Trade Integration as a Way Forward for the Arab World : A Regional Agenda
The current political turmoil for more open and participative societies in many Arab countries coupled with the emergence of new growth poles around the world could create the conditions for a big push toward greater regional and global trade integ...
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| Format: | Policy Research Working Paper |
| Language: | English |
| Published: |
2012
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| Subjects: | |
| Online Access: | http://www-wds.worldbank.org/external/default/main?menuPK=64187510&pagePK=64193027&piPK=64187937&theSitePK=523679&menuPK=64187510&searchMenuPK=64187283&siteName=WDS&entityID=000158349_20110228144121 http://hdl.handle.net/10986/3347 |
| Summary: | The current political turmoil for more
open and participative societies in many Arab countries
coupled with the emergence of new growth poles around the
world could create the conditions for a big push toward
greater regional and global trade integration of the Arab
world. Further integrating Arab countries among themselves
and opening up the region to the rest of the world are two
complementary avenues to improve market access, promote
behind-the-border regulatory reforms, facilitate cooperation
on regional public goods, foster the emergence of an
"Arab factory" through regional supply chains and
productions networks, and eventually create the conditions
for more and better paid jobs for the growing Arab
workforce. A more ambitious trade agenda in the context of
the Pan-Arab Free Trade Area would be a good place to start.
Although difficult and challenging, and requiring a good
dosage of flexibility and variable geometry, such an agenda
would consist of (1) completing the free movement of goods
within the Pan-Arab Free Trade Area, notably through the
elimination of unnecessary non-tariff barriers; (2)
implementing a regional initiative to liberalize services
trade, including identifying a number of pilot service
sectors for early regional liberalization; and (3)
strengthening the rules and discipline applicable to
regional trade and other policies of common interest. |
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