Trade monitoring
Specific notes for selected economies
Beginning with the 2002 report, EU data compiled according to national statistical practices have been replaced, starting 1993, with data compiled by Eurostat in accordance with EU legislation. The concepts and definitions adopted by the EU are in line with the United Nations’ International Trade Statistics, Concepts and Definitions, Series M, N° 52, Revision 2. As a result, the conceptual differences between EU member states’ data have been substantially reduced. Moreover, for the EU as a whole, Eurostat data are more timely than the previous source, thus reducing substantially the amount of estimation included in the EU aggregate.
Prospects for multilateral trade cooperation
This section explores the relevance of current trade rules – as well as the need for new approaches to trade cooperation – in light of the forces that are currently re-shaping international trade. It suggests that the multilateral trading system will need to adjust to developments in trade and in the trading environment – as it has done repeatedly in the past – and reviews proposals for updating the WTO’s agenda and governance. The section starts with a short overview of key trade developments within the broader socio-economic context – especially the rise of global supply chains, the general shift of trade power away from the West and towards Asia and other emerging economies, as well as the changing nature, composition and direction of trade. It then highlights some of the main challenges facing the WTO and how they could be addressed.
Message du Directeur général de l’OMC, M. Pascal Lamy
Quand le commerce en était encore à ses débuts, les marins se fiaient à la fois à leur connaissance de la navigation, à leur courage et à leur instinct pour se frayer un passage à travers les eaux tumultueuses. Plus tard, la technologie a transformé la navigation autour du globe, mais la nécessité fondamentale de tenir le cap sur une mer déchaînée n’a pas changé.
Comercio y desarrollo
En la Conferencia Ministerial de Bali, los Ministros convinieron en establecer un Mecanismo de Vigilancia para analizar la aplicación de las disposiciones sobre trato especial y diferenciado para los países en desarrollo que figuran en los Acuerdos de la OMC.
Évolution de la politique commerciale
Depuis le dernier rapport annuel de l’OMC, la situation du commerce et, partant, les conditions d’élaboration de la politique commerciale, sont devenues beaucoup plus difficiles. Les effets de la crise financière et économique touchant les marchés émergents et de la récession économique au Japon sont loin d’avoir été pleinement surmontés et influent sur la répartition de la croissance économique mondiale, ainsi que sur les courants d’échanges et les marchés des produits de base (chapitreII). Toutefois, bien que l’on ait ici ou là fait marche arrière dans la libéralisation du commerce, le système commercial multilatéral – pour autant que le montre l’évolution des politiques commerciales – semblait, en septembre 1998, avoir assez bien résisté aux soubresauts des marchés financiers et commerciaux.
Labour market outcomes: Trends and analytical framework
This section aims to put the discussion of the labour market effects of trade and technology into perspective. A narrow focus on these effects may give the misleading impression that trade and/or technology are the main determinants of employment or wages. As explained in this section, however, levels of employment or unemployment and of wages are largely determined by how the labour market works. In other words, the effects of technology or trade on labour market outcomes depend, to a large extent, on institutional conditions in the labour market, concomitant economic changes and the diversification of employment opportunities when shocks occur.
Services trade in numbers
This section presents the importance of trade in services in the global economy by using an experimental dataset, developed by the WTO, called Trade in Services by Modes of Supply (TISMOS). This dataset captures services supplied through the four modes of supply categorized in the WTO General Agreement on Trade in Services (GATS); traditional services trade statistics cover only three of the GATS modes of supply. This section also discusses the participation of developing economies, including least-developed countries (LDCs), the importance of micro, small and medium-sized enterprises (MSMEs), and the role of women in services trade. Finally, the section explores the content of services value-added in international global value chains.
Concluding Remarks by the Chairperson of the Trade Policy Review Body, H.E. Mr. Yonov Frederick Agah at the Trade Policy Review of Switzerland and Liechtenstein 15 and 16 December 2008
The third joint Review of Switzerland and Liechtenstein has been informative, open, and thought-provoking. The delegation of Switzerland, led by Her Excellency Ambassador Ineichen-Fleisch, and the delegation of Liechtenstein, led by His Excellency Ambassador Frick, have been highly cooperative. We have greatly benefited from the perceptive remarks by our discussant, Mr. Faizel Ismail of South Africa, and the active involvement of many Members.
Foreword by the WTO Director-General
This year’s World Trade Report takes an in-depth fresh look at preferential trade. The choice of this topic reflects two significant trends in international trade relations, both of which carry far-reaching implications for the multilateral trading system. The first and most readily evident of these is the continuing growth and increasing prominence of preferential trade agreements (PTAs). In the last two decades, the number of PTAs has increased more than four-fold, to around 300 active agreements today. There is no reason to assume that PTAs will cease to grow in number or that they will not form part of the long-term tapestry of international trade relations. Secondly, the content of PTAs continues to evolve and deepen, reflecting important changes in the world economy. This too raises vital questions about the focus and reach of the WTO, and the value assigned by governments to globally-based trade relations.
Examens des politiques commerciales
En 2016, l’Organe d’examen des politiques commerciales (OEPC) a examiné les politiques et pratiques commerciales de 23 Membres de l’OMC. Depuis sa création en 1989 jusqu’à la fin de 2016, il a procédé à 452 examens visant 153 des 164 Membres de l’OMC. En 2016, les Membres sont convenus d’apporter de nouvelles modifications au Mécanisme d’examen des politiques commerciales, notamment d’ajuster la fréquence des examens.
Actividades de divulgación para parlamentarios
En 2011 se celebró por primera vez en la OMC la Conferencia Parlamentaria anual sobre la OMC, organizada por la Unión Interparlamentaria y el Parlamento Europeo. La Secretaría de la OMC siguió distribuyendo su boletín periódico a un número cada vez mayor de parlamentarios. También organizó dos talleres regionales para parlamentarios en cooperación con asociados regionales.
Trade facilitation
A major milestone for the global trading system was reached on 22 February 2017. The first multilateral trade deal concluded in the 21-year history of the WTO entered into force when the WTO obtained the necessary number of acceptances from the WTO’s 164 members for the Trade Facilitation Agreement to take effect.