Implementing Namibian Horticultural Market Share Promotion Scheme Through Knowledge Management: A Case Study

Introduction

The application of Non-Tariff Measures (NTMs) by developing economies to promote food security and related economic imperatives has been a recurring “bone of contention” at the World Trade Organisation (WTO) and by extension the Southern African region. Despite the substantial elimination of custom tariffs resulting from the conclusion of the General Agreement on Tariff and Trade in 1994 (GATT 1994) and negotiations under the WTO, NTMs have rapidly gained prominence in recent times as emerging alternative policy instruments for regulating trade in the 21st century. NTMs are often interpreted to mean the same as Non-Tariff Barriers (NTBs), though technically each has a different meaning. Basu, Rial, Rahman, Dumesnil, Abramowitz, and Keita (2010) documented the WTO definition of NTMs as policy measures, other than ordinary customs tariffs, that can potentially have an economic effect on international trade in goods, changing quantities traded, prices or both. While on the other hand, NTB is a form of NTMs that result in an obstacle to international trade.

In addition, Viljoen (2011) took a view that NTBs are mostly used to indicate policy interventions, except tariffs, which affect and distort the trade of goods, services and factors of production. In international trade, however, trade distortions exist when the price at the border differs from the domestic price due to measures like domestic regulations or administrative procedures that are imposed for various reasons. This may include ensuring food safety, product safety and addressing environmental issues. Viljoen (2011) further differentiated the two concepts by referring to NTMs as policy measures that limit trade, with no implied judgement on the legitimacy of the measures. Nevertheless, both concepts (NTMs and NTBs) cause distressing restrictions to trade, which is contrary to WTO trade liberalization ambitions. Therefore, throughout this chapter, the terms “NTMs” and “NTBs” are used interchangeably.

At the core of these NTMs are the non-automatic import licensing schemes. The latter claim is well confirmed by Kimani (2013) in his paper on “Overcoming NTBs to Regional Trade through Stakeholders Forum”. In the discussion paper, Kimani (2013) acknowledged that the available statistics on the Tripartite NTB Monitoring Mechanism shared by the Southern African Development Community (SADC); Common Market for Eastern and Southern Africa (COMESA); and the East African Community (EAC) shows that non-automatic import licensing are second on the list as the most frequently reported inconsistent NTMs. In the WTO framework, non-automatic import licensing schemes will be inconsistent if not implemented in accordance with the applicable provisions of the WTO Agreement on Import Licensing Procedures. This Agreement focuses on ensuring a simplified, transparent, fair and equitable administration of import licensing procedures. According to the Agreement, non-automatic import licenses are those whose approval of the application is not granted in all circumstances and that it is used to administer a quantitative restriction. In detail, the agreement requires that;