Eliminating Excessive Tariffs on Exports of Least Developed Countries

Ng, Francis; Hoekman, Bernard; Olarreaga, Marcelo

Eliminating Excessive Tariffs on Exports of Least Developed Countries

Autores

Ng, Francis

Hoekman, Bernard

Olarreaga, Marcelo

Editor

World Bank, Washington, DC

Descripción

Most goods imported from developing countries, enter Quad markets duty-free, and, average tariffs in Quad markets are very low. But tariffs for some commodities are over one hundred percent. Such "tariff peaks" are often concentrated in products developing countries want to export: agricultural, and food products - especially such staples as sugar, cereals, and fish; fruits and vegetables; food products with a high sugar content; and, tobacco, and alcoholic beverages - and products from such labor-intensive sectors as apparel, and footwear. Giving least developed countries full duty- and quota-free access in the Quad for peak-tariff products would increase their total annual exports by eleven percent - or roughly $ 2.5 billion. Exports to Quad countries of peak-tariff products, would expand by 30-60 percent. Considering that peak-tariff items account for only a small share of developing countries' exports, granting lest developed countries duty-free access, would have only a negligible impact on other developing countries. For the same reason, Quad imports increase only marginally, suggesting that this factor should not constrain implementation of duty-free access for the poorest countries.

Palabras clave

AGRICULTURAL PRODUCTS, AGRICULTURE, ALCOHOLIC BEVERAGES, ANDEAN PACT, APPAREL, AVERAGE TARIFF, AVERAGE TARIFFS, BILATERAL AGREEMENTS, DEVELOPED COUNTRIES, DUTY FREE, ECONOMIC POLICY, EQUILIBRIUM, ESSENTIAL OILS, EXPORT GROWTH, EXPORTERS, EXPORTS, FATS, FATS & OILS, FINAL GOODS, FISH, FOOD INDUSTRY, FREE ACCESS, FREE TRADE, FREE TRADE AGREEMENTS, FUELS, GENERAL EQUILIBRIUM MODEL, GLOBAL EXPORTS, IMPORT DUTIES, INCOME, INDUSTRIAL PRODUCTS, LIBERALIZATION, MARKET ACCESS, MEAT, MILK, OIL, OIL EXPORTS, PATTERN OF TRADE, POLITICAL ECONOMY, PREFERENTIAL ACCESS, PREFERENTIAL TARIFF, PREFERENTIAL TRADE, PREFERENTIAL TREATMENT, QUOTA IMPORTS, QUOTAS, REVENUE COLLECTION, SHIPS, SUGAR, TARIFF BARRIERS, TARIFF ESCALATION, TARIFF PREFERENCES, TARIFF RATE, TARIFF RATES, TARIFF REVENUE, TARIFF STRUCTURE, TRADE AGREEMENTS, TRADE DIVERSION, TRADE NEGOTIATIONS, TRADE POLICY, TRADE PREFERENCES, TRADE VALUES, TRANSITION COUNTRIES