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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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Launch of the LDC Trade Tracker at the LDC5 conference in Doha, Qatar |
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Ukrainian firms supported by the Eastern Partnership Trade Helpdesk |
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Market Access Map's new module simplifies regional integration initiatives: AfCFTA & CIS |
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Seychelles joins the Trade Obstacles Alert Mechanism to report on trade challenges |
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Trainings on the Euromed Trade Helpdesk: Algeria, Jordan, Libya, Morocco, Palestine |
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Apply now to join the ASEAN Digital Export Enablement Programme training |
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Capacity Building: Sign up for the SME Trade Academy |
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| The LDC Trade Tracker at the LDC5 conference in Doha, Qatar |
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| The Least Developed Country (LDC) category was established more than 50 years ago with the objective of directing support to nations that encounter significant structural challenges in achieving sustainable development. The Doha Programme of Action has identified trade as a prospective catalyst for economic growth and development in these nations. While there has been notable progress, LDCs have yet to fully harness the potential of trade. Against this backdrop, ITC has launched two major initiatives during LDC5, the once-in-a-decade conference that brought together 5,000 participants, including 47 Heads of State and 130 ministers and vice-ministers between 5-9 March 2023 in Doha, Qatar. The first initiative is the LDC Trade Tracker, developed by ITC in partnership with the UN’s Office of the High Representative for the Least Developed Countries, Landlocked Developing Countries and Small Island Developing States (OHRLLS), – a free and easy-to-use tool that facilitates the monitoring of LDC trade through thematic reports and interactive indicators. The first thematic report of the series, the LDC Trade Report 2023 focuses on trade and food security. Trade supports food security by increasing the availability and affordability of food in LDCs. Trade also supports shifts from food abundant to food scarce locations, supporting food security and allowing for broader, richer diets. At the same time, LDCs’ growing reliance on trade for food security means increased vulnerability to sudden changes along supply chains or in trade policy. The report identifies specific vulnerabilities, reviews recent trends and discusses policy options LDCs can explore to improve trade for greater resilience in LDCs. Two main groups of trade policies stand out to that effect: |
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Improving market access for food imports in LDCs, including through a re-evaluation of remaining tariffs on food imports, trade facilitation and a critical review of export restrictions. |
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Improving market access for food imports in LDCs, including through a re-evaluation of remaining tariffs on food imports, trade facilitation and a critical review of export restrictions. |
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| Image: ITC’s Executive Director Pamela Coke-Hamilton during the press conference on the LDC Trade Report 2023 and related LDC Trade Tracker together with Heidi Schroderus-Fox, Director of OHRLLS. The second initiative are country assessments, for Lao People’s Democratic Republic and Nepal, that uncover the effect of graduation-related tariff changes on exports and identify targeted strategies to counterbalance them. For both countries, we estimate a non-negligible effect of tariff changes on trade. Losses concentrate in few sectors and markets, where non-reciprocal LDC tariffs are much more generous than the next-best tariffs, available post-graduation. The good news however is that there is remaining potential for exports that is currently being held back due to reasons other than tariffs and that targeted trade promotion measures can unlock. In Lao People’s Democratic Republic, for example, $1.4 billion in untapped export potential is available, which would more than offset the projected US$734 million that could be lost following graduation-related tariff changes. |
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| This untapped potential is not always in the products and markets most affected by graduation. Nepal, for instance, can counterbalance possible losses in synthetic fibre exports to one market by tapping into the potential it holds in other markets. And Lao People’s Democratic Republic could mitigate losses in its natural rubber and latex, paper product and apparel sectors by increasing energy and vegetable exports. The studies therefore recommend looking beyond preferential market access and building productive capacities in sectors with export growth potential – in traditional and new markets. |
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| Image: OHRLLS’ Undersecretary-General Rabab Fatima visits the ITC booth where joint ITC-OHRLLS work on “Nepal after LDC Graduation: New avenues for exports” and the “LDC Trade Report 2023: Improving food security” is featured. |
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| EASTERN PARTNERSHIP TRADE HELPDESK |
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Ukrainian firms gain access to trade and market intelligence, opening up opportunities across the region and the EU |
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| ITC webinar on the Eastern Partnership (EaP) Trade Helpdesk for Ukrainian firms provides access to trade and market intelligence that opens up opportunities across the region and the EU. |
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| Beyond the devastating human impact, the war with Russia has shrunk the Ukrainian economy by a third, leaving businesses with major challenges to stay open. Russia was among Ukraine’s top export destinations. Now export bans to Belarus and Russia, coupled with the limited domestic demand, are forcing Ukrainian firms to reconsider their options. To help firms understand their options and consider possibilities in new markets, ITC, in |
