia del comercio y la tecnología sobre estas otras variables.
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.
WTO Accessions and Trade Multilateralism
What have WTO accessions contributed to the rules-based multilateral trading system? What demands have been made by original WTO members on acceding governments? How have the acceding governments fared? This volume of essays offers critical readings on how WTO accession negotiations have expanded the reach of the multilateral trading system not only geographically but also conceptually clarifying disciplines and pointing the way to their further strengthening in future negotiations. Members who have acceded since the WTO was established now account for twenty per wto_cent of total WTO membership. In the age of globalization there is an increased need for a universal system of trade rules. Accession negotiations have been used by governments as an instrument for domestic reforms and one lesson from the accession process is that there are contexts which lead multilateral trade negotiations to successful outcomes even in the complex and multi-polar twenty-first-century economic environment. The contributions in this volume illuminate the pressing question regarding why some trade negotiations fail some stall and others succeed.
Some stated objectives of governments for using subsidies
This Section discusses the main objectives governments claim to pursue with subsidies including industrial development innovation and support for national champions environment related objectives and redistribution. Under the broad category “redistribution” three more specific objectives are examined: the use of subsidies for regional policy purposes adjustment support for declining industries and universal service obligations. This selection does not pretend to be exhaustive but it covers some of the most important objectives pursued by governments in developing and developed countries.
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.
El comercio en un mundo en proceso de globalización
La integración económica avanza en todo el mundo a un ritmo sin precedentes. La globalización ha reportado ingentes beneficios a muchos países y ciudadanos pero algunos han salido perdiendo en el proceso y está creciendo por muchas razones la oposición a una mayor integración. El comercio es solamente un aspecto de la globalización y los nexos con los elementos económicos políticos y tecnológicos más generales son múltiples y complejos. Algunos argumentos contrarios al comercio abierto son alimentados por distintos factores -incluido un temor general a los cambios- que poco tienen que ver con una mayor apertura del comercio. Los gobiernos que tratan de responder a las presiones contra el comercio basadas en los argumentos opuestos a la globalización corren el riesgo de equivocarse al decidir sus políticas. Sin duda el escepticismo frente al comercio es motivo de preocupación particularmente ahora que los Miembros de la OMC están tratando de culminar la Ronda de Doha. En este momento crucial parece conveniente volver a considerar los argumentos en favor del comercio y preguntarnos si los argumentos tradicionales favorables al libre comercio siguen siendo válidos.
A world of opportunities and challenges
Research published by the European Parliament in 2017 claimed that Blockchain could “change our lives” (Boucher 2017). What the various blockchain applications that are being developed in areas as diverse as trade finance trade facilitation trade in services intellectual property and government procurement show is that Blockchain has the potential to impact both the traders and the government agencies involved in international trade significantly. Opportunities are multifaceted but will only be realized if several key challenges are addressed.
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.
A historical perspective on regionalism
This chapter explores the development of regionalism from a historical perspective with a view to understanding how the world ended up with some 350 regional trade agreements (RTAs) (so far) of varying degrees of coverage complexity and efficacy. Understanding the history of regionalism may shed light on how to multilateralize it; and an understanding of the factors that led nations to conclude trade agreements outside the multilateral trading system may help to identify some lessons for dealing with the increasing proliferation of RTAs.
The Republic of Korea’s Trade Adjustment Policies and their Effects on Labour Market Adjustment
The Republic of Korea (hereafter Korea) has been actively opening its markets since the early 1990s making its first bilateral trade agreement with Chile effective from 3 April 2004. It has since arranged such agreements with 52 countries that now cover more than 77 per cent of the world’s GDP. Given the little progress made in multilateral negotiations under the Doha Development Agenda (DDA) much of the progress in market liberalization has taken the form of regional trade agreements (RTAs). It has been through an extensive network of these arrangements with partners such as the EU the US and the People’s Republic of China (hereafter China) that the Korean Government has been pursuing sustained growth.
Remerciements
Le Rapport sur le commerce mondial a été rédigé sous la supervision de Kipkorir Aly Aza Rana Directeur général adjoint. Patrick Low Directeur de la Division de la recherche économique et des statistiques a dirigé l’équipe chargée de la rédaction. Ses principaux auteurs sont Bijit Bora Zdenek Drabek K. Michael Finger Marion Jansen Alexander Keck Patrick Low Hildegunn Kyvik Nordås Roberta Piermartini et Robert Teh. Barbara d’Andrea de la Division de la recherche économique et des statistiques est coauteur de la section IB. Jeffrey Gertler de la Division des affaires juridiques a contribué à la rédaction de la section IB. Mukela uanga de la Division de la recherche économique et des statistiques a fourni une précieuse assistance à certains des auteurs principaux. 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.
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.
Tendances récentes du commerce international
En 2005 l’économie mondiale a progressé de 33 pour cent taux plus faible qu’en 2004 mais quand même légèrement supérieur à la moyenne de la décennie. Dans la plupart des régions la croissance économique est restée vigoureuse bien qu’elle ait été moins forte que l’année précédente. Seule l’Europe a encore enregistré une faible croissance du PIB – inférieure de plus de moitié au taux observé en Amérique du Nord. Au Japon en revanche l’activité économique s’est raffermie. Compte tenu du ralentissement de la croissance économique mondiale en 2005 et de l’évolution du marché pétrolier la croissance du commerce des marchandises – comme celle du PIB – s’est ralentie en termes réels tout en restant supérieure à la moyenne des dix dernières années.
