The Relationship between Liberalisation in the Logistics Sector and Trade Facilitation

This study demonstrates that the improvement of the performance of logistics services through domestic liberalisation may generate a virtuour cycle, whereby international trade is increased and the this, in turn, may increase the deman for logistics services.Liberalisation, Logistics Sector, Trade Facilitation

Key issues in trade facilitation : summary of World Bank/European Union workshops in Dhaka and Shanghai in 2004

Trade facilitation is the ability of countries to deliver goods and services on time at the lowest possible cost. It has emerged as an important issue in unilateral, bilateral, and multilateral trade liberalization. Most countries have embarked on heroic reforms aimed at reducing transaction costs of trade. Thus, among the four new Singapore issues, there was least resistance from World Trade Organization (WTO) member countries to include trade facilitation in the Doha Round discussions. However, all countries are not equally placed in initiating reforms in the complex areas of customs procedures, transport and port logistics, harmonization of standards, and simplification of procedures. Trade facilitation reforms require a large volume of technical assistance for national capacity building. To facilitate what these reforms entail and what can be learned from cross-country experiences, the EU and the World Bank organized two workshops in Dhaka (South Asian countries) and Shanghai (East Asian countries) in 2004. Jointly they succeeded in bringing together renowned experts from multilateral organizations, selected bilateral donor community, the private sector, ex civil servants, and scholars. The participants were largely drawn from the relevant government departments and chambers of commerce and industry. This paper summarizes the main presentations in the workshops. It also indicates the areas that need more focus in future events. The paper should serve as a reference document for national policymakers and for future seminars and workshops on trade facilitation. It has also linked the presentations to the ongoing research work on trade facilitation.Common Carriers Industry,Transport and Trade Logistics,Environmental Economics&Policies,Economic Theory&Research,Trade Policy

Internal report cluster 1: Urban freight innovations and solutions for sustainable deliveries (2/4)

Technical report about sustainable urban freight solutions, part 2 of

Impact of information technology in trade facilitation on small and medium-sized enterprises in Bangladesh

This paper focuses specifically on one particular aspect of trade facilitation in the context of Bangladesh, i.e., impact on SMEs of IT in trade facilitation. It is hoped that the policy recommendations offered in this paper will be useful in furthering the cause of SME internationalization in Bangladesh.Trade Facilitation, Bangladesh, SMEs, Information Technology

Air Transport and EC Competition Law

This Essay is about air transport and EC competition Law. The air transport industry has, in many countries, developed as a mixture of public utility and commercial venture. With the deregulation of the airline market, the EC Commission has also, to an increasing extent, become involved in the competition aspects of the airline industry. Part I deals with the transportation industry. Part II discusses liberalization within the EC. Finally, Part III deals with competition rules

Trade Facilitation in Developing Countries

Measures to actively facilitate trade are increasingly seen as essential to assist developing countries in expanding trade and benefiting from globalisation. Although often viewed as narrowly concerned with the ease and speed of Customs procedures, even greater trade cost reductions and trade and welfare benefits may be reaped from a broader view of trade facilitation (TF) that incorporates transportation, distribution and communication issues. A number of TF reforms are particularly beneficial: improving procedures, especially Customs clearance; introducing automation and use of information technology; reducing excessive documentation requirements; addressing lack of transparency in import and export requirements; addressing lack of modernisation of and cooperation between Customs and other government agencies. The review identifies the types of TF reforms that could address these problems and deliver a return in terms of increased revenue collection efficiency, reductions in trade costs and promotion of greater regional cooperation (at least in Customs and transport, especially as many TF measures are appropriate for inclusion in regional integration agreements).Trade Facilitation, Regional Integration

Studies in Trade and Investment: The Development Impact of Information Technology in Trade Facilitation

In Bangladesh, SMEs are very important players in the economy. About 90 per cent of all industrial units in Bangladesh are SMEs, which generate some 25 per cent of the gross domestic product (GDP), employ about 31 million people and provide 75 per cent of household income. There is no denying that SMEs act as the driver of the economy and are very important for national economic and social development. They serve as employers creating new jobs and providers of products for daily needs. They also act as stewards over employees and the community. However, SMEs in developing and least developed countries face considerable barriers in running their businesses and are often constrained financially and technologically. This includes inadequate and/or complex sets of policies by the respective governments. Such impediments largely contribute to the under-involvement of SMEs in international markets. This is where the nature and extent of SME participation in the global trading system needs to be highlighted. Trade facilitation is thus a crucial factor in providing SMEs with access to global markets.Trade facilitation, ICT, IT, SMEs, international trade, Bangladesh