1. Technical Workshop on International Merchandise Trade Statistics: Focusing on goods traded under the preferential trade agreements 26 February to 2 March 2018 Pacific Islands Forum Secretariat, Suva PURPOSE OF THE WORKSHOP AND EXPECTED OUTCOMES Presentation by Nilima Lal Economic Statistics Advisor, Pacific Community

2. BACKGROUND Ten Year Pacific Statistics Strategy
2012 Workshop: Regional Tables
PHASE 1: HS
Reconciliation between IMTS and General Merchandise on a BOP Basis 1
Balance of Trade - All Items 2
Imports by HS 3
Domestic Exports by HS 4
Re-Exports by HS 5
Total Exports by HS 6
Principal Domestic Exports 7
Principal Imports 8
Balance of Trade by Major Partner Countries 9
Trade by Region 10
Trade by Mode of Transport 11
Trade by Trade Agreements: Summary
11.2
Trade by Trade Agreements: MSG
Trade by Trade Agreements: XX
11.3
11.4
11.5
PHASE 2: SITC and BEC 12
Exports by SITC 13
Imports by SITC 14
Retained Imports Classified by BEC

3. CURRENT STATUS Countries are at different levels of development
None of the countries that trade goods under a PTA has been able to compile/complete data on Goods traded under Preferential Trade Agreements – Table 11 and sub-components
Table follows on Status of work in countries attending this workshop

5. ISSUES Main issue – identification of goods: HS/Procedure codes
Good traded under PTAs
Re-exports
Lack of information on quantities traded
Other issues – knowledge on/understanding of
preferential trade agreements
terminologies in the SAD ..\..\Release Tables\IMTS_Monitoring\Customs_Variables.xlsx

6. Purpose of the Workshop
TO ADDRESS THE ISSUES through a collaborative effort by PIFS, OCO, Customs Administrations, Statisticians and other players.
To be able to give users IMTS, statisticians need
Goods identified and correct HS assigned
Quantity data
Knowledge
Proposal: Pacific Commodity Trade Database

7. EXPECTED OUTCOME Outcome document will be available next week
Customs Administrations: clear on the data needs of the Statisticians
Statisticians: knowledge and skills acquired to be able to address issues faced
Outputs needed
Short term: Tables on re-exports and PTAs completed by June 2018
Longer term: Decision on PAC Comtrade – Partnerships, MOUs
Establish networking/Assist each other
Outcome document will be available next week

8. Thank you