Participation of developing economies in the
global trading system
Note by the Secretariat*
1 Executive summary. 2
2 Introduction.. 4
3 Overview... 4
3.1 Developing economies' exports and imports
affected by weaker demand in 2015 and 2016. 4
3.2 Developing economies' participation in
world merchandise trade almost unchanged since 2012 6
4 Merchandise trade
developments between 2014 and 2016. 7
4.1 2014 to 2016, a period of weak economic
activity. 7
4.2 South-South trade: intra-developing Asia
trade gains shares. 9
4.3 Manufactures declined only moderately in
the 2014-2016 period. 10
4.4 Decline in fuel prices, top global
headline. 11
4.5 Developing economies' merchandise trade
by region. 13
4.5.1 Latin America. 13
4.5.2 Developing Europe. 15
4.5.3 Africa. 16
4.5.4 Middle East 17
4.5.5 Developing Asia. 18
5 Trade in commercial
services Developments between 2014 and 2016. 20
5.1 Transport 23
5.2 Travel 28
5.3 Other commercial services and
goods-related services. 31
6 The importance of GVCs
for DEVELOPING ECONOMIES evidenced through the TRADE IN VALUE ADDED APPROACH.. 36
annex. 41
appendix. 44
* This document
has been prepared under the Secretariat's own responsibility and is without
prejudice to the positions of Members or to their rights and obligations under
the WTO.