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The African Growth Opportunity Act (AGOA) and Everything But Arms (EBA), two preferential agreements extended by the United States (AGOA) and the European Union (EU) (EBA) to some developing countries seem to have contributed somewhat to boost Sub-Saharan Africa's exports since 2001. However, not all African countries have benefited from them, among which West African countries. Paradoxically, these latter countries host two of the most advanced regional economic communities in Sub-Saharan Africa: the West African Economic and Monetary Union (WAEMU) sharing a common monetary policy that has consistently maintained inflation low and forming a customs union with a compensation mechanism to uphold the common external tariff; and the economic community of West African States (ECOWAS) maintaining a regional military force (ECOMOG) and peer pressure that have rooted out military coups in its member countries. Simulations derived from a Pseudo Poisson maximum likelihood gravity model estimation show that West Africa could be exporting 2.5 to 4 times more to the EU and the US if AGOA and EBA were not implemented in a differentiated manner, in terms of country eligibility, product coverage, and rules of origins. Given such trade creation potential for a group of countries committed to deep regional integration, a revision of AGOA and EBA, or a special ECOWAS and WAEMU provision will make these preferential trade agreements a driving force behind the success of regional integration in Sub-Saharan Africa.

Export Competitiveness --- International Trade and Trade Rules --- Preferential Trade Agreements --- Rules of Origin --- Trade Policy

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The paper draws on the Inclusive Global Value Chains report submitted by the OECD and the World Bank Group to G20 Trade Ministers in October 2015, refining and prioritizing the options contained therein. The original report proposed a holistic approach to promoting more inclusive Global Value Chains (GVCs) spanning: (i) trade, investment and domestic policies both in G20 nations and in trade partner countries; (ii) investment in expanding the statistical basis and technical analysis of participation in GVCs; and (iii) sharing knowledge on best practices on rules, policies and programs . This paper also takes into account relevant policy documents published since October 2015, including insights obtained from recently published reports on Aid for Trade.

International Trade and Trade Rules --- Rules of Origin --- Trade Facilitation --- Trade Liberalization

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International trade can promote efficiency, knowledge diffusion, technological progress, and-what ultimately matters most-inclusive growth and poverty reduction. Boosting export competitiveness is inextricably linked with rebuilding the productive sectors of Somalia's economy, generating jobs and incomes, and reducing the country's large structural trade deficits, which have averaged over 80 percent of GDP since 2015. Somalia supplies a limited number of exports to a relatively small set of markets. Its top five export products in 2018 accounted for more than 83 percent of total goods exports. Dominated by live animals, these exports are primarily unprocessed primary commodities that do not generate spillovers to other sectors of the economy and are vulnerable to weather and other shocks. Somalia also exports to a small set of countries: 82 percent of its exports were sold to just five destinations in 2018, mainly the United Arab Emirates, Oman, and Saudi Arabia. Somalia's annual goods export revenues could be increased significantly by expanding sales of current exports to new markets and markets where potential remains untapped. Export growth opportunities are greatest for sesame seed and fish. There is also some potential to increase livestock exports by seeking new markets, although econometric analysis suggest that some markets in the Gulf may be saturated. Gums and resins (frankincense and myrrh), fruit, and meat also show potential for increased sales. Countries in East and South Asia present the greatest opportunities for growth. These export opportunities could be prioritized in Somalia's national trade strategy. Limited or unreliable domestic supply constrains many of Somalia's exporters. The World Bank's 2018 Country Economic Memorandum (CEM) presents recommendations for sustainably increasing output of fish, sesame seed, animals, and other commodities that Somalia already exports. To break into new markets, Somali exporters must also invest in gathering information about consumer preferences and policies in unfamiliar markets and establish business relationships with new buyers, shippers, and other partners. The 2018 CEM identifies important roles for public and private sectors in strengthening systems to ensure animal and plant health and developing logistical arrangements to support increased trade flows, which could be reflected in the national trade strategy.

Export Competitiveness --- International Trade and Trade Rules --- Trade Policy

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This paper presents for consideration by Directors the issue of a move to a policy of presumed publication of staff reports, and lays out possible options for modalities of implementing the policy of presumed publication. The paper also addresses several issues deferred to this review including: (i) presumed publication of UFR staff reports in exceptional access cases; (ii) deletions of highly politically-sensitive information; (iii) presumed publication of Financial System Stability Assessment (FSSA) reports and a policy for publication of Technical Notes prepared in the context of the Financial Sector Assessment Program (FSAP); and (iv) presumed publication of Reports on the Observance of Standards and Codes (ROSCs). The paper also addresses the issue of a modification policy for staff policy papers prior to publication, and the possibility of withholding publication of a staff report when deletions of highly market sensitive material would significantly alter its key messages.

Report writing. --- International Monetary Fund --- Rules and practice.

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Recent literature has shown evidence of positive contributions of export promotion agencies around the world in raising exports, through the intensive and extensive margins of trade. The number of export promotion agencies has increased substantially over the past two decades, and most of them focus on assisting exporters in understanding and finding markets for their products. This paper describes the characteristics of export promotion agencies around the world, using a novel database from the World Bank, in collaboration with the International Trade Center in Geneva, covering 2005-10. In addition, it presents a short summary of the literature on the impacts of export promotion agencies.

Export Competitiveness --- Export Promotion Agencies --- Exports --- International Economics and Trade --- International Trade and Trade Rules --- Rules of Origin --- Trade and Services --- Trade Policy