International Trade in Services.pdf - DSpace at Khazar University

Market Structure, Liberalization, and Trade 167
unnecessary barriers to trade, such as licensing requirements that are determined
to be more burdensome than necessary to ensure the quality of the service and
thus in violation of GATS article VI.4 on domestic regulation, the rules for which
are being discussed in the multilateral Doha Round (USITC 2008).
Trade facilitation
The regulations and practices affecting goods imports can have a major impact on
international supply chains, which could be strongly influenced in a positive way
by the WTO negotiations on trade facilitation. Inadequate port management and
customs practices in many developing countries result in long delays and give rise
to unnecessary trade transaction costs. The demands of border and port officials
for informal payments may impede trade. The Doha negotiations address ways to
help exporters of goods who need information on import and export regulations
and customs procedures in other countries. Cutting the red tape associated with
imports of goods into a country and providing easier access to accurate information
on import requirements are two ways of facilitating trade. The aim is to clarify
and improve the relevant articles of the General Agreement on Tariffs and
Trade of the WTO with a view to expediting the movement, release, and clearance
of goods, including goods in transit. However, developing countries and the least
developed countries will not be obliged to undertake investments in infrastructure
projects beyond their means.
The negotiations also aim at enhancing technical assistance and support for
capacity building in developing countries and at improving the provisions for
effective cooperation among customs authorities and other appropriate authorities
on trade facilitation and customs compliance issues. This is considered vital
to enabling these authorities to participate fully in the negotiations and to benefit
from them. There will be a collaborative effort in this area by the WTO, the
International Monetary Fund, the OECD, the United Nations Conference on
Trade and Development, the World Customs Organization, and the World
Bank.
Questions Governments Should Assess as They
Advance the Reform of the Trade-Related
Aspects of Distribution Services
A number of issues merit the attention of policy makers as they advance the trade
integration agenda for distribution services. A checklist of questions that might
help structure the assessment and guide a comprehensive approach to regulatory
reform and the formulation of trade policy follows.