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| partnership with the Ukrainian Chamber of Commerce and Industry (UCCI), and the Entrepreneurship and Export Promotion Office (EEPO), have joined forces to organize virtual events to help firms explore new opportunities using a free digital platform available in Ukrainian. On 22 February 2023, 70 firms and business support organizations participated in an introductory webinar on the Eastern Partnership Trade Helpdesk . Using this platform, they can assess the economic attractiveness of EU and EaP markets, as well as understanding the tariffs and market access conditions in each of those markets. This activity is the first in a series of trainings for firms to help them harness available trade and market information to identify new opportunities. |
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| A new module in Market Access Map simplifies regional integration initiatives: AfCFTA and the Commonwealth of Independent States (CIS) |
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| The new information resources provide a comprehensive introduction into large regional trade agreements: African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA) and Commonwealth of Independent States (CIS). The new AfCFTA page answers Top 25 most demanded questions from MSMEs and government officials. It covers updates on the current progress in negotiations, milestones, instruments and key benefits and rules for traders. The Questions and Answers section is reinforced with a Glossary of AfCFTA terms and a Library of the AfCFTA-related resources. The page is maintained and accessible in English and French and its creation was made possible thanks to the support of GIZ as part of the project ‘Supporting Trade Agreements in Africa’ with Tunisian ministry of trade. The new CIS page clarifies application of existing agreements and rules of origin among 12 Eurasian countries in the framework of CIS regional trade agreements of 1994 and 2011. Its creation was made possible thanks to engagement and data collection with relevant authorities under EaP project. |
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A training of trainers on market access for UNDP country officers in Africa |
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| ITC carried out a 4-day virtual training of trainers on market access with a focus on preferential trade and the realities of AfCFTA. 14 UNDP Africa country officers successfully completed the training and are now able to advise local companies on perceived opportunities under regional trade agreements, including the AfCFTA. The training featured the latest practical approaches for market access research through the use of Market Access Map, Rules of Origin Facilitator and African Trade Observatory. |
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| NON-TARIFF MEASURES PROGRAMME |
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Asia-Pacific exporters can benefit from more integration, says new ITC- ESCAP report |
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| This joint ITC-ESCAP (Economic and Social Commission for Asia and the Pacific) publication reveals that the integration efforts led by countries in the region have brought down tariffs, increased connectivity and helped achieve regulatory harmonisation, boosting intra- and extra-regional trade. Yet, many non-tariff obstacles to trade persist, posing challenges to exporters and importers in the region. According to the report, 55% of interviewed firms report difficulties with non-tariff measures (NTMs). The main hurdles are: • Conformity assessments (product certification and testing). • Technical requirements applied by partner countries. • Procedural obstacles at home. |
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| The publication recommends streamlining domestic trade procedures as a necessary step to enhance exporters’ access to neighbouring markets. “Asia-Pacific economies should look inwards to identify domestic opportunities for trade facilitation reform at an institutional level”. The report is primarily based on data from the NTM Business Surveys conducted in eleven Asia-Pacific countries: Cambodia, Indonesia, Thailand, Viet Nam, the Philippines, Kazakhstan, Pakistan, Kyrgyzstan, Bangladesh, Nepal, and Sri Lanka. |
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Seychelles joins TOAM to report obstacles to trade in goods and services |
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| On the 28th of February, the launch of the Trade Obstacles Alert Mechanism (TOAM) in Seychelles marked a new step in the country’s efforts to improve its trade competitiveness. “This is in line with the Government’s ambition to enhance trade facilitation, promote inter-agency dialogue, and improve public-private sector discussions through further digitalization”, said Mr Nadir Hassaan, Ministry of Finance, National Planning & Trade of the Republic of Seychelles at the launch ceremony. TOAM and its mobile application improve public and private sector cooperation. It allows companies to report challenges encountered online and directly alert the responsible agencies and policymakers, and trade support institutions to have easy access to up-to-date information on obstacles faced by the businesses. The launch was followed by two days of trainings on the TOAM and its mobile application features. One session gathered representatives from the public sector, and a second one was organized around the needs of the private sector. At the end of the training, the workshop participants installed the application and received key information to use the tool successfully. The TOAM activities in Seychelles are part of the United Kingdom Trade Partnership Programme (UKTP) framework. The project aims to improve trade and economic outcomes through better use of UK Economic Partnership Agreements. |
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| Capacity building programme launched in Algeria |
