Geneva, 28 March 2024: ERIA and the United Nations Conference on Trade and Development (UNCTAD) convened a virtual update meeting attended by project consultants working on non-tariff measures (NTMs) in the ASEAN+6 countries (comprising ASEAN Member States along with Australia, China, India, Japan, the Republic of Korea, and New Zealand).

To commence, Ralf Peters, Chief of UNCTAD’s Trade Analysis Branch, emphasised the benefits of NTMs for at least three entities: policymakers in improving trade flow; discussions among researchers to assess the impact of NTMs; and traders who require direct access to data and opportunities to expand into other markets.

Dr Lili Yan Ing, ERIA Lead Advisor for the Southeast Asia Region, said the project aims to achieve a thorough comprehension of each government's policies. The primary goal is not to determine which country has the most effective NTM regulations, but rather to improve transparency in trade policies, specifically regarding NTM regulations, within the region.

Following this, Dr Doan Thi Thanh Ha, ERIA Economist, delineated the work plan and project timeline. Spanning one year, activities include data collection, workshops, and the launch of an NTM database. Additionally, Dr Ha welcomed selected national project consultants to provide short introductions during the meeting.

In support of the initiative, Chi Le Ngo from UNCTAD introduced the TRAINS Portal, a platform providing public access to trade-related regulations and NTM data globally. She explained the important steps for accessing the portal during data acquisition. The process of collecting databases involves reviewing legal architecture, registering regulations on the TRAINS online platform, identifying specific measures within each regulation, and assigning product codes.

This project is classified as a large-scale initiative that invites ASEAN+6 researchers to contribute to the collaboration between ERIA and UNCTAD. The kick-off meeting concluded with an interactive Q&A session, setting the stage for a smooth and collaborative progression with trade agencies in the respective countries.