NTM Trackers 16: Country Series – Lao PDR

Extracted November 2020
NTM Tracker Research Director: Hong Jukhee
Prepared by: Imran Said Shamsunahar | Research Editor: Eleen Ooi Yi Ling
Webmaster: Nuratiqha Abd Razak

Synopsis
As part of CARI’s ongoing work on NTMs in ASEAN, the NTM Trackers: Country Series tracks the NTMs imposed by all individual ASEAN Member States as well as major ASEAN Dialogue Partners. The data presented goes beyond just aggregate data and breaks down the individual NTMs by partners affected, their codes, dates of when they were imposed, descriptions of the measures, whether the measures are also imposed domestically, descriptions of the products affected, and finally sources. The fifteenth country in our series is Lao PDR. All data in the series is extracted from UNCTAD TRAINS NTM database as of November 2020. This series will be periodically updated as new data becomes available.

(This article contains nine tables that are best viewed on a desktop or horizontally on your mobile.)

1. Introduction

This report is part of a series of NTM trackers tracking Non-Tariff Measures imposed by ASEAN member states and dialogue partners.

The data below on Lao PDR was extracted from UNCTAD TRAINS NTM database1 in November 2020. The table captures: the partners affected, the NTM code, the date of which the measure was put into force, a description of the measure, whether the measure is also imposed domestically, a description of the product, and finally its source. It should be noted that the data extracted from the UNCTAD TRAINS NTM database is the best available data at time of publishing. The NTMs are arranged in descending order.

Lao PDR ranks eighth in ASEAN by aggregate number of NTMs in 2020

For an overview of Non-Tariff Measures in ASEAN, please refer to CARI’s full report: ASEAN Non-Tariff Measures, Services and Investment Restrictiveness Tracker

2. About NTM classification


To help better identify and distinguish between the various types of NTMs, NTM measures are divided into chapters depending on their scope and/or design. Within import measures, the classification of data is divided into technical and non-technical classifications. Export-related measures are classified separately (Table 1).

Table 1: Import NTM Classification by UNCTAD

Technical measuresNon-technical measuresExports

  • A. Sanitary and phytosanitary measures (SPS)
  • B. Technical barriers to trade (TBT)
  • C. Pre-shipment inspection and other formalities

  • D. Contingent trade-protective measures
  • E. Non-automatic licensing, quotas, prohibitions and quantity-control measures other than for SPS or TBT reasons
  • F. Price control measures including additional taxes and charges
  • G. Finance measures
  • H. Measures affecting competition
  • I. Trade-related investment measures
  • J. Distribution restrictions
  • K. Restrictions on post-sales services
  • L. Subsidies (Excluding export subsidies under P7)
  • M. Government procurement restrictions
  • N. Intellectual property
  • O. Rules of origin

  • P. Export-related measures




Each chapter is further differentiated into several subgroups with a depth of up to three levels. This allows a finer classification of the regulations affecting international trade. For full details on the classification system used for NTMs, please go here: International Classification of Non-Tariff Measures (2019 version)


a) Export-related measures imposed by Lao PDR 

Below is the total number of Export-related measures (EXP) imposed by Lao PDR as of November 2020. UNCTAD describes EXP measures as: ‘Export-related measures applied by the government of the exporting country on exported goods.’

As of November 2020, Lao PDR has imposed a total of 172 EXP measures. These measures were first in force between 1998 to 2017.

Table 2


b) Technical barriers to trade measures imposed by Lao PDR 

Below is the total number of Technical Barriers to Trade measures (TBT) imposed by Lao PDR as of November 2020. UNCTAD describes TBT measures as: ‘measures referring to technical regulations, and procedures for assessment of conformity with technical regulations and standards.’

As of November 2020, Lao PDR has imposed a total of 141 TBT measures. These measures were first in force between 2002 to 2018.

Table 3


c) Quantity control measures imposed by Lao PDR  

Below is the total number of Quantity Control measures (QC) imposed by Lao PDR as of November 2020. UNCTAD describes QC measures as: ‘control measures generally aimed at restraining the quantity of goods that can be imported.’

As of November 2020, Lao PDR has imposed a total of 75 QC measures. These measures were first in force between 1996 to 2018.

Table 4


d) Sanitary and phytosanitary measures imposed by Lao PDR 

Below is the total number of Sanitary and Phytosanitary (SPS) Measures imposed by Lao PDR as of November 2020. UNCTAD describes SPS measures as: ‘Measures that are applied to protect human or animal life from risks arising from: additives, contaminants, toxins or disease-causing organisms in food.’

As of November 2020, Lao PDR has imposed a total of 56 SPS measures. These measures were first in force between 1998 to 2017.

Table 5


e) Price control measures imposed by Lao PDR

Below is the total number of Price control measures (PC) imposed by Lao PDR as of November 2020. UNCTAD describes PC measures as: ‘measures implemented to control or affect the prices of imported goods.

As of November 2020, Lao PDR has imposed a total of 56 PC measures. These measures were first in force between 2003 to 2018.

Table 6


f) Pre-Shipment inspection measures imposed by Lao PDR

Below is the total number of pre-shipment inspection measures (INSP) imposed by Lao PDR as of November 2020.

As of November 2020, Lao PDR has imposed 18 INSP measures. These measures were first in force between 2009 and 2017.

Table 7


g) Other measures imposed by Lao PDR

Below is the total number of Other measures (INSP) imposed by Lao PDR as of November 2020.

As of November 2020, Lao PDR has imposed 2 Other measures. These measures were first in force between 2009 and 2016.

Table 8


Footnotes

1 The data has been collected by UNCTAD. Accuracy of data to be verified against relevant data. For methodology, please refer to UNCTAD.