Fifth Global Review of Aid For Trade

Agency Heads Cite Importance of Reducing Trade Costs to Support Growth and Development

Reducing trade costs through initiatives such as the WTO’s Trade Facilitation Agreement (TFA) will go a long way towards helping businesses and consumers in poorer countries reap the benefits of the global trading system, the heads of major international agencies agreed on 30 June at the Fifth Global Review of Aid for Trade.

In opening the Fifth Global Review, WTO Director-General Roberto Azevêdo said high costs arising from delays at the border and other obstacles “suffocate trade. They limit the gains from trade. Worse, the burden of high trade costs falls heaviest on the poorest countries, the smallest firms and the lowest income consumers.” 

More than 1,000 participants from around the world are taking part in the Fifth Global Review, which is examining actions being taken to reduce trade costs so that developing countries, and in particular least-developed countries (LDCs), can participate more effectively in global trade.

New study underlines benefits from reducing trade costs

As part of the Fifth Global Review, the WTO and the Organisation for Economic Cooperation and Development (OECD) launched a new joint report highlighting the importance for developing countries and LDCs in reducing trade costs in order to benefit from the market opportunities the multilateral trading system creates.

The report contends that cumbersome and time-consuming border procedures, obsolete or ill-adapted infrastructure, limited access to trade finance, and the complexity and cost of meeting an ever broader array of standards “all serve to price too many countries out of international trade”.  It calls for a redoubling of efforts to tackle trade costs which continue to marginalise many of the world’s poorest and most fragile economies, and cites the TFA as an important step towards achieving this goal.

OECD Secretary-General Angel Gurría said the joint WTO/OECD report “clearly shows that while producers in low-income countries are often competitive at the farm and factory gate, they are priced out of the international market”.

“This is because of cumbersome border procedures, poor infrastructure, lack of finance, and complex standards,” Mr. Gurría continued.  The TFA “creates a significant opportunity to reduce trade costs and enhance participation in the global value chains”.

Donor support increasing

The WTO/OECD report notes that donors have already disbursed some USD 1.9 billion in aid for trade facilitation since 2005. Annual commitments now stand at USD 668 million, an eight-fold increase in donor support since 2005, with many donors indicating they intend to increase their support over the next five years.

Takehito Nakao, President of the Asian Development Bank, said his agency was increasing support for trade facilitation efforts in various parts of Asia, where more than 500 million people still live in extreme poverty. He highlighted a three-pronged approach to aid for trade including infrastructure investment, trade facilitation and trade finance in Asia and the Pacific.