The consultant will fulfilling the below tasks and providing:
- Review the text of the agreement and summarizes major expected changes in terms of market access for both parties in their corresponding national markets.
- Review and analyses major lessons from the available assessments of similar FTAs signed by Turkey with a sample of Arab countries namely Tunisia, Jordan, Morocco, and Egypt. Specific focus should be made on the safeguard measures adopted by the four Arab countries to reduce trade imbalances due to the implementation of the these FTAs.
- Use quantitative tools (including ATSI) to provide ex-ante assessment of the economic and social impacts of implementing the FTA between Turkey and Lebanon.
Formulate recommendations on implementation modalities of the FTA with Turkey, including new negative lists, tariff dismantling schedule. and revision recommendations.
The present consultancy will be limited to trade in goods.
Beirut
3 months
Compared with many Arab countries, Lebanon has traditionally had a relatively open trade regime.
Efforts towards trade liberalization have focused on the European Union (EU) and the Arab world. The free trade agreement (FTA) with the European Union came into force in April 2006, and was gradually implemented over the period 2008-2014. It provides for reciprocal free trade on most industrial goods, and liberalizes trade on a wide range of raw and processed agricultural goods. In parallel with the FTA with the European Union, Lebanon signed an FTA with the European Free Trade Association (EFTA) in 2004, and an association agreement with Turkey in 2010, to establish a free trade area over the subsequent ten years. However, the agreement with Turkey has not yet been ratified. The objective of this consultancy is to provide an depth analysis on the opportunities and risks of implementing the FTA with Turkey in line with the reached agreement between both parties. The outcomes of this consultancy will assist the ministry of economy and trade in Lebanon to take decision on either starting full implementation of the negotiated agreement or to initiate a new round of negotiations to adjust the text in a way to reflect the current economic and social situation in Lebanon and its development needs and prospects.
The consultant will provide qualitative and quantitative assessments on the potential economic impacts of the FTA with Turkey on the national economy.
This assignment is within the scope of technical assistance to Lebanon.
Academic Qualifications: Advanced university degree in applied economics is required. Having a PhD is desirable.
Experience: - At least eight years of relevant experience in trade analysis including exante and expost assessments of preferential trade agreements is required.
- Strong knowledge of trade regulations and preferential trade agreements including market access conditions for agricultural and non agricultural products, rules of origins, safeguard measures, trade creation and trade diversion is an asset.
Language: Fluency in English and Arabic is required.
No travel costs is available.
THE UNITED NATIONS DOES NOT CHARGE A FEE AT ANY STAGE OF THE RECRUITMENT PROCESS (APPLICATION, INTERVIEW MEETING, PROCESSING, OR TRAINING). THE UNITED NATIONS DOES NOT CONCERN ITSELF WITH INFORMATION ON APPLICANTS’ BANK ACCOUNTS.