东帝汶和加入世贸组织：利用势头支持发展成果（英）2024

Investment Rating - The report does not explicitly provide an investment rating for the industry Core Insights - WTO accession represents a once-in-a-generation opportunity for Timor-Leste to implement deep structural reforms and align domestic policies with international best practices, ensuring stable and predictable market access [12][19] - Timor-Leste faces unique challenges, including a small domestic market, high trade costs, weak export diversification, and vulnerability to natural disasters, which can be addressed through WTO and ASEAN accession [13][14] - The report emphasizes the importance of leveraging WTO accession to enhance economic growth, particularly through services-led development and digital transformation [17][21] Summary by Sections Part I: Recent Trade Performance - Timor-Leste's trade accounted for 89% of GDP in 2021, with exports contributing 26% and imports 63% [25] - The export intensity of GDP rose from 8.3% in 2011, primarily due to oil and gas exports starting in 2019, but overall export competitiveness remains low [25][28] - In 2021, oil and gas constituted over 94% of goods exports, highlighting the need for trade diversification [28] Part II: Overview of the WTO Accession Process - The WTO accession process is lengthy and complex, requiring a tailored approach for each applicant, with specific guidelines for least developed countries (LDCs) like Timor-Leste [46][52] - Domestic institutional arrangements are crucial for effective negotiation and implementation of accession commitments, with an inter-ministerial committee established in Timor-Leste to facilitate this process [54] Part III: WTO Accession and Economic Growth - WTO accession can drive productivity and growth, with empirical evidence linking it to improved national competitiveness [21] - Services-led growth is highlighted as a promising avenue for Timor-Leste, necessitating improvements in the business climate and investments in human capital [21][19] - The report advocates for the use of trade-related technical assistance to strengthen Timor-Leste's quality infrastructure and improve trade facilitation [22][39]