Acknowledgements
The World Trade Report 2006 was prepared under the general direction of Deputy Director-General Alejandro Jara. Patrick Low Director of the Economic Research and Statistics Division led the team responsible for writing the Report. The principal authors of the Report were Marc Bacchetta Bijit Bora K. Michael Finger Marion Jansen Alexander Keck Clarisse Morgan Roberta Piermartini and Robert Teh. Trade statistics information was provided by the Statistics Group of the Economic Research and Statistics Division coordinated by Guy Karsenty Julia de Verteuil Andreas Maurer and Jürgen Richtering.
Le commerce des services en chiffres
La présente section montre l’importance du commerce des services dans l’économie mondiale en s’appuyant sur un ensemble de données expérimental établi par l’OMC appelé TISMOS (Trade in Services by Modes of Supply – Données sur le commerce des services par mode de fourniture). Cet ensemble de données rend compte des services fournis selon les quatre modes définis dans l’Accord général sur le commerce des services (AGCS) de l’OMC; les statistiques traditionnelles sur le commerce des services ne portent que sur trois des quatre modes de fourniture de l’AGCS. La présente section traite aussi de la participation des économies en développement y compris les pays les moins avancés (PMA) de l’importance des micro petites et moyennes entreprises (MPME) et du rôle des femmes dans le commerce des services. Enfin elle étudie la part de valeur ajoutée des services dans les chaînes de valeur mondiales.
Acknowledgements
The World Trade Report 2010 was prepared under the general direction of the Deputy Director-General Alejandro Jara and supervised by Patrick Low Director of the Economic Research and Statistics Division. The principal authors of the Report were Marc Bacchetta Cosimo Beverelli John Hancock Alexander Keck Gaurav Nayyar Coleman Nee Roberta Piermartini Nadia Rocha Michele Ruta Robert Teh and Alan Yanovich. Other written contributions were provided by Marc Auboin Mireille Cossy and James Windon. Trade statistics information was provided by the Statistics Group of the Economic Research and Statistics Division coordinated by Hubert Escaith Julia de Verteuil Andreas Maurer and Jurgen Richtering.
Acknowledgements
The World Trade Report 2008 was prepared under the general direction of Deputy Director-General Alejandro Jara. Patrick Low Director of the Economic Research and Statistics Division led the team responsible for writing the Report. The principal authors of the Report were Marc Bacchetta Chad Bown K. Michael Finger Marion Jansen Alexander Keck Roberta Piermartini Michele Ruta and Robert Teh. Trade statistics information was provided by the Statistics Group of the Economic Research and Statistics Division coordinated by Hubert Escaith Julia de Verteuil Andreas Maurer and Jürgen Richtering.
Introduction
The last two decades have seen an explosion of regional trade agreements some of them involving several countries many of them bilateral. Some have been local within regions others have stretched across regions. Some have involved deep integration going beyond the WTO while others have been quite light and superficial. All in all some 350 of these agreements exist.
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.
Energy-related rules in Accession Protocols: Where are they?
Energy issues have not been systematically discussed by WTO members in the multilateral trading system. This is owing to the fact that there is no rule on energy per se in WTO agreements. Yet all tradable energy goods and services are covered by the General Agreement on Tariffs and Trade 1994 and the General Agreement on Trade in Services respectively. With energy security and climate change high on the global agenda there is increasing interest in how to deal with energy-related issues during WTO accession negotiations particularly given that several energy-producing countries energy-transit countries and energy-consuming countries are currently in accession negotiations. Following the examples of earlier accessions the ongoing negotiation dossiers would need to negotiate energy-related specific obligations in their terms of accession. This chapter identifies five key themes relating to energy in the WTO Accession Protocols of the Article XII members and explains the rationale of how these topics relate to trade in energy based on the existing WTO rules. Further it categorizes similar energy patterns and trends for Article XII members. Finally the chapter draws lessons for future WTO rule-making by arguing that these ‘updated’ rules on energy found in Article XII members’ Accession Protocols will have the potential to guide the envisaged regular work of the WTO on future rule-making on trade in energy thereby contributing to international energy cooperation in the context of the rules-based multilateral trading system.
Acknowledgements
This publication was prepared by Arti Gobind Daswani Roy Santana and János Volkai of the WTO Secretariat with the support of WTO Deputy Director-General Karl Brauner Valerie Hughes (former Director of the WTO’s Legal Affairs Division) Suja Rishikesh Mavroidis (Director of the WTO Market Access Division) and John Adank (Director of the Legal Affairs Division). Special acknowledgment is owed to William Castro of the WTO’s Young Professionals Programme for his contributions to the processing of the data and preparation of the one-page case summaries to WTO staff members Jesse Kreier and Olga Falgueras Alamo from the Rules Division for their contribution to the compilation of relevant documents and to Jesse Nicol from the Appellate Body Secretariat for his comments. The authors are also grateful to Laoise Ní Bhriain Maria Bressi and Bryson Strupp from the Archives Section of the WTO Information Management Services for their active collaboration in checking the archives and identifying relevant information and to Tan Albayrak intern at the Legal Affairs Division for assisting in the final editing of the onepage case summaries.
