EconStor Collection:
http://hdl.handle.net/10419/64247
2024-03-19T08:02:14ZFood loss in international trade in the Asia-Pacific region: Country case study on Bangladesh
http://hdl.handle.net/10419/273545
Title: Food loss in international trade in the Asia-Pacific region: Country case study on Bangladesh
Authors: Jahan, Sheikh Morshed
Abstract: The global food supply chain experiences a loss of approximately one-third of the food produced, making food loss in international trade a significant threat to food and nutrition security and economic loss. Bangladesh, a major producer of vegetables and fruits, faces constraints such as post-harvest management, inadequate transportation and storage facilities, limited access to quality seeds, and stringent quality standards imposed by importing countries. The country also faces non-tariff measures and other obstacles to trade, with the agri-food products sector being the most affected. The lack of cold storage systems and specialized transportation facilities, inadequate port facilities, and weak trade governance are the main causes of food loss in the fruit and vegetable trade. Good agricultural practices, post-harvest management practices, and value chain efficiencies are lacking, resulting in a significant amount of food loss. To mitigate food loss, compliance with good agricultural practices and SPS measures, effective post-harvest practices, and a vapor heat treatment facility, packaging, and cool chain are essential. The government of Bangladesh should also incentivize private sector investment, ease regulatory requirements, and develop a cohesive export-oriented institutional ecosystem to reduce food loss in international trade.2023-01-01T00:00:00ZPractical means of applying the TRIPS Agreement's flexibilities to spur vaccine production
http://hdl.handle.net/10419/268383
Title: Practical means of applying the TRIPS Agreement's flexibilities to spur vaccine production
Authors: Mitchell, Andrew D.; Taubman, Antony
Abstract: Timely and equitable access to vaccines and other health technologies is vital in effectively responding to pandemics and treating other communicable diseases. This paper shows how countries might overcome real or purported intellectual property (IP) barriers to regional COVID-19 vaccine production. In particular, it examines how countries can utilise IP flexibilities to increase and diversify the manufacture and distribution of COVID-19 vaccines. It provides concrete examples of how these flexibilities are practised in various domestic jurisdictions in Asia and the Pacific and sets out practical recommendations for different policy areas.2023-01-01T00:00:00ZMultilateral and regional cooperation on digital trade rules and agreements in Asia-Pacific
http://hdl.handle.net/10419/281403
Title: Multilateral and regional cooperation on digital trade rules and agreements in Asia-Pacific
Authors: Du, Runqiu; Duval, Yann; Semenova, Maria; Sutthivana, Natnicha
Abstract: Rules on digital trade are rapidly taking shape as countries in Asia-Pacific and beyond strive to secure the benefits associated with e-commerce and the digitalization of trade in goods and services. At the multilateral level, the WTO holds promise to reach a plurilateral agreement on core e-commerce issues by the end of 2023. Although far-reaching outcome seems unlikely, e-commerce rules agreed in the WTO will potentially serve as baseline commitments on cooperation in digital trade. At the regional level, different approaches have emerged, and many preferential trade agreements (PTAs) already include increasingly comprehensive and advanced digital trade provisions (DTPs) and the number of Digital Economy Agreements (DEAs) is growing. Asia-Pacific economies are unevenly engaged in cooperation in digital trade rulemaking - East and South-East Asia economies have welcomed DTPs in their agreements and are taking the lead in developing DEAs, while Central Asia and South Asia economies are lagging especially in intra-regional cooperation within the subregions. The proliferation of DTPs reflects the expanding and deepening cooperation, it may, however, undermine the benefits of digital trade if the rules are not harmonized. The landscape is getting clearer as there is an emerging coherence in the coverage of DTPs across agreements. Nevertheless, further reducing regulatory heterogeneity will be important in enabling the effective participation of smaller firms and less developed countries in cross-border digital trade.2023-01-01T00:00:00ZEstimating the effect of trade facilitation implementation on trade misinvoicing-based illicit financial flows and tax revenue in Asia and the Pacific
http://hdl.handle.net/10419/268382
Title: Estimating the effect of trade facilitation implementation on trade misinvoicing-based illicit financial flows and tax revenue in Asia and the Pacific
Authors: Kravchenko, Alexey; Duval, Yann
Abstract: Trade misinvoicing occurs when price, quantity or description of internationally traded goods is purposefully misrepresented for pecuniary gain. It is one type of illicit financial flows (IFFs), and combating IFFs has been explicitly included in the Sustainable Development Goals. Most literature on the topic so far focused on understanding and estimating misinvoicing. This study examines whether, as previously hypothesised, digital trade facilitation, in particular cross-border trade data exchange, can help in addressing misinvoicing. The study builds a simple index of misinvoicing at harmonized system (HS) four-digit level using UN Comtrade data for 2015, 2017 and 2019 to match the UN Global Survey on Digital and Sustainable Trade Facilitation data, together with a number of standard control variables commonly included in trade-related regression analyses. The results suggest that there is indeed a statistically significant association between misinvoicing as measured by the index and rates of implementation of various trade facilitation measures. The study proceeds to estimate a range of the impact of full implementation of trade facilitation measures (own and trade partners') on tax revenue, estimated to be at least $119 billion to $183 billion for countries in the Asia-Pacific region, per year. Notably, this is likely to be an underestimate because of the aggregation bias of analysis conducted at HS four-digit level. Nevertheless, these numbers provide a defendable, theoretically and logically consistent estimates supporting the argument that economies stand to gain significantly from exchanging trade data across borders to stem trade misinvoicing. Implementation of cross-border paperless trade measures promise to offer the most impact on tax revenues.2022-01-01T00:00:00Z