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Thomas Alexander Zimmermann
Title
Dr.
Last Name
Zimmermann
First name
Thomas Alexander
Email
thomas.zimmermann@unisg.ch
RePec
https://ideas.repec.org/e/pzi27.html
SSRN
https://papers.ssrn.com/sol3/cf_dev/AbsByAuth.cfm?per_id=446052
Now showing
1 - 10 of 70
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PublicationA case of unilateral trade liberalization: The autonomous abolition of industrial tariffs by Switzerland in 2024(Schweizerisches Institut für Aussenwirtschaft und Angewandte Wirtschaftsforschung (SIAW-HSG), 2023-12-22)On 1 January 2024, Switzerland will implement a major trade policy reform by autonomously eliminating all tariffs on imports of industrial products regardless of their origin. After a brief review of the literature on unilateral trade liberalization and the current Swiss tariff landscape, this paper presents the motivation and the substance of the reform. The elimination of industrial tariffs will reduce the net fiscal burden on imports by around CHF 600 million per year. In addition, imports will be easier to administer, as the Swiss customs tariff will be simplified (thanks to a reduction in tariff numbers) and proofs of origin will no longer be required for goods that remain in Switzerland. We summarize the main findings of studies carried out in the run-up to the reform. The political process and debates leading up to parliamentary approval of the reform, its reception in international fora and the ongoing work on implementation are presented as well. I conclude that the difficult process of obtaining parliamentary approval confirms the insights from the political economy literature that unilateral trade liberalization is politically difficult to achieve in a purely domestic context, despite the economic benefits it brings. From an economic perspective, the contribution of unilateral liberalization to domestic market opening is substantial and has certain advantages, also in comparison to other trade policy instruments such as free trade agreements (FTAs). Unilateral liberalization and preferential liberalization through FTAs need not be mutually exclusive but can be seen as complementary trade policy tools.Type: journal articleJournal: Aussenwirtschaft - Schweizerische Zeitschrift für internationale Wirtschaftsbeziehungen - The Swiss Review of International Economic RelationsVolume: 73Issue: 1
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PublicationType: journal articleJournal: Die Volkswirtschaft / La Vie EconomiqueVolume: 96Issue: 4
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PublicationType: journal articleJournal: Die VolkswirtschaftVolume: 84Issue: 1/2
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PublicationType: journal articleJournal: La Vie EconomiqueVolume: 84Issue: 1/2
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PublicationType: journal articleJournal: Die VolkswirtschaftVolume: 83Issue: 7-8
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PublicationType: journal articleJournal: La Vie EconomiqueIssue: 7-8
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PublicationType: journal articleJournal: Die VolkswirtschaftVolume: 81Issue: 7-8
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PublicationType: journal articleJournal: La Vie EconomiqueVolume: 81Issue: 7-8
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PublicationType: journal articleJournal: Die Volkswirtschaft = La Vie EconomiqueVolume: 80Issue: 7/8
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PublicationWTO Dispute Settlement at Ten: Evolution, Experiences, and EvaluationOn 1 January 1995, the Understanding on Rules and Procedures Governing the Settlement of Disputes (DSU) entered into force. During its first ten years, the DSU has since been applied to 324 complaints - more cases than dispute settlement under the GATT 1947 had dealt with in nearly five decades. The system is perceived, both by practitioners and in academic literature, to work generally well. However, it has also revealed some flaws. Negotiations to review and reform the DSU have been taking place since 1997 ("DSU review"), however, without yielding any result so far. In the meantime, WTO Members and adjudicating bodies managed to develop the system further through evolving practice. While this approach may remedy some practical shortcomings of the DSU text, the more profound imbalance between relatively efficient judicial decisionmaking in the WTO (as incorporated in the DSU) and nearly blocked political decisionmaking evolves into a serious challenge to the sustainability of the system. This article provides an overview of the first ten years of DSU practice, the on-going DSU review negotiations, and the challenges to the dispute settlement system.Type: journal articleJournal: Aussenwirtschaft; Zeitschrift für internationale WirtschaftsbeziehungenVolume: 60Issue: 1