Quantifying the Barriers to Services Trade in the Commonwealth: A Focus on Kenya and Rwanda

Major data limitations arise within the realm of assessing services trade restrictiveness measures among Commonwealth countries, many of which overwhelmingly depend on this sector for growth and jobs. Quantifying the Barriers to Services Trade in the Commonwealth focuses on addressing policy barriers within services sectors in Kenya and Rwanda, including commercial banking, distribution, and road transportation, which are key enablers of trade. Our findings suggest many policy barriers are crosscutting issues, rather than sector-specific. Moreover, there is a degree of regulatory convergence with other Commonwealth countries included in the OECD’s trade restrictiveness database, which helps to reduce trade costs.

The Commonwealth Secretariat, established in 1965, supports Commonwealth member countries to achieve development, democracy, and peace. We are a voice for small and vulnerable states and a champion for young people.