Please use this identifier to cite or link to this item: https://hdl.handle.net/10419/170684 
Authors: 
Year of Publication: 
2017
Series/Report no.: 
WTO Staff Working Paper No. ERSD-2017-14
Publisher: 
World Trade Organization (WTO), Geneva
Abstract: 
Many developing countries still levy tariffs on mosquito nets, thereby discouraging their use and contributing to the spread of diseases such as malaria and dengue. Focusing on sub-Saharan Africa, the paper shows to which extent such tariffs are in place and, based on existing elasticity figures, calculates the cost of this policy. It is estimated that tariffs on insecticide-treated bed nets have reduced demand by some US$ 7 million between 2011 and 2015, equivalent to around 3.1 million bed nets. This has contributed to some 2.9 million malaria cases and over 5,000 fatalities during this period. The paper discusses various policy implications of this finding, including whether tariff concessions (e.g. for local relief organizations) are more effective than a general zero-tariff policy. It is argued that concessions give rise to a process that is bureaucratic and only partially compensatory for the cost incurred. The introduction of a new six-digit tariff line specifically for mosquito nets with HS 2017 will facilitate a zero-tariff policy on bed nets. By the same token, policy makers should address remaining non-tariff barriers that affect the importation of anti-malarial products.
Subjects: 
malaria
tariffs
public health
trade policy
development
JEL: 
I15
I18
Persistent Identifier of the first edition: 
Document Type: 
Working Paper

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