Trade and Market Intelligence 2023 Q3 update

Global Trade Helpdesk:
G20 and the Jaipur Call for Action

Market Access Map:
Discover the World Tariff Profiles 2023 now

Non-Tariff Measures Programme:
ePing showcased at WTO Public Forum

Trade Briefs explore trade
in critical raw materials

Procurement Map:
Now available in Spanish!

Export Potential Assessment: Transformed products' potential for Africa-Colombia trade

Trade and Investment Facilitation Mechanism Phase II and the Euromed Trade Helpdesk

African Trade Observatory:
Expanding trade across Africa

Building capacities on the use of the EaP Trade Helpdesk and CATI portal

ITC Tools data updates

The Global Trade Helpdesk has also been showcased through the Digital Export Enablement Programme in partnership with the International Chambers of Commerce (ICC), Google, and the World Intellectual Property Organisation (WIPO). The programme sets out to bridge the skills gap of small businesses across ASEAN countries to help them integrate into regional and global trade. Recent workshops in Malaysia, Brunei, Vietnam, Indonesia, and Philippines have brought together hundreds of small businesses to sharpen their market analysis and digital marketing skills to help them harness growing opportunities for digital trade.

Discover more about what users are saying about GTH in some of our recent interviews, as well as opportunities for upcoming webinars in English, French and Spanish.

Jointly published by ITC, WTO and UNCTAD, this annual report presents tariff-based market access conditions for goods applied by more than 170 countries and customs territories. ITC's Market Access Map (MAcMap) database is one of the main sources of the applied tariff data in the report, which contains aggregated product statistics; tariffs imposed and faced by each economy; and an overview of non-tariff measures.

This year’s edition explores two special topics of international trade. The first assesses global evolution of tariff conditions across 16 years of the World Tariff Profiles' editions for key country groups and product sectors. The second topic introduces the new edition of the product group classification used for tariff and trade analyses, widely known as Multilateral Trade Negotiations (MTN) Categories, which enables more detailed levels of analysis thanks to a new set of sub-categories.

Discover them here

The 2023 edition of the Market Access Map application introduces a seamless user experience across your mobile, tablet and desktop devices, all connected under a single user account. The new multi-platform offering will be excellent for those who already use the tool on several devices and users can enjoy the full spectrum of data tables and visualization experiences regardless of the form factor of their gadget. The integration of connectivity options across different platforms and locations is part of the broader expansion towards configuration and customization of Market Access Map settings and preferences for multi-platform, multi-language users, with the ultimate aim to increase ease of use, clear interface, and the overall insight and information experience.

Use MAcMap from your device

The ePing platform helps businesses keep abreast of growing number of regulations to achieve environmental objectives, such as tackling climate change, plastics pollution or biodiversity loss. This is one of the conclusions of the discussions held during session “ePing: A One-Stop-Shop to Track Evolving Product Regulations Around the World”. The panel was part of the activities of the WTO Public Forum. The event happened in Geneva from 12 to 15 September.

Based on the large experience implementing surveys on company perspectives of trade obstacles, the ITC representative in the session showed cases where small sized-exporting companies could use ePing to track easily sanitary and phytosanitary (SPS) and technical barriers to trade (TBT) measures related to environmental concerns.

ITC supports businesses and institutions on adopting ePing on their daily trading activities. Through a personalized alert system, registered users can remain well-informed about evolving international market requirements with the goal of adopting more environmentally sustainable practices.

The WTO representatives highlighted that, last year, WTO members followed through on their transparency obligations by submitting more than 6,000 notifications of upcoming changes to their regulations, with an increasing share focusing on environmental objectives.

ITC-certified trainers in Iran led 57 trainings on non-tariff measures and market access gathering 1,500 participants from private and public sectors across the country. The multiplier effect took off right after the first ITC Training of Trainers (ToT) in Iran, held on May 2022. Over the past months, 18 certified trainers took the initiative to develop a myriad of activities.

