DP12203 Services Trade Policy and Sustainable Development

Author(s):	Matteo Fiorini, Bernard Hoekman
Publication Date:	August 2017
Keyword(s):	services trade policy, sustainable development goals, Trade in Services
JEL(s):	F13, L8, O10, O24
Programme Areas:	International Trade and Regional Economics
Link to this Page:	cepr.org/active/publications/discussion_papers/dp.php?dpno=12203

The realization of many of the sustainable development goals (SDGs) depends on bolstering the performance of services sectors and improving access to specific services in developing countries. We show that prevailing services trade and investment policies impact on access to services that matter for the realization of a number of SDGs: lower trade restrictiveness is an instrument that can enhance the performance of domestic services sectors. An implication is that pursuit of the SDGs should include a focus on facilitating trade and investment in services.