Trade facilitation and paperless trade implementation in Latin America and the Caribbean: Regional Report 2017

Figure 21
Implementation levels of SME-oriented trade facilitation measures
in Latin America and the Caribbean, 2017
(Percentages and number of countries at each implementation level)
Trade facilitation measures that ensure easy and
affordable access for SMEs to related information
11
6
1
3
0
Specific measures that enable SMEs to more
easily benefit from the AEO scheme
9
2
1
8
1
Actions to make the single windows more
easily accessible to SMEs
8
5
1
6
1
Actions to ensure that SMEs are well represented
and made key members of National Trade Facilitation
Committees (NTFCs)
5
6
1
8
1
0% 20% 40% 60% 80% 100%
Fully implemented Partially implemented Pilot stage Not implemented Don't know
Source: Author, on the basis of data from the Global Survey on Trade Facilitation and Paperless Trade Implementation 2017.
I. Women in trade facilitation
Gender inequality can constrain a country’s trade expansion and hinder its international
competitiveness (Higgins, 2012). Thus the Global Survey 2017 builds upon the 2015 version by
incorporating two questions that gauge the extent to which participating countries’ efforts in trade
facilitation take into account the specific needs of women involved in trade. Question 44 relates to
whether the existing trade facilitation policy and/or strategy incorporates special consideration of
women involved in trade, while question 45 asks whether specific measures have been introduced to
that effect. Survey results show that this is the area where least progress has been made across the
region, particularly in Central America and Mexico and in the Caribbean (see figures 22 and 23).
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