Trade monitoring
Informes de vigilancia del comercio
En 2013, algunos Miembros de la OMC aplicaron nuevas medidas restrictivas del comercio pero, en términos generales, los países se resistieron a las presiones internas para establecer obstáculos al comercio. Las nuevas medidas se sumaron al conjunto de restricciones y distorsiones comerciales existentes. El crecimiento de la economía mundial siguió siendo lento y desigual, lo que tuvo efectos importantes en las corrientes comerciales mundiales. Según las estimaciones, el crecimiento del volumen del comercio mundial de mercancías fue del 2,5% en 2013, y se prevé que será del 4,5% en 2014, niveles que todavía se sitúan por debajo de la tendencia histórica.
Acknowledgements
This publication has been prepared under the direction of Hubert Escaith, Chief Statistician, and Andreas Maurer, Chief, International Trade Statistics Section. The coordination and supervision of the production of tables, charts and maps was undertaken by Ninez Piezas-Jerbi, with the assistance of Aude Lanois. Statistical research, data compilation and the preparation of estimates were conducted by Barbara d’Andrea-Adrian, Christophe Degain, Florian Eberth, Antonella Liberatore, Joscelyn Magdeleine, Yann Marcus, Ninez Piezas-Jerbi, Bekele Tamenu and Ying Yan.
Policy responses to labour market adjustment and distributional changes
If the economy is to benefit from technological change and trade, workers will often have to change jobs or occupations, a process which may cause dislocation for workers. The more smoothly this process takes place in the labour market, the lower the adjustment costs for displaced workers and the greater the net gains to society from technological change and trade. Governments and other institutions can make the labour market more responsive to economic change through a range of measures that are targeted primarily at, but not focused exclusively on, the labour market. Reducing the costs of adjustment for workers can also lower public resistance to technological change and prevent the rise of trade protectionism.
Report by the WTO Secretariat
Malaysia is a middle-income country with a diverse economy. Trade is very important, with exports and imports of goods and services equivalent to about 130% of GDP. For the past four years, real GDP growth has averaged nearly 5% despite a number of external and domestic shocks, including global commodity price and financial market volatility, weak external demand, and domestic political controversy. Growth has been based on domestic demand and helped by the diversified production and export base, a flexible exchange rate, responsive macroeconomic policies, and strong financial markets.
Preface
The Trade Policy Review Mechanism (TPRM) was first established on a trial basis by the GATT CONTRACTING PARTIES in April 1989. The Mechanism became a permanent feature of the World Trade Organization under the Marrakesh Agreement which established the WTO in January 1995.
Composition, definitions & methodology
WTO members are frequently referred to as “countries”, although some members are not countries in the usual sense of the word but are officially “customs territories”. The definition of geographical and other groupings in this report does not imply an expression of opinion by the Secretariat concerning the status of any country or territory, the delimitation of its frontiers, nor the rights and obligations of any WTO member in respect of WTO agreements. The colours, boundaries, denominations, and classifications in the maps of this publication do not imply, on the part of the WTO, any judgement on the legal or other status of any territory, or any endorsement or acceptance of any boundary