Norwegian Trade Preferences for Developing Countries - GSP
Study of the Norwegian system of tariff preferences for developing countries.Deltakere
Arne Melchior
Per Botolf Maurseth
The study shows that Norway and the EU have generous tariff preferences for the Least Developed Countries (LDCs), but this has not led to massive imports. For industrial goods in Norway, however, market access for other developing countries has been significantly improved over the last decade. There has been a substantial import increase, due to extensive Chinese exports.
For agricultural goods, the LDCs face zero tariffs, but this has not led to large import increases. For other developing countries, GSP is limited. While tariff protection for traditional developing country commodities such as coffee, tea and spices is limited, there are high tariffs for e.g. cereals, animal feed, meat and some vegetables. For these, there is a substantial import potential that may be realised through improved GSP. For some goods, tariffs are equivalent to thousands of percentage points, so substantial cuts are needed.
The NUPI study recommends that all tariffs for industrial goods are removed, and that non-tariff imports of agricultural goods are allowed for a country group that also includes low-income countries beyond the LDCs. For other developing countries, the study recommends that improved GSP for agricultural goods should be granted, however not zero tariffs.
The study will serve as background material for a planned inter-ministerial working group that will consider proposals for reform in the GSP system. The shaping of GSP will also depend on the results from the current negotiation round in the WTO.
Finansiering
Utenriksdepartementet
Publikasjoner
- Melchior, Arne (2005). Norges tollpreferanser for import fra utviklingsland. NUPI-notat: 680. 72 sider. Analyserer Norges tollpreferanser for utviklingsland og foreslår endringer som vil bety økt markedsadgang for fattige land.
- Melchior, Arne (2005). The future of Norway's GSP system. NUPI-notat: 680. 69 sider. Tar for seg prospektene for ordningen med handelspreferanser for verdens fattigste land.
- Maurseth, Per Botolf (2005). Trade and development: a selective review. NUPI-notat: 681. 39 sider. En gjennomgang av teorien rundt handel og vekst.
- Maurseth, Per Botolf (2005). Norway's trade with developing countries. NUPI-notat: 682. 27 sider. Sammenligner norske handelsmønstre overfor fattige land med andre OECD-lands handelsmønstre.
- Melchior, Arne (2005). GSP in the "spaghetti bowl" of trade preferences. NUPI-notat: 683. 19 sider. Sammenlikner handelspolitikken overfor u-land i Norge, USA og EU og kartlegger nettverket av handelspreferanser.
- Melchior, Arne (2005). The Norwegian import regime for agriculture. NUPI-notat: 684. 25 sider. Analyserer graden av importvern for landbruksvarer i Norge og betydningen dette har for utviklingsland.
- Melchior, Arne (2005). Trade policy differentiation between developing countries under GSP schemes. NUPI-notat: 685. 27 sider. Sammenlikner ulike grupper av utviklingsland og analyserer grunnlaget for forskjellsbehandling av disse i handelspolitikken.