The Belt Road Initiative (BRI) suggested by China’s President Xi Jinping provides an ambitious vision encouraging a new level of cooperation among countries along several economic corridors spanning most of the Asian economies member of ESCAP. This paper reviews the trade and trade...

This paper presents findings from an initial analysis of new non-tariff trade cost estimates and their determinants, based on a bilateral database of comprehensive trade cost maintained by ESCAP. Results of the non-tariff policy-related trade costs modeling exercise strongly suggest that...

This chapter is based on the case studies of Bangladesh, China, India, Indoesnia and Nepal

This chapter concludes case studies on trade facilitation measures implementation in Bangladesh, China, Indonesia, India, and Nepal

This chapter highlights selected quantitative information from the country case studies, a summary of results of an international expert survey on the implementation costs of selected trade facilifation measures, and their sequencing.

Access to the fast-growing Chinese economy is prized by policymakers and business people but concerns that European firms are missing out on the Chinese boom have led to soul-searching concerning Europe’s competitiveness and to criticism leveled at Chinese protectionism. This paper examines...

Access to the fast-growing Chinese economy is prized by policymakers and business people. Concerns that European firms are missing out on the Chinese boom have caused soul-searching in Europe about "competitiveness" and led to accusations of Chinese protectionism. For the first 15 members to...