Program: Trade

Trade Policy Priorities for Financial Services

21 June 2019 | Geneva, Switzerland | By Invitation
Roundtables, Trade | Tags: Financial Regulation, Services Trade
International financial service providers account for a key part of global services flows and have been a historic catalyst of services trade negotiations. Yet, countries today are reluctant to undertake deeper international commitments in financial services ... continue reading

The Digital Economy for Economic Development: Free Flow of Data and Supporting Policies

, , , , , , and | 27 April 2019
Trade, Policy Briefs | Tags: Digitalization, Inclusiveness
The digital economy provides ample opportunities for G20 economies to accelerate inclusive economic growth. To take advantage of digital technology, free flow of data backed up by a series of policies to address other public policy objectives must be promoted. However, policies for the flow ... continue reading

Firm Heterogeneity in Services Trade: Micro-Level Evidence from Eight OECD Countries

, and | 18 April 2019
Trade, Research Papers | Tags: Services Trade
This paper shows that smaller and less productive firms, as well as first-time exporters are overproportionally affected by services trade barriers using micro-data from Belgium, Finland, Germany, Italy, Japan, Sweden, the United Kingdom, and the United States. ... continue reading

Services Trade for Sustainable, Balanced, and Inclusive Growth

, , , , , , , and | 3 April 2019
Trade, Policy Briefs | Tags: Digitalization, Economic Growth, Services Trade
Structural changes in the world economy have altered the way we think about the nexus between trade and growth. In particular, the rise of the services economy and the digital revolution have rocked the world of trade policy-making in ways that are not nearly sufficiently ... continue reading

Trade Policy Priorities for Maritime Transport Services

12 March 2019 | By Invitation | Geneva, Switzerland
Roundtables, Trade | Tags: Sectors, Services Trade, Transport
International transport services play a key role in the global economy and are expected to grow significantly as globalization pushes ahead. Maritime transport is a core pillar of the industry. ... continue reading

International Economic Cooperation in Troubled Times: A Call for Strong Action by the G20

, , , , , , , and | 26 November 2018
Fiscal, Trade, Blog | Tags: Employment, G20, Investment, Protectionism, Services Trade, Tax Competition, Tax Expenditures
The leaders of the G20 will meet on 30 November and 1 December in Buenos Aires for their annual summit. They need to acknowledge that the last two years have been characterized by strong headwinds for the world economy. This time, however, it is not ... continue reading

Investor-State Dispute Settlement: An Anachronism Whose Time Has Gone

| 24 September 2018
Trade, Policy Briefs | Tags: Investment, ISDS, Services Trade
Investor-State Dispute Settlement (ISDS) – a mechanism that allows foreign investors to bring claims against host governments to an international arbitral tribunal – is a postcolonial relic that should be abolished. ... continue reading

Mend It, Don´t End It: The case for upgrading the G20’s pledge on protectionism

, , , , , , , , , , , , , and | 3 September 2018
Trade, Policy Briefs | Tags: Protectionism, Services Trade
Despite neutering the official monitoring of protectionism, unmistakable evidence assembled from state sources demonstrates that G20 members routinely violate their “no protectionism” pledge. ... continue reading

Mitigating the Adjustment Costs of International Trade

, , , , , , and | 3 September 2018
Trade, Policy Briefs | Tags: Employment
The evidence demonstrating that nations gain from trade is overwhelming. However, trade liberalization can cause disruption to firms and workers, and its gains and losses are spread unevenly. ... continue reading

Energy Tax Expenditures in a Globalized Economy

and | 9 May 2018
Fiscal, Trade, Discussion Notes | Tags: Energy, Tax Competition, Tax Expenditures
Countries around the world have introduced energy taxes to expand revenues, reduce energy consumption and curb greenhouse gas emissions. In that context, they have frequently also implemented tax provisions to lower the energy tax bill for certain industries, households and regions. Tax exemptions and deductions ... continue reading