WORLD TRADE
ORGANIZATIONWT/COMTD/IF/40
2 August 1999
(99-3261)
Committee on Trade and Development
Integrated Framework for Trade-Related
Technical AssistanceOriginal:  English
TRADE-RELATED TECHNICAL ASSISTANCE NEEDS-ASSESSMENT
PRESENTED BY MYANMAR
INTEGRATED RESPONSES BY IMF, ITC, UNCTAD, UNDP,
WORLD BANK AND WTO1
MYANMAR
                                                     
1Published pursuant to the provisions of paragraph 5(e) of the Integrated Framework for Trade-Related
Technical Assistance (WT/LDC/HL/1/Rev.1).WT/COMTD/IF/40
Page 2
TRADE-RELATED TECHNICAL ASSISTANCE NEEDS-ASSESSMENT
PRESENTED BY MYANMAR
A. TRADE POLICY
(a) What are the sectors that you believe have unexploited or under exploited export
potential?
Sectors with unexploited export potential:
- Sericulture production;
- hydroelectricity;- horticulture production.
Sectors with under exploited potential:- Handicrafts including silverware and furniture;
- energy;
- textiles and clothing;
- agro-processing industry;
- tourism sector;
- mining sector;- fresh fruits and vegetables;
- gems and jewellery;
- fisheries and marine products;
- wood processing;
- labour exports.
(b) Could you please define your country's pers pective of the reasons for any changes in the
structure and direction of exports and imports?
The main reasons for changes intervening in the export-import structure:
- The growing level of the country’s economic development;- the new orientation is to liberalize its economy in the context of globalization;- the current inflow of foreign direct investment in sectors which have export potential;
- the substantial trade deficit of Myanmar requiring the government to focus on
increase in exports;
- limited transfer of technology in producing export of high-quality products;
- price fluctuation of unprocessed products;
- entry into the intra-ASEAN trade.WT/COMTD/IF/40
Page 3
(c) What have been the objectives of trade po licy in the most recent period, compared to,
say, two decades ago?
Recent trade policy objectives:
- Proper evolution of a market-oriented economic system;
- wider participation of the private sector in foreign trade.
(d) What are the Ministries in charge of trade policy matters, including formulation,
implementation, enforcement and monitoring? How is coordination made?  What are the
respective roles of the relevant Ministries (give particular attention to tariff policies and other
policies directly affecting exports and imports of goods and services)?
Trade Council, Myanmar Investment Commi ssion, Ministry of Commerce, Ministry of
National Planning and Economic Development, Ministry of Finance and Revenue,
Ministry of Industry (I), Ministry of Health, Mi nistry of Agriculture and Irrigation, Ministry of
Livestock Breeding and Fisheries, Ministry of Science and Technology are playing major roles in theformulation, implementation, enforcement and monitoring of trade policy matters.
High-Level Committees and line - Ministries in charge of Trade Policy Matters:Trade Council
- Formulates and adopts trade policies which ensure State’s political, economic, and
social objectives in implementing the market-oriented economic system;
- regulates and controls, in accordance with the trade policies, the foreign trade in the
interest of the State and its citizens;
- defines the priority commodity groups and quantity of the priority import items
according to the requirement of the people and of the State as well;
- carries out the tasks occasionally laid down by the State Peace and Development
Council;
Myanmar Investment Commission (MIC)
Accepts proposals which will promote the development activities and which is in line with the
rules and regulations laid down by the State, scrutinizes the proposals on economic, financial andtechnical aspects and grants terms and conditions on issuance of permits, monitors and evaluates the
foreign investment situation.
Ministry of Commerce
- Ministry of Commerce carries out trade policies adopted by, and is under the
direction of the Trade Council;
- Ministry of Commerce delegates the Directorate of Trade and Department of Border
Trade to issue export/import licences and permits for the private sector’s participationin foreign trade.WT/COMTD/IF/40
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Ministry of National Planning and Economic Development (NPED)
- NPED deals with the Economic affairs and also directly controls the National AFTA
unit.  Fifteen other Ministries interact with the Ministry of NPED in their respective
fields.  For the private sector, the Union of Myanmar Chamber of Commerce andIndustry interacts with the Ministry of NPED.
