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ITC Trade and Market IntelligenceNEWSLETTER |
| Enhancing the transparency of global trade and market access |
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| For all latest news, follow us here. |
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Value Chains Diagnostic presented at the EU-Africa Business Forum |
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Market Access Map covers global emergency measures in light of invasion of Ukraine |
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ITC & ILO publish study on growth and job creation in Bolivia post pandemic |
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The Caribbean is stepping up its trade intelligence solutions |
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African Trade Observatory Steering Committee & EU Africa Business Forum |
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Global Trade Helpdesk open webinars. |
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Stay tuned for the revamped Euromed Trade Helpdesk |
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Eastern Partnership Trade Helpdesk boosts access to trade info through customised tools |
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Capacity Building: Sign up for the SME Trade Academy |
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| NON-TARIFF MEASURES PROGRAMME |
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| ITC’s Value Chains Diagnostic presented at the EU-Africa Business Forum |
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| Better implementation of existing trade agreements, tackling high transport and logistic costs and lack of information about the potential buyers and sellers in the continent are the some of the main needs to deeper regional integration in Africa. These issues were discussed at the high-level panel Unlocking Opportunities for Regional Value Chain Integration under the AfCFTA - organised by ITC at 7th EU-Africa Business Forum (EABF22) held on 14-18 February. Insights discussed during this event were based on ITC’s innovative approach to identifying and assessing the feasibility of value chains on the continental scale, as well as understanding how private companies can connect to them. Mandated by the Directorate-General for International Partnerships of the European Commission, ITC implemented a Value Chain Diagnostic to identify sectors with high potential for sustainable value chain development in Africa and the bottlenecks preventing businesses from fully realizing this potential. ITC's work fed into EABF22, shaping the themes of the forum's main sessions. The preliminary recommendations expressing business organisations' collective voice contributed to a Joint Declaration signed at the EU-Africa Heads of State Summit. |
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| At the event’s opening remarks, Pamela Coke-Hamilton, ITC Executive-Director, highlighted the importance of identifying relevant value chains in Africa. “The continental value chain diagnostic study is a first step towards making regional integration not just a success, but a platform for better trade that renews economic relationships between Africa, the EU and the world”. “This study shows the real potential of regional and continental value chains in Africa. Therefore, it is a very important step in the right direction”, declared Koen Doens, Director-General for International Partnerships of European Commission. |
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| “For Africa, to increase the share of global trade, first and foremost, we must see an increase in infra-African trade and the value addition will play a critical role”, said Albert Muchanga, Commissioner for Trade and Industry (African Union Commission). |
Focus on four promising value chains |
| The diagnostic identified four promising economic sectors: (1) automotive, (2) pharmaceuticals, (3) food preparations for infant use and (4) apparel of cotton. As part of this exercise, ITC analysed close to 1,300 feedback on business operations and challenges in Africa from the African business community - including detailed expert-led interviews of over 650 African enterprises and business support organisations. In addition, ITC received 643 responses to a web-based consultation to identify bottlenecks to tapping into value chain potential. |
| The results of stakeholder consultation indicated that over 50% of respondents were not aware of the AfCFTA and the business opportunities it could create for them. Lack of trust in the quality of products made on the continent, high trade costs, and limited access to finance were a few of the cross-sectoral issues identified and the constraints specific to each of the four sectors. Some of the recommendations included a call to provide access to affordable finance, improve the transparency of market access conditions & trade-related procedures, effectively monitor the implementation of existing trade agreements, and make a concerted effort to build trust in “Made in Africa.” The detailed methodology of the Diagnostic and the analysis of/recommendations from the stakeholder consultations will be published during 2022. |
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| About EABF 22 Co-organised by the European Commission, the African Union Commission, and other EU and African business organisations, EABF22 brought together African and European business leaders and representatives from political institutions to discuss investment opportunities for further strengthening EU-Africa economic ties. |
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Market Access Map extends global emergency measures coverage to Russian invasion of Ukraine