Introduction
Le formidable dynamisme de l’économie mondiale depuis un quart de siècle s’est accompagné de profonds bouleversements ce qui n’est guère surprenant dans la mesure où les deux phénomènes sont étroitement liés. L’économie mondiale ne prospère que si la productivité augmente ; et la productivité n’augmente que si l’économie mondiale produit plus et mieux de manière plus efficiente. Les préoccupations que la mondialisation suscite actuellement dans de nombreux pays peuvent être attribuées du moins en partie aux défis de l’ajustement économique liés à la croissance continue de la productivité dans l’économie mondiale. Le Rapport sur le commerce mondial 2017 s’intéresse à deux des moteurs les plus puissants du progrès économique mondial aujourd’hui la technologie et le commerce et examine comment ils influent sur les marchés du travail. Il analyse l’évolution des défis de l’ajustement au nouveau marché du travail et la manière dont les économies s’adaptent. Il examine en particulier les points communs et les différences dans la façon dont la technologie d’une part et le commerce d’autre part influencent le comportement du marché du travail.
Instituciones y asuntos de política
En esta sección se explica cómo funcionan en la práctica la normalización y la evaluación de la conformidad y se describen las características pertinentes de las infraestructuras de normalización y de evaluación de la conformidad en distintas regiones del mundo. Primero se hace un análisis del proceso de normalización y se estudia dónde se lleva a cabo la normalización cómo está organizada y quiénes participan en el proceso. La subsección 2 trata de la organización de la evaluación de la conformidad en los planos internacional regional y nacional y describe las formas en que los requisitos de evaluación de la conformidad pueden afectar al comercio.
Trade digitalization and financing: New hope for MSMES?
The International Finance Corporation (IFC) the SME Finance Forum and the World Bank Group estimate the entire MSME finance gap to be close to US$ 5 trillion hindering the ability of MSMEs to grow. This gap however is not due to a lack of available funds. A 2019 report by the International Trade Centre (ITC) indicated that “in 2018 global funds held US$ 1 trillion of cash-in-hand equity capital that was seeking investment opportunities”. Of particular concern is the trade finance gap which disproportionately affects MSMEs. Despite the low-risk nature of short-term trade finance the trade finance gap alone is estimated at upwards of US$ 1.5 trillion. The rejection rate of MSME proposals for trade finance is 45 per cent. According to the Asian Development Bank (ADB) “among MSMEs initially rejected that sought alternative financing 47 per cent were unable to find anything appropriate”; this does not include those firms that do not even apply for financing in the first place.
Standards in the multilateral trading system
This Section focuses on standards-related WTO legal texts and relevant jurisprudence. The Section begins with a discussion of the texts themselves. This is followed by a detailed discussion of some of the key concepts relevant to standards in the TBT and the SPS Agreements as well as GATT 1994. The Agreements are then placed in the context of the economic discussion presented in the previous Sections and reference is also made to accumulated standards-related jurisprudence. Since the focus of the Report is on product standards only WTO legal texts and jurisprudence bearing on “goods” will be discussed. It is important to note though that the General Agreement on Trade in Services (GATS) also contains standards-related provisions on services specifically in Article VI paras. 4 and 5.
Remerciements
Mes sincères remerciements vont à ma collègue Kenza Le Mentec pour ses précieux conseils. Mme Le Mentec m’a initiée au sujet et elle a apporté de précieuses contributions en particulier pour les sections techniques décrivant la technologie et pour la section sur la facilitation des échanges. Cette publication n’aurait pas été possible sans son soutien.
Avant-propos du Directeur Général
Le Rapport sur le commerce mondial de cette année examine le rôle du commerce dans un monde caractérisé depuis plusieurs décennies par l’interdépendance croissante des pays. Cette interdépendance appelée aujourd’hui mondialisation est un phénomène complexe aux multiples facettes qui implique une forte interaction politique sociale et économique aux niveaux national et international. Rares sont ceux qui contesteraient les avantages apportés par la mondialisation qui assure une plus grande prospérité à des centaines de millions de personnes et une plus grande stabilité entre les pays. Pourtant beaucoup de par le monde n’ont pas ou presque pas profité de ces avantages. La gestion de la mondialisation impose aux gouvernements nationaux des défis colossaux et pour réussir à diffuser plus largement la prospérité il faudra une forte détermination commune.
Conclusion
Research published by the European Parliament in 2017 claimed that Blockchain could “change our lives” (Boucher 2017). What the various blockchain applications that are being developed in areas as diverse as trade finance trade facilitation trade in services intellectual property and government procurement show is that Blockchain has the potential to impact both the traders and the government agencies involved in international trade significantly. Opportunities are multifaceted but will only be realized if several key challenges are addressed.