Nasser Anzalichi illustrates the multiplier effect of the certified trainer’s network, as he has delivered 10 workshops with more than 550 attendees. In the city of Tabriz, located in Iran's East Azerbaijan Province, alongside a dedicated group of trainers, Mr Anzalichi has tailored sessions to bolster the capabilities of local institutions. The workshops also aimed to support these institutions in their mission to strengthen trade ties between this Iranian region and its neighbouring countries.

Heading to 5,000 people trained by 2024

The aim of the Trade Promotion Organization of Iran (I-TPO) is to train 5,000 people from diverse backgrounds by the end of 2024. All 43 trainers of the network are expected to participate to the efforts to increase the number of attendees in trainings covering non-tariff measures, market access conditions, rules of origin and other trade-related issues.

Among the newly certified trainers is Mohammad Roukouei, an entrepreneur and International Law student at the University of Tehran. Inspired by his fellow trainers, Mr Roukouei is ready to start. “I am looking forward to expanding knowledge and building capacities among small and medium sized companies and those in need. I am grateful for the transformative journey through the training of trainers".

ITC sessions’ content is also part of the capacity building activities of the I-TPO and the network of Chambers of Commerce throughout Iran. In the capital, the Innovation Factory of Tehran organizes monthly training programmes on business development, targetting promising startups in the country in all fields. Those training activities occur under the auspices of Global Public Goods following the ITC-European Union-Iran Trade programme.

Discover the Non-Tariff Measures programme

The ECOWAS Commission and ITC teamed up to carry out trainings on the platform Trade Obstacles Alerts Mechanism in Lagos (Nigeria) and Cotonou (Benin). The capacity building activities in both countries gathered 100 participants.

“The training was interactive, clear, and practical. It is crucial in the sense that it allows economic operators in the agricultural sector to understand how the Trade Obstacles Alerts Mechanism works and its advantages”, says a participant in the training held in Cotonou on the 11th of September.

In Benin, 61% of the 39 participants have attained advanced or expert knowledge through the training. In Nigeria, overall satisfaction is similarly high, with 93% of attendees expressing interest in future TOAM sessions. The workshop in Lagos took place on 15th September. The attendees have suggested providing training sessions in the provinces, particularly in rural regions. “The training should be conducted at least bi-annually to improve the understanding of the stakeholders further”, analyses a participant in Nigeria.

The Trade Obstacle Alert Mechanism aims to facilitate the identification and removal of barriers traders face.

Consult or report trade obstacles for your country

Trade Briefs explore trade in critical raw materials

In anticipation of the G20 Summit on 9 and 10 September, the August edition of ITC’s Trade Briefs featured analysis on the G20's Trade in Critical Raw Materials and Key Products for the Energy Transition.

The shift from fossil fuels to clean energy relies heavily on critical raw materials (CRMs), including copper, lithium, nickel, and cobalt. As securing renewable supply chains has become urgent with the global surge in demand, G20 countries, which account for nearly 77% of world imports of CRMs, play an amplified role. Among the most essential inputs is lithium. Between Q4 2019 and Q1 2023, G20 imports of lithium surged by 885%, an exceptional increase compared to world trade in all products, which increased by only 24%.

Navigate the potential input suppliers for energy transition products

Supplies of 23 CRMs are concentrated, with a handful of countries sitting on the largest reserves. For instance, Chile and China together account for more than three-quarters of world lithium exports. Concerns about dependencies call—where possible—for a diversification of supply. Malaysia has recently doubled its rechargeable battery exports but sources almost all its lithium from the Republic of Korea. Should exports continue to develop dynamically, Malaysia could tap into additional lithium imports from big players like Chile and China.

Procurement Map is now available in Spanish!

Are you looking for new market opportunities? Do you wish to easily identify potential buyers in different countries? Are you searching for a tool which would enable you to quickly check open tenders? Search no longer.

The Procurement Map entails a user-friendly search function based on partner country and economic sector criteria. This market analysis tool provides detailed information on public tenders and contract awards, including recent trends. It thus paves a route to foster entrepreneurship and to seek new market opportunities. Thanks to additional information on Sustainability Standards and Women and Procurement, the Procurement Map can help you enhance your corporate profiles.

NEW

Procurement Map is now available in Spanish! Our Spanish speaking users can now benefit from all the features relevant for seeking new markets. Enjoy your experience!