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| Market Access Map extends coverage of temporary emergency measures to the ongoing Russian invasion of Ukraine. Market Access Map had previously identified and tracked nearly 400 COVID-19-related temporary measures on exports and imports on a dedicated emergency web page launched in April 2020. The new page with 60+ identified measures is now available at Market Access Map. |
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| The invasion has caused a disruption to global supply chains and rising market prices in key foodstuffs and fertilizers. Ukraine and Russia represent a significant export share in cereals and sunflower oils on the international market, and several regional countries have developed an import dependency on these vital agricultural commodities from one or both suppliers. The web page lists which countries introduced emergency export curbs on food in reaction to disruptions. For an analysis of import dependencies and their implications for food security, please also read the latest edition of the ITC Trade Briefs. In response to the war in Ukraine, a number of economies, including the US, EU, Canada and Japan imposed unprecedented sanctions on their commercial relations with Russia. The measures include export prohibition of luxury goods, raw materials and technology products, and import prohibition of energy resources. Russia and Belarus authorities adopted counter-sanctions, including restrictions on exports of foreign-made medicines, foodstuffs and technology goods. Some of the measures carried a sweeping systemic character and will likely lead to further escalation of measures and disruptions to international trade. Several major Russian banks were disconnected from the global banking messaging system (SWIFT) and most of country’s commercial aviation effectively blocked from international airspace. Dozens of multinational companies, including major shipping companies, voluntarily halted their business relations with Russia. |
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| EXPORT POTENTIAL ASSESSMENT |
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ITC and ILO analyse the sectors in Bolivia with greater potential for export growth and job creation after the pandemic
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| ITC and ILO carried out a study to determine what sectors and markets have greater export and employment growth potential in Bolivia, taking into account the global effects of the pandemic. According to the study, 70% of the growth potential in exports is concentrated in eight traditional products: oilcake of soya-bean oil, crude and refined soya-bean oils, unwrought tin, shelled Brazil nuts, undenatured ethyl alcohol, dried or fresh bananas, and jewellery of precious metal. The study outlines some caveats for these products, such as increased concentration, unintended environmental impacts, and conflict with existing development plans. The remaining 30% of growth potential is spread across multiple sectors. The study highlights opportunities to increase exports of peanuts, sesame, and chia seeds. Likewise, growth potential is identified in exports of cereals and legumes, among them quinoa, kiwicha and cañihua. |
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| The study also underscores the promise that apparel of fine hair holds to diversify exports to higher value-added segments, despite the strong effect the pandemic has had on the apparel industry. If the potential for export growth fully materialized, the resulting job creation would be at most 402,487 new jobs. 10% of them would be generated directly in the sectors that increase their exports, 29% and 61% would be created in other sectors due to the associated increases in the demand for inputs and final demand, respectively. |
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The Caribbean: Growing sharpness in trade intelligence
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| In the framework of UKTP (United Kingdom Trade Partnership Programme), in just a matter of months, the Caribbean has become one of the most equipped regions in terms of trade intelligence tools and knowledge. To start, Secretariat of OECS (Organisation of Eastern Caribbean States) website has been vastly enhanced with the integration of two modules for the consultation of world trade flows and another one for querying market access conditions, namely TradeMap OECS and Market Access Map OECS, both of them customized to the region’s setting and features. |
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| “These tools are essential elements of trade policy making and trade facilitation. We expect that these tools will serve as game changers within our region. They will allow users to access reliable trade data and information on compliance with greater transparency” said Dr. Didacus Jules, Director General of the OECS at the tools online Launch Event held last 3rd of March. |
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| Not far from there, in collaboration with Barbados-based Caribbean Export Development Agency CEDA, ITC has just conducted a 2-week workshop called “Understanding UK-EPA’s and spotting trade opportunities” targeting officers from trade promotion & export development organisations in the CARICOM region. This online workshop, already in its 4th edition across ACP countries, has become a highly demanded by the business communities in various regions as it provides essential and strategic knowledge on the ever-evolving environment of trade agreements and desk-based market research. |
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| CEDA has also embedded customized versions of TradeMap and Market Access Map at its CE Intelligence Portal and will be officially launched and later this year. In the north, the Spanish-speaking Caribbean country of Dominican Republic is ready to launch its own ITC-made Export Potential Map RD and their embedded Market Access Map RD, both of them accessible from website of the Ministerio de Industria, Comercio y MIPYMES. |
