Caribbean islands face significant competitive disadvantages in trade because of a variety of factors — including the size and nature of their economies and their geographic location, which necessitates a reliance on maritime and air transport for most of their import and export needs, with 90 percent of goods being transported by sea. At the same time, maritime transport and … [Read more...] about Short-sea shipping: A solution to Caribbean logistics challenges?
Trade Facilitation
The Spaghetti Bowl and International Supply Chains
Latin America regional integration can be characterized by the co-existence of multiple trade agreements: there are 33 of these in total, their membership is limited in scope, and they generally act as separate silos which lack important interconnections between them. Common sense indicates that while this “spaghetti bowl” of agreements might encourage production linkages … [Read more...] about The Spaghetti Bowl and International Supply Chains
Waste not, want not: Strengthening LAC agrifood exports though robust cold chain logistics
The global food industry loses a staggering amount annually: US$750 billion. In Latin America and the Caribbean (LAC), roughly 55 percent of post-harvest fruit and vegetables are lost, mostly due to problems arising during storage, packaging, and distribution. At the same time, high logistics costs hurt trade in food and agriculture, increasing final prices by 30 percent to 100 … [Read more...] about Waste not, want not: Strengthening LAC agrifood exports though robust cold chain logistics
Increasing the Involvement of Latin American Companies in Global Value Chains
The fragmentation of production processes is an enormous opportunity for countries and companies wishing to put themselves on the global manufacturing and export map What might a vehicle part, a jacket with motion sensors for gaming, a quinoa harvest, or software for managing dairy cattle have in common? All these goods and services are “Made in the Americas,” a marketing … [Read more...] about Increasing the Involvement of Latin American Companies in Global Value Chains
Argentina Is Becoming a Hub for Knowledge-Based Services
Architectural plans, legal and accounting consultancy work, software and mobile app development, web design, and film and video game production are just some of the many knowledge-based services (KBSs) that Argentina exports. The country’s export profile no longer centers on cuts of beef or wine, traditional products like yerba mate or dulce de leche, or even tango moves and … [Read more...] about Argentina Is Becoming a Hub for Knowledge-Based Services