Changes in Cross-Border Trade Costs in the Pan-Arab Free Trade Area, 2001–2008

Hoekman, Bernard; Zarrouk, Jamel

dc.creator	Hoekman, Bernard
dc.creator	Zarrouk, Jamel
dc.date	2012-03-19T19:12:08Z
dc.date	2012-03-19T19:12:08Z
dc.date	2009-08-01
dc.date.accessioned	2023-02-18T19:37:01Z
dc.date.available	2023-02-18T19:37:01Z
dc.identifier	http://www-wds.worldbank.org/external/default/main?menuPK=64187510&pagePK=64193027&piPK=64187937&theSitePK=523679&menuPK=64187510&searchMenuPK=64187283&siteName=WDS&entityID=000158349_20090831125056
dc.identifier	http://hdl.handle.net/10986/4223
dc.identifier.uri	http://localhost:8080/xmlui/handle/CUHPOERS/249723
dc.description	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.
dc.language	English
dc.relation	Policy Research working paper ; no. WPS 5031
dc.rights	CC BY 3.0 IGO
dc.rights	http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/3.0/igo/
dc.rights	World Bank
dc.subject	ACCESS TO THE SEA
dc.subject	AD VALOREM
dc.subject	ADMINISTRATIVE BURDENS
dc.subject	ADMINISTRATIVE COSTS
dc.subject	ADMINISTRATIVE PROCEDURES
dc.subject	AFFECTING IMPORTS
dc.subject	AGRICULTURAL PRODUCTS
dc.subject	AIR
dc.subject	AIR FREIGHT
dc.subject	AIR TRANSPORT
dc.subject	ARAB FREE TRADE AGREEMENT
dc.subject	BARRIERS TO TRADE
dc.subject	BILATERAL AGREEMENTS
dc.subject	BILATERAL TRADE
dc.subject	BILATERAL TRADE BARRIERS
dc.subject	BUSINESS ENVIRONMENT
dc.subject	CARGO
dc.subject	CARRIERS
dc.subject	CERTIFICATES OF ORIGIN
dc.subject	CERTIFICATION PROCEDURES
dc.subject	CIF
dc.subject	COMMON MARKET
dc.subject	COMPETITIVENESS OF FIRMS
dc.subject	CONSIGNMENT
dc.subject	CONTAINERS
dc.subject	COUNTRY OF ORIGIN
dc.subject	CROSS-BORDER TRADE
dc.subject	CROSSING
dc.subject	CROSSINGS
dc.subject	CUSTOMS
dc.subject	CUSTOMS AUTHORITIES
dc.subject	CUSTOMS CLEARANCE
dc.subject	CUSTOMS CLEARANCE PROCEDURES
dc.subject	CUSTOMS DUTIES
dc.subject	CUSTOMS FORMALITIES
dc.subject	CUSTOMS OFFICIALS
dc.subject	CUSTOMS PROCEDURES
dc.subject	CUSTOMS UNION
dc.subject	CUSTOMS VALUATION
dc.subject	DIESEL
dc.subject	DOCUMENTARY REQUIREMENTS
dc.subject	DOMESTIC TAXES
dc.subject	DRIVERS
dc.subject	DUTY DRAWBACK
dc.subject	DUTY DRAWBACK SCHEMES
dc.subject	ECONOMIC INTEGRATION
dc.subject	ECONOMIC POLICY
dc.subject	ECONOMIES OF SCALE
dc.subject	ELIMINATION OF TARIFFS
dc.subject	EXPORT PROCEDURES
dc.subject	EXPORT-PROCESSING ZONES
dc.subject	EXPORTERS
dc.subject	EXPORTING COUNTRIES
dc.subject	EXPORTS
dc.subject	EXTERNAL TARIFFS
dc.subject	EXTERNAL TRADE
dc.subject	FACTORS OF PRODUCTION
dc.subject	FACTORY GATE
dc.subject	FREE TRADE
dc.subject	FREE TRADE AGREEMENT
dc.subject	FREE TRADE AGREEMENTS
dc.subject	FREE TRADE AREA
dc.subject	FREE TRADE AREAS
dc.subject	FREE ZONE
dc.subject	FREIGHT
dc.subject	FREIGHT FORWARDERS
dc.subject	FREIGHT FORWARDING
dc.subject	FREIGHT TRANSPORT
dc.subject	FUEL
dc.subject	FUEL CHARGES
dc.subject	GLOBAL COMPETITIVENESS
dc.subject	GLOBAL ECONOMY
