美国2023年对外贸易壁垒国家贸易估算报告-英-466页_3mb

2023 National Trade Estimate Report on Foreign Trade Barriers Summary

Core Content

The 2023 National Trade Estimate (NTE) Report on Foreign Trade Barriers is the 38th annual publication by the U.S. Trade Representative (USTR) that identifies significant trade barriers affecting U.S. exports, foreign direct investment, and electronic commerce. It serves as a companion to the President’s 2023 Trade Policy Agenda and is mandated by U.S. law, including the Trade Act of 1974 and the Omnibus Trade and Competitiveness Act of 1988. The report covers 60 countries, the European Union, Taiwan, Hong Kong, and the Arab League, highlighting both existing and emerging trade restrictions.

Main Categories of Trade Barriers

The report classifies trade barriers into 14 categories:

• Import Policies: Including tariffs, quantitative restrictions, import licensing, pre-shipment inspection, and customs-related issues.
• Technical Barriers to Trade: Such as unnecessary or discriminatory standards, labeling requirements, and conformity assessment procedures.
• Sanitary and Phytosanitary (SPS) Measures: Including overly restrictive or non-scientifically based regulations on food safety and animal health.
• Government Procurement: Covering closed bidding, lack of transparency, and non-compliance with international procurement agreements.
• Intellectual Property (IP) Protection: Including inadequate patent, copyright, and trademark regimes, and weak enforcement of IP rights.
• Services: Restrictions on foreign participation, licensing requirements, and local presence mandates.
• Digital Trade and Electronic Commerce: Barriers to cross-border data flows, data localization requirements, and discriminatory practices.
• Investment: Restrictions on foreign equity participation, technology transfer, and repatriation of earnings.
• Subsidies: Especially export and local content subsidies that distort trade.
• Competition: Anticompetitive practices by state-owned enterprises (SOEs) or private firms, and abuse of competition laws.
• State-Owned Enterprises (SOEs): Practices that hinder U.S. exports, investments, or electronic commerce.
• Labor: Concerns over failure to protect worker rights or eliminate employment discrimination.
• Environment: Issues related to environmental protection and practices that hinder trade.
• Other Barriers: Including those not covered in the above categories, such as corruption and bribery.

Key Information

U.S. Trade Representative

Katherine C. Tai, the U.S. Trade Representative, acknowledges the contributions of USTR staff and partner agencies in preparing the report.

Data Sources

The report draws from USTR, the Departments of Commerce and Agriculture, other U.S. government agencies, and U.S. Embassies. It also incorporates responses to a Federal Register notice and input from trade advisory committees.

Trade Impact Estimation

The report notes that estimating the impact of trade barriers on U.S. exports, FDI, and e-commerce is challenging due to limited data. Tariff impacts can be estimated using price elasticity data, while non-tariff measures are harder to quantify due to lack of detailed market information.

Focus on Digital Trade

The report highlights the increasing concern over data localization and other restrictive technology requirements, which can disproportionately burden small firms and distort trade.

Corruption

Corruption remains a persistent issue in many countries, affecting customs, licensing, and procurement processes. U.S. law, such as the Foreign Corrupt Practices Act, addresses this, and the U.S. continues to lead efforts against corruption in international business.

Specific Country Examples

Algeria

• Tariffs and Taxes: Algeria is a WTO observer with an average MFN tariff rate of 19% in 2021. High tariffs on certain goods, including agricultural and industrial products, are justified by the need to protect local industries and reduce the foreign exchange deficit.
• Non-Tariff Barriers: Algeria has implemented import bans and restrictions, especially on pharmaceuticals and agricultural products, often citing fraud and the need to reduce import costs.
• Customs Barriers: Delays in customs clearance, high storage fees, and the requirement for financial guarantees and stamps on shipping documents create additional costs and inefficiencies.
• Local Content Requirements: The automotive industry faces strict domestic content requirements, increasing to 50% by 2023, and mandates 100% Algerian ownership for importers.
• Digital Trade Barriers: Platforms must register with the government and host data locally, imposing unnecessary costs. Payment limits and restrictions on foreign exchange use further complicate digital commerce.

Angola

• Tariffs and Taxes: Angola has bound 100% of its tariff lines in the WTO, with an average bound rate of 59.1%. The country reduced its VAT rate for certain food products and hotels.
• Import Restrictions: Presidential Decree No. 23/19 of 2019 restricts imports unless they are not available domestically, affecting over 54 products, mainly agricultural goods.
• Government Procurement: Angola requires domestic purchases whenever available, with exceptions for special authorization.

Conclusion

The NTE Report underscores the complexity and diversity of foreign trade barriers, emphasizing the need for continued U.S. engagement in trade negotiations and enforcement. It highlights the importance of a rules-based international trading system and the U.S. commitment to addressing issues such as corruption, IP protection, and digital trade restrictions. The report serves as a critical tool for U.S. trade policy and strategy, providing a comprehensive overview of trade barriers faced by American businesses and investments.