| A group of 25 trade experts from Algeria received training on how to make optimal use of the Euromed Trade Helpdesk to conduct a thorough market analysis of various domestic products. In addition to acquainting them with the regional tool, the first training « Preparation of Quantitative Export Factsheet » also provided them with a methodology for identifying promising markets. The collaboration between the « Ministère du Commerce» and the « Agence Nationale de Promotion du Commerce Extérieur (ALGEX)» and ITC was crucial to the success of the training. This five-day workshop, which took place in Algiers, is the first one of the training programme under Trade and Investment Facilitation Mechanism phase II (TIFM II), an EU-funded project implemented by ITC. The next session will be solely dedicated to further enhancing the participants' skills on the tool and preparing them to become certified trainers on Euromed Trade Helpdesk to share their knowledge with Algerian economic operators and support them in making informed business decisions. |
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| First step taken towards trade transparency in Jordan |
| A one-day workshop co-organized with the Ministry of Industry and Trade of Jordan took place in Amman and was attended by representatives from various national institutions such as the Central Bank of Jordan, and Jordan Customs. This workshop introduced the partners to the Trade and Investment Facilitation Mechanism project (TIFM II) and its main objective in enhancing transparency in trade-related information. Indeed, the national authorities are key partners for the success of the project, as they are providing the data showed in the Euromed Trade Helpdesk, for instance the tariffs schedule. Reliable and up-to-date information is critical for Jordanian economic operators in their trade decisions. |
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| Libyan certified trainers in the field! |
| Since their certifications at the end of 2022, Libyan certified trainers have been actively disseminating knowledge on the Euromed Trade Helpdesk and its benefits. In a remarkable display of their proficiency, two of Libyans certified trainers conducted two successful training sessions in February alone. One session was delivered to students at Gharyan University's College of Economics, while the other focused on « Access to markets using ITC Tools ». These accomplishments highlight the continuing value of the Capacity Building program, which was initially implemented thanks to ITC collaboration with Expertise France through the EU-funded EU4PSL project. In the coming months, under the guidance of the ITC, the certified trainers are expected to organize additional training sessions, ensuring that more Libyan economic operators are acquainted with this indispensable tool. |
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| Moroccan stakeholders on their way to become certified trainers
on Euromed Trade Helpdesk |
| Following the success of their first training « Preparation of Quantitative Export Factsheet», Moroccan stakeholders recently completed a second round of training on the Euromed Trade Helpdesk, the « Training of Trainers »,. The four-day session in February focused on enhancing participants' skills as trainers, enabling them to share their knowledge of the Euromed Trade Helpdesk with other economic operators in Morocco. |
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| The TIFM II project, funded by the EU, facilitated the training, with support from the « Ministère de l'Industrie et du Commerce (MIC) » and the « Agence Marocaine de Développement des Investissements et des Exportations (AMDIE)». Mr. Brahim AIT ADDI, one of the focal points in Morocco from the “Ministère de l'Industrie et du Commerce (MIC)” , spoke highly of the program's utility. Watch his interview here. |
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| Customized capacity building programme for Palestinian partners |
| The first capacity building training of the year was launched in Palestine on preparing a market analysis using the Euromed Trade Helpdesk. The Ministry of National Economy and the Palestinian Trade Center (PalTrade) collaborated with ITC to initiate the training. This was in the presence of the European Union Delegation of Palestine. The 5-day training, which was held in Ramallah in January, had participation from national public and private entities. This training aimed to equip participants with the skills to analyze market opportunities for promising Palestinian products and prepare a Quantitative Export Factsheet. One of the participants expressed their confidence in the workshop's value: « At my organization, we just launched a strategy to diversify target markets and products by 2026. I am confident that what I learned during the workshop on Euromed Trade Helpdesk will help me contribute to achieving this goal », said Mr. Mohammed Al Zatari, from Palestinian Federation Of Leather Industries PFLI. A follow-up virtual week customized to the participants' specific needs took place in March, aiming at enhancing their market analysis skills prior to the Training of Trainers scheduled to take place in the coming months. This customized capacity building programme is made possible through EU funds under the Trade and Investment Facilitation Mechanism project (TIFM II). |
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| With objectives of bringing more transparency to trade in services and non-tariff measures, activities are being rolled out in TIFM II beneficiary countries. Similarly, more trainings will be organized to increase knowledge on Euromed Trade Helpdesk. Stay tuned for the results! |
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| Enhancing coverage to empower firms |
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| The Global Trade Helpdesk has continued to upgrade its coverage of trade finance providers, business and support organizations. In 2022, the platform integrated new or updated regulatory information for 52 markets. The platform has reached over 145,000 users across more than 200 markets and continues to expand and enhance its coverage of key trade and market information. |
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| Businesses located in ASEAN markets can learn about the Global Trade Helpdesk and other digital platforms to sharpen their market analysis through the Digital Export Enablement Programme (DEEP) launched in partnership with ICC and Google. Interested SMEs can apply to this free hybrid training programme by April 31st through the application form. |
