Changes in Cross-Border Trade Costs in the Pan-Arab Free Trade Area, 2001–2008

Hoekman, Bernard ; Zarrouk, Jamel

关键词: ACCESS TO THE SEA;    AD VALOREM;    ADMINISTRATIVE BURDENS;    ADMINISTRATIVE COSTS;    ADMINISTRATIVE PROCEDURES;   

DOI  :  10.1596/1813-9450-5031
RP-ID  :  WPS5031

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 Pan-Arab Free Trade Area, negotiatedunder auspices of the Arab League, came into force in 1997.Under the agreement all tariffs on goods of Arab origin wereto be removed by January 1, 2005. This paper summarizes theresults of a firm-level survey in nine countries regardingthe implementation of the Pan-Arab Free Trade Area. Amajority of respondent companies report that tariffs onintra-regional trade have largely been removed, and thatthere has been a marked improvement in customsclearance-related procedures. Costs associated withadministrative red tape and weaknesses in transport-relatedinfrastructure services are ranked as the most importantconstraints to intra-regional trade. This suggests that froma policy perspective, efforts to reduce real trade costsdeserve priority, including transportation and logisticsservices. Periodic monitoring and assessment of tradeincentives and performance would help governments tobenchmark performance and identify priority areas foraction, at both the national and the sub-regional levels.