Trade monitoring
Entender la OMC
La Organización Mundial del Comercio puede verse desde distintas perspectivas. Es una Organización para la apertura del comercio. Es un foro para que los gobiernos negocien acuerdos comerciales. Es un lugar en el que pueden resolver sus diferencias comerciales. Aplica un sistema de normas comerciales. Fundamentalmente, la OMC es un lugar al que los gobiernos Miembros acuden para tratar de resolver los problemas comerciales que tienen unos con otros.
A message from the Director-General
Promoting transparency in trade and trade policy and monitoring trends in the global economy are amongst the key functions of the World Trade Organization. In providing information on trade and market access developments through a range of publications and online databases, the WTO offers policymakers and analysts an encompassing tool to help them understand and monitor these developments.
World policy development in 1999
Notwithstanding the outcome of the WTO’s Third Ministerial Conference in Seattle, the state of the world trading environment remained generally sound in 1999. There have been no major trade policy reversals during the year, and there is no evidence of a resort to protectionist policies. On the contrary, a number of countries have undertaken concrete measures to further liberalize their economic and trade regimes. Autonomous and regional initiatives during the year have provided additional impetus to trade liberalization and further integration of the world economy. At the multilateral level, much of the effort focused on preparations for the Third Ministerial Conference, including the possible launching of a new round of multilateral trade negotiations. Although the latter did not materialize, much progress was achieved in narrowing the gaps in some major areas. At the same time, the WTO has proceeded with its core agenda of trade liberalization.
Économie et économie politique de la coopération commerciale internationale
L’essor et le déclin du libre-échange au XIXe siècle et leurs conséquences économiques et politiques ont toujours intrigué les historiens et les économistes. Pendant la période difficile qui a suivi la Première Guerre mondiale, alors qu’il fallait rétablir les relations commerciales internationales, la seconde moitié du XIXe siècle, marquée par le libre-échange entre les pays européens était considérée comme un âge d’or. En effet, le développement économique général, stimulé par l’industrialisation et le progrès technique, s’accompagnait alors d’une expansion du commerce favorisée par l’existence de nombreux traités commerciaux bilatéraux, dont le premier était le traité anglo-français (Cobden-Chevalier) de 1860, suivi par toute une série de traités entre pays européens. Les réductions tarifaires réciproques convenues bilatéralement et l’application inconditionnelle de la clause de la nation la plus favorisée (NPF) prévue dans ces traités ont conduit à des niveaux tarifaires historiquement bas, en particulier pour les produits agricoles. Le commerce entre pays européens est resté pratiquement sans entraves pendant près de deux décennies, jusqu’en 1879, après quoi les échanges se sont progressivement détériorés pour disparaître avec la Première Guerre mondiale.
Overview
Last year’s Annual Report was written when the Asian financial crisis was only a year old. There was still considerable concern then about the risk of contagion and deep recession. A year later, the situation is more healthy, although only the complacent would contest the need for policy vigilance. Important challenges remain, and recovery is far from complete. Global GDP growth decelerated sharply from the record expansion in the previous year while trade volume growth was more than halved. For parts of Asia a contraction in output growth also meant that import volume growth turned negative. The economic performance of other regions helped to maintain global output growth at around 2.0 per cent and world export growth at about 4 per cent in 1998. The United States continued a remarkable period of expansion, contributing significantly to the global figure. The European Union grew less, but above the global average.
Trade facilitation in the Arab region
This chapter aims to assess the progress of trade facilitation in the Arab region, and subsequently tests the effect of trade facilitation on bilateral trade flows within this region. The findings support the fact that the performance of Arab countries’ logistics systems in general is still weak and needs to be improved, as indicated by the World Bank’s Logistics Performance Index (LPI). Vast divergence and discrepancies among Arab countries can be observed because of differences in income levels and geopolitical conditions. Hence, while some Arab countries try to develop logistics activities to take advantage of opportunities, seeking to establish regional logistics platforms, others are not only ranked among the lowest on the overall index, but are also near the bottom of the list for the different components of the LPI. The estimations presented here suggest that trade facilitation has positive impacts on intra-regional trade but that its scope is rather limited. Indeed, an improvement in trade facilitation (LPI score) of the exporting country by 1 per cent increases trade flows by 0.7 per cent. This impact could be higher and reach more than 2 per cent when sensitivity analysis is included. An improvement in trade facilitation (LPI score) of the importing country by 1 per cent boosts trade flows by 0.66 per cent. The results of this chapter show that there are slight gains in trade to be made from improving trade facilitation in Arab countries. Despite the fact that the overall LPI score is significant for both exporting and importing countries, the magnitude of that significance is relatively small compared with previous research findings regarding the same measures in other regions. However, the study suggests that trade facilitation could have a greater impact on trade among Arab countries and with other regions and underlines the importance of developing transport and physical infrastructure to enhance regional integration and trade cooperation.