- National AFTA unit operates under the following terms of reference:
(i) Implementation of CEPT for AFTA;
(ii) public Relations;
(iii) channel of communication;(iv) overall ASEAN Economic Cooperation;
(v) role in Economic Development;
(vi) others.
Ministry of Finance and Revenue (F&R)
- Undertakes the Tariff  policies directly affecting exports and imports of goods and
services;
- the custom duty together with the commercial tax are collected at the point of entry
and the time of clearance of imported goods;
- import tariff covers 21 sections of 98 chapters, consisting of 1241 headings and 6062
sub-headings based on Harmonised Commod ity Description and Coding System.
There are 22 bands of import tariffs ranging from 0 to 40 per cent.  Raw materials andother essential imports are taxed at very low rates, while the highest rate is applied to
luxury items;
- commercial tax is charged on a wide range of goods either domestically produced or
imported goods under the Commercial Tax Act 1991, the rates of 5 per cent,
10 per cent, 20 per cent, 30 per cent on imported goods and it is above 30 per cent on
specific types of goods such as cigarette, liquor, etc.
Ministry of Industry (I)
- Ministry of  Industry (I) endorsed recommendation in the application of the export
licences for the Private Sector’s export of ready-made garment to the countries whichdo not have quota limitations;
- Ministry of Industry (I) undertakes the quota allocation of ready-made garments
export to USA and Canada markets.
Ministry of Health
- Undertakes the Food and Drugs administration, likewise laboratory test especially on
condensed milk, milk powder and cooking oil, etc., whether these are fit for human
consumption or not and issues the certificate of test result.WT/COMTD/IF/40
Page 5
Ministry of Agriculture and Irrigation
- Undertakes the Sanitary and Phytosanitary Standards Control of the exports and
imports.
Ministry of Livestock Breeding and Fisheries
- Issues orders and directives for the Fisheries product establishments in the areas of
structural requirement, operational requirements, general product standard and
packaging requirements.
Ministry of Science and Technology
- Undertakes the analysis of imported goods whether it is in line with the specification
mentioned in the contract and issues the certificate of analysis.
(e) How are the private sector and academic in stitutions associated with the formulation
and conduct of trade policy?
The Private Sector and Academic Institutions are associated with the formulation and conduct
of trade policies through their participation in coordination meetings, seminars, workshops, relating to
trade policy.  In the formulation of the trade-related policies the government also invites theeconomists and academics, the Union Myanmar Chamber of Commerce and Industries, and the
Ministries concerned.
(f) What are the institutions in your country th at can play a role in implementation of a
trade-related project at the local level?  State their respective roles.
Public Sector Institutions
- The Ministry of Commerce and other Ministries concerned can play a role in
implementation of trade-related projects at the national level.  At the State and
Divisional level the Chairman of State Peace and Development Committee is the
focal point.
Private and Cooperative Sector Institutions
- Union of Myanmar Chamber of Commerce and Industry;
- State and Divisional Chamber of Commerce;- Border Trade Chamber of Commerce;
- Various line - Chamber of Commerce.
(g) What are the main laws and regulations de aling with trade policy - on exports and
imports?  Please provide a short description of each.
The main laws and regulations dealing with trade policy (imports & exports)
- The control of Imports and Exports (Temporary) Act, 1947, which has been amended
when necessary and which is still in force.  This law is administered by the Ministryof Commerce, which, from time to time, issues necessary orders, notifications,
directives, pertaining to all export/import matters including issuance of licences and
permits as well;WT/COMTD/IF/40
Page 6
- the State-owned Economic Enterprises Laws, which covers 12 main activities
including teak, extraction and sale of petroleum, natural gas, precious stone, etc. are
being reserved to be carried out by the State-owned Economic Enterprises.  However,
exemptions may be considered for those activities to be carried out by forming joint
ventures between government and any person or enterprise if it is beneficial to theState.
The other laws and regulations dealing with trade policy (imports & exports)- Union of Myanmar Foreign Investment Law;
- Myanmar Citizen Investment Law;
- The Central Bank of Myanmar Law;
- Financial Institution of Myanmar Law;
- Myanmar Agricultural and Rural Development Bank Law;
- Tariff Act;
- Income Tax Law and Commercial Tax Law;
- The Private Industrial Enterprises Law;
- Custom Act.
