July 10, 2018
WTO report finds trade restrictions doubled within G20 countries
According to the World Trade Organization's (WTO) latest monitoring report on Group of 20 (G20) trade measures, new trade-restrictive measures from G20 economies have doubled in the October 2017 to May 2018 period, compared to the previous review period.
The report, however, also shows that G20 economies continue to implement trade-facilitating measures, with the rate increasing slightly. The report's findings should be of 'real concern' to the international community, according to Director-General Roberto Azevêdo.
A total of 39 new trade-restrictive measures were applied by G20 economies during the review period, including tariff increases, stricter customs procedures, imposition of taxes and export duties. This equates to an average of almost six restrictive measures per month, which is significantly higher than the three measures recorded during the previous review period.
G20 economies also implemented 47 measures aimed at facilitating trade during the review period, including eliminated or reduced tariffs, simplified import and export customs procedures and reduction of import taxes. At an average of almost seven trade-facilitating measures per month, this is marginally higher than the six measures recorded in the previous reporting period (mid-May to mid-October 2017).
The estimated trade coverage of trade-facilitating measures implemented by G20 economies (US$82.7 billion) exceeded the estimated trade coverage of import-restrictive measures (US$74.1 billion), but is approximately half the trade coverage reported for these measures during the same period in 2016-17. The trade coverage of import-restrictive measures is more than one-and-a-half times larger than that during the same period in 2016-17.
The G20 economies are Argentina, Australia, Brazil, Canada, China, France, Germany, India, Indonesia, Italy, Republic of Korea, Japan, Mexico, the Russian Federation, Saudi Arabia, South Africa, Turkey, the United Kingdom and the United States, as well as the European Union.
Source: WTO