WORLD TRADE WT/COMTD/IF/5*
5December 1997
ORGANIZATION(97-5340)
Committee onTrade andDevelopment
Integrated Framework forTrade-Related
Technical Assistance
TRADE-RELATED TECHNICAL ASSISTANCE NEEDS-ASSESSMENT
AND INTEGRATED RESPONSES BYIMF, ITC, UNCTAD,
UNDP, WORLD BANK AND WTO1
HAITI
*Aprevious version ofthisdocument wascirculated asWT/LDC/HL/12/Add.5.
1Thefirstpartofthisdocument, which includes theneeds-assessment fortrade-related technical assistance,
prepared byHaiti, iscontained indocument WT/LDC/HL/12/Add.5 andisnotreproduced inthisdocument.WT/COMTD/IF/5
Page2
INTEGRATED RESPONSE BYIMF, ITC, UNCTAD, UNDP, WORLD BANK AND WTO
TOTHE NEEDS-ASSESSMENT OFHAITI
Technical assistance needs identified
inthequestionnaireOrganization Reply
Inreply toquestion A(k):
Technical assistance requirements for
compliance withWTO Agreements
Haiti needs thekindoftechnical
assistance thatwould enable itto:
Implement theWTO Agreements.
Thetechnical support ofthe
WTO Secretariat isneeded in
updating Haitian lawapplicable to
areas managed bytheWTO.UNDP TheUNDP, incooperation with
UNCTAD, isproviding assistance to
theGovernment ininstalling
SYDONIA. Thisproject also
addresses some aspects oflegislation
notification requirements. Another
project insupport oftheParliament
willalsodealwithsome aspects ofthe
reform ofthecodes.
WTO WTO isready toprovide assistance, in
Haiti, foradapting national lawsand
regulations tobeinconformity with
WTO Agreements (1998-2000).
Anevaluation mission willbe
scheduled for1998 inorder to
determine theappropriate adjustments.
Respond totherequirements
concerning thenotification of
domestic lawsandregulations
contained intheprovisions ofthe
various mechanisms oftheWTO
Agreements.WTO TheWTO canprovide assistance in
theform ofaspecial session on
notification requirements.
Thissession willtakeplace in
conjunction withother aidactivities
planned for1998.
Strengthen thepublic andprivate-
sector institutions directly involved
intrade policy matters, inparticular
theMinistry ofTrade andIndustry,
interaliathrough stafftraining
(courses, seminars, trade policy
training courses, etc.).UNCTAD Aproject willbeconducted ontrade
analysis andthedevelopment oftrade
capacity.*
*Financing toberequested.WT/COMTD/IF/5
Page3
Technical assistance needs identified
inthequestionnaireOrganization Reply
Question A(k)(cont'd):
ITC/UNDP TheGovernment andUNDP are
supporting thePrivate Sector -Public
Sector Partnership initiative. The
project hasthefollowing objectives:
(a) Strengthening andcreating
mechanisms toencourage
dialogue between thepublic and
private sectors;
(b) preparing atraining andsupport
programme forentrepreneurs,
designed toenable them to
operate oncompetitive markets,
bothnational andinternational;
(c) drawing upaprogramme to
improve thecompetitiveness of
enterprises bymeans ofquality
promotion andcontrol and
standardization.
WTO Tostrengthen existing institutions, the
WTO willcarry outthefollowing
actions forthetraining and
information ofmanagers ofthese
institutions inregard tothemultilateral
trade system:
- Anational seminar in1998 on
textiles andservices;
- participation byrepresentatives
ofHaiti inthespecialized
seminars organized forFrench-
speaking LDCs (1998 and
1999);
- athree-week training course on
trade policy willbeorganized
forFrench-Speaking LDCs
(1998 and1999).WT/COMTD/IF/5
Page4
Technical assistance needs identified
inthequestionnaireOrganization Reply
Inreply toquestion A(l):
Technical assistance needs inspecific
areas oftheWTO Agreements
Agriculture WTO SeeA(k).
