Trends in trade facilitation performance

The key objective of trade facilitation is to reduce the cost of international trade transactions. This can be achieved through simplification and harmonization of trade procedures. Along with improving the availability of, and access to trade related infrastructure, streamlining trade procedures has become essential for firms in developing countries. It enables them to effectively participate in the regional and global production networks responsible for an increasing share of global trade flows. In this context, this chapter will, first, present selected findings of the recent Asia Pacific Trade Facilitation Forum (APTFF) trade facilitation implementation survey. Second, review the performance of Asia-Pacific economies, based on the ESCAP-World Bank Trade Cost Database. Third, discuss international supply chain connectivity of regional countries. This uses a new index based on data from the World Bank’s Doing Business Report and UNCTAD’s Liner Shipping Connectivity Index (LSCI).

Related Subject(s): International Trade and Finance