Visit Procurement Map now

The ITC report Expanding Trade Between Africa and Colombia finds that targeted policies and support could unlock $160 million of exports from Africa to Colombia, and $237 million of exports from Colombia to Africa by 2027. For both partners, transformed products offer the most potential for additional exports.

The top sectors with unrealized potential for Africa in the Colombian market are fertilizers, motor vehicles and parts, and ferrous metals, while plastic and rubber products, sugar products, and chemicals offer the most room for export growth from Colombia to Africa. Trade frictions such as non-tariff measures, lack of market research, and limited business contacts are responsible for over half of the unrealized export potential in these sectors, highlighting the need for targeted trade advisory. Governments must also invest in increasing production capacity to tap into growing demand; this is especially true for African fertilizer exports, and for Colombian exports of chemicals and plastic and rubber products.

A number of other measures are important for unlocking South-South trade potential including: 1) creating market intelligence ecosystems that focus efforts, fill data gaps, and overcome misperceptions, 2) enabling exporters and importers to build relationships through platforms such as trade fairs, diplomatic missions, and regional development banks, and 3) addressing high tariffs and non-tariff barriers through regional integration initiatives. While a free trade agreement between Colombia and African countries could certainly boost trade, ongoing efforts under the AfCFTA to improve intra-Arican trade can support Africa-Colombia trade by decreasing logistics costs.

Current trade patterns indicate that the cocoa value chain is segregated across different regions, with cocoa grown exclusively in tropical areas and processed and consumed primarily in Europe and North America. However, origin countries, such as Côte d'Ivoire, are increasing engaging in processing. While Europe remains the largest importer for cocoa products, Asian markets are growing fast.

The brief identified $1.1 billion in unrealized export potential in cocoa products for Ghana, with cocoa beans accounting for two-thirds of that potential ($689 million). Opportunities for export growth are concentrated in a few markets, namely, the Netherlands, Malaysia, and Germany, while export potential is entirely realised in traditional markets like the United States, France, and Japan.

Importantly, 53% and 68% of the opportunities identified in the Netherlands and Germany, respectively, are due to trade frictions, underlying the need for targeted trade advisory to unlock this potential.

Export Potential Brief - Opportunities for Ghanaian Cocoa

Read the report here

As part of the TIFM II project, with the purpose of enhancing regional integration, the Euromed Trade Helpdesk is committed to maintaining the updates of the latest trade-related information. To ensure its long-term sustainability and reliability, this commitment extends to 10 Mediterranean countries, including Libya and Türkiye, which were part of phase one of the project.

In this context, and thanks to the successful collaboration with national stakeholders, the tool now displays tariff regulations for the year 2023 in Israel, Jordan, Libya, and Tunisia. They join Morocco and Türkiye in having this latest information displayed. Additionally, it provides updates on recent trade flows and offers trade indicators for market analysis. Export potential projections for the next 5 years are equally displayed to help traders in the region unlock new export opportunities.

Since June, the Euromed Trade Helpdesk has witnessed an increase in total number of users across all 10 partner countries. Egypt, Jordan, Libya, Morocco, and Türkiye stand out as the top 5 countries. Notably, the user count in Jordan and Libya has more than tripled. The tool has certainly been gaining visibility and interest, resulting in an increase of submitted enquiries on its dedicated Help Centre. The involvement of the national network of more than 100 institutions in assisting users has equally been increasing.

In August, 15 national institutions, representing both the private and public sectors in Jordan, participated in the first training session on Euromed Trade Helpdesk. The "Preparation of Quantitative Export Factsheet" workshop was made possible through collaboration with the Ministry of Industry, Trade, and Supply, and Jordan Exports. Over the course of five days, participants learned how to use the tool to unlock new export opportunities for Jordanian products. Following the successful completion of a comprehensive market analysis, selected participants will be invited to join the next "Training of Trainers" workshop, scheduled for the end of October.

