Jaime de Melo
Jaime de Melo is Emeritus Professor at the University of Geneva and Scientific Director for Ferdi
Before joining the faculty at the University of Geneva in 1993, Professor De Melo taught at Georgetown University and worked in the research department at the World Bank and consulted for the IMF, the OECD, SECO, the IGC, the World Bank and several governments. I held several editorial positions and was editor-in-chief of the World Bank Economic Review, 2005-2010. His interests are in developing countries, particularly issues relating to trade policy, migration, and the environment.
Content by Jaime de Melo
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Blog post
The long road towards supply chain trade in Africa
Low-cost inputs trade, simple rules-of-origin, and digital connectivity are key to regional trade integration and global value chain participation. The recent Africa Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA), in force since May 2019, is an important opportunity to develop and deepen supply chain trade across Africa. Evidence shows that integration into production networks -...
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Publication - Project Report
Supply chain trade in East Africa
Deeper regional integration is the main objective of the recently launched Africa Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA). Supply chain trade both at the level of the Regional Economic Communities (RECs) and across RECs are to spearhead the AfCFTA. Indicators of Global Value Chains (GVC) participation show that even though the EAC and other African RECs have increased their...
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Publication - Working Paper
Reform of the EAC Common External Tariff: Evidence from trade costs
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Project
Reform of the EAC Common External Tariff
The Common External Tariff (CET) of the East African Community (EAC) is due for potential reform in November 2017. Manufacturers associations in the large EAC countries are pressing for additional tariff bands and greater protection, with the stated aim of promoting backward linkages and value chain development. This direction is dangerous in a dynamic sense, as it sets the...
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Publication - Policy Brief
Pursuing WTO accession: Advantages and disadvantages for South Sudan
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Publication - Policy note
Recommendation for South Sudan to join the East African Community
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Project
Trade, EAC and WTO accession: Pro-growth options
As the world's newest nation, South Sudan is currently considering various options for the trade strategy it would like to pursue and that would support economic growth for the country. Within the region, South Sudan has decided to actively engage in accession talks with the East African Community (EAC). These talks commenced in November 2014 and have been relatively...
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Publication - Policy Brief
Considerations for South Sudan’s trade strategy
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Project
Trade strategy pillars for South Sudan
Barely two years into statehood, South Sudan has many difficulties to confront: including securing its borders to the North, working towards a resolution of the transit of oil via Sudan, at least until an alternative route is possible, and putting together a long-term development strategy starting from scratch. If South Sudan is to take inspiration from the highly...
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Blog post
Will West Africa’s common external tariff protect consumers?
The lofty objective of ECOWAS is to promote economic integration in West Africa. The much anticipated uniform tariff for ECOWAS economies is due to become reality in January 2015, but questions about its implementation still need to be addressed
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Publication - Working Paper
Follow-up: Preparing for the ECOWAS CET: Options for Liberia (Working Paper)
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Project
Analysis of Alternatives Permissible under the ECOWAS Regulation on Supplementary Protection Measures
The objective of the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) is to promote economic integration in West Africa, with potential economic benefit for Liberia IGC researchers supplemented earlier analysis to model the implications of Supplementary Protection Measures as part of the ECOWAS common external tariff calculus Adopting the common external...
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Blog post
Regional trade agreements in Africa: Success or failure?
Regional trade agreements (RTAs) have been proliferating in the past three decades, reflecting among other things the increasing involvement of developing economies in international trade. In Africa, particularly in sub-Saharan Africa, the first RTAs were established as mechanisms that would facilitate the continent’s unity in post-colonial times. Even today, the majority...
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Publication - Working Paper
Regional and Global Trade Strategies for Liberia (Working Paper)
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Project
Revenue and Welfare Consideration to Help the EAC Conclude a Full EPA with the EU
At the end of the Cotonou Partnership Agreement, its members agreed to put in place a WTO-compatible free trade area. WTO-compatibility implies that 90% of the bilateral trade between the European Union (EU) and the Africa-Caribbean-Pacific (ACP) countries would have to be duty free and quota free within a reasonable (unspecified) period (e.g., 80% duty-free for ACP...
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Publication - Working Paper
Trade strategy pillars for South Sudan (working paper)
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Publication - Working Paper
Getting the Best out of Regional Integration: Some Thoughts for Rwanda (Working Paper)
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Project
Analysis of the Trade Policy and Incentive Framework: Regional Focus
This report examines the trade consequences of Rwanda's accession to the EAC and the actions that Rwanda can take to get the best out of it. The authors argue that ‘deep’ integration is necessary for the regional integration approach to live up to expectations and deliver measurable economic benefits for Rwanda in the medium term.