TARIFF REGULATION OF INTERNATIONAL TRADE IN THE XXI CENTURY

Abstract

Objective. The objective of our study is to analyse the status and peculiarities of tariff regulation of international trade in the XXI century. Methods. The following methods and techniques of cognition were used in the research process: analysis and synthesis, induction and deduction (to substantiate the importance and role of tariff regulation of international and foreign trade in the XXI century, to identify factors influencing the development of international trade), generalisation and systematisation (to substantiate the state and peculiarities of the development of tariff regulation of international trade in the XXI century), analysis of time series (to identify trends and patterns of tariff regulation of international trade in 2006-2022), graphical (for visual representation of the peculiarities of tariff dynamics in WTO countries). Results. The article notes that despite the changes that have taken place in international trade in general and in the system of its regulation in particular, tariff regulation remains the main authorised means of regulating international and external trade. By 2022, international trade is expected to reach USD 30 trillion, with trade in goods, especially manufactured goods, dominating the structure. It is established that one of the aspects of liberalising trade is to reduce or eliminate tariffs. It is noted that the reduction of tariffs is much slower in the period 2006-2021 than in the period 1996-2005. Average applied tariffs in WTO countries for all product groups will decrease from 10.1% in 2006 to 8.9% in 2021; tariffs on agricultural products will be significantly higher than on non-agricultural products (14.8% vs. 8% in 2021); average tariffs applied to all product groups were significantly lower in developed countries than in developing countries and LDCs; average tariffs applied by developed countries decreased by 1.7%, by developing countries by 1.7% and by LDCs by 1.2%; the highest average tariffs were recorded in Africa and the Americas and the lowest in Europe; the share of duty-free goods under the most favoured nation regime in the WTO countries has been steadily increasing; there has been a slight but steady decline in the share of tariff peaks, which are tariffs exceeding 15 per cent; the number of trade agreements, including preferential trade agreements, has been growing steadily, with agreements covering not only trade in goods but also trade in services, etc. According to the analysis of WTO data, in 2022 most WTO countries have an average bound tariff not exceeding 50%; average bound tariffs vary significantly across WTO countries and product groups; average bound tariffs for most WTO countries range from 20-59% for agricultural products, 10-39% for non-agricultural products; average applied tariffs for agricultural products range from 10-19%, up to 10% for non-agricultural products; significant discrepancies between average bound tariffs and average applied tariffs remain; in the majority of WTO countries, ad valorem tariffs dominate the tariff structure; there are significant differences between countries in the number of bound tariffs applied; in the vast majority of WTO countries, MFN tariffs are applied to a large number of products - the number of products subject to MFN tariffs varies between 5000 and 10000.