Trade monitoring
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).
Report by Cambodia
Cambodia has been classified by the United Nations as a least developed country (LDC). Its population is growing rapidly, and reached roughly 15 million in 2016, 77% of which live in rural areas, while 13.5% live below the poverty line. Cambodia maintains an open economy, and depends heavily on exports as a source of growth of gross domestic product (GDP) and employment. International trade and related investment are thus central to the Government’s efforts to raise the incomes and welfare of Cambodians. The international trading regime managed by the World Trade Organization (WTO), regional trading arrangements centered on the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN), and the various generalized system of preferences (GSP) programs of WTO members, shape the external environment in which Cambodia pursues its development objectives.
Millennium Challenge Account support and port reforms in Benin: A trade facilitation effects analysis
Since 2006, Benin has benefited from the United States Government initiative, the Millennium Challenge Account (MCA) programme. In Benin, the main component of this programme is the Access to Markets Project, through which 61 per cent of MCA subsidies are directed towards improving port operations and infrastructures. The aim of this chapter is to assess the potential effects of these trade facilitation reforms over the project period. Based on performance indicators, this chapter shows an increase in goods traffic via the Cotonou Port Authority (CPA) by an average 13.65 per cent annually. The Granger causality test is applied to establish a relationship between aid and the time taken to process import containers, as well as the quantity of imports. The study shows that Aid for Trade (AfT) induces a significant decrease in the time taken for import container processing at CPA, by an average 6.9 per cent annually. An econometric model of importing enables support for these correlations. We estimate the model with and without an MCA grant. Findings highlight an important increase in volume of imports when MCA aid is included in the model. These results show that an MCA grant contributed to improvement in the CPA’s performance and we suggest intensification of trade facilitation reforms at the CPA.
Mensaje del Director General
La promoción de la transparencia en el comercio y las políticas comerciales y la vigilancia de las tendencias de la economía mundial son dos de las principales funciones de la Organización Mundial del Comercio. Al proporcionar información sobre la evolución del comercio y el acceso a los mercados a través de diversas publicaciones y bases de datos en línea, la OMC ofrece a los analistas y los encargados de la formulación de políticas una herramienta exhaustiva para ayudarles a entender y vigilar esa evolución.