Policy Brief: Policy actions to facilitate upgrading of the agricultural sector in Trinidad and Tobago

For many countries, the acceleration of integration into the global economy and multilateral trading system provides an opportunity to access a wider range of goods and services as well as export markets, increasing their economic incomes, and improving the welfare of the citizenry. In particular, preferential trade agreements tend to increase export market access opportunities for the agro-industrial products of developing countries. While increased market access offers many opportunities for enhancing the economic growth of exporting countries, developing countries are often unable to seize…

Trade facilitation and paperless trade implementation in Latin America and the Caribbean: Regional Report 2017

The Global Survey on Trade Facilitation and Paperless Trade Implementation (“Global Survey”) is a global effort led by the Economic and Social Commission for Asia and the Pacific (ESCAP) in collaboration with all of the United Nations Regional Commissions, namely, the Economic Commission for Latin America and the Caribbean (ECLAC), the Economic and Social Commission for Western Asia (ESCWA), the Economic Commission for Africa (ECA) and the Economic Commission for Europe (UNECE). The goal of the Global Survey is to gather information from the member states of the respective United Nations Regio…

Trade Facilitation and Paperless Trade Implementation Survey 2015

The Global Survey on Trade Facilitation and Paperless Trade Implementation 2014-2015 is a global effort led by the Economic and Social Commission for Asia and the Pacific (ESCAP) in collaboration with the other four United Nations Regional Commissions, namely, the Economic Commission for Latin America and the Caribbean (ECLAC), the Economic and Social Commission for Western Asia (ESCWA), the Economic Commission for Africa (ECA) and the Economic Commission for Europe (UNECE). The goal of the Global Survey is to gather information from the member states of the respective Regional Commissions on …

CEPAL reforzará cooperación con industriales de América Central

El Secretario Ejecutivo Adjunto de la Comisión Económica para América Latina y el Caribe (CEPAL), Antonio Prado, se reunió el jueves 3 de marzo de 2016 con directivos de la Asociación de Industriales Latinoamericanos (AILA), con quienes acordó reforzar la colaboración y el intercambio de conocimientos, especialmente en áreas relacionadas con la integración regional como la energía, infraestructura, tecnología, transporte y logística. El Presidente y Secretario General de la AILA, Fernando López y Javier Zepeda, respectivamente, visitaron hoy la sede del organismo de las Naciones Unidas en Sant…

Latin America and the Caribbean’s Foreign Trade Will Grow in 2018 Amid Global Tensions that Require Greater Regional Integration

The value of regional goods exports will rise 9.7% in 2018, registering a second straight year of growth after the notable decline seen between 2012 and 2016, according to the latest projections from the Economic Commission for Latin America and the Caribbean (ECLAC), released today in Mexico City. This increase can be broken down into a 7.6% increase in prices and a 2.1% rise in volume, ECLAC indicates in its annual report International Trade Outlook for Latin America and the Caribbean 2018, presented at a press conference by the United Nations regional organization’s Executive Secretary, Ali…

Goods Exports from Latin America and the Caribbean Increase 20% in 2022, but Growth is Down from Previous Year

The Economic Commission for Latin America and the Caribbean (ECLAC) estimates the growth in the value of regional exports at 20% in 2022, driven by a 14% rise in prices and an expansion of 6% in exported volumes. These are the figures reported by the United Nations organization in its latest flagship annual report published today in a press release. In the report International Trade Outlook for Latin America and the Caribbean 2022, the Commission also indicates that the value of regional goods imports increased by 24%. Like exports, the bulk of the increase in regional import value is attribu…

The impact of aid for trade on the cost and time to trade The case of Latin America and the Caribbean

Tariffs and non-tariff barriers having been reduced, the international community seeks to lower other trade transaction costs that are greater in developing countries. As a fruit of the effort, the WTO launched Aid for Trade (AfT) initiatives in 2005. Due to the considerable amount of AfT, there have been discussions on its effectiveness. This study continues the debate by analyzing the impact of AfT on reducing the cost and time to trade in 30 Latin American and Caribbean countries, where 10% of AfT is destined, for the period between 2004-2010, deploying a panel data fixed-effects model.…

The potential of Aid for Trade to improve the infrastructure and logistics performance of landlocked developing countries of Latin America

America is one of the priority areas of the Economic Commission for Latin America and the Caribbean (ECLAC) of the United Nations and, in particular, of ECLAC Natural Resources and Infrastructure Division (NRID). Prepared as a contribution to the United Nations Development Account Project: “Facilitating the Effective Integration of Developing Countries in the Global Economy through Aid for Trade Schemes”, ROA 139-7, the present document presents the main activities, carried out by NRID for the benefit of the landlocked developing countries since the adoption of the Almaty Programme of Action: …

IT enabled services in the post-pandemic economy new opportunities for relations between India and Latin America

During the last few decades, India’s trade with the Latin American and Caribbean (LAC) countries has grown substantially, especially in the area of Information Technology (IT) services. The definition of IT services now includes a plethora of IT-enabled services (ITeS) directed to specific sectors, including Agri-tech, Fin-tech, Health-tech, manufacturing and mining-based services, as well as e-commerce. This sector has attracted significant Indian investment in the region. Over the last decade, the share of the IT sector in total Indian Foreign Direct Investment (FDI) in the region has nearly…