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| To complete this intervention, ITC will conduct a Spanish-edition of the 2-week workshop on UK-EPAs under the name: “Los AAEs del Reino Unido e Identificación de oportunidades comerciales” with over 80 participants including trade attachés of Dominican Republic based abroad the country. Last but in no way the least, a Cariforum-oriented version of Export Potential Map is in development and will be part of the online service portfolio of the Caricom Secretariat. This regional version of Export Potential Map will be the first of its kind and will complete in a wholesome manner the availability of customized trade, market & business information resources in the Caribbean. |
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| AFRICAN TRADE OBSERVATORY |
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| African Trade Observatory (ATO): ATO Steering Committee Meeting, EU Africa Business Forum and growing engagement from across the continent |
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| The ATO Dashboard now allows users to compare products with strong potential for exports to African markets, as well as information about exporters from whom to source inputs from the continent. The Monitor Module makes available over a dozen indicators for policymakers reflecting trade performance, trade growth opportunities, as well as information about how trade preferences are being utilized. |
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| On March 10th, the African Union (AU), International Trade Centre (ITC), the European Union (EU) and regional partners met virtually at the 3rd meeting of the ATO Steering Committee to take stock of recent developments and discuss forthcoming developments, including the integration of services trade information as well as trade obstacles in selected economies. To increase visibility with the private sector, the ATO dashboard was also presented at the EU-Africa Business Forum to hundreds of participants on February 18th in a session that explored Accelerating Regional Integration through Trade Intelligence. Further outreach events included a presentation organized at the margins of the Pan African Manufacturers Association (PAMA) on February 16th, a panel discussion during the Afro E-co “African Towards a Free and Digital Economy” event on March 2nd, a webinar with SheTrades Cameroon on March 15th, as well as a Regional GIZ event on March 16th with Côte d´Ivoire, Niger and Tunisia. Regular meetings are also organized with the twenty-eight AUC Member States actively engaged in the project, with recent engagement from Botswana, Cabo Verde, Congo, Dem. Rep., Nigeria, Namibia, Sierra Leone, South Sudan and Togo. To facilitate trade-related data collection, the automated data transfer system has been installed in the Seychelles. |
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| Due to popular demand, webinars now open to all firms |
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| While the platform has been actively engaging Business Support Organizations across the world hosting over 60 webinars in the last 2 years, the Global Trade Helpdesk now integrates a Webinar page that provides users with recordings from previous training sessions and allows them to register for quarterly open webinars in English, French and Spanish. For the first time, firms from any economy can register for an introductory session on how to use the Global Trade Helpdesk to simplify market research and compare options for alternative sourcing options in the face of supply chain challenges. End March, three more open webinars took place in English, French and Spanish and there are more to come. Keep an eye on TMI social media pages and future newsletters not to miss them. |
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The revamped Euromed Trade Helpdesk is soon available – Stay Tuned!
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| Do you want to diversify your export within the Euromed region? Are you looking for support through your export journey within the Euromed region? Do you need access to market data, trade statistics, potential business partners, FDIs statistics, Trade in services statistics to make a market analysis? If you are an exporter, importer, investor, market researcher, trade policy analyst, economic operator or individual interested about trade in the region, then stay tuned! |
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| ITC and partners are soon launching the revamped Euromed Trade Helpdesk, with new functionalities and a wider array of trade information for an enhanced experience when looking for new market opportunities. Until then, you can continue using Euromed Trade Helpdesk for accessing trade related information in the Mediterranean region. See you soon! |
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| EASTERN PARTNERSHIP TRADE HELPDESK |
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Boosting access to trade intelligence through customised Market Analysis Tools
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| Eastern Partnership Trade Helpdesk continues to deliver despite the complex geopolitical situation in the region.
- Events in Ukraine and Belarus put on hold some of the project’s activities, but activities in other countries proceeded;
- ITC is preparing to launch the EaP Trade Helpdesk platform in the respective countries, starting with Georgia in early May;
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- Implementing partners for the business surveys on regulatory and procedural requirements in 4 EaP countries (Armenia, Azerbaijan, Moldova and Georgia) have been selected, allowing for the implementation of the surveys to start in Q2;
- A mission to Georgia benefitted experts from Geostat and the National Bank of Georgia with training on trade in services data management, the overall aim of which is to produce greater data coverage on the transportation sector.
