Reducing Trade Costs in Asia-Pacific Developing Countries (Studies in Trade and Investment No. 84). International trade has been a major engine for economic growth and development in Asia and the Pacific. However, overall trade costs remain excessively high in many developing countries of the region. Part I of this publication provides an overview of trade costs in Asia and the Pacific, based on the most recent update of the ESCAP-World Bank Trade Cost Database. Policies and factors affecting international trade costs are identified. Key findings and implications from a micro-level analysis of trade procedures in a wide range of Asia- Pacific developing economies are also presented, along with highlights and recommendations from some of the most recent ESCAP studies on trade facilitation and trade costs in Asia-Pacific. Part II features abbreviated and updated versions of five of these studies, analyzing issues ranging from obstacles faced by SMEs in participating in international trade, to transit facilitation practices in existing trade and transport agreements, to agricultural trade costs, the impact of trade costs on foreign direct investment (FDI), and the potential export gains from implementation of paperless trade facilitation.
Additional Materials
- PART I Reducing trade costs in Asia and the Pacific: Key findings and the way forward
- PART II Chapter I Facilitating participation of SMEs in trade: Financing and communications technology as key enablers
- PART II Chapter II Including landlocked developing countries: Trade facilitation potential of existing Asian transit agreements
- PART II Chapter III Agricultural trade costs in the Asia-Pacific region: A need for a sectoral approach to trade facilitation
- PART II Chapter IV Financing for development: Impact of reducing trade costs on foreign direct investment
- PART II Chapter V Estimating the benefits of cross-border paperless trade in Asia and the Pacific
- References
Additional Materials
- PART I Reducing trade costs in Asia and the Pacific: Key findings and the way forward
- PART II Chapter I Facilitating participation of SMEs in trade: Financing and communications technology as key enablers
- PART II Chapter II Including landlocked developing countries: Trade facilitation potential of existing Asian transit agreements
- PART II Chapter III Agricultural trade costs in the Asia-Pacific region: A need for a sectoral approach to trade facilitation
- PART II Chapter IV Financing for development: Impact of reducing trade costs on foreign direct investment
- PART II Chapter V Estimating the benefits of cross-border paperless trade in Asia and the Pacific
- References
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