Trade monitoring
Auge de las cadenas de valor mundiales
Si bien la fragmentación de la producción mundial no es un fenómeno nuevo, su importancia sí ha ido aumentando con el paso del tiempo. La tendencia es consecuencia de las innovaciones tecnológicas registradas en las comunicaciones y el transporte, que han reducido los costos de coordinación y con ello han hecho posible que los países se especializaran en la producción de determinadas tareas o componentes, en lugar de productos finales completos. En la sección se examinan los drásticos cambios que han experimentado la naturaleza, la magnitud y el alcance de las cadenas de valor mundiales durante los dos últimos decenios. Se analizan las oportunidades que pueden ofrecer las cadenas de valor a los países en desarrollo para integrarse en la economía mundial con menores costos, pero se subraya que la integración en esas cadenas no rinde beneficios automáticamente. Se evalúan los riesgos que entraña la participación en cadenas de valor mundiales y se expone la correlación entre las diversas políticas aplicadas por los países y su participación en las cadenas de valor.
Report by the European Communities
This Trade Policy Review of the European Communities (EC) refers to the period 2007-08, which was a time of several major anniversaries in the context of the European integration process. Rather than just looking back and celebrating past achievements, these anniversaries were used to reinvigorate on-going efforts and launch new initiatives in the various areas of EC activity, including trade policy, that aim to consolidate, and build upon these significant earlier accomplishments as well as to respond to evolving priorities and the ever changing global environment.
The trade situation in 2008-09
Signs of a sharp deterioration in the global economy were evident in the second half of 2008 and the first few months of 2009 as world trade flows sagged and production slumped, first in developed economies and then in developing countries. Although world trade grew by 2 per cent in volume terms over the course of 2008, it tapered off in the last six months of the year and was well down on the 6 per cent volume increase posted in 2007. World output measured by real gross domestic product (GDP) also slowed appreciably, falling to 1.7 per cent in 2008 from 3.5 per cent a year earlier.
Foreword
The World Trade Report 2006 is the fourth in a series launched in 2002. As in previous years, the present Report has taken up a current issue in trade policy. This year we have looked at subsidies. The contribution we hope to make with these Reports is to aid understanding of complex trade policy issues facing governments. This is not intended primarily as a prescriptive Report, but rather as an invitation to deeper reflection, and it is aimed not just at policy-makers but also the public they represent and the individuals and organizations that actively seek to influence government policies. In addition to the core topic, the Report also takes a brief look at recent developments in trade and discusses some salient features of recent trade developments or a particular aspect of trade. This year, the Report looks briefly at trade in textiles and clothing, flows of international receipts and payments of royalties and license fees, trends in the trade of least-developed countries, and the impact of natural disasters and terrorist acts on international trade flows.
Concluding Remarks by the Chairperson of the Trade Policy Review Body, H.E. Mr. Mario Matus at the Trade Policy Review of Canada 20 and 22 June 2011
This ninth Trade Policy Review of Canada has given us a better understanding of the country’s recent economic, including trade, policy developments and enabled us collectively to measure the challenges Canada currently faces in maintaining its economic prosperity. Our candid discussion has proved more engaging thanks to the full and open participation of the Canadian delegation, led by Mr. Robert Ready, Director-General of the Intellectual Property Office and the Office for Trade in Services, Department of Foreign Affairs and International Trade, and by the insightful remarks made by the discussant, H.E. John Adank of New Zealand, as well as active participation by numerous Members.
Comercio de servicios
Las tecnologías de la información y las comunicaciones (TIC) ocuparon un lugar destacado en la labor del Consejo del Comercio de Servicios en 2011. Los debates se centraron en el comercio electrónico y los servicios de telefonía móvil en itinerancia internacional. El Consejo concluyó el tercer examen de las exenciones del trato de nación más favorecida (NMF), y prosiguió el examen de sectores de servicios y modos de suministro específicos, sobre la base de notas de antecedentes elaboradas por la Secretaría de la OMC.
Regional trade agreements
In 2009, 37 new notifications on regional trade agreements (RTAs) (which include bilateral and inter-regional free trade agreements) were received by the WTO. This is the largest number of RTA notifications in any single year since the WTO’s establishment in 1995. Of the 457 RTAs notified to the WTO as of 31 December 2009, 266 were in force.
Composición, definiciones y metodología
El término “países” se utiliza con frecuencia para hacer referencia a los Miembros de la OMC, a pesar de que algunos Miembros no son países en el sentido usual del término, sino que se trata oficialmente de “territorios aduaneros”. La definición de grupos geográficos y de otro tipo empleada en el presente informe no implica la expresión de opinión alguna por parte de la Secretaría sobre la condición jurídica de ningún país o territorio, sobre la delimitación de sus fronteras ni sobre los derechos y obligaciones de ningún Miembro de la OMC respecto de los Acuerdos de la OMC. Los colores, fronteras, denominaciones y clasificaciones que figuran en los mapas de la presente publicación no implican, por parte de la OMC, ningún juicio sobre la condición jurídica o de otra índole de ningún territorio, ni constituyen una aprobación o aceptación de ninguna frontera.
Concluding Remarks by the Chairperson of the Trade Policy Review Body, H.E. Mr Eduardo Muñoz Gómez at the Trade Policy Review of Nicaragua 4 and 6 December 2012
This third Trade Policy Review of Nicaragua has improved our understanding of the trade and investment policies and practices of Nicaragua, of how they have evolved since the previous Review in 2006 and of their outlook. Areas have been highlighted where significant progress has been made, as well as those where there is room for improvement. We are grateful for the active participation of the Nicaraguan delegation, led by H.E. Mr Orlando Solórzano, Minister of Development, Industry and Trade. We also thank Ambassador Carlos Robelo Raffone, Permanent Representative of Nicaragua to the WTO, and the other members of the Nicaraguan delegation. Our discussions have been equally enriched by the insightful comments of the discussant, Ambassador Mario Matus, and by the numerous statements of Members. The timely and detailed answers provided by the Nicaraguan authorities to the questions submitted in advance were appreciated by Members.
Órgano de Apelación
En 2011 se presentaron ante el Órgano de Apelación nueve apelaciones de informes de grupos especiales —un aumento con respecto a las tres de 2010-, de un total de 11 informes para los cuales expiró el plazo de 60 días para la adopción o apelación a lo largo del año. Las nueve apelaciones se referían a procedimientos de grupos especiales iniciales. No se formuló ninguna apelación relativa al cumplimiento de resoluciones y recomendaciones anteriores. En diciembre se nombró a dos nuevos Miembros del Órgano de Apelación.
Report by the WTO Secretariat
Uruguay has an open trade and investment regime, with few border restrictions and limited use of non-tariff measures. Its trade strategy consists essentially of continuing to liberalize trade and investment both at the multilateral and regional levels. As a small and open economy, Uruguay depends on markets that are free of trade restrictions and distortions, particularly in the agricultural sector which accounts for the bulk of its exports. In the investment area, Uruguay is actively seeking to improve its business environment in order to continue attracting foreign direct investment as a means of supporting economic growth and employment and promoting technology transfer.
Understanding the WTO
There are a number of ways of looking at the World Trade Organization. It is an organization for trade opening. It is a forum for governments to negotiate trade agreements. It is a place for them to settle trade disputes. It operates a system of trade rules. It helps developing countries build their trade capacity. Essentially, the WTO is a place where member governments try to sort out the trade problems they face with each other.
How the WTO is structured
The WTO’s top-level decision-making body is the Ministerial Conference, which usually meets every two years.