First step of collaboration with Lebanese stakeholders

The launch of the Capacity-Building Programme represents the first activity of the TIFM II project to be implemented in Lebanon. Despite the challenging circumstances facing the country, our partners from the Ministry of Economy and Trade, in collaboration with the Investment Development Authority of Lebanon (IDAL), provided key support to implement the first training session on the Euromed Trade Helpdesk. A total of 15 institutions from Beirut, Tripoli, Saida and Zahle actively participated in this comprehensive training. Following the five-day workshop, participants expressed their enthusiasm for the tool's potential and its ability to contribute to the economic integration of their nation. They showed their commitment to becoming certified trainers and spreading the knowledge among Lebanese economic operators.

Palestinian certified trainers in the field

Since the last “Training of Trainers” session in May, our national trainers have been actively sharing their knowledge about the regional Euromed Trade Helpdesk. In August, Mr. Ismail Sherif of the “Hebron Chamber of Commerce” and Mr. Mohamed Al Zatari of the “Hebron's Leather and Shoe Cluster” successfully organized a workshop for 15 private companies in Hebron, introducing them to this valuable free tool to help them make more informed business decisions.

Similarly in August, Ms. Waed Bani Odeh from the “Palestinian Central Bureau of Statistics” delivered a training on the tool, which was attended by 38 participants from various institutions of the public and private sectors in Palestine.

Additional local certified trainers have also conducted sessions to reach Palestinian economic operators, especially those in more vulnerable situations, and who require support like for instance women-led businesses: In July, Ms. Israa Qaisiah from the “South Hebron Chamber of Commerce & Industry” trained 20 participants on how to use the tool to identify new export opportunities for their products. Equally, Mr. Jawad Al Muty, Ms. Ikram Omar and Mr. Yasser Abu-Qtaish from the “Ministry of National Economy”, delivered a training in September introducing the tool. All these milestones emphasize the programme’s long-term effects objectives to enhance economic integration of the region.

Spreading the knowledge in Morocco on Euromed Trade Helpdesk

Moroccan certified trainers have been active in the field, conducting workshops on the regional tool. Following their participation in the “Training of Trainers” workshop last February, Mr. Brahim Ait Addi, Mr. Mohamed Benaguid and Ms. Houda Cherrad from the “Ministère de l'Industrie et du Commerce” successfully conducted their first training session on the regional tool last August, with 17 participants joining from the same Ministry.

This is just the beginning, as certified trainers are planning more training sessions in the future. Mr. Omar Hmarrass, a team member of the task force department at the “Ministère de l'Industrie et du Commerce”, expresses: 'As a certified trainer, my goal is to create a skilled team within my department and actively share insights about the tool.' You can watch the complete interview by clicking here.

Certified trainers in Libya are in action

The Capacity-Building Programmes on Euromed Trade Helpdesk which are currently implemented under TIFM II aims at establishing a network of trainers across Mediterranean countries who will pass on their expertise to local economic operators. This is thanks to another EU-funded project led by Expertise France, namely EU4PSL, that we deployed a similar programme for Libyan partners in 2022. Since its completion, certified trainers are regularly sharing their knowledge and demonstrate the efficient and sustainable approach of the programme.

This September, a successful workshop “Access the International Market through Euromed Trade Helpdesk” was conducted at “the University of Tripoli Alahlia” in Tripoli, Libya. 16 participants joined from different unions, universities, and companies. They explored strategies to access international markets, learned about the latest trends and regulations, and enhanced their soft skills. The workshop received enthusiastic participation from the Libyan Industrial Union and University students.

Ms. Hiyam Alshahrani, Dr. Mostafa AlTaeb and Mr. Hasan Alkamel, from “Ministry of Economy and Trade of Libya” and ITC certified trainers on Euromed Trade Helpdesk, delivered this training session.

Collaboration with TFIM II’s national stakeholders is indeed a milestone to celebrate. In addition to bilateral discussions with 8 partner countries of the project, two events were organized in August:

The 8th Annual Focal Point Meeting with 10 partner countries

Conducted virtually, the event brought together stakeholders of the Euromed Trade Helpdesk - Trade and Investment Facilitation Mechanism. It served as a platform for national partners and ITC to discuss the achievements made possible through the support of the European Union funds. The meeting was attended by approximately 20 institutions, representing both public and private sectors in the Mediterranean region, as well as representatives of EU delegations and DG NEAR. During the meeting, our partners shared their valuable experiences and insights gained from their involvement in various project activities. Additionally, the International Labor Organization (ILO) contributed to enriching the discussions by highlighting strategies aimed at boosting regional integration. This meeting showed that our national partners are strongly dedicated to continuously helping the Euromed Trade Helpdesk as they understand how important it is for the region's progress.