(h) What are the main instruments of trade policy - on exports and imports?  Please
elaborate (e.g. on import restrictions, the questions might be:  on what products are there any
import bans; on what products are there quantitative import restrictions; licensingrequirements, etc.; what is the highest tariff ra te currently in use; are there any excise taxes,
other "domestic" taxes that are applied differenti ally to imported goods, or to goods of a type
that are principally imported?).
Registration and licencing authority
- All private business enterprises, both local and foreign, cooperative societies,
joint-ventures organizations, desirous of carrying out export/import business are
required to apply to the Directorate of Trade for registration as an exporter/importer.
- The authority to issue export/import licences and permits is delegated to the
Directorate of Trade and Department of Border Trade under the Ministry ofCommerce.  Directorate of Trade is authorised to issue export/import licences and
permits for conventional export/import.  The Department of Border Trade is also
authorised to issue export/import licences for cross border trade by normal or
conventional methods.
Licencing requirements
- Every export/import by private business enterprises is subject to export/import
licence/permit issued by the licensing authorities concerned.  The validity of
export/import licence/permit issued by the Directorate of Trade is normally sixmonths from the date of issue, and can be extended for three months period at a time.
The validity of those issued by the Department of Border Trade is three months from
the date of issue, and can be extended for one month at a time.
On exports- Normally, the registered exporter/importer has the right to export all commodities,
except for rice and rice products and other products which are prescribed to be solelyWT/COMTD/IF/40
Page 7
exportable by the State-owned Economic Enterprises.  Thirty items including teak,
rice, etc. are prohibited to export through the sea and the border areas.
On imports
- Priority items (a):  which include agricultural machinery and farm implements,
fertilizers, pesticides, high-yield quality seeds, edible oil, oil and fats for soap
industry, construction stores and building materials;
- Priority items (b):  about 60 items grouped under personal goods, household goods,
foodstuff, construction materials, textile products, electric and electronic products and
general products.
The importer is required to import 80 per cent priority items (a) and 20 per cent
priority items (b).  Generally, no quota or ceiling is fixed for imported items so long
as the requirement to import the prescribed amount of priority items is fulfilled.
Lately imports have been restricted to reduce the trade deficit.
The registered exporters/importers are allowed to enjoy 100 per cent export retention money
for the export of goods.  There exists no export quota nor ceiling for any exportable product or any
individual or organization with the exception of textile products which are subject to a quota fixed by
the importing country.
(i) In case you are a WTO Member or are in the process of acceding, how is your country
preparing itself to comply  with the WTO Agreements?
- Myanmar was the founder member of the General Agreement on Tariffs and Trade
(GATT) and now Myanmar is a member of the World Trade Organization.
We are in the process of improving our human and institution capacity.  This includes
the training of personnel in various aspects to enable us to deal with WTO matters in
the future.
- To bring all of our necessary relevant laws and regulations in conformity with the
WTO Agreements technical assistance is urgently needed from various International
Organizations/Agencies.
(j) What is the state of familiarity with the WTO framework:
- Among government and government-related agencies?
- in the private sector?
Most of the government and the government-related agencies, and the private sector are not
very familiar with the WTO framework.
Although a few number of civil servants, mainly from the Ministry of Commerce, are
familiarized with WTO framework through attendance at regional seminars, workshops as well as
WTO training courses, there is however, substantial need for further training.WT/COMTD/IF/40
Page 8
(k) What are your technical assistance require ments with regard to your compliance with
the WTO Agreements?
For the effective and efficient participation in WTO as an active member, and to enable us to
implement the obligations and commitments that Myanmar has to undertake under variousWTO Agreements, technical assistance is needed, particularly in the areas of:
1. Expertise (training, consultant) to assist Myanmar government in adopting its
trade-related legislation in conformity with WTO Agreements.
2. Training of government officials to enhance their capacity to design Myanmar Trade
Policy.
3 Institution capacity building.
(l) In which specific areas of the WTO Agreements do you have technical assistance needs
(e.g. market access, agriculture, rules (anti-dumpin g, subsidies, import licensing, rules of origin,
safeguards etc.), TBT and SPS, Services, TRIPs)?
