2018年-WTO世界贸易组织_WTO_Trade_Monitoring_Ten_Years_on_Lessons_Learned_and_Challenges_Ahead_19页_848kb

WTO Trade Monitoring: Ten Years on – Lessons Learned and Challenges Ahead

Core Content

The World Trade Organization (WTO) Trade Monitoring exercise has been an important tool for tracking trade-related developments since its inception in 2008, following the global financial crisis. Initially established as an internal task force by the WTO Director-General, it evolved into a formal and public monitoring mechanism after the 2009 London G20 Summit, which mandated the WTO to monitor and report on adherence to resisting protectionism and promoting global trade and investment.

The monitoring exercise is rooted in the historical tradition of trade surveillance under the General Agreement on Tariffs and Trade (GATT), particularly the 1979 Understanding Regarding Notification, Consultation, Dispute Settlement and Surveillance. This laid the foundation for systematic trade policy reviews, culminating in the establishment of the Trade Policy Review Mechanism (TPRM) in 1989, which was later confirmed by the WTO's Marrakesh Agreement.

Main Views

• Transparency and Peer Review: The trade monitoring exercise is based on the principles of transparency and peer review. It aims to provide an overview of trade policy changes and their implications for the multilateral trading system.

• Scope and Structure: The WTO Secretariat prepares four trade monitoring reports annually: two for the full WTO membership and two for G20 economies. These reports are structured to cover trade facilitation, trade remedy actions, and other trade-related measures. The G20 reports are often released ahead of major meetings, such as trade ministers' conferences or Leaders' Summits.

• Data Collection and Analysis: The process involves both direct requests for information from WTO Members and continuous research by the Secretariat. Information is gathered from public sources, including national laws, international reports, and notifications. It is then verified by Members, with some measures labeled as "recorded, but non-confirmed information" if not verified.

• Categorization of Measures: Trade measures are categorized into three main groups: trade-facilitating, trade remedy actions, and other trade-related measures. In 2017, a new annex was introduced to focus exclusively on trade remedies, separating them from the broader trade-facilitating or trade-restrictive classifications.

• Member Consultations and Institutional Limits: Despite widespread support, Members have been cautious about expanding the scope of the monitoring exercise. They have emphasized the need for it to remain member-driven and have pushed for more specific and structured information requests. There was also resistance to including unverified or non-notified measures, and to analyzing trade-impact data or introducing new categories like agricultural subsidies or tariff peaks.

Key Information

• Timeline and Evolution:

  • 2008: Internal Task Force established after the collapse of Lehman Brothers.
  • 2009: First Trade Monitoring Report circulated; the G20 mandate was formalized.
  • 1989: TPRM established as a permanent mechanism.
  • 2017: Introduction of a separate annex for trade remedies.

• Report Structure:

  • Reports are published in June and November.
  • They include a detailed analysis of trade measures in goods, services, and intellectual property.
  • The IP section is relatively new and focuses on trends identified by the TRIPS Council.

• Verification Process:

  • Members are given approximately two weeks to verify the measures.
  • Bilateral discussions occur between delegations and the Secretariat.
  • Some measures are labeled as "recorded, but non-confirmed information" if not verified.

• Member Engagement:

  • The TPRM Appraisals, especially the 2011 and 2016 ones, have been key forums for member consultations.
  • There was broad agreement to continue and strengthen the monitoring exercise, but limited willingness to expand its scope.
  • Delegations emphasized the importance of maintaining the initiative as a voluntary peer review, not a legal obligation.

• Trends in Trade Policy:

  • Despite some increases in trade-restrictive measures, the overall trend has been less alarmist than expected.
  • Countries have generally implemented more trade-facilitating than trade-restrictive measures.
  • Trade liberalization efforts have continued, including through the ITA and TFA.
  • There has been no major policy reversal since 2009, even in countries directly affected by the financial crisis.

Challenges and Outlook

• Limited Expansion: Members have not shown interest in expanding the monitoring exercise to new areas or increasing its depth of analysis.
• Voluntary Nature: The initiative is seen as a voluntary peer review, not a legal mandate, which limits its scope and depth.
• Methodological Consistency: The Secretariat has made efforts to standardize the format and content of the reports, including the use of a "positive list" for measures.
• Future Appraisals: The 2016 TPRM Appraisal marked the most comprehensive review of the exercise, with some previously discussed issues re-emerging.
• Stakeholder Relationship: The success of the monitoring exercise depends heavily on the cooperation and input of WTO Members. The Secretariat must balance its role as an independent body with the need for member engagement.

Conclusion

The WTO Trade Monitoring exercise has played a vital role in maintaining transparency and promoting adherence to trade rules since the global financial crisis. It has evolved from an internal task force into a structured and publicly accessible mechanism, with a focus on trade facilitation and the prevention of protectionist tendencies. While the exercise has been generally supported, its future development remains constrained by the voluntary nature of the process and the reluctance of some Members to expand its scope. The ongoing dialogue between the Secretariat and members is essential for the exercise to remain relevant and effective in the context of global trade policy.