Call for papers: Modelling non-tariff measures in structural general equilibrium – Theory and applications

Submission
The Workshop is open to all scholars working on the topic of NTMs. Please submit your extended abstract or paper to batmodel.bern@wti.org. Accepted presenters will also be invited to function as a discussant.

Deadlines

• Abstract/paper: 21 November 2022
• Notification of acceptance: 28 November 2022
• Full paper: 31 December 2022

Workshop: Modelling non-tariff measures in structural general equilibrium – Theory and applications
19-20 January 2023
World Trade Institute – University Bern
Silvia Casa Auditorium

The proliferation of non-tariff measures (NTMs), their variety in forms and complexity, and the diverse motivations underlying their use by governments explain the increasing interest of international trade policy analysis on modelling NTMs and evaluating their effects.

Recent advances in the estimation of NTM effects on trade show that some NTMs clearly restrict trade – de facto and by design – while particularly technical measures, such as sanitary and phytosanitary measures and technical barriers to trade, are likely to simultaneously increase trade costs and enhance demand. These impacts can be common to all import sources, vary on the bilateral level, and are heterogenous across sectors. At the same time, countries negotiate trade agreements incorporating provisions designed to reduce NTM-related trade costs.

The variety of NTMs and their different impact dimensions pose interesting challenges to structural general equilibrium modelling and scenario design. The workshop will discuss these challenges and invites applied and theoretical submissions linked to one or more of the following topics:

• Econometric estimation of the impact of NTMs on trade, output, productivity, consumer welfare, and other variables common to general equilibrium models.
• Estimating and modelling non-tariff components of PTAs.
• Modelling NTM components in computable general equilibrium (CGE) models.
• Linking NTM-related econometric estimates to the structure of CGE models.
• Introduction of NTM-related policies in baseline construction.
• Introduction of NTM scenarios to CGE models.
• Estimation of welfare and macroeconomic impacts of NTMs.

Keynote presentation
Unrestrictive ROO: who do they benefit?
Marcelo Olarreaga
(University of Geneva, joint with Dzmitry Kniahin)

Roundtable
Assessment of NTM Policy Effects: Challenges Ahead

• Marion Jansen (Director - Trade and Agriculture Directorate, OECD)
• Ralf Peters (Chief - Trade Information Section, UNCTAD)
• Marcelo Olarreaga (University of Geneva)
• Joseph Francois (WTI, University of Bern)

Moderated by Anne-Célia Disdier (Paris School of Economics)

The Workshop is organized within the H2020 BatModel research project and hosted by the World Trade Institute at the University of Bern. Participation is free.

Location
World Trade Institute
Room: Silvia Casa Auditorium
Hallerstrasse 6
3012 Bern
Switzerland