Trends in trade facilitation

Since countries have continued to liberalize trade both unilaterally and as part of the implementation of preferential trade agreements during the past decade, import tariff costs now often account for a very small share of the overall trade costs faced by traders in Asia and the Pacific – typically 5% or less for most countries and products. Countries have therefore increasingly turned their attention to trade facilitation, i.e. the reduction of non-tariff related trade transaction costs, particularly those associated with the generally complex set of regulatory and other procedures involved in completing international trade transactions and moving goods across borders.

Related Subject(s): International Trade and Finance