A workshop on Euromed Trade Helpdesk to Egyptian stakeholders

In response to the needs of our partners in Egypt and to advance various activities within the TIFM II project, a workshop was organized in Cairo late September. This event aimed to introduce Euromed Trade Helpdesk and different aspects of the project to key national institutions (Egyptian Commercial Service, Central Bank, CAPMAS, Customs among others). It was an opportunity for partners to ask questions and better understand the data requirements for instance, to ensure that the most recent information will be accessible online very soon. Discussions will continue in the coming weeks to soon launch TIFM II activities and adapt them to Egyptian context.

Under TIFM II project and with the support of EU funds, activities to enhance trade in services statistics and identify trade obstacles faced by MSMEs are planned in partner countries to enhance regional integration:

Enhancing trade in services statistics

In partnership with UNCTAD, UNSD and WTO, 51 participants from TIFM II 8 partner countries have attended the “Train for Trade” E-learning course on STIS in September. Participants gained insights on how to better collect and process trade in service data. This initiative will help national compliers increase the quality of their data and contribute to better decision making by different economic operators in the region.

In Jordan, the national authorities selected the transport sector as a priority sector to enhance the quality of its related trade flows. This is in collaboration with the “Central Bank of Jordan”.

In Morocco, with the collaboration of the “Office des Changes (OdC)”, a new survey on international trade in services was introduced, incorporating a detailed “Construction Model”. Moroccan stakeholders from the “Office des Changes (OdC)”, and the “Ministère de l'Industrie et du Commerce” have joined hands with the “National Federation of Construction and Public Works” to organize a workshop and raise awareness among key stakeholders on the importance of the survey.

Business survey on uncovering trade hurdles

Tapping the full export potential of Euro-Mediterranean countries requires addressing trade hurdles businesses face when exporting or importing. For this purpose, ITC’s Business Surveys aim to uncover the various obstacles face with domestic and foreign regulations and procedures. Insights from the surveys will support evidence-based policy making process.

The business surveys are nearing completion in Morocco and Tunisia where goods and selected services sector were covered. Surveys in Jordan, Lebanon and Palestine will be launched in the last quarter of 2023.

CAPACITY BUILDING

Expanding trade expertise across Africa

The African Trade Observatory (ATO) and the COMESA Business Council

This partnership enhances businesses’ trade knowledge in Africa. Using the ATO Business Tool and the Compare and Explore Modules, the workshops are designed to break down intricate market data, making it easier for businesses to conduct effective market analysis. Beginning with events in Eswatini and Zimbabwe in May and followed by four additional sessions in 2022, the initiative touched down in Nairobi, Kenya, in August. This session attracted 53 participants, and the feedback was resoundingly positive; 97% of participants found the training immensely valuable.

A series of consecutive Capacity building events took place, starting in Uzbekistan to certify 10 participants and 12 participants in Tajikistan as Trainers on the use of CATI Portal. These new certified trainers are enabled to conduct training events for other stakeholders in their respective countries and in the region.

In September 2023, a four-day training session on the Export Potential Map (EPM) was conducted in Tashkent, Uzbekistan. Eleven participants from three different countries underwent training in the application of EPM for market and product analysis. They acquired a deep understanding of the underlying model used to compute export potential indicators, equipping them to interpret the data from the online tool more effectively. All participants indicated that this workshop will significantly enhance their abilities to analyze and research markets.

TRADE MAP

Amid rising temperatures, the Trade Map team is constantly working to enhance the data coverage and is dedicated to providing ever more comprehensive and accurate representation of global trade dynamics.