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| Training the Mauritian trade community on the ITC Tools |
| MAURITIUS - A workshop on Market Analysis Tools was conducted by ITC from the 27th of February to the 01st of March 2023 in Mauritius. Participants had the opportunity to review relevant international trade concepts and watch live demonstrations using selected ITC Tools for market analysis. The expert from Geneva helped participants analyse trends and growth rates, examine the competition, examine the benefits of trade agreements, and assess the mandatory requirements for exporting products from Mauritius. ITC collaborated with the Economic Development Board (EDB) to enhance the capacity of selected professionals to use ITC tools in their professional life. ITC bolstered the collaboration with EDB and linked EDB beneficiaries to 3 ITC flagship market analysis tools directly from EDB homepage. This workshop was conducted through the SheTrades Mauritius project, funded by the UK Government, as part of their goal to improve the capacity of businesses in Mauritius to access markets, with the International Trade Centre (ITC) as the specialised agency for the project. |
| Dubai students visit ITC Geneva headquarters |
| SWITZERLAND - The MBR School of Government's Masters students visited the ITC Geneva Headquarters where they were taken on a fascinating journey through ITC's history and shown how it is revolutionizing the way MSMEs navigate the ever-shifting global trade landscape. Students delved into the world of global demand analysis and market assessment by utilizing ITC's cutting-edge tools, such as Trade Map and Market Access Map. Moreover, they gained an insider's view on how ITC collaborates with governments to eradicate pesky non-tariff measures and catapult MSMEs to the forefront of international trade. |
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| Kyrgyz beneficiaries take advantage of the Central Asia Trade Intelligence portal |
| KYRGYZSTAN - From 27 February to 3 March, ITC experts delivered a workshop on how to find, understand and analyse trade information and market access conditions in Central Asia. The workshop took place in Bishkek and allowed a total of 11 participants from various public and private agencies to reinforce their knowledge on the topic. Besides TMI’s market analysis tools, the workshop focused on the use of the Central Asia Trade Intelligence (CATI) Portal, a regional platform that provides free, relevant, and up-to-date market information to facilitate trade-related decisions of SMEs. |
| New network of certified trainers on ITC Tools in Tunisia |
| TUNISIA - The Market Intelligence project in Tunisia has made significant progress towards increasing the managerial and operational performance of the CEPEX (Centre de Promotion des Exportations de la Tunisie) and strengthening its market intelligence products and services. This third part of the project, which aimed at certifying new trainers, was successfully completed in March 2023. The CEPEX can now count on eight highly skilled trainers certified by ITC. The training was delivered by two ITC experts and covered advanced features of trade and market statistics, as well as tips on presentation skills and content. Participants demonstrated a very positive attitude and a good involvement throughout the training, resulting in significant improvement in their technical and presentation skills. This successful training program is an important step towards achieving the project's goals of strengthening CEPEX's capacities and enhancing market intelligence dissemination. Counting on the multiplier effect, this project will continue to provide valuable support to Tunisian entrepreneurs and promote export development in the region. |
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| REWATCH THIS QUARTER'S PUBLIC WEBINARS |
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| English Trade Map Market Access Map Export Potential Map Global Trade Helpdesk |
| English Trade Map Market Access Map Export Potential Map |
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| Español Trade Map Market Access Map Export Potential Map Global Trade Helpdesk |
| عربي (Arabic) Global Trade Helpdesk |
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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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| ITC TOOLS UPDATES - TRADE MAP |
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| Global merchandise trade data |
| Celebrate the arrival of spring with fresh trade data. We are pleased to confirm that data for Q3-2022 are now available for 64 countries, accounting for 72% of global trade in goods. Trade Map team also started uploading data for Q4-2022, which is now available for 37 countries, representing 55% of global trade in goods. Are you more interested in fresh monthly data? Please do not hesitate to go Data Availability page and discover most recent data for a product/country of your interest. As of mid-March 2023, December 2022 data were already available for 37 countries, accounting for 55% of global merchandise exports. September 2022 data were reported by 64 countries. |
| Map: Latest country data available as of 20th March 2023. For further updates, kindly visit the Data Availability page. |
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| The fourth update of the 2021 global trade indicators in Trade Map is now available! You can now explore the indicators based on data reported by 157 countries. A complete list of available annual data can be accessed by clicking here. Are you interested in identifying a dynamic market for your product? Would you like to compare the performance of your exports with that of your competitors? Check the Trade Map database and learn more with the updated Trade Map indicators. |
| Chart: Latest period available for annual data, number of countries and share of global trade they account for. Do you seek more? Visit the Data Availability page for more updates. |
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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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