Trade Policy Consultant

USAID- Jordan Economic Reform Activity (ERA) Task Order 1

Trade Policy Consultant

Scope of Work

POSITION DESCRIPTION

This consultancy is targeted at providing technical assistance and support to the Trade Policy Division at the Foreign Trade Policies Directorate (FTPD) at the Ministry of Industry, Trade and Supply; to assist and build the capacity of its staff in conducting the third trade policy review of Jordan as embodied within the Trade Policy Review Mechanism of the World Trade Organization.

DETAILED RESPONSIBILITIES

1. Work directly with the staff of the Trade Policy Division, in charge of monitoring the implementation of Jordan’s commitments within the WTO including those within the WTO TPR Mechanism to finalize the third trade policy review on the basis of a policy statement by the GoJ and a report prepared by the secretariat of the WTO TPR Division.
2. The consultant shall prepare a road map for finalizing this review in alignment with the review schedule identified by the Trade Policy Review Division at the WTO, and in close coordination with public and private bodies involved in formulating or implementing trade and trade‑related policies, as inter alia:

• Gathering information requested by the WTO TPR Division pertaining applied trade policy policies and procedures, such as:

• Tariffs, customs procedures and valuation.
• Import procedures, licensing, restrictions and controls.
• Sanitary and phytosanitary measures as well as standardization, testing, certifications and approval procedures.
• Trade related investment measures.
• Export prohibitions and controls, licensing and certification schemes, subsidies, finance and taxes.
• Free zones, special economic zones, and qualifying industrial zones (QIZs).
• General and specific industry assistance, food subsidies, price regulations and controls.
• Intellectual property right protection, including patents, trademarks, industrial designs, copyright, geographical indications, topographies of integrated circuits, trade names, know-how and trade secrets; and IPR enforcement.
• Preferential treatment, including regional, bilateral and Generalized System of Preferences (GSP).
• Investment treaties and agreements, including on double taxation avoidance.
• Trade-related national committees or task forces.

In addition, to collecting documents and publications requested by the WTO TPR Division on Jordan’s current macroeconomic situation, Jordan’s Free Trade Agreements, relevant statistical publications from 2015 onwards, economic reports and studies issued by public and private bodies. This shall also include laws and regulations governing foreign trade, implementation of WTO agreements, investment, competition policy, intellectual property right, as well as sectoral legislation and policies.

• Review and comment on the drafted chapters of the WTO secretariat’s report.
• Support the organization of the WTO secretariat’s visit to Amman to meet relevant public and private bodies.
• Support the finalization process of the WTO secretariat’s report.
• Support responding to the written questions and requests of information submitted by WTO members in advance of the meeting of the Trade Policy Review Body, which is expected to take place in September 2023.
• Support the drafting of the policy statement to be presented by the GoJ (known as Jordan report); outlining the main principles and directions of its trade policies as of 2015 onwards.
• Support the preparation process of Jordan’s participation in the meeting of the Trade Policy Review Body, including the preparation of relevant speeches and documentations.

1. The consultant shall also ensure that the road map, mentioned under item (2) includes a plan to ensure building the technical capacities of the TPD staff and the PoC at the relevant public and private bodies.

Period of Performance and Level of Effort (LOE)

The expected level of effort exerted by the consultant is 120 days distributed over the period the second week of November 2022 to the end of September 2023. The level of effort shall be distributed as follows:

• 10% will be exerted for the conduct of an awareness session at the beginning of this consultancy benefiting the TPD staff and relevant PoC on the WTO TPR Mechanism. The awareness session shall be organized at the beginning of the assignment as directed by MoITS officials.
• 40% on the collection of information, responding to the questions of the WTO secretariat, reviewing and commenting on the draft secretariat’s report. This task shall start from the beginning of this assignment until June, 2023.This shall also include building the capacities of the relevant personnel and transfer of knowledge on the conduct of the review.
• 5% on the preparation of the WTO secretariat’s visit to Amman during June, 2023.
• 20% will be exerted to review and comment on the draft report to be prepared by the GoJ, by July 2023.
• 15% on responding to the questions and requests of information submitted by WTO members by September 2023.
• 10% on the preparation of Jordan’s participation in the TPRB meeting scheduled to take place end of September 2023.

MINIMUM QUALIFICATIONS:

• University degree in international trade or economics; master’s degree preferred.
• At least 10 years of experience in foreign trade policy formulation and implementation, with a minimum of 5 years experience in the multilateral trading system as embodied within the World Trade Organization.
• Familiar with the ongoing negotiations on the multilateral and plurilateral fora in the WTO.
• Substantial knowledge of Jordan’s commitments within the multilateral, regional and bilateral trade and investment agreements.
• Deep understanding of the structure and development of the Jordanian economy and sectoral economic sectors.
• Excellent communication and writing/reporting skills.
• Excellent data analysis and statistical skills.
• Flexible team player, with the ability to also work independently.
• Fluency in spoken and written Arabic and English required.

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