Myanmar needs technical assistance in all the WTO Agreements for training its officials
dealing with trade matters in the following areas:
- Multilateral trade negotiations;
- Bilateral trade negotiations;
- Competition policy;
- Agriculture;
- Textile and clothing;- Market access;
- Customs valuation;
- Subsidies;
- TRIPS and TRIMS;
- Import Licensing;
- Services;
- Dispute settlement;- SPS measures;
-T B T ;
- Notification.
(m) What is your assessment of your existing trade analysis and negotiating capacities, both
multilateral and bilateral, in areas alread y covered by the WTO Agreements and other
trade-related areas, e.g. competition policy and trade and environment?
We are in great need of sufficient knowledge and skills to apply the new rules of WTO
Agreements, and weak in negotiating capacities also in the areas of competition policy and trade andenvironment.
B. 
OBSTACLES TO TRADE EXPANSION
Obstacles to trade encompassing problems in exports market, infrastructure, human
capacities, institutional bottlenecks, trade financing problems and gaps in trade information can
inhibit a least developed country from taking full advantage of trading opportunities.WT/COMTD/IF/40
Page 9
Supply constraints, including institutional bottlenecks
(a) What are the main bottlenecks inhibiting the development of sustained export capacity
of goods and services (e.g. customs facilitation, freight charges, quality management,
elimination of cumbersome legal and administrative procedures, paucity of human skills, accessat international prices to imported inputs, or inadequate telecommunication, port and transport
facilities etc.)?
Land-locked countries may face additional prob lems, such as having to ship using costly
or unreliable transport and ports systems.  In case this applies to your country, please indicate
such problems.  What kind of technical assist ance would help you work out these problems?
The main bottlenecks inhibiting the development of sustained export capacity of goods and services
are:
- Shipment of goods;
- poor infrastructure;- lack of specialized education and training, research and development;
- lack of export financing;
- inadequate supply and comparatively high  cost of telecommunication services;
- production of export products not matched by market demand;
- lack of up-to-date information on export markets and prices and market access
problems;
- lack of laboratories for quality control;
(b) Are there any institutional bottlenecks, wh ich may impede the efficient conduct of your
country's trade policies?  Provide details. For example, what are the problems perceived by thedifferent actors, e.g. exporters, producers, service providers (banks, insurance companies,
quality control, transporters etc.), professional associations and Ministries?  Are problems
mainly perceived in the area of:
(i) human resources
(ii) management of the institution
(iii) financial and material resources(iv) communication
The institutional bottlenecks that impede the efficient conduct of the country’s trade policies
are:
(i) Human resources
Inadequate human resources in the collection and dissemination of market information; lack
of finance and skilled manpower to carry out market research missions.  The efficiency of conducting
trade policy is very low due to the lack of human resource development, constraints in the areas offinancial and material resources and communication.
(ii) Management of the institution
Lack of proper understanding by traders regarding export/import procedures.
(iii) Financial and material resources
Financial constraints by Financial Institutions.WT/COMTD/IF/40
Page 10
(c) What are the main bottlenecks to export diversification?
The main bottlenecks to export diversification are:
- Lack of marketing information, inadequate  information regarding the nature and
pattern of demand in various export markets;
- lack of export credit to diversify production and technology;- lack of entrepreneurial drive;- limited export supply.
(d) If investment in the production of goods a nd services is inadequate, what are the main
reasons?  Please elaborate them (e.g. structural co nstraints, difficulties in attracting foreign
investment, limited enterprise development, fi nancing, lack of appropriate technology, etc.)
There are numbers of reasons for the inadequacy of investment in the production of goods and
services such as:
- Difficulty in attracting foreign investment, primarily due to lack of adequate
infrastructure facilities, shortage of skilled labour, lack of accurate data;
- inadequate bank financing facilities in both local and foreign currencies;
- lack of long-term finance, high domestic interest rate.
(e) Is there a national policy to encourage export-related investment opportunities?  Please
elaborate.  What arrangements are in place fo r reviewing, drafting and negotiating contractual
arrangements with foreign investors?
