Assessing the Adjustment Implications of Trade Policy Changes Using Trist (Tariff Reform Impact Simulation Tool)

33 Pages Posted: 20 Apr 2016

See all articles by Paul Brenton

Paul Brenton

World Bank

Christian Saborowski

International Monetary Fund (IMF)

Cornelia Staritz

Vienna University of Economics and Business Administration

Erik von Uexkull

affiliation not provided to SSRN

Date Written: September 1, 2009

Abstract

TRIST is a simple, easy to use tool to assess the adjustment implications of trade reform. It improves on existing tools. First, it is an improvement in terms of accuracy because projections are based on revenues actually collected at the tariff line level rather than simply applying statutory rates. Second, it is transparent and open; runs in Excel, with formulas and calculation steps visible to the user; and is open-source and users are free to change, extend, or improve according to their needs. Third, TRIST has greater policy relevance because it projects the impact of tariff reform on total fiscal revenue (including VAT and excise) and results are broken down to the product level so that sensitive products or sectors can be identified. And fourth, the tool is flexible and can incorporate tariff liberalization scenarios involving any group of trading partners and any schedules of products. This paper describes the TRIST tool and provides a range of examples that demonstrate the insights that the tool can provide to policy makers on the adjustment impacts of reducing tariffs.

Keywords: Trade Policy, Free Trade, Debt Markets, International Trade and Trade Rules, Economic Theory & Research

Suggested Citation

Brenton, Paul and Saborowski, Christian and Staritz, Cornelia and von Uexkull, Erik, Assessing the Adjustment Implications of Trade Policy Changes Using Trist (Tariff Reform Impact Simulation Tool) (September 1, 2009). World Bank Policy Research Working Paper No. 5045, Available at SSRN: https://ssrn.com/abstract=1471143

Paul Brenton (Contact Author)

World Bank ( email )

1818 H Street, N.W.
Washington, DC 20433
United States

Christian Saborowski

International Monetary Fund (IMF) ( email )

700 19th Street, N.W.
Washington, DC 20431
United States

Cornelia Staritz

Vienna University of Economics and Business Administration ( email )

Welthandelsplatz 1
Vienna, Wien 1020
Austria

Erik Von Uexkull

affiliation not provided to SSRN

No Address Available