Switzerland and China signed a bilateral Free Trade Agreement in the summer of 2013. The interest of the different stakeholders was large and the expectations of its impacts were high. This thesis provides a general survey of the very much discussed FTA and a gap analysis, which shows, to what extent the high expectations were met. Afterwards, the development of future requirements will reveal the further improvements that might be applied to enhance the significance of the agreement. Besides a short introduction to free trade theories, the general survey will include information about the free trade strategies of Switzerland and China as well as specific examples of previously concluded FTAs. Also the history and the economic relations between Switzerland and China will be explained. The qualitative gap analysis then shows that the effective impacts of the FTA were below the expectations. Especially difficul- ties with customs procedures in China and the creation of new non-tariff barriers to trade caused bad experiences. Finally, the further improvement of the agreement should particu- larly focus on resolving administrative issues and the inclusion of new content elements.

Recent research by the economics department at the University of St.Gallen (HSG) has found the utilization rates of the Sino-Swiss Free Trade Agreement (SSFTA) to be relatively low on both the Chinese and Swiss side, despite the mammoth amount in tariffs payed that could be saved. In light of this, this thesis focuses on developing a theoretically backed and practically tested survey questionnaire, in both English and Chinese, to measure firm utilization and firm expectations. Based on survey methodology and data collection literature, a survey development framework is established. This framework is then applied to create a questionnaire on the SSFTA. In addition to analysing a myriad of surveys on Free Trade Agreements (FTAs), several internal and external experts on FTAs and survey methodology are consulted, to warrant the legitimacy of the survey questions. The survey link is then sent to several individuals in a preliminary round of pre-tests. The feedback gained from the pre-test is then integrated into the questionnaire. As a result, the Sino-Swiss Competence Centre (SSCC) at HSG has a survey at its disposal, which can be distributed in Switzerland and in China to continue research on this topic.

Trade flows and trade policies need to be properly quantified to describe, compare, or follow the evolution of policies between sectors or countries or over time. This is essential to ensure that policy choices are made with an appropriate knowledge of the real conditions. This practical guide introduces the main techniques of trade and trade policy data analysis. It shows how to develop the main indexes used to analyze trade flows, tariff structures, and non-tariff measures. It presents the databases needed to construct these indexes as well as the challenges faced in collecting and processing these data, such as measurement errors or aggregation bias. Written by experts with practical experience in the field, A Practical Guide to Trade Policy Analysis has been developed to contribute to enhance developing countries' capacity to analyze and implement trade policy. It offers a hands-on introduction on how to estimate the distributional effects of trade policies on welfare, in particular on inequality and poverty. The guide is aimed at government experts engaged in trade negotiations, as well as students and researchers involved in trade-related study or research. An accompanying DVD contains data sets and program command files required for the exercises. Copublished by the WTO and the United Nations Conference on Trade and Development

"This book, designed for policymakers, academics and researchers, and SEZ program practitioners, provides the first systematic and comprehensive analysis of SEZ programs in Sub-Saharan Africa. It is the result of detailed surveys and case studies conducted during 2009 in ten developing countries, including six in Sub-Saharan Africa. The book provides quantitative evidence of the performance of SEZs, and of the factors which contribute to that performance, highlighting the critical importance not just of the SEZ itself but of the wider national investment climate in which it functions. It also provides a comprehensive guide to the key policy questions that confront governments establishing SEZ programs, including: if and when to launch an SEZ program, what form of SEZ is most appropriate, and how to go about implementing it. Among the most important findings from the study that is stressed in the book is the shift from traditional enclave models of zones to SEZs that are integrated ? with national trade and industrial strategies, with core trade and social infrastructure, with domestic suppliers, and with local labor markets.Although the book focuses primarily on the experience of Sub-Saharan Africa, its lessons will be applicable to developing countries around the world."

Nearly half of trade agreements concluded in the past five years included either a labor chapter or labor provision that makes reference to international labor standards and ILO instruments. The evidence so far suggests that labor provisions have been an important tool for raising awareness and improving laws and legislations with respect to workers' rights, increasing stakeholder involvement in negotiation and implementation phases, and developing domestic institutions to better monitor and enforce labor standards. But challenges remain, particularly with respect to sustainability of impacts, coherence, and cooperative efforts. This new report, part of the Studies on Growth with Equity series, gives a full examination of the scope and effectiveness of these labor provisions.

The History and Future of the World Trade Organization is a comprehensive account of the economic, political and legal issues surrounding the creation of the WTO and its evolution. Fully illustrated with colour and black-and-white photos dating back to the early days of trade negotiations, the publication reviews the WTO's achievements as well as the challenges faced by the organisation, and identifies the key questions that WTO members need to address in the future. The book describes the intellectual roots of the trading system, membership of the WTO and the growth of the Geneva trade community, trade negotiations and the development of coalitions among the membership, and the WTO's relations with other international organisations and civil society. Also covered are the organisation's robust dispute settlement rules, the launch and evolution of the Doha Round, the rise of regional trade agreements, and the leadership and management of the WTO.