MIC supervises the reviewing, drafting and negotiating of contractual arrangements with
foreign investors.
(f) What are the main obstacles to the transfer, development and acquisition of technology?
Is there any national policy/strategy in this area?  Please elaborate.
The main obstacles to the transfer, development and acquisition of technologies are:
- Shortage of basic infrastructure (telecommunications);- lack of technology information;- lack of investment in research and development;- lack of practical skills;
- inability to acquire technology suitable to our economic environment;WT/COMTD/IF/40
Page 11
(g) What are your technical assistance or oth er assistance needs with respect to supply
constraints.
Technical assistance needs with respect to supply constraints are:
- Developing a trade information network system;
- developing a data collecting system;- developing of human resources in the area of Economic Sectors;- computerization of customs system (ASY CUDA): funds and training to use it;
- assistance to establish a customs information unit to disseminate customs information
to the private and public sector, both locally and internationally.
Trade promotion and trade support services
Trade Promotion comprises an integrated set of technical and financial services to enhance
the global competitiveness of enterprises and therefore facilitate their entry and increasing
participation in international trade.
(h) Do your enterprises, especially small and medium enterprises, experience difficulties in
expanding their exports?  What are these problems in the major export sectors?
- Lack of trade-related market information and communication facilities;
- lack of technological capacity and technical know-how;
- inadequacy of skilled manpower and institutional capacities;- lack of finance;- lack of marketing capability.
(i) What are the problems for your enterprises in obtaining reliable and up-to-date
information on export/import business opportunities?
Problems include lack of institutional infrastructure and skills to access, collect, store, process
and disseminate trade information from abroad by using modern information technology (internet).
(j) Can your enterprises offer products of in ternationally acceptable design, quality and
packaging to foreign buyers?  If not, what are the problems?
Most of the enterprises cannot offer products of internationally acceptable design, quality and
packaging to foreign buyers; the main reason is lack of technology and lack of market information.
(k) What problems, other than in terms of trade policy, do you anticipate in developing the
export of services (e.g. computer software, tourism)?
Other than trade policy, the main problems in developing export of services like computer
software and tourism arise from lack of technology and skills, lack of infrastructure, finance and
trained manpower.WT/COMTD/IF/40
Page 12
(l) What are the technical/professional problems encountered by trade support institutions
(e.g. trade promotion council, chamber of commerce, exporters association, etc) in your country
in providing their services to export/import enterprises?
Myanmar has yet to establish a Trade Promotion Council and Exporters’ Association.
Various Chambers of Commerce have been established but they lack staff with professional
competency and entrepreneurial ability needed for the progress of business.
(m) What problems and deficiencies are experi enced by enterprises in  their international
purchasing and inventory management?
- Lack of foreign exchange;
- limited access to the world market;- lack of trade information in respect of availability, price, quality of goods.
(n) What are the present availability and arrangements for trade finance facilities (e.g.
export credit guarantees, etc.)?  Are there any perceived deficiencies in this area?
At present there are no arrangements for trade finance facilities except local financing by
borrowing from the bank.
(o) What are the main problems in the way of improving export/import management skills
of your business enterprises?  Do you have trai ning programmes in the country?  What are the
deficiencies?
There are some training programmes on export/import management for business enterprises,
however, it still needs further promotion to improve the skill of exporters/importers due to the lack of
experiences in foreign trade for three decades.
(p) Does your trade representation service actively promote your trade?  What are the
weaknesses?
Myanmar does not still have trade representation service abroad.
(q) Briefly describe your technical assistance needs in the area of trade promotion and
support services.
- Assistance to improve operation of the existing mechanism (including funding) to
provide export credit facilities to SMEs;
- establishment of a Trade Promotion Organization, Establishment of a trade point;- building up the research capability and establishing linkage among them;- establish trade information centre, disseminating information about local and foreign
market opportunities to Myanmar business;
- measures to reduce transportation cost and market promotion;- human resources training in quality control, packaging, design.WT/COMTD/IF/40
Page 13
Market access
(r) What are your main market access problems?
The main market access problems are the following:
- Limited capacity to produce for export;- lack of exports diversification into high value-added, processed and manufactured
products;
- stringent quality and standard requirements;
- inadequate foreign market information.