Examens des politiques commerciales
En 2013, l’Organe d’examen des politiques commerciales a procédé à la cinquième évaluation du Mécanisme d’examen des politiques commerciales et a tenu 15 réunions pour examiner les politiques et pratiques commerciales de 20 Membres. Examens des politiques commerciales www.wto.org/mepc_f
Introduction
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.
Sans titre
En 2013, l’Organe d’appel a distribué des rapports dans deux différends, qui concernaient des mesures du Canada dans le secteur de l’énergie renouvelable. Plus tôt dans l’année, le Canada avait fait appel des constatations figurant dans les rapports des Groupes spéciaux sur les deux affaires. Une procédure d’arbitrage concernant le délai raisonnable pour la mise en oeuvre des recommandations et décisions de l’Organe de règlement des différends a été menée en 2013. Deux membres de l’Organe d’appel, M. Ricardo Ramírez-Hernández et M. Peter Van den Bossche, ont achevé leur premier mandat et ont été reconduits dans leurs fonctions. M. David Unterhalter a achevé son second et dernier mandat. Un nouveau membre de l’Organe d’appel sera désigné en 2014.
Dispute settlement activity in 2012
There was a sharp increase in dispute settlement activity in 2012 with both developed and developing countries active in bringing disputes to the WTO for resolution. Some WTO members, including Russia, participated for the first time. Disputes covered a wide variety of areas, including some that are less often adjudicated, such as issues under the General Agreement on Trade in Services. The European Union and Latin American countries formally settled the long-running banana disputes. Efforts to achieve efficiencies in dispute settlement processes continued. Finally, the legal affairs division celebrated an important anniversary.
Report by the WTO Secretariat
The mining sector plays a critical role in Zambia’s economy, exercising a heavy influence over growth, job creation, poverty reduction, and the external accounts. Since mid 2008, world copper prices have fallen by more than 60% and there have been cutbacks in production in Zambia. Adjusting to this external shock has confronted the Zambian Government with a major economic policy challenge.
Commerce et développement
En 2010, le Comité du commerce et du développement (CCD) a achevé les négociations sur un mécanisme pour la transparence des accords commerciaux préférentiels, qui a ensuite été adopté par le Conseil général. Parmi les autres questions examinées par le CCD et son Sous-Comité des pays les moins avancés (PMA) figuraient les activités de renforcement des capacités, l'accès aux marchés pour les PMA , l'initiative Aide pour le commerce et les activités d'assistance technique de l'OMC.
Facilitation des échanges
Une étape majeure pour le système commercial mondial a été franchie le 22 février 2017, avec l’entrée en vigueur du premier accord multilatéral conclu au cours des 21 ans d’existence de l’OMC. En recevant 4 nouvelles ratifications de l’Accord sur la facilitation des échanges (AFE), l’OMC a obtenu le nombre d’acceptations nécessaire parmi ses 164 Membres pour que l’Accord prenne effet.
Trade negotiations
Work to conclude the Doha Round of negotiations took a major step forward in 2008. Following the publication of new draft blueprints – or ‘modalities’ – for a final deal on agricultural and non-agricultural trade, a ministerial gathering took place in July to seek consensus on a number of issues. Although the talks ended in deadlock, much progress was achieved.
introduction
Les subventions sont l’un des nombreux instruments de politique assujettis à des règles dans le système commercial multilatéral, mais elles soulèvent des questions plus complexes pour les responsables politiques que beaucoup d’autres instruments soumis aux règles du GATT/de l’OMC. Cela tient en partie à ce qu’elles peuvent être définies de différentes manières. Cela tient aussi à ce qu’elles sont employées pour atteindre des objectifs très divers. Même lorsqu’elles ne visent pas le commerce, elles peuvent influer sur les courants commerciaux. Les types de subventions dont traite le présent rapport sont essentiellement celles qui confèrent un avantage à certains producteurs nationaux et ont de ce fait un effet sur le commerce. La tâche complexe consistant à déterminer quelles sortes de subventions posent des problèmes du point de vue du système commercial et ce qui peut être fait pour y remédier occupe une place importante dans le programme d’activités de l’OMC /du GATT.
