When you buy a new TV, you don't expect to get an electric shock while plugging the cord into the outlet or burn your hand while handling the remote control. The truth is that no one expects to suffer a misfortune when they get ready to watch their favorite show or streaming series. That is why most countries in the world impose regulations on the marketing of many goods - not … [Read more...] about Technical measures: the not so visible barriers to trade
Trade Facilitation
How are Global Shipping Disruptions Affecting Latin American Freight Rates?
In a recent blog post, we showed that shipping costs have substantially increased since the beginning of the pandemic and that such an increase was primarily associated with imports from Asia. In this new post, we explore whether and, if so, how such developments generated a domino effect on the transportation costs faced by Latin American and Caribbean countries … [Read more...] about How are Global Shipping Disruptions Affecting Latin American Freight Rates?
A Year and a Half into the Pandemic: How Did Cross-Border E-Commerce Evolve?
Cross-border e-commerce initially contracted in Uruguay because of the pandemic but started to show a pronounced recovery in mid-2020. Data on all credit and debit card purchases made abroad in the framework of the country’s franchise regime revealed that it decreased significantly between January and May 2020.[1] The aggregate annualized value of these purchases from Uruguay … [Read more...] about A Year and a Half into the Pandemic: How Did Cross-Border E-Commerce Evolve?
Promoting international telemedicine in Latin America
Francesc Saigí,[i] Imma Alberch,[ii] and Juan Blyde[iii] Over the past year, the COVID-19 pandemic has accelerated the adoption of new telemedicine services to improve people’s health. Likewise, social distancing measures, the lack of experts, and the large extensions of countries of Latin America and the Caribbean (LAC) drove the adoption of international … [Read more...] about Promoting international telemedicine in Latin America
Blockchain technology: a new opportunity for international trade
The countries of Latin America and the Caribbean (LAC) have an incredible opportunity within their reach. By leveraging blockchain technology, they could increase trade within the region and with the rest of the world and help shore up the economic recovery. To help more countries and users understand blockchain better, the IDB’s Integration and Trade Sector and its … [Read more...] about Blockchain technology: a new opportunity for international trade