dc.subject	GLOBAL TRADE
dc.subject	HANDLING
dc.subject	IMPORT COST
dc.subject	IMPORT DUTIES
dc.subject	IMPORT LICENSE
dc.subject	IMPORT PROCEDURES
dc.subject	IMPORT PROCESS
dc.subject	IMPORT RESTRICTIONS
dc.subject	IMPORT VALUE
dc.subject	IMPORTED GOODS
dc.subject	INDIRECT TAXES
dc.subject	INLAND TRANSPORT
dc.subject	INSPECTION
dc.subject	INTERNATIONAL BANK
dc.subject	INTERNATIONAL NORMS
dc.subject	INTERNATIONAL STANDARDS
dc.subject	INTERNATIONAL TRADE
dc.subject	INTRAREGIONAL TRADE
dc.subject	LIBERALIZATION OF TRADE
dc.subject	LOADING
dc.subject	LOGISTICS COSTS
dc.subject	MANUFACTURING
dc.subject	MARITIME TRANSPORT
dc.subject	NATIONAL AUTHORITIES
dc.subject	NON-TARIFF BARRIER
dc.subject	NON-TARIFF BARRIERS
dc.subject	OIL IMPORTS
dc.subject	PACKAGING
dc.subject	POLICY RESEARCH
dc.subject	PORT OF ENTRY
dc.subject	PREPARATORY WORK
dc.subject	PUBLIC SECTOR OWNERSHIP
dc.subject	REGIONAL INTEGRATION
dc.subject	REGIONAL LEVEL
dc.subject	REGIONAL TRADE
dc.subject	REGIONAL TRADE AGREEMENTS
dc.subject	REGIONAL TRADE INTEGRATION
dc.subject	REGULATORY REGIMES
dc.subject	RESTRICTIVE RULES OF ORIGIN
dc.subject	ROAD
dc.subject	ROAD TRANSPORT
dc.subject	ROADS
dc.subject	RULES OF ORIGIN
dc.subject	SAFETY
dc.subject	SAFETY STANDARDS
dc.subject	SHIPMENTS
dc.subject	SHIPPERS
dc.subject	SHIPPING
dc.subject	SHIPPING COSTS
dc.subject	SOURCING
dc.subject	SPEEDS
dc.subject	TARIFF CLASSIFICATION
dc.subject	TARIFF EQUIVALENT
dc.subject	TARIFF EXEMPTIONS
dc.subject	TARIFF POLICIES
dc.subject	TARIFF PROTECTION
dc.subject	TARIFF RATE
dc.subject	TARIFF RATE QUOTAS
dc.subject	TARIFF SCHEDULE
dc.subject	TAX
dc.subject	TECHNICAL BARRIERS
dc.subject	TERMS OF TRADE
dc.subject	TRADE BARRIERS
dc.subject	TRADE COSTS
dc.subject	TRADE DATA
dc.subject	TRADE DIVERSION
dc.subject	TRADE DIVERSION COSTS
dc.subject	TRADE EFFECTS
dc.subject	TRADE FACILITATION
dc.subject	TRADE FLOWS
dc.subject	TRADE IMPEDIMENTS
dc.subject	TRADE IN GOODS
dc.subject	TRADE IN SERVICES
dc.subject	TRADE INTEGRATION
dc.subject	TRADE LOGISTICS
dc.subject	TRADE PERFORMANCE
dc.subject	TRADE POLICIES
dc.subject	TRADE POLICY
dc.subject	TRADE POLICY INSTRUMENTS
dc.subject	TRADE TAXES
dc.subject	TRADE TRANSACTION
dc.subject	TRANSIT
dc.subject	TRANSPARENCY
dc.subject	TRANSPORT
dc.subject	TRANSPORT COSTS
dc.subject	TRANSPORT DOCUMENTS
dc.subject	TRANSPORT EQUIPMENT
dc.subject	TRANSPORT FACILITATION
dc.subject	TRANSPORT INFRASTRUCTURE
dc.subject	TRANSPORT SERVICES
dc.subject	TRANSPORTATION
dc.subject	TRANSSHIPMENT
dc.subject	TRUCKS
dc.subject	TRUE
dc.subject	VALUE OF IMPORTS
dc.subject	VALUE OF TRADE
dc.subject	VEHICLE
dc.subject	VEHICLES
dc.subject	WORLD PRICES
dc.subject	ZERO TARIFF
dc.title	Changes in Cross-Border Trade Costs in the Pan-Arab Free Trade Area, 2001–2008
dc.type	Publications & Research :: Policy Research Working Paper
dc.coverage	Middle East and North Africa
dc.coverage	Middle East and North Africa
dc.coverage	Middle East and North Africa