WTO- World Bank handbook: “Good Regulatory Practices to Facilitate Trade in Services”

Trade in Services for Development initiative Trade in Services for Development initiative Trade in Services for Development initiative
ITC 60 years

WTO- World Bank handbook: “Good Regulatory Practices to Facilitate Trade in Services”

“Good Regulatory Practices to Facilitate Trade in Services” provides practical guidance for policymakers and regulators on advancing domestic regulatory reforms that facilitate services trade while preserving and promoting legitimate public policy objectives. It consists of four sections.

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Section I traces the evolution of good regulatory practices (GRPs) and sets out how a coherent package of GRPs can significantly cut transaction and compliance costs for service providers.
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Section II identifies and analyses 14 core GRPs and explains why they matter for services trade, showing how transparent, predictable and increasingly digital procedures lower compliance costs, reduce uncertainty and, thereby, support market entry and contestability.
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Section III showcases case studies (covering Costa Rica, Indonesia, the Philippines and Thailand), examining why governments launched specific reforms to improve authorization and licensing procedures, how these reforms were implemented and the impact on businesses and service providers.
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Section IV introduces a new Diagnostic and Reform Planning Tool to support policy makers and regulators in benchmarking domestic frameworks against the 14 GRPs. It allows governments to identify areas of regulatory strength and weakness and to prioritize reform areas and capacity-building needs.
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WTO assistance for use of Diagnostic and Reform Planning Tool

Governments may seek practical support from the WTO and the World Bank to deploy the Diagnostic and Reform Planning Tool, including in partnership with other cooperation partners. Subject to demand and resources, WTO assistance includes preparatory sessions, methodological planning and quality assurance as well as data validation with relevant stakeholders.

Following data collection, the WTO can assist in the preparation of the visualization board, including by adapting it to specific areas of interest identified.

Members interested in exploring possible avenues for cooperation in this area are invited to contact the WTO and the World Bank at [email protected] and [email protected].