The World Trade Organization (WTO) has reported that growth in world trade in 2013 was slower than expected in the year 2013. Growth in world merchandise trade was 2.5% in 2013 and will probably be 4.5% in 2014. The report mainly looked at G20 countries, and also examined trade restrictions, trade liberalization and facilitation measures. WTO identified 116 new restrictive trade measures among G20 countries; such restrictions flow from anti-dumping investigations, tariff increases and more stringent customs procedures.
The report included within the scope of restrictions “behind-the-border” measures including subsidies, public procurement and regulations concerning goods and services. It thus included issues such as tax advantages to domestic firms, so called “sanitary and phyto-sanitary measures” and export restrictions, amongst others. Restrictions could also be made through trade remedy measures, such as anti-dumping measures, countervailing duties and safeguard measures. Trade facilitation come from termination of trade remedy actions and reductions in tariffs. The report showed that G20 countries initiated 120 anti-dumping investigations, 14 countervailing duty and three safeguard investigations during the report period.
