Trade in International Maritime Services : How Much Does Policy Matter?
Maritime transport costs significantly impede international trade. The authors examine why these costs are so high in some countries, and, quantify the importance of two explanations: restrictive trade policies, and private anti-competitive practic...
| Main Authors: | , , |
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| Format: | Policy Research Working Paper |
| Language: | English en_US |
| Published: |
World Bank, Washington, DC
2014
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| Subjects: | |
| Online Access: | http://documents.worldbank.org/curated/en/2001/01/888137/trade-international-maritime-services-much-policy-matter http://hdl.handle.net/10986/19736 |
| Summary: | Maritime transport costs significantly
impede international trade. The authors examine why these
costs are so high in some countries, and, quantify the
importance of two explanations: restrictive trade policies,
and private anti-competitive practices. Both matter, they
find, but private anti-competitive practices have the
greater impact. Trade liberalization, and the breakup of
private carrier agreements, would lead to a reduction in
average liner transport prices of a third, and cost savings
of up to $ 3 billion on goods carried to the United States
alone. The policy implications are clear: not only should
government policy be further liberalized, but there should
be stronger international disciplines on restrictive
business practices. The authors propose developing such
disciplines in the current round of services negotiations at
the World Trade Organization. |
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