July 2011: The African Development Bank (AfDB), the International Trade Centre, the UN Conference on Trade and Development (UNCTAD) and the World Bank, in cooperation with the UN Statistics Division, have announced the launch of the Transparency in Trade Initiative (TNT), which will allow increased access to country-specific trade data.

This initiative addresses the issue of transparency arising from the lack of access to country-specific trade data through the provision of free access to information on trade policy instruments such as tariffs and non-tariff measures. TNT is also expected to new, more accurate data on non-tariff measures and policies affecting trade. The data will be accessed through an internet platform for users in developed and developing countries.

This initiative will ensure that relevant standards and requirements are met by exporters and policy makers, and allow for improved monitoring and verification of trade-related projects. Additionally, access to the data allows governments to identify policy constraints and prioritize areas for reform and trade negotiations. [AfDB Press Release]