Is There Any Potential in Service Trade of South Asia?

: Like many developing economies, services have emerged as crucial economic activities in South Asia, yet this cannot increase the rapid growth in the intra-trade in the region. To find out the service trade potential in the region, this paper uses revealed comparative advantage indices to assess the comparative advantage and the indicative trade potential of different South Asian countries in various services sub-sectors. The study reveals that there stands complementarities in the trade of services as Pakistan and Sri Lanka have a competitive advantage in Transport Services, while India has a competitive advantage in Computer and Information Services and Other Business Services. In travel services, Maldives and Nepal possess competitiveness while Bangladesh in Government Services. The study reveals that competitive services have not explored the potential yet. India being the most robust economy of the region must provide a pivotal role in making negotiations and commitments under SAARC Agreement on Trade in Services (SATIS) particularly in competitive services

Humanitarian aid as an integral part of the European Union's external action: the challenge of reconciling coherence and independence

The article focuses on the European Union's (EU) humanitarian aid policy. It addresses the challenge for the EU to deliver independent humanitarian aid while simultaneously seeking to establish more coherence between its external policies. The article examines how the EU tries to reconcile these potentially conflicting policy goals, both de jure and in practice. Empirically, it explores the interaction between EU humanitarian aid and development cooperation, the Common Foreign and Security Policy, and trade policy. While the independence of the humanitarian aid delivery is, for the most part, not being undermined, it remains difficult to establish positive synergies with other external policies because of institutional hurdles and legal constraints, as well as political obstacles and operational incompatibilities

Light-stable rhodopsin. II. An opsin mutant (TRP-265→PHE) and a retinal analog with a nonisomerizable 11-cis configuration form a photostable chromophore

In order to prepare a completely light-stable rhodopsin, we have synthesized an analog, II, of 11-cis retinal in which isomerization at the C11-C12 cis-double bond is blocked by formation of a cyclohexene ring from the C10 to C13-methyl. We used this analog to generate a rhodopsin-like pigment from opsin expressed in COS-1 cells and opsin from rod outer segments (Bhattacharya, S., Ridge, K.D., Knox, B.E., and Khorana, H. G. (1992) J. Biol. Chem. 267, 6763-6769). The pigment (lambda max, 512 nm) formed from opsin and analog II (rhodospin-II) showed ground state properties very similar to those of rhodopsin, but was not entirely stable to light. In the present work, 12 opsin mutants (Ala-117→Phe, Glu-122→Gln(Ala, Asp), Trp-126→Phe(Leu, Ala), Trp-265→Ala(Tyr, Phe), Tyr-268→Phe, and Ala-292→Asp), where the mutations were presumed to be in the retinal binding pocket, were reconstituted with analog II. While all mutants formed rhodopsin-like pigments with II, blue-shifted (12-30 nm) chromophores were obtained with Ala-117→Phe, Glu-122→Gln(Ala), Trp-126→Leu(Ala), and Trp-265→Ala(Tyr, Phe) opsins. The extent of chromophore formation was markedly reduced in the mutants Ala-117→Phe and Trp-126→Ala. Upon illumination, the reconstituted pigments showed varying degrees of light sensitivity; the mutants Trp-126→Phe(Leu) showed light sensitivity similar to wild-type. Continuous illumination of the mutants Glu-122→Asp, Trp-265→Ala, Tyr-268→Phe, and Ala-292→Asp resulted in hydrolysis of the retinyl Schiff base. Markedly reduced light sensitivity was observed with the mutant Trp-265→Tyr, while the mutant Trp-265→Phe was light-insensitive. Consistent with this result, the mutant Trp-265→Phe showed no detectable light-dependent activation of transducin or phosphorylation by rhodopsin kinase

Light-stable rhodopsin. I. A rhodopsin analog reconstituted with a nonisomerizable 11-cis retinal derivative

With the aim of preparing a light-stable rhodopsin-like pigment, an analog, II, of 11-cis retinal was synthesized in which isomerization of the C11-C12 cis-double bond is blocked by a cyclohexene ring built around the C10 to C13-methyl. The analog II formed a rhodopsin-like pigment (rhodopsin-II) with opsin expressed in COS-1 cells and with opsin from rod outer segments. The rate of rhodopsin-II formation from II and opsin was ~10 times slower than that of rhodopsin from 11-cis retinal and opsin. After solubilization in dodecyl maltoside and immunoaffinity purification, rhodopsin-II displayed an absorbance ratio (A280nm/A512nm) of 1.6, virtually identical with that of rhodopsin. Acid denaturation of rhodopsin-II formed a chromophore with λmax, 452 nm, characteristic of protonated retinyl Schiff base. The ground state properties of rhodopsin-II were similar to those of rhodopsin in extinction coefficient (41,200 M-1 cm-1) and opsin-shift (2600 cm-1). Rhodopsin-II was stable to hydroxylamine in the dark, while light-dependent bleaching by hydroxylamine was slowed by ~2 orders of magnitude relative to rhodopsin. Illumination of rhodopsin-II for 10 s caused ~3 nm blue-shift and 3% loss of visible absorbance. Prolonged illumination caused a maximal blue-shift up to ~20 nm and ~40% loss of visible absorbance. An apparent photochemical steady state was reached after 12 min of illumination. Subsequent acid denaturation indicated that the retinyl Schiff base linkage was intact. A red-shift (~12 nm) in λmax and a 45% recovery of visible absorbance was observed after returning the 12-min illuminated pigment to darkness. Rhodopsin-II showed marginal light-dependent transducin activation and phosphorylation by rhodopsin kinase