Market access WTO SeeA(k).
TBTandSPS WTO SeeA(k).
Services WTO SeeA(k).
TRIPS WTO Under theWTO/WIPO Technical
Cooperation Agreement, assistance
willbeprovided forthetraining of
Haitian civilservants andintheform
ofdissemination ofinformation and
supplies ofteaching materials.
Anti-dumping WTO - SeeA(k).
- Assistance inthedrafting or
revision oflawswillalsobe
decided aftertheevaluation
mission (1998-2000).
Safeguards WTO - SeeA(k).
- Assistance regarding thedrafting
orrevision oflawswillalsobe
decided aftertheevaluation
mission (1998-2000).
Customs valuation WTO - SeeA(k).
- Assistance intherevision of
lawsinforce willalsobe
decided attheendofthe
evaluation mission (1998-2000).
Rules oforigin WTO SeeA(k).
Textiles andclothing WTO SeeA(k).WT/COMTD/IF/5
Page5
Technical assistance needs identified
inthequestionnaireOrganization Reply
Inreply toquestion A(m):
Assessment oftrade analysis and
negotiating capacities
Inviewoftheshortage of
information, thecountry 'strade
analysis andnegotiating capacities
areverylow.UNCTAD UNCTAD isproviding theTRAINS
analysis andinformation system and
willtrainthestaffneeded tooperate
it.*
WTO During short-term training courses in
trade policy (cf.A(k)above), a
training module willbeincluded inthe
programme inorder tofamiliarize
participants withmultilateral trade
negotiations.
*Financing toberequested.WT/COMTD/IF/5
Page6
Technical assistance needs identified
inthequestionnaireOrganization Reply
Inreply toquestion B(g):
Technical assistance needs with
respect tosupply constraints
Training ofhuman resources
working inthefieldofforeign trade,
notonlyinthepublic sector, butalso
intheprivate sector.ITC SeeA(k). TheITChasoffered a
series ofactivities intended toassess
existing needs andcapacity fortraining
inforeign trade, including the
development ofthebasic teaching
materials.*
UNCTAD TheTRAINFORTRADE programme
willbeimplemented.*
World Bank Acurrent World Bank Technical
Assistance Project supports
(a) public sector reform,
(b) privatization, and
(c) modernization ofpublic
enterprises. Thisproject will
increase output ofelectricity and
improve telecommunications. It
willalsosupport improvements
intheportandairport sectors.
TheIFCprovides advice tothe
Government onprivatization. A
current World Bank Transportation
Project supports roadmaintenance and
rehabilitation, particularly roads
serving theairport andtheports.
UNDP Asregards thetraining ofhuman
resources working inthefieldof
foreign trade, notonlyinthepublic
sector, butalsointheprivate sector,
theUNDP doesnotyethaveaspecific
project. Nevertheless, thereport of
theInter-Agency Mission onthe
Industrial andTrade Sectors also
includes recommendations inthis
regard andUNDP could support such
activities, through thePrivate Sector -
Public Sector Partnership Project, for
example.
*Financing toberequested.WT/COMTD/IF/5
Page7
Technical assistance needs identified
inthequestionnaireOrganization Reply
Question B(g)(cont'd):
World Bank Current World Bank support ofhuman
resource development focuses on
primary education andbasic public
health.
Current World Bank support is
provided forgeneral public service
reform.
WTO SeeA(k).
Modernization ofthelegislation
applicable toforeign trade and
investment, withdueattention tothe
regulatory framework ofworld
trade.UNCTAD Consultancy services andtraining will
beprovided ininvestment policy in
general andinvestment legislation in
particular.*
WTO Seereply A(k).
World Bank TheWorld Bank hassupported reform
oftrade restrictions andwillcontinue
tosupport suchreform.
