SLIDES FOR QUESTION N°1

2 World Trade Prospects Trade in goods: Past tendencies: average annual growths of world exports : 7% Prospects: the World Bank estimates the benefits of the Doha Development Agenda to 270 to 520 billions $ additional trade in goods by 2015 Trade in services: Already one fifth of world trade on a cross border basis, growing faster than trade in goods Transport services and travel services have been growing in at an average annual rate of 6%

3 World Trade Prospects Impacts for Road Transport Growth of trade in goods generates a more than proportional growth of transport services (e.g Chinese “go west” policy) For structural reasons, an increasingly large part of trade in goods will be carried by trucks (continued erosion of rail intermodal share, investment in road infrastructure in countries such as India, translating into a higher demand for trucking...) Demand for urban transport by buses and for buses tourism services is also growing specially in developing countries

SLIDES FOR QUESTION N°2

5 WTO I/II Founded 1995, replaced the 1947 GATT 148 Members and 36 countries in the process of accession Administers and effectively enforces a set of binding rules on Trade in goods, (including agricultural one) in services and intellectual property

6 WTO II/II Based on national treatment, most favoured nation (MFN) clause, bindings and dispute settlement Functions by cycles or “rounds” of negotiations Presently “Doha Development Agenda” launched November 2001 and just having gone through a decisive Ministerial Conference in Hong Kong in December 2005

7 Doha Development Agenda Why bother? Good outcome  less customs duties  more trade  more transport GATS and road transport GATT and trade facilitation

SLIDES FOR QUESTION N°3

9 Trade Facilitation Articles in a Nutshell Freedom of transit for goods, vessels and other mean of transport... With no distinction based on flag, origin, departure, entry, ownership Prohibition of unnecessary delays, customs duties on transit duties or other charges (except for transportation, of if commensurate with administration expenses entailed by transit or the cost of services rendered and on the condition these are charges are reasonable) MFN treatment for traffic on transit with regard to: charges/regulations/formalities Article V : Transit

10 GATT Trade Facilitation Articles in a Nutshell All fees and charges imposed on import and export (other than customs duties) must be limited to the cost of services rendered, not represent an indirect protection to domestic products, not be for fiscal purposes No imposition of substantial penalties for minor breaches of customs regulations or procedural requirements Obligation for a WTO Member to review the operation of its laws and regulations in the light of Article VIII if requested by another Member General recognition of the need to reduce the number and diversity of fees and charges and the complexity of the administrative regime Article VIII

11 GATT Facilitation Articles in a Nutshell Requirement to promptly publish all trade regulations in a manner so as to enable governments and trades to become acquainted with them No enforcement of a measure of general application prior to its official publication Uniform impartial and reasonable administration of trade regulations Procedures and tribunals independent from enforcement agencies to be instituted or maintained to ensure the prompt review and correction of administration relating to customs matters Article X

12 Trade Facilitation Negotiation Including HK Clearer and more precise by specifying more certain requirements More operational and less “aspirational” More enforceable and hence more sustainable More predictable and more transparent by belong up notification and publication requirements and reducing the degree of discretion of authorities Members have agreed to make the provisions of these articles

SLIDES FOR QUESTION N°4

14 Impact of T.F Negotiations on Road Transport Difficult to measure: –About an accompanying policy by public authorities –... in a sector where serious figures are lacking in many countries However countries specific studies suggest that the gain could be in the region of one (IRU study for Europe) to several points of GDP per year (e.g World Bank GFP studies) Figures

15 Impact of T.F Negotiations on Road Transport Simplification Reduction of requirements Harmonization Streamlining of procedures Non-discrimination Enhanced coordination & cooperation Enhancement of transparency and predictability Practice