1 7th OECD International Trade Statistics Expert Meeting (ITS), Paris, September Classification issues affecting trade statistics “The OECD ICT Sector classification: a possible useful addition to the standard set of OECD trade statistics ” STD/NAES/TASS/ITS(2006)15 Pierre MONTAGNIER OECD Information, Computer and Communications Policy Division Directorate for Science, Technology and Industry

2 Outline Historical background and current ICT sector definition Recent features for trade in ICT goods

3 Historical background - definitions ICT sector (1998, 2002, expected revision 2006 ) E-commerce (2000) Model surveys of business and household use of ICT (2001, 2002, 2005) ICT goods (2003, expected revision 2007 ) ICT services ( forthcoming, fall 2006 )

4 Current definition for the ICT sector (1) For manufacturing industries, the products of a candidate industry: –Must be intended to fulfil the function of information processing and communication including transmission and display. –Must use electronic processing to detect, measure and/or record physical phenomena or control a physical process. For services industries, the products of a candidate industry: –Must be intended to enable the function of information processing and communication by electronic means.

5 Current definition for the ICT sector (2) ICT goods guiding principle ICT goods must either be intended to fulfil the function of information processing and communication by electronic means, including transmission and display, OR Use electronic processing to detect, measure and/or record physical phenomena, or to control a physical process

6 Current definition for the ICT sector (3) ICT goods broad categories based on six-digit HS categories telecommunications equipment computer and related equipment electronic components audio and video equipment other ICT goods

7 Current definition for the ICT sector (4) ICT goods, based on HS 2002

8 Recent features for trade in ICT goods (1) Composition of OECD ICT goods trade 13 % 16 % 13 % Share of merchandise trade Source : ITCS database.

9 Recent features for trade in ICT goods (2) Direction of OECD ICT goods trade USD current prices index 1996=100 Source : ITCS database.

10 Recent features for trade in ICT goods (3) Current USD billions Source : ITCS database. Data for the EU excludes intra-EU trade. China is now the biggest exporter of ICT goods

11 Recent features for trade in ICT goods (4) Source : ITCS database. China’s trade balance by ICT goods categories...

12 Recent features for trade in ICT goods (5) Source : ITCS database.... And China’s trade balance by ICT goods categories for selected countries Current USD billions

13 Thank you for your attention Pierre Montagnier DSTI / ICCP