Development ofapolicy framework
inthefields oftrade andindustryTheagencies haveindicated their
willingness tocooperate withthe
Government inidentifying specific
operational needs andsetting
priorities.
Itwillbenecessary toholdfurther
talkswiththeGovernment todevelop
specific projects andprogrammes and
work outtheterms offinancing.
World Bank Current World Bank support is
provided forgeneral public service
reform.
*Financing toberequested.WT/COMTD/IF/5
Page8
Technical assistance needs identified
inthequestionnaireOrganization Reply
Inreply toquestion B(q):
Technical assistance needs inthe
areaoftrade promotion andsupport
services
Education and/or training ofhuman
resourcesITC SeeB(g)andA(k).
UNCTAD SeeB(g).
WTO SeeA(k)andA(l).
Improvement oftrade information ITC SeeB(g). TheITChasfurthermore
proposed thecreation ofatrade
information centre tomeetthecurrent
needs ofenterprises.*
UNCTAD TRAINS, seeA(l).
Strengthening ofemployer
associations
*Financing toberequested.WT/COMTD/IF/5
Page9
Technical assistance needs identified
inthequestionnaireOrganization Reply
Inreply toquestion B(v):
Technical assistance needs with
respect tomarket access
Staffeducation and/or training of
staffinthefieldofpreferences
(GSP, GSTP), including the
organization, inHaiti, ofseminars
andworkshops ontheuseofthese
mechanisms bythedomestic sectors
concernedITC SeeB(g).
UNCTAD Assistance willbeprovided to
overcome thedifficulties ofusing the
GSPand,more generally, information
willbeprovided onconditions of
market access andtheimplementation
oftheGSTP. Additional resources
willbesought tocomplete those
available fortheexisting interregional
projects (SeealsoUNDP hereunder).
UNDP TheUNDP isready toprovide
technical assistance inmaking useof
theservices ofother corporation
agencies suchasUNCTAD andITC,
aswellastheWTO, while making
allowance forpresently existing
national possibilities. UNDP is
therefore exploring thepossibility of
organizing seminars onforeign trade
inconjunction withtheGovernment
andtheprivate sector, withthe
technical support oftheWTO.
Improvement ofinformation channels
designed toenhance theexploitation
offoreign market outlets, interalia,
through preference schemes, etc.ITC SeeB(q).
UNCTAD Inaddition totheTRAINS system
(seeA(m)), UNCTAD willsupport the
establishment ofaTrade Point which
willbelinked totheWorld Network
ofTrade Points.*
Theorganization ofastudy onthe
opportunities forHaitian products on
foreign marketsITC SeeA(k).
*Financing toberequested.WT/COMTD/IF/5
Page10
Technical assistance needs identified
inthequestionnaireOrganization Reply
Inreply toquestion C(b):
Summary oftechnical needs byorder
ofpriority
Drawing upofadetailed inventory
ofHaiti'sexportable supply: this
involves assessing thecurrent
situation intheareas ofagriculture,
agro-industrial andmanufacturing
production forforeign markets with
aviewtoformulating anintegrated
national policy forthedevelopment
andpromotion ofexports,
particularly non-traditional exportsITC SeeA(k).
UNCTAD SeeA(k).
World Bank SeeB(g).
Training ofhuman resources inthe
fieldofforeign trade, notonlyinthe
public sector, butalsointheprivate
sector. Thistraining would involve,
inparticular, trade policy matters
(courses, training courses, seminars,
workshops, etc.), theuseof
preferential mechanisms (GSP,
GSTP, etc.), foreign trade promotion
techniques, quality standards,
standardization/testing and
metrology, trade dataprocessing
techniques, etc.ITC SeeB(g).
UNCTAD SeeB(g)andB(v).
WTO SeeA(k), A(l)andA(m).
Trade information: improvement of
trade information bysetting up
suitable management structures
(establishment ofatrade information
centre, atrade point, etc.)ITC SeeB(q).
UNCTAD SeeB(v).
