Core Viewpoint - Non-tariff barriers are significantly challenging African exports, with tightening global standards creating market access pressures for exporters [1][2] Group 1: Non-Tariff Barriers - The World Bank reports that approximately 90% of global trade is now subject to non-tariff measures such as pesticide restrictions, certification rules, and packaging requirements, compared to only 15% in the late 1990s [1] - These non-tariff measures have become critical barriers to entry for export markets, particularly affecting underdeveloped countries that struggle to meet these standards or participate in their formulation [1] Group 2: Participation in Standard Setting - The participation rate of developing economies, including Africa, in the technical committees of the International Organization for Standardization is less than one-third, limiting their influence on rule-making [1] - Weak technical capabilities and insufficient funding for national standard institutions hinder these countries' ability to engage in the development of global standards [1] Group 3: Recommendations for Improvement - The World Bank suggests a three-phase framework: initially localizing international standards, then aligning with global norms to enhance competitiveness, and finally participating in the leadership of international standard-setting [1] - Successful economies view standards as strategic tools, indicating that Africa must strengthen its technical institutions and engage more deeply in international rule-making to avoid marginalization in emerging trade and technology sectors [2]

Core Insights - The International Air Transport Association (IATA) emphasizes three core priorities for aviation safety and operations: defending and enhancing global standards, shaping a robust safety culture through leadership, and utilizing data to address increasing operational challenges to improve performance [1][2] Group 1: Global Standards and Safety - Global standards are crucial for aviation safety, requiring adherence to current standards and the development of future standards to continuously improve industry safety performance [1] - The focus is currently on addressing GNSS interference and protecting aviation radio frequency spectrum, with a notable increase in reported GNSS interference incidents [1] - IATA and the European Union Aviation Safety Agency have initiated a global navigation satellite system resilience program based on four priorities: monitoring and reporting, preventive tools, backup infrastructure, and civil-military coordination [1] Group 2: Data Utilization in Aviation Safety - The Global Aviation Data Management (GADM) program integrates flight data exchange (FDX), accident data exchange (IDX), and maintenance cost data exchange (MCX) to enable data-driven decision-making between airlines and regulators [2] - IATA's turbulence awareness platform shares real-time data from 3,200 aircraft, helping pilots and dispatchers mitigate turbulence risks during flights [2] - The SafetyIS database utilizes flight data from 217 airlines for predictive analytics, while the risk-based IOSA audit model has customized audits for each airline's operations, establishing over 8,000 corrective measures to enhance safety [2] Group 3: Leadership in Aviation Safety Culture - Strong safety leadership is essential for fostering a solid aviation safety culture, empowering employees to raise concerns and trust that issues will be addressed promptly [2] - IATA has developed two key initiatives to strengthen leadership: the Safety Leadership Charter, advocating eight core principles of safety leadership, and IATA Connect, which connects over 5,600 users from more than 600 organizations [2] - The Safety Leadership Charter currently covers approximately 80% of global passenger traffic, reinforcing a culture based on leadership, global standards, and data [2]