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Changes in cross-border trade costs in the Pan-Arab free trade area, 2001-2008

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Author Info

  • Hoekman, Bernard
  • Zarrouk, Jamel

Abstract

The Pan-Arab Free Trade Area, negotiated under auspices of the Arab League, came into force in 1997. Under the agreement all tariffs on goods of Arab origin were to be removed by January 1, 2005. This paper summarizes the results of a firm-level survey in nine countries regarding the implementation of the Pan-Arab Free Trade Area. A majority of respondent companies report that tariffs on intra-regional trade have largely been removed, and that there has been a marked improvement in customs clearance-related procedures. Costs associated with administrative red tape and weaknesses in transport-related infrastructure services are ranked as the most important constraints to intra-regional trade. This suggests that from a policy perspective, efforts to reduce real trade costs deserve priority, including transportation and logistics services. Periodic monitoring and assessment of trade incentives and performance would help governments to benchmark performance and identify priority areas for action, at both the national and the sub-regional levels.

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Bibliographic Info

Paper provided by The World Bank in its series Policy Research Working Paper Series with number 5031.

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Date of creation: 01 Aug 2009
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Handle: RePEc:wbk:wbrwps:5031

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Related research

Keywords: Transport Economics Policy&Planning; Trade Law; Free Trade; Trade Policy; Transport and Trade Logistics;

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  1. Kee, Hiau Looi & Nicita, Alessandro & Olarreaga, Marcelo, 2006. "Estimating trade restrictiveness indices," Policy Research Working Paper Series 3840, The World Bank.
  2. Péridy, Nicolas & Abedini, Javad, 2008. "The Greater Arab Free Trade Area(GAFTA): an Estimation of Its Trade Effects," Journal of Economic Integration, Center for Economic Integration, Sejong University, vol. 23, pages 848-872.
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Cited by:
  1. Carrere, Celine & Gourdon, Julien & Olarreaga, Marcelo, 2012. "Regional integration and natural resources : who benefits ? evidence from MENA," Policy Research Working Paper Series 5970, The World Bank.

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