Trade Facilitation in ASEAN Member Countries [electronic resource] : Measuring Progress and Assessing Priorities / Shepherd, Ben
Material type: TextPublication details: Washington, D.C., The World Bank, 2008Description: 1 online resource (43 p.)Subject(s): Air | Air transport | Common Carriers Industry | Driving | Economic Theory and Research | Free Trade | Freight | Industry | International Economics & Trade | Macroeconomics and Economic Growth | Port facilities | Public Sector Development | Road | Road infrastructure | Trade Policy | Transparency | Transport | Transport Economics, Policy and Planning | Transport infrastructureAdditional physical formats: Shepherd, Ben.: Trade Facilitation in ASEAN Member Countries.Online resources: Click here to access online Abstract: This paper reviews recent progress and indicators of trade facilitation in member countries of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations. The findings show that import and export costs vary considerably in the member countries, from very low to moderately high levels. Tariff and non-tariff barriers are generally low to moderate. Infrastructure quality and services sector competitiveness range from fair to excellent. Using a standard gravity model, the authors find that trade flows in Southeast Asia are particularly sensitive to transport infrastructure and information and communications technology. The results suggest that the region stands to make significant economic gains from trade facilitation reform. These gains could be considerably larger than those from comparable tariff reforms. Estimates suggest that improving port facilities in the region, for example, could expand trade by up to 7.5 percent orThis paper reviews recent progress and indicators of trade facilitation in member countries of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations. The findings show that import and export costs vary considerably in the member countries, from very low to moderately high levels. Tariff and non-tariff barriers are generally low to moderate. Infrastructure quality and services sector competitiveness range from fair to excellent. Using a standard gravity model, the authors find that trade flows in Southeast Asia are particularly sensitive to transport infrastructure and information and communications technology. The results suggest that the region stands to make significant economic gains from trade facilitation reform. These gains could be considerably larger than those from comparable tariff reforms. Estimates suggest that improving port facilities in the region, for example, could expand trade by up to 7.5 percent or 2 billion. The authors interpret this as an indication of the vital role that transport infrastructure can play in enhancing intra-regional trade.
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