Trade monitoring
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.
Enhanced Integrated Framework
In 2012, the Enhanced Integrated Framework (EIF) – the Aid for Trade programme for least-developed countries (LDCs) – was independently rated as “highly relevant” to the trade and development priorities of LDCs. As a result, the EIF Steering Committee extended the EIF mandate until end-2015, with an additional operational period for project implementation up to 2017. Forty-three countries have so far received assistance, up from 40 at the end of 2011, to build stronger trade institutions and to address trading challenges. The EIF is supported by donor pledges of USD 240 million and contributions of approximately USD 178 million (up from USD 155 million in 2011) as of 31 December 2012.
Marco Integrado mejorado para los PMA
El Marco Integrado mejorado (MIM) para la asistencia relacionada con el comercio en favor de los PM A entró en pleno funcionamiento en 2009. A finales de ese año participaban en el proceso del MIM 47 PM A, y el Fondo Fiduciario del MIM había aumentado hasta alcanzar 90 millones de dólares EE.UU. El amplio apoyo de que goza el MIM quedó de manifiesto en el encuentro ministerial sobre el MIM organizado por el Director General coincidiendo con la Séptima Conferencia Ministerial de la OMC, celebrada en diciembre de 2009.
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.
Trends in trade policy making
Since 2009 the WTO has been monitoring trade policy trends and developments and has published regular trade monitoring reports. These reports aim to enhance the transparency of trade policy developments and to provide WTO members and observers with an up-to-date picture of overall trends in international trade policymaking as well as the implementation of trade-restrictive measures and tradeliberalizing measures. The monitoring exercise was initiated immediately after the onset of the financial crisis at the end of 2008 and has evolved considerably since then.
Report by Trinidad and Tobago
During the period under review (2012-2018), Trinidad and Tobago was led by two different administrations and hence, two (2) different strategic approaches shaped and influenced macroeconomic policies and activities in the country. These differing approaches are embedded in the Medium Term Policy Framework 2011-2014 (MTPF) developed by the Peoples Partnership (PP) Government in 2011 and the National Development Strategy 2016-2030 (NDS) (hereafter referred to as Vision 2030) developed in 2016 by the currently ruling People’s National Movement (PNM) Government.
Trade, debt and finance
The Working Group on Trade, Debt and Finance continued efforts during its two meetings in 2014 to improve understanding of the links between exchange rates and trade, in particular with a view to strengthening coherence between the International Monetary Fund (IMF) and the WTO. WTO members strongly encouraged the WTO Director-General to continue to act by way of diagnosis, advocacy and leadership with partner institutions. At the request of members, a high-level WTO seminar was organized on the challenges of access to trade finance in March 2015.
Actividades de solución de diferencias en 2011
En 2011 se notificaron al Órgano de Solución de Diferencias (OSD) ocho solicitudes formales de celebración de consultas presentadas por Miembros de la OMC en el marco del Entendimiento sobre Solución de Diferencias (ESD), es decir, menos de la mitad que en 2010 (17 solicitudes). Este ha sido el año en que menos solicitudes de este tipo se han recibido en la historia de la OMC, seguido de 2005, en que se recibieron 12. No obstante, aunque el volumen de actividad nueva sea bajo, numerosos asuntos son actualmente objeto de examen en el marco del mecanismo de solución de diferencias. El OSD adoptó ocho informes de grupos especiales y cinco del Órgano de Apelación, entre otros, los relativos al asunto de mayor magnitud que se ha sometido al sistema de solución de diferencias, a saber, el referente a la Unión Europea y Airbus (véase infra).