(s) What specific problems or barriers, and in which countries, are most troublesome for
your exporters?
- Economic sanction by USA and EU;
- SPS measures taken by Japan against agricultural exports from the Least Developed
Countries.
(t) Regional and sub-regional trading arrangements (RTAs): please list RTAs to which
your country belongs.  Are you satisfied with th e performance with these RTAs?  Please state
the problems of each.  Do you have suggestions on how to solve these?
- AFTA (ASEAN free-trade area);
- BIMST - ECAssessment cannot be made on both agreements so far since Myanmar just newly acceded to
it.
(u) Are there any problems in utilizing the exis ting market access preferences, such as GSP,
GSTP?  Please state the nature of problems relating to each of these.
- Removal of preferential access to the US market and EU market under the GSP
scheme for Myanmar since 1994 and 1996 respectively;
- Accession cannot be made on GSTP so far since Myanmar just newly acceded to it.
(v) What are your technical assistance needs with respect to market access?
With respect to market access Myanmar needs training in the areas of:
- Rules of origin;
- Sanitary and Phytosanitary Standards (SPS);
- how to better use the GSP scheme.WT/COMTD/IF/40
Page 14
C. TECHNICAL ASSISTANCE
Technical assistance is normally provided to developing and least developed countries to
build or enhance their human resources and institutional capacities, provide trade information and
trade-related legal support, as well as improve their supply capabilities in order to make them moreactive players in the field of multilateral trade.
(a) To the extent this kind of information is easily available, could you please briefly
describe what trade-related assistance you have received over the past five years from bilateral
and multilateral sources and what projects/programmes are presently under consideration in
this area?
The Private Sector development/Project was implemented by the Ministry of Commerce with
the assistance of the UNDP from August 1989 to March 1992.  The development objective of the
project is to facilitate and accelerate the development of the private sector, as Myanmar is
transforming to a market-oriented system from  the centrally planned economic system and has
recognized the important role of the private se ctor in striving for economic growth and social
development.
Project implementation has completed satisfactorily in 1992, with the successful
implementation of seven in-country seminars out of eight and three overseas study tours in full.
However, they have stopped the development of the Private Sector phase II.
(b) Please summarize your technical assistance needs as well as other needs as reflected in
this check-list.  Please rank them in terms of priority.
- Institutional strengthening and human resource development in relevant Ministries
and government agencies, particularly the Ministry of Commerce and its affiliated
agencies, to effectively handle work relating to compliance with various
WTO Agreements.  More specifically, this will involve beefing up national capacity
for meeting product standards and technical regulations requirements in major export
markets of Myanmar establishing the administrative mechanisms required.  Changing
existing national legislations and bring them into conformity with all WTO related
Agreements, strengthen selected service sub-sectors (e.g. telecommunications,financial services, etc.) stepping up research efforts to enhance agricultural
productivity, etc.
- Developing a modern trade information network including establishment of a Trade
Point.
- Training for government officials dealing w ith trade matters in particular in the area
of WTO related Agreements trade analysis and trade negotiating capabilities
including the abilities to design industrial policy geared towards exports.
- Provide export credit facilities to small and medium size enterprises.
- Building up institutional capability in formulation and implementation of trade policy
matters.
- Assessing the current situation in the areas of agricultural, agro-industrial and
manufacturing production for foreign mark ets with a view for formulating anWT/COMTD/IF/40
Page 15
integrated national policy for the development and promotion of exports, particularly
non-traditional exports.
- Acquisition of equipment by Government Ministries so as to access information on
market opportunities and technological development.
(c) In the light of the information you have been able to provide so far in response to the
questions in this check-list, what types of information are, in your view, still missing or could be
improved upon?  In order to assist you in providing this missing information, would you need
technical assistance?
The information given is not exhaustive.  Therefore, it will be helpful if technical assistance is
provided for this purpose.
(d) Does your country have the technological capacity and human resources to make use of
the new information/ communication technology t ools such as CD-Rom, the Internet etc.?  What
assistance would you need to enable your country to use these tools in the context of training
and, more generally, in the context of trade development?
