The export performance of Africa has declined over the past couple of decades as a result of an increase in trade costs and the time taken to complete a trade transaction. As a result of an increase in competition, countries need to improve their efforts in adopting and developing a trade development initiative. Trade facilitation has been recognised as an element of economic growth, and it is thus seen as the most prominent trade development initiative in stimulating exports. The general objective of this study was to investigate the current state and effect of trade facilitation in South Africa and to develop a measurement to compare South Africa's state of trade facilitation performance with that of other countries in the world. The purpose of this study was to analyse and present the importance of implementing a trade facilitation programme as a trade development initiative. The need to eliminate trade barriers such as increased trade costs and the time taken to complete a trade transaction were emphasised because of the threat that they pose to efficient trade facilitation reform. Although the advantages of trade facilitation reform have long been recognised, studies on the measurement of trade facilitation are very scarce. Similar studies make use of a gravity model or a Computable General Equilibrium (CGE) model in order to quantify the effects, but due to indirect costs, statistical errors, incorrect proxies and other unrecognised variables, no exact index exists to measure the trade facilitation performance of world countries. Four very relevant trade performance indexes, the Logistics Performance Index, the Doing Business Report, the Enabling Trade Index and the Global Competitiveness Report, are associated with measuring a country's domestic trade variables, present in either the "hard" or the "soft" infrastructure of a country. From these indexes, 18 relevant variables were chosen that were effectively used to construct the Trade Facilitation Index whereby the trade facilitation performance of world countries was compared to that of South Africa. In South Africa, the urgency to improve the general trade environment has been recognised as trade performance in South Africa has declined considerably. Based on the relevance of trade facilitation and the beneficial effects it has on a country, the role of trade facilitation in South Africa was analysed, as well as its performance in the Trade Facilitation Index in comparison to that of other world countries. The Trade Facilitation Index also correlates to a country's GDP and its exports, proving that an increase in the Trade Facilitation Index may lead to an increase in the country's GDP and also its exports. The Trade Facilitation Index therefore serves as a useful resource for policy makers who want to apply reform strategies to trade development initiatives. / MCom (International Trade), North-West University, Potchefstroom Campus, 2015

The export performance of Africa has declined over the past couple of decades as a result of an increase in trade costs and the time taken to complete a trade transaction. As a result of an increase in competition, countries need to improve their efforts in adopting and developing a trade development initiative. Trade facilitation has been recognised as an element of economic growth, and it is thus seen as the most prominent trade development initiative in stimulating exports. The general objective of this study was to investigate the current state and effect of trade facilitation in South Africa and to develop a measurement to compare South Africa's state of trade facilitation performance with that of other countries in the world. The purpose of this study was to analyse and present the importance of implementing a trade facilitation programme as a trade development initiative. The need to eliminate trade barriers such as increased trade costs and the time taken to complete a trade transaction were emphasised because of the threat that they pose to efficient trade facilitation reform. Although the advantages of trade facilitation reform have long been recognised, studies on the measurement of trade facilitation are very scarce. Similar studies make use of a gravity model or a Computable General Equilibrium (CGE) model in order to quantify the effects, but due to indirect costs, statistical errors, incorrect proxies and other unrecognised variables, no exact index exists to measure the trade facilitation performance of world countries. Four very relevant trade performance indexes, the Logistics Performance Index, the Doing Business Report, the Enabling Trade Index and the Global Competitiveness Report, are associated with measuring a country's domestic trade variables, present in either the "hard" or the "soft" infrastructure of a country. From these indexes, 18 relevant variables were chosen that were effectively used to construct the Trade Facilitation Index whereby the trade facilitation performance of world countries was compared to that of South Africa. In South Africa, the urgency to improve the general trade environment has been recognised as trade performance in South Africa has declined considerably. Based on the relevance of trade facilitation and the beneficial effects it has on a country, the role of trade facilitation in South Africa was analysed, as well as its performance in the Trade Facilitation Index in comparison to that of other world countries. The Trade Facilitation Index also correlates to a country's GDP and its exports, proving that an increase in the Trade Facilitation Index may lead to an increase in the country's GDP and also its exports. The Trade Facilitation Index therefore serves as a useful resource for policy makers who want to apply reform strategies to trade development initiatives. / MCom (International Trade), North-West University, Potchefstroom Campus, 2015

