Facilitating Trade and Logistics for E-Commerce : Building Blocks, Challenges, and Ways Forward

Huria, Ankur

World Bank, Washington, DC

关键词: TRADE FACILITATION;    E-COMMERCE;    TRADE LOGISTICS;    BUSINESS ENVIRONMENT;    INFRASTRUCTURE;   

RP-ID  :  144830

学科分类：社会科学、人文和艺术（综合）

来源: World Bank Open Knowledge Repository

【 摘 要 】

The objective of this note is toidentify the key issues in trade facilitation and logisticsthat affect the e-commerce landscape, with a focus on crossborder (trade facilitation) domestic delivery (logistics);highlight key challenges and opportunities, particularly fordeveloping countries and small and medium enterprises(SMEs); and provide a roadmap for potential areas of WorldBank (WB) support in that landscape. This work has broadlycovered areas such as customs and border management;information and communications technology for trade;logistics services, including competition issues; andtrade-related infrastructure (ports, inland ports, airports,and so on). This note identifies the various issues andchallenges relating to e-commerce from a facilitation andlogistics point of view and identifies potential solutions,particularly those in which the WBG can play a role inhelping developing countries. The note draws from a widearray of developments and literature and from work done bythe WBG more generally in trade facilitation and logisticsin assisting countries to improve their trade environment.The note explores the required building blocks forfacilitating cross-border e-commerce as to address thechallenges raised and consist of: (a) improvement programsfor creating a more conducive legal environment forautomation; (b) improving automation and interconnectivitybetween agencies; (c) implementing simplified procedures totrade, including for e-commerce; and (d) implementing fullythe World Trade Organizations (WTO’s) trade facilitationagreement. The note concludes with the summation thate-commerce offers new challenges and opportunities forgovernments and firms, but to maximize its benefits requiressignificant reform. This note has set out a path forcountries to continuing the reform and modernization routewith recommendations and an action matrix of specificimprovements to the trade facilitation and logisticsenvironment that will better position countries and firms totake advantage of the enormous potential that cross bordere-commerce offers.