No.  Technical assistance is needed in the areas of:
- Intensive training in the use of information technology.
- Funding for information technology equipment for the Ministry of Commerce.WT/COMTD/IF/40
Page 16
INTEGRATED RESPONSES BY IMF, ITC, UNCTAD,
UNDP, WORLD BANK AND WTO
MYANMAR2
Technical assistance needs identified
in the questionnaireOrganization Response
In reply to question A(k) :
Technical assistance requirements as
regards compliance with WTO
Agreements
1.  Expertise (training, consultant) to
assist the Myanmar Government in
adapting its trade-related legislation in
conformity with WTO AgreementsWTO On request WTO will provide
technical assistance, as
appropriate, relating to
implementation of WTO
Agreements, including notification
requirements.
2.  Training of Government officials toenhance their capacity to design
Myanmar Trade PolicyIMF The IMF Institute continues to
provide training in financial
programming and a range of other
macroeconomic policy issues.Trade policy is often included.
WTO A national seminar will be held in
1999.
A three-week Trade Policy
seminar for Asian and Pacific
Least Developed Countries(LDCs) will be organized in 1999
(as in 1998).
Specialized regional seminars
and/or workshops on WTOprovisions will be organized in
1999 for English speaking LDCs
(as in 1998).
3.  Institution capacity building.
In reply to question A(l) :
Technical assistance needs as regards
specific WTO Agreements
                                                     
2IMF staff consider that the Myanmar economy faces serious macroeconomic and structural problems.
Moreover, the macroeconomic situation has continued to deteriorate markedly in the last year. The most recent
Article IV consultation report and the Executive Board discussion (June 1998) emphasized the importance ofimplementing a comprehensive adjustment program to address the widening macroeconomic imbalances anddeep-seated structural distortions -- the Fund’s view is that anything short of a comprehensive approach will not
succeed. The Fund therefore emphasizes the importance of  having in place an appropriate policy environment
for usefully absorbing trade-related technical assistance.WT/COMTD/IF/40
Page 17
Technical assistance needs identified
in the questionnaireOrganization Response
Myanmar needs technical assistance in
all the WTO Agreements for training its
officials dealing with trade matters in
the following areas:ITC ITC will help assess these needs
and suggest activities in terms of
business implications of the
Agreements when requested by the
Government.
WTO See A(k).
- Multilateral trade negotiations WTO See above.
- Bilateral trade negotiations WTO See above.
- Competition policy WTO See above.
- Agriculture ITC See above regarding business
implications.
WTO See above.
- Textiles and clothing ITC See above regarding business
implications
WTO See above.
- Market access WTO See above.
- Customs valuation IMF The Fund is available, in
appropriate circumstances, to
provide technical assistance in the
following areas: reviewing
customs legislation andregulations, to align them to WTO
requirements; strengthening
customs valuation and adapting the
valuation system to WTO
requirements; advising on customs
computerization issues and on
strengthening of the organizationalstructure.
WTO See above.
- Subsidies WTO See above.
- TRIPS ITC See above.
WTO See above.
- TRIMS ITC See above.
WTO See above.
- Import Licensing WTO See above.WT/COMTD/IF/40
Page 18
Technical assistance needs identified
in the questionnaireOrganization Response
Question A(I) continued:
- Services WTO See above.
- Dispute settlement WTO See above.
- SPS measures WTO See above.
- TBT WTO See above.
- Notifications WTO See above.
In reply to question A(m):Assessment of the existing trade
analysis and negotiation capacities
Great need of sufficient knowledge and
skills to apply the new rules of WTO
Agreements; negotiating capacities are
also weak  in the areas of competition
policy and trade and environment.WTO See A(k).
In reply to question B(g):
Technical assistance needs as regards
supply constraints
1.  Developing a trade information
network system.ITC See A(l).  In addition, Myanmar
may benefit from various sources
of trade information and tools
available at ITC upon request.
2.  Developing a data collecting system. ITC See above.
3.  Developing human resources in thearea of economic sectors
4.  Computerization of customs system(ASYCUDA): funds and training to useit.IMF/
UNCTADA joint IMF-UNCTAD feasibility
study was undertaken in the early1990s, which recommended the
implementation of ASYCUDA as
a tool for the reorganization of
customs. No progress has been
made since, as no donor could beidentified.
