Trade facilitation in Asia and the Pacific : which policies and measures affect trade costs the most?

Date

2011-01

Journal Title

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Volume Title

Publisher

ARTNeT, United Nations ESCAP

Abstract

Detailed analysis of bilateral non-tariff policy-related trade costs reveals that ASEAN developing countries often face higher costs when trading with one another than with the United States or Japan. Bilateral trade costs of large Asian economies revealed that China, Republic of Korea and Japan have achieved similar levels of trade facilitation, but that India has lagged behind. China reduced its trade costs with all 13 partner economies examined in our study. Improving port efficiency (liner shipping connectivity) and access to information and communication technology facilities is essential to reducing trade costs. This paper also assesses policy-related factors in cost reductions.

Description

Keywords

INTRAREGIONAL TRADE, INTERNATIONAL TRADE, BILATERAL TRADE AGREEMENTS, TRADE FACILITATION, ECONOMETRIC ANALYSIS, TRADE BARRIERS, TRANSPORT COSTS, LANGUAGE BARRIER, ACCESS TO ICT, EXCHANGE RATE, PORT EFFICIENCY

Citation

DOI