Regionalism and trade facilitation : a primer, Vol. 1 of 1

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Regionalism and trade facilitation : a primer

Author:	Maur, Jean-Christophe;	Collection Title:	Policy Research working paper ; no. WPS 4464
Country:	World;	Date Stored:	2008/01/03
Document Date:	2008/01/01	Document Type:	Policy Research Working Paper
Language:	English	Region:	The World Region
Report Number:	WPS4464	SubTopics:	Transport Economics Policy & Planning; Free Trade; Trade Policy; Trade and Regional Integration; Trade Law
Volume No:	1 of 1

Summary: This paper investigates when trade facilitation reform should be undertaken at the regional level. First, looking at both efficiency and implementation considerations, it confirms the perception that the regional dimension matters. Investigating where efficiency gains can be made, this research explains why national markets alone fail to produce the full scale economies and positive externalities of trade facilitation reform. Second, because trade facilitation policies need to address coordination and capacity failures, and because of the operational complexity challenge, the choice of the adequate platform for delivering reform is crucial. The lessons are that regional trade agreements offer good prospects of comprehensive and effective reform and can effectively complement multilateral and national initiatives. However, examples of implementation of trade facilitation reform in regional agreements do not seem to indicate that regional integration approaches have been more successful than trade facilitation through specific cooperation agreements or other efforts, multilateral or unilateral. Customs unions may be an exception here, and the author suggests reasons why this could be the case.


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