The reason for highlighting the difference between GATT and GATS is to focus on the impact of these agreements on the developing countries and in particular the latter will be the main focus of this paper. The economies and governments of the developing states are struggling to generate sustainable capitol growth and maintain financial stability to enhance economic growth. This is due to dictators who rule in such a manner to maintain power irrespective of the future economic viability of their state. Thus the environment for sustainable economic growth is wrath with political instability, lack of proper financial control and eagerness to attract foreign investment and allowing market access to developed states.

Thesis (M.A.)--Guo li Taiwan da xue. / Reproduced from typescript. Appendix (p. 217): Qing xi li dui zhao biao (1860-1895) eContent provider-neutral record in process. Description based on print version record. 880-04 Includes bibliographical references (p. 209-216).

Thesis--University of Chicago. / Includes bibliographical references (leaves 328-349).

No description available.

<p>A lot of work has been done regart=ding the SPS agreement and its impact on iternational trade, though not so connclusive. The study, however, is going to deal specifically with an impact of the SPS agreement to the SSA countries, by analysing the balance beween protection of human, animal and plant life or health on the one hand and promotion of international trade in this region.</p>

Limao and Panagariya (L&P, 2007) modify Grossman and Helpman’s (1994) lobbying model in an attempt to understand why anti-trade bias is the predominant pattern in observed trade policy. L&P (2007) propose that governments seek to reduce inequality between sectors by modifying trade policies in a way that reallocates income from the smaller to the larger sector. We assess the empirical validity of L&P’s (2007) theory by exploiting the World Bank Distortions to Agricultural Incentives database (Anderson and Valenzuela, 2008), using their measure of trade bias as our dependent variable. We find little empirical support for L&P’s (2007) theory, and estimated coefficients on most control variables are insignificant. Lagged trade policies are significant determinants of current trade policy, suggesting the presence of policy persistence. We conclude that it is difficult to generalise L&P’s (2007) theory across a wide and unbalanced panel of countries that extends from the 1950s to the 2000s.

The implementation of the 1994 GATT accords on technical barriers to trade led to an unprecedented level of trade liberalisation. Most countries have increased their economic interdependence. The role delegated to multinational enterprises has been considerably extended. It is suggested that they could become subjects of international law. Their participation in standardisation, eco-labelling and consultation programs increased. They also adopted private codes of conduct and have modernised the way they dialogue with regulatory authorities. One of the impacts of the Uruguay Round Agreements is a subtle reorganisation of forces within national economies. Tremendous responsibilities are progressively undertaken by private entities in domains where the state used to regulate unilaterally. The shift of power from public entities to private ones is discreet but has effects on all traditional sources of law. New forms of regulation on multinational enterprises need to be created. One of the main sources of innovation is a negotiated self-regulation

Limao and Panagariya (L&P, 2007) modify Grossman and Helpman’s (1994) lobbying model in an attempt to understand why anti-trade bias is the predominant pattern in observed trade policy. L&P (2007) propose that governments seek to reduce inequality between sectors by modifying trade policies in a way that reallocates income from the smaller to the larger sector. We assess the empirical validity of L&P’s (2007) theory by exploiting the World Bank Distortions to Agricultural Incentives database (Anderson and Valenzuela, 2008), using their measure of trade bias as our dependent variable. We find little empirical support for L&P’s (2007) theory, and estimated coefficients on most control variables are insignificant. Lagged trade policies are significant determinants of current trade policy, suggesting the presence of policy persistence. We conclude that it is difficult to generalise L&P’s (2007) theory across a wide and unbalanced panel of countries that extends from the 1950s to the 2000s.