Trade in Goods
Quarterly & monthly data

Trade data for the second quarter of 2023 is now available for 54 countries, representing 70% of global trade in goods. Furthermore, the Trade Map team has initiated the data upload process for July 2023, and it is already accessible for 30 countries, accounting for 50% of global trade in goods.

Chart: The latest period available for latest monthly data, number of countries and share of global trade they account for.

For those interested in the freshest monthly data, please visit our Data Availability page. There, you can effortlessly access the most recent data for your product and country of interest. Our chart provides insights into the latest available period for monthly data, the number of countries covered, and the corresponding share of global trade they represent.

Trade in Services

As of July 2023, both Trade Map and Euromed Trade Helpdesk have been showing comprehensive international trade in services statistics, including data for the year 2022. Explore how Ireland has secured its place among the top 5 largest service exporters and which Mediterranean country is leading in terms of growth.

In the upcoming weeks, we will be rolling out quarterly breakdowns. Make sure to stay tuned for early 2023 data.

Chart: Service exports by Euromed countries.

Global Trade Indicators
Updated for 2022

If you are eager to delve into the most recent trade developments, look no further than Trade Map, your trusted resource for up-to-the-minute information. Discover the latest trends for your chosen product or country.

You can now utilize the 2022 indicators, which are based on data reported by 147 countries (highlighted in blue on the map), encompassing more than 94% of global trade in goods.

Do you need more information? Visit the Data Availability page for more updates.

EXPORT POTENTIAL MAP

Update of Export Potential Map Flanders

In 2021, ITC tailored the Export Potential Map specifically for Flanders Investment and Trade. This customization involved adapting the methodology to enable sub-national level calculations, resulting in detailed export potential estimations for Flanders by product and market. These estimations, which incorporate the latest trade data alongside GDP and population projections for Flanders, were freshly updated in August. Explore the most recent findings by clicking here.

GLOBAL TRADE HELPDESK

A new section was added under the “Requirements” tab, among the “Regulations”, introducing the fresh “Quantitative Restrictions” information. Now, users can learn more about regulations concerning prohibitions, quotas, non-automatic licensing and voluntary export restraints, notified by WTO Members. Check them out directly in the Global Trade Helpdesk.

ITC Trade and Market Intelligence

NEWSLETTER

Trade and Investment Facilitation Mechanism Phase II and the Euromed Trade Helpdesk

African Trade Observatory:
Expanding trade across Africa

ITC releases the World Tariff Profiles 2023 edition

New Market Access Map 2023 connects across multiple devices

CAPACITY BUILDING

1,500 participants trained by ITC-certified trainers in Iran

CAPACITY BUILDING

ECOWAS trainings in Nigeria and in Benin enhance skills on the Trade Obstacles Alert Mechanism

Trade Briefs explore trade in critical raw materials

¡Explora Procurement Map, ahora disponible en español!

Transformed products hold most potential for Africa-Colombia trade

Value Chain Briefs identify export growth and diversification opportunities

Euromed Trade Helpdesk: Enhancing regional trade intelligence

CAPACITY BUILDING

Training national stakeholders on Euromed Trade Helpdesk

New milestones of a successful collaboration

Other activities under TIFM II project

ITC Trade and Market Intelligence

NEWSLETTER

Trade and Investment Facilitation Mechanism Phase II and the Euromed Trade Helpdesk

African Trade Observatory:Expanding trade across Africa

ITC releases the World Tariff Profiles 2023 edition

New Market Access Map 2023 connects across multiple devices

CAPACITY BUILDING

1,500 participants trained by ITC-certified trainers in Iran

CAPACITY BUILDING

ECOWAS trainings in Nigeria and in Benin enhance skills on the Trade Obstacles Alert Mechanism

Trade Briefs explore trade in critical raw materials

¡Explora Procurement Map, ahora disponible en español!

Transformed products hold most potential for Africa-Colombia trade

Value Chain Briefs identify export growth and diversification opportunities

Euromed Trade Helpdesk: Enhancing regional trade intelligence

CAPACITY BUILDING

Training national stakeholders on Euromed Trade Helpdesk

New milestones of a successful collaboration

Other activities under TIFM II project

African Trade Observatory:
Expanding trade across Africa