Download Overview of UNCTAD and World Bank Databases

Overview of Databases
operated by
UNCTAD-World Bank
World Integrated Trade Solution (WITS)
and its main functionalities
Virtual Institute, TDA Workshop
11-14 September, 2006
WITS vs Databases
WITS is a software which is designed to
integrate several trade-related databases
and provide easy access
Five databases are currently accessible
through WITS
Databases of WITS
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•
•
•
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TRAINS (UNCTAD)
COMTRADE (UN Statistics Division)
Integrated Database (IDB-WTO)
Consolidated Tariff Schedule (CTS-WTO)
Agricultural Market Access Database (AMAD)
Data Accessibility
• COMTRADE: Free access to International
Organizations, others against a fee
• TRAINS: Access to governments and
international and regional organizations and
donors to TRAINS Trust Fund
• WTO: Access to WTO member governments and
selected international organizations
• AMAD: Free for all
Data contents of TRAINS
(as of 15 April 2006)
• Tariff measures at national tariff line level for 161
countries (889 country/years since 1988),
including preferential rates such as RTA and GSP
in many cases
Primary data are drawn from
UN TARMAC
UN Tariff and Market Access Database
A joint effort with the
International Trade Centre (ITC)
Data contents of TRAINS (continued)
• Import statistics by origin at Harmonized
System (HS) 6-digit level for every countryyear by constructing mirror imports where
necessary
• Non-Tariff Measures classified according to
UNCTAD Coding System of Trade Control
Measures (97 countries, 150 country/years)
WITS Functionality
• Data retrieval and analysis
• Quick query
• Advanced query
• Tariff Change Simulations
• Other options
Quick Query
Direct access to the Database
– By country and/or by product
– Export raw data
– Extraction by criteria
Advanced Query
Users construct queries comprising of:
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–
–
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Reporter countries
Products
Partner countries
Years
Custom Query – Parameters
Reporter Countries
– Individual countries or user-defined
groups of countries
Products
– Individual products or user-defined
aggregates of products in various
product classifications (HS, SITC,ISIC,
etc)
Custom Query – Parameters
Partner Countries
– Same as Reporter Countries. “World” is
treated as an individual country
Years
– From 1988
Custom Query – submission
Further options before submitting
• MFN rates (default) , Bound Rates and/or
Effectively Applied (preferential) rates
• Latest available year for each reporter
country
• Substitution of unavailable year with the
nearest available year
• Breakdown of country groups
Custom Query – results
Main indicators
• Simple and trade weighted tariff
averages
• Value of imports
– Duty free
– Dutiable
– Non-ad valorem rates
• Distribution of tariff rates
Tariff Change Simulation
(Single market simulation model)
-
Trade Creation and Diversion effects
Tariff revenue effect
Welfare effect
Importer and Exporter Views
Tariff Change Simulation
(Single market simulation model)
Assumptions:
– Each product is independent
– A same product from different supplier is an
imperfect substitute
– Three sets of elasticties (Demand, Supply and
Substitution between two suppliers)
Tariff Change Simulation
Results of Simulation
- First round effect of tariff reduction
- No time horizon
- No cost of structural adjustment
Doha Proposals in WITS
• WTO Doha Proposals” simulates the tariff
reduction proposals submitted to the WTO’s
Negotiating Group on Market Access.
More flexible, user-defined tariff change formula
option is under development
Advance Tariff Change Simulation
(ATCS)
Apply tariff change formula to tariff
schedules and assess impact
•
•
Pre-defined or user-defined formula
Multiple formula in terms of affected
countries and products
ATCS: Two Parts
1. Simulation query
–
Defines a specific simulation by selecting countries,
products and scenarios
2. Scenario Definition
–
Defines a scope of tariff changes in terms of group of
countries, product categories, bound and unbound tariff
lines, etc.
Improvement for immediate future
• Ad Valorem Equivalents:
– Estimation of % equivalents of non ad-valorem
rates
• Multi-market Simulation Model
– Incorporation of GSIM model in WITS/TRAINS
Computer Requirement
– PC of reasonable speed (minimum 200MHZ)
– Windows 98, 2000 or XP
– Internet Explorer version 5.0 or higher
– Internet Access with 50mb of disk space
How to Install WITS
Register at http://wits.worldbank.org/witsweb
Receive userid and password via e-mail
Download installation file from
http://wits.worldbank.org/install.htm
Install
CONTACT
Trade Information Section
UNCTAD/DITC/TAB
Palais des Nations
1211 Geneva 10, Switzerland
E-mail: [email protected]
Fax: +41 22 917 0044