Implementing a WTO Agreement on Trade Facilitation : What Makes Sense?

Contrary to the prevailing view that the Doha negotiations have achieved little, the authors find that on trade facilitation much progress has been made. This is particularly true in regard to action by development banks and bilateral development agencies to meet client demand for assistance in reform. Active private sector participation has been an important factor driving change. Many agencies have been involved in this work. The authors find that their roles have been consistent with their comparative advantages. As to how the international community can best support continued progress, the authors conclude in favor of a cautious approach to the imposition of new WTO obligations in the area of trade facilitation. On the whole, this is the approach the WTO has taken, for example, by limiting its negotiations on trade facilitation to several specific provisions of the GATT. The WTO can continue to function as a catalyst for reform. It is perhaps uniquely placed to relate the trade facilitation agenda to the overall trade agenda. On design and construction of the relevant infrastructures and capacities to spur development, the development institutions, including bilateral agencies, should continue to lead. The authors find little evidence to support the need for a comprehensive new "platform" or mechanism to channel trade-related aid as part of implementation of any new agreement at the WTO on trade facilitation. They recommend, however, that an innovative approach to using the well established, but under utilized Trade Policy Review Mechanism be considered to increase transparency on where new aid is going over time and to expand understanding of where and how country-based progress has been achieved.

Bibliographic Details

Main Authors:	Finger, J. Michael, Wilson, John S.
Language:	English
Published:	World Bank, Washington, DC 2006-08
Subjects:	ADMINISTRATIVE COSTS, AGREEMENT ON TRADE-RELATED ASPECTS, AGRICULTURAL PRODUCTS, AGRICULTURE, AIM, BRIBERY, CAPACITY BUILDING, COMPARATIVE ADVANTAGES, COMPETITION POLICY, COMPETITIVENESS, CONTAINER TRANSPORT, CUSTOMS, CUSTOMS ADMINISTRATION, CUSTOMS ADMINISTRATIONS, CUSTOMS CHARGES, CUSTOMS DUTIES, CUSTOMS PROCEDURES, CUSTOMS TERRITORY, CUSTOMS VALUATION, DEVELOPING COUNTRY EXPORTS, DEVELOPMENT AGENCIES, DEVELOPMENT STRATEGY, DIFFERENTIAL TREATMENT, DISPUTE SETTLEMENT, EUROPEAN UNION, EXPORT INTEREST, EXPORT MARKET, EXPORT SUBSIDIES, EXPORTS, FREE ACCESS, FREE ACCESS TO IMPORTS, GATT, IMPORTS, INTELLECTUAL PROPERTY, INTERNATIONAL COMMUNITY, INTERNATIONAL MARKETS, INTERNATIONAL ORGANIZATIONS, INTERNATIONAL PAYMENTS, INTERNATIONAL TRADE, INVENTORIES, INVENTORY, INVENTORY SYSTEMS, LANDLOCKED COUNTRIES, LDCS, LIBERALIZATION OF TRADE, LOADING, MARKET ACCESS, MIDDLE EAST, MINISTERIAL CONFERENCE, MINISTERIAL MEETING, MULTILATERAL AGREEMENTS, MULTILATERAL NEGOTIATIONS, NORTH AFRICA, PANEL DISCUSSION, POLICY RESEARCH, PORT CHARGES, QUANTITATIVE RESTRICTIONS, RECIPROCITY, REGIONAL DEVELOPMENT, REGIONAL DEVELOPMENT BANKS, REGIONAL TRADE, REGIONAL TRADE AGREEMENTS, ROUND AGREEMENTS, SHIPMENTS, SHIPPERS, SUB-SAHARAN AFRICA, TARIFF RATE, TARIFF REDUCTIONS, TARIFF REFORM, TARIFF SCHEDULES, TECHNICAL ASSISTANCE, TECHNOLOGY TRANSFER, TRADE AGENDA, TRADE BARRIER, TRADE CAPACITY, TRADE CENTER, TRADE COMMISSION, TRADE DEVELOPMENT, TRADE FACILITATION, TRADE FACILITATION PROCEDURES, TRADE FINANCE, TRADE LIBERALIZATION, TRADE POLICY, TRADE POLICY REVIEW, TRADE POLICY REVIEW MECHANISM, TRADE PROMOTION, TRADE REGULATIONS, TRADING SYSTEM, TRANSIT, URUGUAY ROUND, VALUATION, WORLD TRADE, WRITTEN SUBMISSIONS, WTO,
Online Access:	http://documents.worldbank.org/curated/en/2006/08/6940913/implementing-wto-agreement-trade-facilitation-makes-sense https://hdl.handle.net/10986/8382
Tags:	Add Tag No Tags, Be the first to tag this record!