Conducting ofstudies onforeign
market opportunities forHaitian
productsITC SeeA(k).WT/COMTD/IF/5
Page11
Technical assistance needs identified
inthequestionnaireOrganization Reply
Question C(b)(cont'd):
Modernization ofHaitian legislation
andregulations ontrade and
investment. Thismodernization
would becarried out,inparticular,
inthecontext oftheimplementation
oftheWTO Agreements.UNCTAD SeeB(g).
WTO SeeA(k)andA(l).
Establishment offoreign trade
support mechanisms (market
surveys, participation infairsand
exhibitions, etc.)ITC SeeA(k).
Quality, standardization, testing and
metrology, particularly inconnection
withtheformulation ofanational
policy inthatarea, from thetriple
point ofviewofproduction, export
ofgoods, and/or export ofservices.
Itisalsoessential todesign themost
appropriate institutional framework
possible withdueregard tothe
interaction ofseveral domestic actors
inthose areas.UNDP/
(UNIDO)Thisproject relates tooneofthemost
important aspects ofUNDP support in
thisareaandonwhich PASIC andthe
Ministry ofTrade andIndustry are
currently working, withaviewto
introducing andimplementing a
national standardization, certification
andquality control policy.
Technical support willbesought from
aspecialized agency, suchasUNIDO
ortheInternational Organization for
Standardization. Promotion and
facilitation ofprivate andpublic sector
participation inthework of
international andregional bodies inthe
fieldofstandardization andmetrology
havebeenparticularly recommended.WT/COMTD/IF/5
Page12
Technical assistance needs identified
inthequestionnaireOrganization Reply
Inreply toquestion C(d):
Technological capacity andhuman
resources tomake useofthenew
information/communication
technology tools
Theuseofthese newtechnologies is
notatallwidespread inHaiti, either
inthepublic orintheprivate sector.
Thislargely explains whythe
country hasfallen sofarbehind in
collecting, processing and
disseminating information inall
forms, asituation which isfurther
aggravated byacute
telecommunication problems.
Technical assistance toHaiti inthis
areacould include:
-Supply ofcomputer equipment,
particularly tothepublic sector
institutions involved inforeign
trade matters, promotion of
foreign trade, etc.,inorder to
helpthem toimprove their
management ofindustrial and
trade information asafactor in
thedevelopment offoreign
trade;
-thetraining ofhuman resources
intheuseofthese tools.UNCTAD TheSYDONIA project isproviding
assistance inthecomputerization of
customs operations.
IMF While theFund hasnotprovided
direct technical assistance toHaiti in
theareaoftrade development, ithas
supported various trade promotion
initiatives (e.g., implementation ofa
Computerized Customs Information
System -SYDONIA, andadoption of
aharmonized andsimplified tariff
system) andincluded these measures
aspartofstructural reforms within the
Fund-supported economic reform
programme adopted bythe
Government ofHaiti in1996.WT/COMTD/IF/5
Page13
Technical assistance needs identified
inthequestionnaireOrganization Reply
Question C(d)(cont'd):
UNDP Asregards technological capacity and
human resources tomake useofthe
newinformation/communication
technology, twoUNDP projects are
providing assistance tothe
Government. First, theHAI/95/007
SYDONIA project (jointly with
UNCTAD) oncustoms andforeign
trade statistics under thisproject, and
second, theHAI/95/009 project, in
collaboration withtheIMF,
specifically asregards the
strengthening oftheHaitian Statistics
andInformatics Institute incollecting,
processing anddisseminating alltypes
ofinformation.
WTO TheWTO willbeabletosupply a
computer andalaserprinter forthe
Government focal point onquestions
related tothemultilateral trading
system (1998).
TheWTO willalsobeabletoprovide
thefocal point withthenecessary
Internet connections andtosupply
Haiti withCD-ROMs. Itwillalso
provide training intheuseofthe
computer andelectronic equipment
(1998).