ITA Symposium: 25th Anniversary of the Information 
Technology Agreement
Evolution of ITA trade over the 25 years
Eric NGSHING
CHRISTOPHE DEGAIN
RD/IT/32
16-17 S EPTEMBER 2021
GENEVA , SWITZERLANDAverage bound commitments , ITA participants
020406080100
Joined during WTO accession
Note: Asterisk( s) before the Member name indicates l essthan 85% binding coverage for non -agricultural products . ***  <  35%; ** 35% < -60%;  * 60% -<85%  
Rank as top 20 importer in  2020 is indicated in parentheses.Joined in 1997 onward Original participantsxOverall non -Ag tariff
---Group averageAverage base duties (ITA)Average bound and latest applied tariffs , non ITA participants
01020304050607080
Bound AppliedEvolution of world* exports of ITA I products, 1996 -2020
(Annual percentage change and USD billion)
*Including intra- EU trade, excluding re- exports of Hong Kong, China.                                                   Source: W TO Secretariat, based on UN Comtrade and WTO estimates4
Share of ITA I products in exports of manufactures 
and US import price index of computers, peripherals and semiconductors
Source: WTO Secretariat, based on UN Comtrade, WTO estimates based on US Bureau of Labor Statistics
5Trade of ITA I products by region (USD billion)
Source: WTO Secretariat, based on UN Comtrade and WTO estimates 6
1996 -> 2020 2020 < -1996Exports Imports
Asia Europe North America Rest oftheworldLeading exporters of ITA I products, 1996 and 2020
(Percentage share in world ITA exports)
Note: EU includes intra- EU trade. Hong- Kong, China excludes re- exports.          Source: WTO Secretariat, based on UN Comtrade and WTO estimates.7
Share in ITA I world exports
up from 0.005% in 1996
to 4.8% in 2020
Source: WTO Secretariat, based on UN Comtrade and WTO estimatesVietnam: evolution of trade of ITA I products, 1996 -2020
(USD billion)
ITA Expansion –A product coverage that reflects technological changes
and extends the product coverage from ITA I
9Evolution of world* exports of ITA expansion products 2012 -2020
(Annual percentage change and USD billion)
* Excluding EU intra- trade and re- exports of Hong Kong, China.                    Source: WTO Secretariat, based on UN Comtrade and WTO estimates10
World exports of ITA expansion products in comparison to other 
major product groups, 2020 (USD trillion)
11Summary and impact of the ITA I/Expansion
•World exports of ITA I products almost quadrupled since 1996 and reached USD 2 trillion in 2020.
•The ITA’s Expansion is estimated at about USD 1.8 trillion in 2020, accounting for around 12 per cent of world trade in 
goods.
•ITA I / ITA expansion products are among the most traded product groups in the world.
•By looking at eliminating import duties, the ITA contributes to the reduction of import prices of IT products that were 
70 per cent lower in 2020 than when the ITA entered into force.
•The Number of ITA I participants has gradually increased from 43 WTO Members in 1996 to 82 WTO Members in 
2020.
•Further participation in the ITA will continue bringing benefits to developing economies by facilitating their access to 
supply chains, helping to bridge the digital divide, increasing connectivity (SDGs goal 9) and also fostering the access 
and development of e -commerce.
12Thank You
13