A bacteriorhodopsin analog reconstituted with a nonisomerizable 13-trans retinal derivative displays light insensitivity

With the aim of preparing a light-insensitive bacteriorhodopsin-like pigment, bacterio-opsin expressed in Escherichia coli was treated in phospholipid-detergent micelles with the retinal analog II, in which the C13-C14 trans-double bond cannot isomerize due to inclusion in a cyclopentene ring. The formation of a complex with a fine structure (λmax, 439 nm) was first observed. This partially converted over a period of 12 days to a bacteriorhodopsin-like chromophore (ebR-II) with λmax, 555 nm. An identical behavior has been observed previously upon reconstitution of bleached purple membrane with the analog II. Purification by gel filtration gave pure ebR-II with λmax, 558 nm, similar to that of light-adapted bacterio-opsin reconstituted with all-trans retinal (ebR-I). Spectrophotometric titration of ebR-II as a function of pH showed that the purple to blue transition of bacteriorhodopsin at acidic pH was altered, and the apparent pKa of Schiff base deprotonation at alkaline pH was lowered by 2.4 units, relative to that of ebR-I. ebR-II showed no light-dark adaptation, no proton pumping, and no intermediates characteristic of the bacteriorhodopsin photocycle. In addition, the rates of reaction with hydroxylamine in the dark and in the light were similar. These results show, as expected, that isomerization of the C13-C14 double bond is required for bacteriorhodopsin function and that prevention of this isomerization confers light insensitivity

Modelling Effects of Tariff Liberalisation on India’s Key Export Sectors: Analysis of the EU–India Free Trade Agreement

Trade agreements are increasingly being negotiated between developed and emerging economy partners. An example is the EU–India Free Trade Agreement (FTA) for which negotiations began in 2007. There has been a debate on the potential effects of the proposed FTA and how this can impact on India’s key export sectors. Our study addresses this aspect from a global computable general equilibrium (CGE) modelling perspective. Using the Global Trade Analysis Project (GTAP) framework, we analyse trade and welfare impacts of the proposed FTA between the EU and India. Two scenarios are modelled: first, complete and immediate elimination of tariff on all goods traded and second, selective tariff elimination on textiles, wearing apparel and leather goods—products in which India has a comparative advantage. Results under both scenarios show that India enjoys positive welfare effects though there is a possibility of trade diversion. Under scenario 1, India loses due to a negative terms of trade (ToT) effect. Under scenario 2, with selective sectoral liberalisation, gains are mainly concentrated in the textiles, wearing apparel and leather sectors. There is a positive output effect from change in demand for factors of production, suggesting that the proposed FTA could lead to relocation of labour-intensive production to India

Navigating LDC graduation: modelling the impact of RCEP and CPTPP on Bangladesh

Bangladesh will graduate from the LDC list by 2026. Currently, Bangladesh's exports of readymade garments (RMG) benefit from international support measures which allow preferential trade in major export destinations, such as the EU. After graduation, Bangladesh's exports, particularly RMG, will face competition from mega trading blocs, such as RCEP and CPTPP. This article employs the GTAP model to estimate the impact of Bangladesh's graduation from the LDC category and how mega FTAs are likely to affect Bangladesh's exports and potential welfare. The model also considers the scenarios of either United States or the UK or both joining the CPTPP. The model results show that Bangladesh's graduation will lead to a fall in GDP and RMG exports by 1.53% and 11.8%, respectively. The negative impact is magnified when we factor in the mega-trading blocs. Further negative impacts are observed when either United States or the UK or both join the CPTPP

Trade Liberalization – Labor Productivity Nexus: The Case of Sub Saharan Africa

This paper summarizes the arguments and counterarguments within the scientific discussion on the weak growth of labor productivity in poor but open economies. The main purpose of the research is to estimate the welfare effects of the reciprocal preferential trade liberalization between Sub-Saharan Africa and the industrialized countries, taking into account the differences in labor productivity be-tween the two trading blocs

The Impact of COVID-19 on the Global and Intra-Commonwealth Trade in Goods

This paper employs the gravity model of international trade to examine the effect of the COVID- 19 pandemic on global and intra-Commonwealth trade flows. It uses bilateral monthly exports data at the HS6 level and the number of COVID-19 cases and deaths, as well as the stringency of measures taken to contain the virus, to estimate the effect of the pandemic on Commonwealth countries’ trade. The study finds that the incidence of COVID-19 in both exporting and importing countries has impacted on Commonwealth trade flows and that the extent of the effect varies with the development level of trading partners. High numbers of COVID-19 cases, including deaths, in low-income importing countries led to a reduction in Commonwealth exports, while a high inci- dence of COVID-19 in high-income importing countries led to with an increase in their exports. The incidence of COVID-19 in an exporting country was also found to impact on trade among a global sample of countries. Restrictions aiming to contain COVID-19 in high-income countries were associated with an increase in Commonwealth countries’ trade. Short-term projections of trade trends point towards a negative change in both exports and imports of Commonwealth countries. The study also proposes a set of policy options and recommendations targeting sustain- able recovery and building resilience in Commonwealth economies