Bilateral and Regional Trade Agreements and Technical Barriers to Trade: An African Perspective

Using key principles and provisions of the WTO Agreement on Technical Barriers to Trade (TBT) as a yardstick for analysis, this paper examines whether and how eight major regional integration agreements in Sub-Saharan Africa address TBT.

Export Restrictions on Strategic Raw Materials and Their Impact on Trade

Metals and minerals such as copper, titanium and rare earths are used to produce high-tech and energy-efficient goods such as hybrid vehicles, computers and aircraft. This paper looks at the impacts of export restrictions often put on these raw materials.

Trade in Intermediate Goods and Services

A higher share of imported inputs leads to productivity gains in domestic industries and reduces inefficiencies in the use of technology, according to this study of international trade in intermediate goods and services.

Clarifying Trade Costs: Maritime Transport and its Effect on Agricultural Trade

Maritime transport costs have a significant impact on the trade in agricultural goods. Maritime transport costs represent a high proportion of the imported value of agricultural products -- 10% on average, which is a similar level of magnitude as agricultural tariffs.

Vertical Trade, Trade Costs and FDI

Firms find advantages in sourcing inputs from abroad and in fragmenting their production process. This report describes and illustrates new firm strategies of vertical specialisation and explores the trade policy implications of new patterns of trade and investment.

The crisis and its impact on cross border investment

With the global economic crisis, governments are now focused on restoring national economic and employment growth and financial stability which also poses risks for freedom of investment.

Responding to the global economic crisis – OECD’s role in promoting open markets and job creation

In his speech delivered at the 2009 BIAC Business Roundtable, Mr. Gurría underlined that the OECD was working hard to help countries design better and more reliable policies to underpin the credibility of a stronger and more accountable global economy. But he warned that a new economic system can only work if it’s based on a more responsible business culture that can reconcile profit-making with reducing inequalities, fostering

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• Responding to the global economic crisis – OECD’s role in promoting open markets and job creation (introductory remarks)

Trade impacts of selected regional trade agreements in agriculture

This paper provides an in-depth examination of the trade effects of three regional trade agreements (RTAs) in the agricultural sector: the ASEAN Free Trade Agreement (AFTA), the Common Market for Eastern and Southern Africa (COMESA) and the Southern Cone Common Market (MERCOSUR).

Surmonter les obstacles à la frontière: Coûts et bénéfices de la facilitation des échanges

Les échanges internationaux se sont considérablement développés ces dernières années, grâce en partie à la réduction progressive des droits de douane et des contingents tarifaires dans le cadre des cycles successifs de libéralisation multilatérale des échanges.

Impact de la libéralisation des échanges de services sur les échanges de produits non agricoles

Cette étude permet de constater que les échanges de services contribuent à élargir l’éventail des prestataires de services qui soutiennent la compétitivité dans les secteurs de la production manufacturière de haute technologie et à forte valeur ajoutée.