5.  Assistance to establish a customsinformation unit to disseminate customs
information to the private and public
sector, both locally and internationallyIMF See A(I).WT/COMTD/IF/40
Page 19
Technical assistance needs identified
in the questionnaireOrganization Response
In reply to question B(q):
Technical assistance needs in the area of
trade promotion and support services
1.  Assistance to improve operation of
the existing mechanism (includingfunding) to provide export credit
facilities to SMEs.
2(і)  Establishment of a Trade
Promotion Organization.
(ii)  Establishment of a Trade PointITC See A(l).
UNCTAD A request has already been made
to UNCTAD for the establishment
of a Trade Point. The initial stepwill be a feasibility study
*.
3.  Building up research capabilities andestablishing linkages among them.ITC See A(l).
4.  Establishment of a  trade information
centre, disseminating information about
local and foreign market opportunities
to Myanmar businessesITC See B(g)1.
5.  Measures to reduce transportation
costs and market promotion.
6.  Human resources training in qualitycontrol, packaging and designITC See A(l).  In addition, Myanmar
may also benefit from the
information on quality controlpackaging available at ITC upon
request.
In reply to question B(v):
Technical assistance as regards market
access
Myanmar needs training in the areas of:
1.  Rules of origin. WTO See A(k)
2.  Sanitary and Phyto-sanitary
Standards (SPS).ITC See A(l).
WTO See A(l).
3.  How to better use the GSP scheme. UNCTAD Advisory services and training can
be provided under the GSP
programme*.WT/COMTD/IF/40
Page 20
Technical assistance needs identified
in the questionnaireOrganization Response
In reply to question C(b):
Summary of technical assistance needs
according to priority
1.  Institutional strengthening and
human resource development inrelevant Ministries and Government
agencies, particularly Ministry of
Commerce and its affiliated agencies, to
effectively handle work relating to
compliance with various WTOAgreements.  More specifically, this
will involve;
- beefing up national capacity for
meeting product standards and technical
regulations requirements in major
export markets of Myanmar ;establishing the administrative
mechanisms required
- changing existing national legislation
and bringing them in conformity withall WTO related Agreements;ITC
WTO
IMF
WTOSee A(l).
See A(l).
See A(l).
See A(k).
- strengthening selected service sub-sectors (e.g. telecommunications,
financial services, etc.);
- stepping up research efforts to enhance
agricultural productivity, etc.).
2.  Developing a modern tradeinformation network includingestablishment of a Trade Point.ITC
UNCTADSee B(g) 1.
See B(q) 2(ii).
3.  Training for government officials
dealing with trade matters in particular
in the area of WTO related Agreements’
trade analysis and trade negotiating
capabilities, including the abilities todesign industrial policy geared towards
exports.WTO See A(k).
4.  Provide export credit facilities to
small and medium size enterprises.
Question C(b) continued:
5.  Building up institutional capability in
formulation and implementation of
trade policy matters.IMF See A(k).WT/COMTD/IF/40
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Technical assistance needs identified
in the questionnaireOrganization Response
6.  Assessing the current situation in the
areas of agricultural, agro-industrial and
manufacturing production for foreign
markets with a view to formulating an
integrated national policy for thedevelopment and promotion of exports,
particularly non-traditional exportsITC
World BankSee A(l).
An assessment of the present
situation is included in the World
Bank study "Evaluating theImplications of Myanmar's
Accession to the ASEAN
Free-Trade Area."
7.  Acquisition of equipment byGovernment Ministries so as to access
information on market opportunities and
technological development.
In reply to question C(c):
Additional information
The information given is not exhaustive.
Therefore, it will be helpful if technical
assistance is provided to identify
information which is missing or that
could be improved upon.
In reply to question C(d):
Technical assistance needs in the area of
information technology including
training of human resources
Intensive training in the use of
information technologyITC See A(l).
WTO WTO Reference Centre (including
computer equipment and access to
Internet) has been established in
Myanmar in July 1998 andintensive training has been
provided to the users.
Funding for information technologyequipment for the Ministry of
CommerceWTO See above.
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