Trade monitoring

This second Trade Policy Review of Papua New Guinea has helped us improve our understanding of PNG’s recent achievements, particularly as regards its trade and trade-related policies, and the challenges faced. Our discussion has clearly benefited from the active participation of the PNG delegation, led by Ambassador Peter Maginde, as well as from the contribution of our discussant, Mr. Atsuyuki OIKE, Minister and Deputy Permanent Representative of Japan, and Members’ interventions. PNG’s prompt response to the questions was very much appreciated.

This publication has been prepared under the direction of Robert Koopman, Director of the Economic Research and Statistics Division, and the International Trade Statistics Section. The coordination of the report was undertaken by Christophe Degain and Florian Eberth. Statistical research, data compilation and the preparation of estimates were conducted by Barbara d’Andrea-Adrian, Shradha Bhatia, Lori Chang, Christophe Degain, Florian Eberth, Zineb Haj Nassar, Coleman Nee, Steen Wettstein, and Ying Yan.

When WTO members concluded their negotiations on the Trade Facilitation Agreement (TFA) in Bali in December 2013, they created the first multilateral agreement since the WTO was founded nearly two decades earlier. It demonstrated how global rule-making was functioning effectively to address impediments to today’s global commerce. As much as efforts to further liberalize trade policies, the streamlining, speeding up, and coordinating of trade processes are contributing to the expansion of world trade and helping developing and least-developed countries (LDCs) integrate into today’s global economy.