When you think about trade policy in Brazil, the first question that comes to mind is “Why is the country taking so long to open up its economy? Why it such a laggard?” After all, Brazil still has one of the highest import tariffs in the world, very few trade agreements to speak off, and its trade liberalization—one of the last to take off in the region (if not in the … [Read more...] about Brazil: Why Is Opening Up So Hard to Do?
Search Results for: single windows
Connecting the Trade Dots in Latin America and the Caribbean
As trade policymakers gather in Geneva for the Aid for Trade Global Review 2017, it is an opportune moment to consider the inter-related aspects of the Global Review’s theme: “Promoting Trade, Inclusiveness, and Connectivity for Sustainable Development”. Trade can be an engine for economic growth and development as it provides economic actors with improved opportunities to … [Read more...] about Connecting the Trade Dots in Latin America and the Caribbean
The European Union and Mercosur, a Historic and Promising Deal
When the European Union (EU) and Mercosur recently announced their free trade agreement after 20 years of negotiations, we were elated. This pact cements a historic opportunity for the four Southern Cone countries to grow their economies, internationalize their companies, be more competitive, and add new jobs. The deal is one of the world’s largest, comparable in size to … [Read more...] about The European Union and Mercosur, a Historic and Promising Deal
How long does it take to cross borders? From surveys and one-dimensional measures to big data
To learn more about this issue, see chapter 1 of Out Of the Border Labyrinth, a report published by the IDB’s Integration and Trade Sector, and IDB Working Paper series no. IDB-WP-782, Endogenous Border Times. In recent years, various indicators have been developed to measure time at the border. In general, these measures are based on surveys of international freight … [Read more...] about How long does it take to cross borders? From surveys and one-dimensional measures to big data
Strategies and mechanisms to promote the convergence of trade agreements in Latin America
It is high time that trade integration processes in Latin America achieve convergence between the region’s many bilateral agreements in order to extend the benefits that these bring while extending the originating status of a given good so that it can circulate freely. … [Read more...] about Strategies and mechanisms to promote the convergence of trade agreements in Latin America