潜在出口和非关税贸易壁垒：马尔代夫国家研究（英文版）_94页_1mb

Summary of "Potential Exports and Nontariff Barriers to Trade" - Maldives National Study

Core Content

This report is a national diagnostic study conducted under the South Asia Subregional Economic Cooperation (SASEC) Trade Facilitation Program, commissioned by six SASEC member countries. The study aims to identify potential export products from the Maldives that could be traded more within the SASEC subregion, while also examining the nontariff measures (NTMs) that hinder such trade. The report also explores opportunities for export diversification and the challenges in the Maldives' import and export regulatory frameworks.

Main Objectives

• Identify potential export products from the Maldives that are subject to SPS-TBT measures by SASEC importing countries.
• Conduct a national diagnostic audit by analyzing trade data trends, performing a gap analysis of current legislation and practices, and carrying out field studies to identify trade-restricting standards and regulations.
• Assess current infrastructure capacity constraints related to SPS-TBT.
• Identify priority national capacity-building activities in standards and regulations.

Key Findings

• Export Pattern: The Maldives primarily exports fishery-related products due to its geographic constraints as a small island nation with limited land for industrial development. Other potential export sectors are highly limited.
• SPS and TBT Measures: The study highlights significant gaps in the Maldives' SPS and TBT regulatory frameworks, including inadequate cold storage, quarantine facilities, and testing laboratories at major entry points.
• NTM Inventory: A full inventory of NTMs is provided, showing that while the number of NTMs in the Maldives is relatively modest (23), certain products such as construction materials, electrical goods, fruits, and vegetables face no import control measures, raising concerns about substandard imports.
• Intra-Regional Trade: Despite the SASEC region's potential for trade, the study found that Maldives' potential export products are not competitive in the SASEC market. However, three products show limited potential for increased exports to Sri Lanka.
• Exporter Sentiment: Fishery exporters expressed support for export diversification but indicated a lack of confidence in implementing such strategies in the short or medium term.
• Comparative Analysis: An independent evaluation of NTMs applied by Germany compared to those by India and Sri Lanka revealed a disparity in the number and types of NTMs, suggesting opportunities for reduction in SASEC countries.

Methodology

• The study followed a shared base methodology for all six SASEC countries, ensuring consistent and comparable data.
• It used the ITC TradeMap database to identify potential export products and the ITC MacMap database to analyze SPS-TBT measures.
• A four-step algorithm was applied to identify potential exports, focusing on market availability and export market share.
• Stakeholder inputs and regulatory data were analyzed to assess the impact of NTMs on trade.

Regulatory and Institutional Context

• The Maldives' regulatory framework is dominated by the Ministry of Economic Development (MED) and the Ministry of Fisheries and Agriculture (MOFA).
• The Maldives Food and Drug Authority (MFDA) and Maldives Customs Services (MCS) are key institutions involved in the enforcement of SPS and TBT measures.
• The National Validation Meeting (NVM) and National Consultation Meeting were held to gather feedback from stakeholders and finalize the study's terms of reference.

Recommendations

• Priority Recommendations: These focus on measures that impact a large number of traders, significant trade volumes, or a high number of NTMs, and are more urgent in implementation.
• General Recommendations: These aim to improve the overall regulatory and institutional framework for SPS and TBT measures.
• Other Recommendations: Include specific actions for capacity building, infrastructure development, and enhancing regulatory coordination.

Regional Context

• The SASEC region includes Bangladesh, Bhutan, India, Maldives, Nepal, and Sri Lanka.
• The SASEC Trade Facilitation Strategic Framework 2014-2018 includes SPS and TBT as key areas for regional cooperation.
• The South Asian Regional Standards Organization (SARSO) works to harmonize product standards and facilitate trade.

Conclusion

The study concludes that while the Maldives has limited potential for export diversification beyond fishery products, there are opportunities to increase trade within the SASEC region. However, this requires addressing the existing gaps in the regulatory and institutional framework, improving infrastructure, and enhancing coordination among stakeholders. The report also emphasizes the need for capacity building and better alignment with international standards to support trade facilitation and competitiveness.