Definition. Policies, reforms, and the regulation and operation of transport services and related infrastructure, in order to facilitate trade and its transport.

Overview. Trade facilitation and transport facilitation are closely linked, because it is mostly the transport operator who is confronted with the practicalities of trade obstacles, such as border controls, lengthy Customs procedures or restrictions to transit trade. Trade facilitation helps to promote trade in goods. At the same time, the facilitation of trade in transport services also helps to improve the provision of international transport services and it thus also promotes trade in goods.

Today, most transport operations involve multimodal transport, and the by far longest leg of most international trade is maritime. Transport is the main component of trade logistics. The facilitation of transport operations is particularly important for transit trade, and given that international transport costs on average are two to three times higher than Customs import duties for developing countries' exports, the improvement of transport operations is crucial for competitiveness and economic development.

Improved transport operations are a main component of the new geography of trade, i.e. increased exports of manufactured goods by developing countries, and a growing share of South-South trade. "Just in Time" (JIT) deliveries as well as frequent, reliable and inexpensive transport services are crucial for global production processes.

Where to start. A general introductory article is "Trade and Transport Facilitation: Building a Secure and Efficient Environment for Trade", which was presented to UNCTAD XI in June 2004; it analyses recent developments in trade and international transport and their role in globalization and the development process. "Globalization - the Maritime Nexus", published in the Handbook of Maritime Economics, LLP, deals with the relationship between transport services and trade patterns.

Partners may also want to subscribe to UNCTAD's quarterly Transport Newsletter, which informs regularly about new studies and events related to international transport and trade facilitation. The World Bank's Transport page provides links and documents to international as well as urban transport.

Join the effort! The GFP welcomes feedback/additions/tools/documents from practitioners, that would respond to this topic. The GFP web team is particularly interested in collecting and assembling all the methodologies, survey instruments and results developed and used by its Partners. Please e-mail those to or jan.hoffmann@unctad.org and suggest the topic(s) under which they could be included.