Press Release - Enhancing ASEAN’s International Merchandise Trade Statistics

EASCAB to assess ASEAN data on trade
 

ASEAN trade statistics stand to be enhanced when existing regional data is compared against the latest international methodological norms. Such merchandise data, currently maintained at the ASEAN Secretariat, would have to comply with the ASEAN framework and meet important international standards and classifications.

The assessment would be carried out when the Task Force on International Merchandise Trade Statistics meets in early December in Jakarta. Experts from EU–ASEAN Statistical Capacity Building (EASCAB) Programme and from ASEANstats will present an assessment of the data ASEAN Secretariat receives from Member States.

The experts will also present a thorough assessment of the latest situation as to whether the data are in compliance with ASEAN requirements as stipulated by the Coordination Committee for Common Effective Preferential Tariff Scheme for AFTA (ASEAN Free Trade Area). 

The convening of the Task Force is a follow-up of a regional workshop on this issue that was held in August 2009. Task force members will present and share procedures suggested to be implemented at the national level.

The Task Force was established in 2006 with the mandate to identify and discuss issues concerning collection, classification and quality assurance and outputs of national and regional merchandise trade statistics. The Task Force includes members from national statistical offices, customs, state agencies and central banks.

For further information please contact: Jean Michel Emprou, Team Leader EASCAB Programme.