Innovation and SME internationalization in Korea and Latin America and the Caribbean: Policy experiences and areas for cooperation

Economic relations between the Republic of Korea and Latin American and the Caribbean have expanded rapidly since 2000. Bilateral trade in goods increased more than fivefold, while the region has also become an important destination for Korean foreign direct investment. The region’s interest in Korea also stems from this country’s successful economic and social development experience, as it developed from being one of the poorest countries in the world to a high-income economy within less than six decades. To better understand the divergent trends in Korea and the region, this document reviews…

Latin America and the Caribbean in the World Economy 2008-2009: Crisis and opportunities for regional cooperation

La edición 2008-2009 del Panorama de la inserción internacional de América Latina y el Caribe se divide en tres capítulos. En el capítulo I se analiza la coyuntura económica internacional con una mirada de mediano plazo. Se presta especial atención a las variables que más pueden modificar el escenario global y afectar la inserción internacional de las economías de América Latina y el Caribe. Como ejemplo de los cambios que está generando o acentuando la crisis cabe destacar la creciente importancia de las economías emergentes, con el consiguiente impacto sobre las corrientes comerciales de la…

International Seminar: "Facilitating the Effective Integration of Developing Countries into the Global Economy through Aid for Trade"

Digital infrastructure for the internationalization of small and medium-sized enterprises in the Republic of Korea

Small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) account for a significant share of the exports of the Republic of Korea, in large part thanks to the sophisticated digital support infrastructure available to these firms. This document analyses how the government implemented this infrastructure over the last decades in close coordination with the private sector. It also presents the prominent institutions and their digital SME export support instruments. Lastly, it identifies some future challenges and recommendations for Latin America and the Caribbean.…

Opportunities for convergence and regional cooperation: Unity Summit of Latin America and the Caribbean

En comparación con el período 2003-2007, que fue el más favorable de la economía mundial y regional en 40 años, el futuro presenta mayores desafíos. A principios de la próxima década, tanto la economía como el comercio internacional serán menos dinámicos, habrá mayores tensiones competitivas y presiones proteccionistas, así como más dificultades de acceso al financiamiento. El contexto global posterior a la crisis estará marcado por la desaceleración del crecimiento, las elevadas tasas de desempleo en las economías industrializadas y la necesidad de restaurar la sostenibilidad de las cuentas p…

Foro Interregional del Proyecto de la Cuenta de Desarrollo: "Facilitando la efectiva integración de los países en desarrollo a la economía global a través ayuda para el comercio"

El Foro Interregional contó con la presencia de representantes de las cinco Comisiones Regionales así como actores relevantes, incluidos expertos de las respectivas regiones, socios para el desarrollo, y seleccionados centros de coordinación de los proyectos participantes.…

Technical workshop on “Value chain development for deeper integration of FEALAC: Asian perspectives”

The Economic and Social Commission for Asia and the Pacific (ESCAP) is organizing a technical Workshop from 10 to 11 July 2019, UNCC, Bangkok, Thailand. The workshop is part of the collaborative project between ESCAP, ECLAC and ADB in a project aiming to enhance value chain integration between Asia and Latin America. The workshop will gather policy analysts, researchers and policymakers working in Asia-Pacific member states of FEALAC. The purposes of the workshop are to review the study in intraregional value chains development and to identify emerging opportunities and challenges facing Asia-…

Joint UN call for smooth transit and transport facilitation to and from landlocked developing countries

Six United Nations agencies call on governments to ensure smooth transit and transport for their landlocked neighbours during and after #COVID19.…

The potential for hub ports on the Pacific coast of South America

The external trade of a country is closely linked with its geographical location, with the transport services that cover the distance to markets, and the ports through which that trade passes. Recent advances in maritime transport, the growing international economic integration, and the privatization of ports in the countries on the Pacific coast of South America have given rise to expectations that ports could be developed that concentrate both domestic cargo and that of neighbouring countries for its subsequent redistribution: what are known as hub ports . The main conclusion of t…

Impact of the ASEAN Economic Community and implications for Latin America

The Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) has become one of the most important players in the global trading system. Comprising 10 countries with very diverse income levels, ASEAN is now the world’s fifth largest economy and plays a central role in the so-called “Factory Asia”. This document begins with an overview of the history and institutions of ASEAN, before focusing on one of its three pillars: the ASEAN Economic Community (AEC), including a critical assessment of outcomes in the areas of trade in goods, trade in services and investment, among others. The document draws best pra…

Primer Foro de la Comunidad de Estados Latinoamericanos y Caribeños (CELAC) y China: explorando espacios de cooperación en comercio e inversión

El presente documento constituye un aporte de la Comisión Económica para América Latina y el Caribe (CEPAL) al primer Foro de la Comunidad de Estados Latinoamericanos y Caribeños (CELAC) y China, (Beijing, 8 y 9 de enero de 2015). El documento se compone de tres partes. En la primera parte se sintetizan los principales elementos del contexto económico internacional en que se inserta hoy América Latina y el Caribe. En la segunda, se presenta un breve panorama de las relaciones comerciales y de inversión entre la región y China. Finalmente, en la tercera parte se ofrecen algunas conclusiones y r…