Hyacint Consult brings over a decade of experience in trade (policy) and development related matters, ranging from assessing the implications of trade barriers or FTA's, to supporting insights on key supply chain realities, vulnerabilities or dependencies for certain materials or goods, services or FDI streams.
Our team members have contributed to studies commissioned by inter alia private companies seeking company-specific supply chain insights, think-tanks and research institutes, UN/ITC, European Commission, Deloitte Belgium and other organisations on trade and development related insights.
Publicly available studies are available here-under:
Example:
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Study title: 'Research Study: Non-Tariff Barriers on Selected Goods Faced by Exporters from the EAC to the EU and USA'
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Funding entity: CUTS
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Hyacint Consult team: Famke Schaap
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Content: This publication provides insights on the non-tariff barriers faced by MSME's with focus on coffee and horticulture supply chains originating from African EAC countries and destined for EU and US markets.
Example:
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Study title: 'White-paper on Enhancing MSME Participation in Trade'
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Funding entity: CUTS
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Hyacint Consult team: Francoise Guei and Famke Schaap
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Content: This publication addresses the role of MSME's in global trade, with particular attention to non-tariff barriers faced by MSME's from developing countries.
Considerations for the WTO Informal Work Programme for MSMEs
Whitepaper on Enhancing msme participation in trade
MSMEs are crucial to domestic economies, representing the majority of businesses and employment worldwide. Despite their significant contribution to national GDP, their participation in international trade is disproportionately low. Barriers such as limited access to finance, complex regulatory requirements, and high trade costs impede their ability to compete in global markets. Furthermore, inconsistent definitions and a lack of reliable data on MSMEs hinder the development of tailored trade policies and support mechanisms.
The paper emphasizes the importance of aligning MSME support with broader global objectives, such as the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), to promote inclusive and sustainable growth. Technological advancements, particularly in digital trade and e-commerce, are identified as key enablers that can reduce trade costs and open new markets for MSMEs. However, these opportunities require complementary efforts, including capacity building, simplification of trade procedures, and improved transparency in trade-related information. Through its recommendations, the whitepaper advocates for pragmatic approaches within the WTO's informal work program.
Do you want to learn more? Click below to download.
Non- Tariff Barriers on Selected Goods Faced by Exporters from EAC to the EU and USA
Research Study
This research project focuses on challenges faced by exporters from the East African Community (EAC) in penetrating the markets of the European Union (EU) and the United States while providing a detailed analysis of non-tariff barriers (NTBs), which include various restrictive regulations and standards that countries impose, and their impacts on trade.
The study defines NTBs broadly, (such as quotas, import licensing, technical standards, and customs procedures, which often act as significant hurdles despite the liberalization of tariffs under international and regional trade agreements) and categorizes these barriers into several types, including technical barriers to trade (TBT), sanitary and phytosanitary measures (SPS), and procedural obstacles like lengthy border inspections. Additionally, it situates these NTBs in the context of global trade regulations under the World Trade Organization (WTO) and regional arrangements, including the EAC and Tripartite Free Trade Area (TFTA).
It focuses on specific goods from the EAC that encounter such obstacles and examines the varying impacts of NTBs in the EU and U.S. markets while underscoring that the urgency of addressing NTBs through cooperative strategies within the EAC and negotiations with trade partners to ensure that regional exporters can fully realize their market potential.
Do you want to learn more? Click below to download.