Hostname: page-component-586b7cd67f-dsjbd Total loading time: 0 Render date: 2024-11-22T06:16:04.471Z Has data issue: false hasContentIssue false

Assessing the adjustment implications of trade policy changes using the Tariff Reform Impact Simulation Tool (TRIST)

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  19 April 2011

PAUL BRENTON*
Affiliation:
Lead Economist, World Bank
CHRISTIAN SABOROWSKI
Affiliation:
Consultant, World Bank
CORNELIA STARITZ
Affiliation:
Junior Professional Officer, World Bank
ERIK VON UEXKULL
Affiliation:
Economic Officer, International Labour Organization
*
*Correspondence to Paul Brenton, email: [email protected]

Abstract

TRIST is a simple, easy to use, country focused tool to assess the short-term adjustment implications of trade reform. It has been developed to improve the information available to policy makers in developing countries. It has the following key features: projections are based on revenues actually collected at the tariff line level rather than simply applying statutory rates, as in currently available tools; it is transparent, runs in Excel, with formulas and calculation steps visible to the user, and is open-source with users free to change, extend, or improve according to their needs; it has high policy relevance because it projects the impact of tariff reform on total fiscal revenue from imports (including VAT and excise taxes) and results are available at the product level so that sensitive products or sectors can be identified; the tool is flexible and can incorporate tariff liberalization scenarios involving any group of trading partners and any schedule of products. This paper describes the TRIST tool and provides a range of examples that demonstrate the insights that the tool can provide to policy makers on the short-term adjustment impacts of reducing tariffs.

Type
Review Article
Copyright
Copyright © Paul Brenton, Christian Saborowski, Cornelia Staritz, and Erik Von Uexkull 2011

Access options

Get access to the full version of this content by using one of the access options below. (Log in options will check for institutional or personal access. Content may require purchase if you do not have access.)

References

Andriamananjara, S., Brenton, P., von Uexkull, E., and Walkenhorst, P. (2009) ‘Assessing the Economic Impacts of an Economic Partnership Agreement on Nigeria’, World Bank Policy Research Working Paper 4920.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Armington, P. (1969), ‘A Theory of Demand for Products Distinguished by Place of Production’, IMF Staff Papers, 16, pp. 159178.Google Scholar
Brenton, P., Hoppe, M., Uexkull, E. v. (2007), ‘Evaluating the Revenue Effects of Trade Policy Options for COMESA Countries: the Impacts of a Customs Union and an EPA with the European Union’, mimeo, World Bank, http://siteresources.worldbank.org/INTRANETTRADE/Resources/239054-1196261607599/4442906-1253912908321/COMESA.pdfGoogle Scholar
Busse, M. and Grossmann, H. (2004), ‘Assessing the Impact of ACP/EU Economic Partnership Agreement on West African Countries’, HWWA Discussion Paper 294, Hamburg Institute of International Economics.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Hoppe, M. (2010) ‘Estimating the Fiscal Impact of the Côte d'Ivoire-EU Economic Partnership Agreement’, Africa Trade Policy Notes 4, World Bank, http://siteresources.worldbank.org/INTAFRREGTOPTRADE/Resources/4_CI_TRIST_Policy_Note_FINAL.pdfGoogle Scholar
Jammes, O. and Ollareaga, M. (2005), ‘Explaining SMART and GSIM’, mimeo, World Bank, http://wits-old.worldbank.org/witsweb/download/docs/Explaining_SMART_and_GSIM.pdfGoogle Scholar
Karingi, S., Lang, R., Oulmane, N., Perez, R., Sadni Jallab, M., and Ben Hammouda, H. (2005), ‘Economic and Welfare Impacts of the EU–Africa Economic Partnership Agreements’, African Trade Policy Centre work in progress, 10.Google Scholar
Kee, H., Nicita, A., and Olarreaga, M. (2004), ‘Import Demand Elasticities and Trade Distortions’, CEPR Discussion Papers 4669.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Khandelwal, P. (2004), ‘COMESA and SADC: Prospects and Challenges for Regional Trade Integration’, IMF Working Paper 04/227.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Milner, C., Morrissey, O., and McKay, A. (2005), ‘Some Simple Analytics of the Trade and Welfare Effects of Economic Partnership Agreement’, Journal of African Economies, 14(3): 327358.Google Scholar
Stawowy, W. (2001), ‘Calculation of Ad Valorem Equivalents of Non-Advalorem Tariffs – Methodology Notes’, mimeo UNCTAD, http://wits.worldbank.org/witsweb/Doc/default.aspxGoogle Scholar