On 29 July 2022 the World Trade Organization (WTO) issued the latest edition of its annual publication World Tariff Profiles.
The publication sets out global tariff and non-tariff information on more than 170 countries and is issued in cooperation with UNCTAD and the International Trade Centre (ITC). The ITC is a joint agency of the WTO and UN aiming to assist small business exports in developing countries. The latest edition contains special features on preferential rules of origin and on non-tariff measures on energy products.
Tariff summaries
Summaries are included of average tariffs and more detailed analysis of various tariff categories. The detailed information refers not just to the tariffs a country imposes on goods imported into it but also the tariffs the country faces when exporting to its main trading partners.
The publication also provides country export and import profiles with comparisons between countries on the value of imports, diversification of exports and tariffs. These are analysed between product groups and tariffs applying to the main trading partners. Statistics are provided on other measures including anti-dumping measures, countervailing duties and safeguards.
Preferential rules of origin
Included as a special topic is an analysis of preferential rules of origin. This section looks at the determination of whether available preferential import tariffs can be used; and examines the very complex rules that are a barrier to the use of preferential treatment under trade agreements.
The publication notes that businesses, especially micro, small and medium enterprises (MSMEs), do not take advantage of preferential tariffs available under trade agreements. This may be because they do not have sufficient information about the trade agreements; are unable to check whether their products are covered by the preferential tariffs and what origin criteria apply; or lack knowledge about the origin provisions or the certification provisions.
The publication gives a summary of the new data initiative carried out by the ITC, WTO and World Customs Organization (WCO) to improve the transparency on product-specific rules of origin.
Non-trade measures on energy products
Also presented as a special topic is the issue of non-tariff measures (NTMs) on “green” and “brown” energy products. NTMs may be described as policy measures other than tariffs and tariff-rate quotas that impact international trade.
The need to transition from fossil fuels to renewable energy as part of a package to achieve climate objectives has highlighted the importance of liberalising trade in green products.
Currently NTMs are more frequently used in relation to brown energy products than for green products and have greater coverage and prevalence. The report notes however that the fact that brown products are more regulated than green products does not mean that trade policies are restricting these types of products. Green products are generally innovative and of more recent origin and countries have not yet developed regulations for those products. Also, the information on the NTM database shows that countries normally impose more regulation on products that are highly traded, so the more frequent use of NTMs for brown energy products may reflect their relatively greater market size.