Algunos hitos históricos
La OMC nació el 1º de enero de 1995, pero su sistema de comercio tiene ya medio siglo de existencia. Desde 1948, éste se rigió por las normas del Acuerdo General sobre Aranceles Aduaneros y Comercio (GATT). El GATT se centraba principalmente en el comercio de mercancías, pero la OMC y sus Acuerdos abarcan también el comercio de servicios, así como las invenciones, creaciones y dibujos y modelos que son objeto de transacciones comerciales (propiedad intelectual).
Organisation, secrétariat et budget
L’Organisation mondiale du commerce a été créée en 1995 pour succéder au GATT (Accord général sur les tarifs douaniers et le commerce), qui avait été établi en 1947 après la Seconde Guerre mondiale. Son principal objectif est d’établir des règles régissant la politique commerciale de ses Membres en vue de favoriser l’expansion du commerce international et d’élever les niveaux de vie. Ces règles cherchent à promouvoir la nondiscrimination, la transparence et la prévisibilité dans la conduite des politiques commerciales. À cet effet, l’OMC.
Regional trade agreements
In 2014, the WTO received 22 new notifications regarding regional trade agreements (RTAs), compared with 35 in 2013. The notifications involved 11 RTAs. One of the RTAs was between developed partners, with another seven involving developed and developing partners. The remaining three were between developing country partners. Europe and the Asia Pacific region both made the highest number of notifications – six – while the Americas and the CIS region both made four notifications.
Le commerce international des services de transport aérien: Évolution récente et questions de politique
Comme c’est le cas pour d’autres services de transport, la relation entre le transport aérien et le commerce international se situe à deux niveaux. D’une part, le transport aérien est commercialisé en tant que service à part entière. D’autre part, il constitue un service intermédiaire essentiel pour de nombreux autres types d’échanges, qu’il s’agisse de marchandises ou de services (par exemple le tourisme). De nombreuses études ont fait ressortir l’importance d’une infrastructure de transport aérien fiable, efficace et efficiente, notamment dans les pays en développement, pour assurer la matérialisation des avantages du commerce (OMC, 2004). Ces études ont également souligné la contribution importante de l’aviation civile internationale au processus de développement et le rôle qu’elle joue dans les décisions commerciales et touristiques d’un grand nombre de personnes. Ce rôle est appelé à se développer avec l’innovation technologique, la déréglementation et l’élargissement de l’accès aux marchés pour les entreprises étrangères - autant de facteurs qui rendent le transport aérien plus accessible à une clientèle plus large dans un plus grand nombre de pays.
Comercio de mercancías
El Consejo del Comercio de Mercancías de la OMC se está convirtiendo cada vez más en un foro en el que se plantean preocupaciones comerciales, y en las cuatro reuniones que celebró en 2013 los Miembros plantearon varias preocupaciones de esa índole, algunas de las cuales están siendo objeto de consultas en el marco del Entendimiento sobre Solución de Diferencias de la OMC. El Consejo también aprobó varias solicitudes de exención, individuales y colectivas, como la prórroga de la exención relativa a la aplicación de un régimen preferencial autónomo a Moldova y la armonización en curso de las listas arancelarias.
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
SMEs in international trade: Stylized facts
Every firm that contemplates expanding its operations in a foreign country has to choose a specific market entry strategy. As trade is the most common form of internationalization for small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs), this section surveys available statistical evidence on the participation of SMEs in international trade in both developed and developing economies, and how their activities relate to traditional trade flows and to trade in the context of global value chains. The objective is to provide an accurate and detailed description of the SME trade landscape, but also to identify important gaps in information and data coverage.
Introduction
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.
Redistribution policies in a globalized world
Does the process of economic globalization curtail the capacity of national governments to pursue autonomous economic policies at home? Does the growing cross-border mobility of factors (and its associated threat of capital flight) discipline governments and limit the level of taxes and of public spending? Is economic integration inimical to redistribution at home? If trade and financial liberalization lead to higher levels of within-country inequality (or, at least, the emergence of economic sectors that bear significant economic losses), can states develop economically sustainable policies to compensate those made worse off by trade reforms? In fact, are there any particular policies that can make economic globalization and fair social policies at home (designed to share the gains from trade) compatible?