Trade In Services In Asia Pacific Assessing Barriers And Implications For Services Trade Facilitation In India

This paper attempts to examine the determinants of services export and its barriers to trade. We have looked at the cross-country experiences in developing economies of Asia-Pacific such as ASEAN and SAARC, in general, and India, in particular. Our objective is to understand the macro perspective of performances of services export and also whether the supply side barriers such as the infrastructure facilities that facilitate services trade have an effect on the growth of services export in developing economies of Asia-Pacific. We find that ASEAN region has a high potential to benefit from the services export, given that services trade facilitation index (STFI) and institution index is positively promoting services export and also ASEAN reacts favorably towards world import of services. The study suggests that SAARC has to emphasis on infrastructure development that facilitates the services export. In case of India, we find that STFI is negative and insignificant for total services. However, when services export is disaggregated, STFI is negative but significant for financial, transportation and travel services, which suggest that improved service trade facilitation would help unlock the unrealized trade potential in these sectors. In case of computer and information technology services, our estimated models indicate that STFI has been facilitating services export from India.

In recent years the tremendous growth of the service sector—including international trade in services—has outstripped that of manufacturing in many industrialized nations. As the importance of services has grown, economists have begun to focus on policy issues raised by them and have tried to understand what, if any, differences there are between production and delivery of goods and services. This volume is the first book-length attempt to analyze trade in services in the Asia-Pacific region. Contributors provide overviews of basic issues involved in studying the service sector; investigate the impact of increasing trade in services on the economies of Taiwan, Korea, and Hong Kong; present detailed analyses of specific service sectors (telecommunications, financial services, international tourism, and accounting); and extend our understanding of trade in services beyond the usual concept (measured in balance of payment statistics) to include indirect services and services undertaken abroad by subsidiaries and affiliates.

The role of Aid for Trade (AfT) in promoting the growth and tradability of services is important, given that it is a major catalyst for inclusive economic and structural transformation. This report highlights emerging trends in AfT in the context of evolving trade performance in Asia and the Pacific. In particular, the impact of AfT on trade in services, thereby helping increase economic and job opportunities for women, and the rise of e-commerce. The report ends by considering policy implications of the experiences of geographically-challenged economies of the region along the dimensions of trade costs, AfT, trade in services, and the role of the digital economy.

"This book, co-published by the United Nations Economic and Social Commission for Asia and the Pacific (ESCAP) and the Asian Development Bank (ADB), provides guidance for the implementation of trade facilitation measures and reforms in Asia and the Pacific. It attempts to bridge the gaps among policy makers, practitioners, and economists by outlining operational guidance on how to assess the status of trade facilitation, what measures and reforms are necessary, and how to implement them at the national and regional levels. Trade facilitation principles and measures introduced in this reference publication cover the following areas: (1) Publication and Administration of Trade Regulations, (2) Trade Procedures and Documents, (3) Product Standards and Conformance, (4)Trade-related Infrastructure and Services, and (5) Transit Trade."--Site de l'éditeur.

Trade facilitation increases trade flows, lowers trade cost, and ultimately contributes to sustainable and inclusive growth. This publication, jointly prepared by the Asian Development Bank and the United Nations Economic and Social Commission for Asia and the Pacific, reviews the state of play of trade facilitation and paperless trade in Asia and the Pacific. It investigates the evolution of trade costs in the region, examines trade facilitation and paperless trade implementation, and highlights the key initiatives and efforts in Central Asia, the Greater Mekong Subregion, South Asia, and the Pacific. It includes impact assessments of trade facilitation implementation and corridor performance on reducing trade costs and increasing trade.

First Published in 2004. The economic impact of barriers to world trade and investment in services has been thought impossible to measure. As a consequence, significant global policy initiatives such as the General Agreement on Trade in Services have been concluded in an information void. This book challenges the view that impediments to services trade cannot be quantified, detailing how these barriers can be measured and their significance estimated. The book contains studies measuring impediments to trade and investment in a variety of sectors, including telecommunications, finance, shipping, education and air transport. The authors explain how the measures were calculated and show how the results could be used in sophisticated economic models. The final part of the book looks at current issues in services negotiations in the World Trade Organisation and the Asia Pacific Economic Cooperation forum. The measurements and methods detailed in this work have clear relevance to policymaking on services liberalisation and could be used by both international and regional organisations in services negotiations. This work will consequently prove to be an extremely valuable addition to the literature of the field.

This publication provides an overview of assessments from the 2017 global survey on trade facilitation and paperless trade in the Asia and Pacific region. The survey uses the final list of provisions included in the World Trade Organization's Trade Facilitation Agreement (WTO TFA) and the draft text of the regional United Nations (UN) treaty on cross-border paperless trade facilitation under negotiation at Economic and Social Commission for Asia and the Pacific (ESCAP). Implementation levels of 44 countries in Asia and the Pacific were calculated based on 31 trade facilitation and paperless trade measures. This study also describes trade facilitation projects that promote development through deepening regional cooperation and integration. It also discusses digital trade as a major opportunity for SMEs to better access international markets and global supply chains, giving them the chance to growth both quickly and sustainably. The progress and challenges in the regional and subregional trade facilitation efforts being made to streamline trade procedures are also presented. ADB and UNESCAP jointly prepared this publication.

Supply chain disruptions caused by the coronavirus disease (COVID-19) pandemic have underscored the need for digital and paperless trade procedures to facilitate trade. This report reviews the impact of trade facilitation initiatives on trade costs in Asia and the Pacific since the pandemic began. A special chapter examines the pandemic’s impact on the supply chains of critical goods such as vaccines, personal protective equipment, and food, and provides policy suggestions toward enhancing supply chain resilience along with trade facilitation. This is the third biennial progress report on trade facilitation implementation in Asia and the Pacific jointly prepared by the Asian Development Bank and the United Nations Economic and Social Commission for Asia and the Pacific.

The ASEAN-India economic integration has made substantial progress in recent years. India’s engagements with Southeast and East Asia have received new momentum under the Act East Policy (AEP). In 2017, ASEAN and India will be celebrating 25 years of their dialogue relations. The relationship is set to deepen in coming days as ASEAN and India step up their collaboration across a range of economic and strategic issues, including trade and connectivity, culture, people-to-people links, trans-national terrorism, and maritime security. However, both of them have been facing several challenges which call for concerted efforts by ASEAN and India. With ASEAN and India working towards establishing a Comprehensive Free Trade Area through Regional Comprehensive Economic Partnership (RCEP) agreement, their cooperation will be key in promoting economic stability, competitiveness, growth and integration in the region. This book is a timely initiative to review the past and suggest the ways to further strengthen the economic partnership. It primarily deals with the economic integration issues between ASEAN and India, and assesses policy priorities, effectiveness, implementation imperatives and challenges. Each chapter in this book tries to capture essential features of the crosscutting issues and attempts to draw some policy implications. It will be a valuable reference for policymakers, academics and practitioners. Please note: Taylor & Francis does not sell or distribute the Hardback in India, Pakistan, Nepal, Bhutan, Bangladesh and Sri Lanka