Towards Inclusive Trade: How to Unlock the Trade Potential of Emerging Agricultural Enterprises in Sub-Saharan Africa

Scott D. Andersen, Colette van der Ven
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引用次数: 1

Abstract

Sub-Saharan Africa's greatest current comparative advantage lies in its agricultural sector. Most of this agricultural production takes place through emerging agricultural enterprises (EAEs) – i.e., fast growing small and medium-sized enterprises. While some EAEs engage in intra-Africa trade, few have managed to sell their various agricultural products in high-value markets, like the European Union or the United States. To help EAEs grow within their own markets and compete in overseas markets, Sidley Austin LLP established in 2012, the Sidley Emerging Enterprises Pro Bono Program. Participants have gained deep understanding of practical trade barriers impeding EAEs' trade. But factors only tangentially related to trade law also constitute key impediments to African exports to high-value markets: for instance, governments' lack of a functioning Sanitary and Phytosanitary (SPS) or Technical Barriers to Trade (TBT) regulatory framework, EAEs' inability to comply with higher quality standards in high-value markets, and problems related to negotiation and enforcement of contracts. This paper discusses some of the main market access barriers encountered by Sidley's clients, and practical ways to address these barriers, including through the principles, tools and resources made available by the WTO. It provides a brief overview of the different types of import requirements EAEs must comply with in order to access high-value markets, including tariffs and NTMs such as SPS and TBT requirements. It then highlights ways in which an enterprise can best take advantage of high-value agricultural markets. Finally, it discusses how Sub-Saharan African governments can further facilitate EAEs' ability to bring their products into compliance with food safety and quality standards in high-value markets.
迈向包容性贸易:如何释放撒哈拉以南非洲新兴农业企业的贸易潜力
撒哈拉以南非洲目前最大的比较优势在于其农业部门。这种农业生产大部分是通过新兴农业企业(eae)进行的,即快速增长的中小型企业。虽然一些东亚国家从事非洲内部贸易,但很少有国家能够在欧盟或美国等高价值市场上销售其各种农产品。为了帮助中小企业在本国市场发展并在海外市场竞争,盛德律师事务所于2012年成立了盛德新兴企业公益项目。与会者对阻碍东亚地区贸易的实际贸易壁垒有了深刻认识。但是,与贸易法无关的因素也构成了非洲向高价值市场出口的主要障碍:例如,政府缺乏有效的卫生和植物检疫(SPS)或技术性贸易壁垒(TBT)监管框架,东亚企业无法遵守高价值市场的更高质量标准,以及与合同谈判和执行有关的问题。本文讨论了盛德律师事务所客户遇到的一些主要市场准入障碍,以及解决这些障碍的实际方法,包括通过世贸组织提供的原则、工具和资源。它简要概述了eae为进入高价值市场必须遵守的不同类型的进口要求,包括关税和非关税措施,如SPS和TBT要求。然后,它强调了企业可以最好地利用高价值农业市场的方法。最后,它讨论了撒哈拉以南非洲各国政府如何进一步促进东亚企业的能力,使其产品符合高价值市场的食品安全和质量标准。
本文章由计算机程序翻译,如有差异,请以英文原文为准。
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