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| Ho Chi Minh City Open University hosts ITC classes on market access |
| ITC and the Ho Chi Minh City Open University teamed up last year for a series of classes on non-tariff measures and market access in Viet Nam. In February and March 2022, a new round of the courses organized by the Ho Chi Minh City Open University and supported by the International Trade Centre gathered 140 participants. It provided an overview of market access and relevant key concepts such as customs tariffs and non-tariff measures (NTMs). NTMs and Market Access are now part of the regular curriculum for students in the classes of International Business, Foreign Trade Technical, Import-Export Management, Export-Import Strategy, and Global Business Strategy. The class programme introduces information on ITC Market Analysis tools and other resources so that students can identify the main market access information that traders need in their daily operations. Local ITC certified trainers conduct all these capacity-building activities with the participation of ITC guest lecturers. Due to the COVID-19 pandemic restrictions, ITC external speakers joined the session from Geneva by videoconference. |
| Public webinars on ITC Market Analysis Tools |
| In February and March, ITC held 4 public webinars for all respondents to the Annual Feedback Survey. We thank all our users who participated and hope to welcome many more next year. The 90-minute webinars include theories behind Trade Map, Market Access Map and Export Potential Map, as well as live demonstrations, so users are able to search attractive markets for their products. The webinars are offered in English, French, Spanish and Russian, to be able to accommodate as many users as possible. |
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| Webinars focus on market access potential for the textile sector in the MENA region |
| In January, business owners in the textile and clothing sector, policymakers, export consultants, export consultants, among others, joined three webinars on market access potential for the textile and clothing sector in the MENA region, notably for the members of the Agadir Trade Agreement (Egypt, Jordan, Morocco and Tunisia). The sessions are part of the GTEX/MENATEX programme and enabled the participants to identify the export and import opportunities created by the Agadir agreement. The attendees could also enhance their knowledge of the Non-Tariff Measures applied in the textile and clothing sector. It was also an opportunity to better understand ITC Market Analysis tools as a source of reliable data to tackle market access challenges. The webinars had a gender-balanced turnout. Out of the 56 participants, 46% were women. The sessions were held in French with translation into Arabic. |
| Export Potential Map webinar with the Chilean government |
| On January 25th ITC held a 4-hour webinar in partnership with the Subsecretaría de Relaciones Económicas Internacionales (SUBREI) of Chile. The session was attended by twelve local governmental experts working on trade data and analysis in support of national trade policies. The webinar covered a live demonstration of the webtool, as well as a detailed discussion of the methodology and data treatment behind it. The ensuing debate and feedback were very positive. |
| Preparing Quantitative Market Profiles for the Philippines |
| In February, 26 women and 4 men representing various public and private institutions in the Philippines participated in a virtual training that covered the preparation of Quantitative Market Profiles for researching trade opportunities and developing a concise public document. The participants were guided by experts to look into trade trends, competition, trade agreements and regulatory requirements for export products, among others. They worked towards composing this structured fact sheet on potential markets for a specific product, which provides a comprehensive overview and allows the participants to sharpen their acquired skills to eventually support local businesses in their own research. |
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| SME TRADE ACADEMY Do not miss next quarter's SME Trade Academy sessions on Trade Map and Market Access Map. |
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| Trade Map - Global Merchandise trade data |
| The Trade Map team does not cease its efforts in improving the availability of 2020 data on trade in goods. The latest annual data is now available for 150 countries (in blue on the map), accounting for more than 96% of global trade in goods. |
| Latest country data available as of 21st March 2022. For latest updates, visit the Data Availability page. The same applies to the availability of freshly delivered monthly data. As of mid-March 2022, December 2021 data was already available for 41 countries in Trade Map, representing 54% of trade in goods. |
| Latest period available for latest monthly data, number of countries and share of global trade they account for. |
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| Trade Map - Trade in services |
| Are you interested in latest data on trade in services? Stay tuned, we will publish the new data in April 2022. |
| Data needs context, ideally provided in a way that doesn't burden users. The Trade Map team is pleased to announce that updated metadata is now available for all countries. When clicking on the icon, you will obtain the most up-to date information. |
| Trade Map - Frequently Asked Questions |
| Parlez-vous français? Ustedes hablan español? The updated version of Frequently Asked Questions now includes complete translations in French and Spanish. |
| The Global Trade Helpdesk has received fresh data updates from members of the WTO Informal Working Group on MSMEs, to enhance access to the most complete and up-to-date information possible to support the market research for firms of all sizes. The platform also now integrates step-by-step trade procedures of key products of Burundi and Kyrgyzstan. |
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| Hacque adfabilitate confisus cum eadem postridie feceris |
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| International Trade Centre
Palais de Nations
1211 Geneva 10, Switzerland
Telephone: +41 22 730 0111 |
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| Trade and Market Intelligence section
Telephone: +41 22 730 0540
Email: marketanalysis@intracen.org |
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| © 2021 All Rights Reserved |
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