Partners Of the Global Forum

The collection and compilation of international trade statistics are done by customs offices, national statistical offices, central banks or ministries. These are the basic producers of the data. The primary users of the trade data are also government institutes, such as the ministries of Trade, Economy or Planning, or the national trade promotion boards. The following institutes have been active in the new developments of trade statistics: Austrian National Bank, Ministry of Development, Industry and Foreign Trade (Brazil), Statistics Canada, ISTAT (Italy), Statistics Netherlands, and the US International Trade Commission.

National Government Institutes
  • Austria - Austrian National Bank
  • Costa Rica - COMEX
  • Italy - ISTAT
  • Japan - METI
  • Netherlands - Statistics Netherlands
  • New Zealand - Statistics New Zealand
  • USA - USITC

National Government Institutes

New Zealand - Statistics New Zealand

Statistics New Zealand Tatauranga Aotearoa is a government department and New Zealand’s national statistical office. It is New Zealand's major source of official statistics and strives to give New Zealand the statistical information it needs to grow and prosper through provision of statistics that are relevant, accessible, and trustworthy. Statistics New Zealand has been publishing statistics for nearly 120 years and has three offices, one in Auckland, Wellington, and Christchurch, with around 1,000 staff in total. The official statistics are used by central and local government, Māori, businesses, communities, researchers, and the public to inform debate and research, to understand New Zealand’s environment, economy, and society and to make decisions that contribute to New Zealand’s economic and social development.

Japan - METI (Ministry of Economy, Trade and Industry of Japan)

The Ministry of Economy, Trade and Industry conduct economic statistical surveys in a wide range of sectors, including mining, manufacturing, wholesale and retail trade, and selected services, and analyze these survey data to have a proper understanding of economic trends. Groups mainly under the control of the Ministry of Economy, Trade and Industry of the groups which belong to the “major category H - information and communications”, “major category K – finance and insurance”, “major category O – education, learning support”, “major category Q – services, N.E.C”, as listed in the Japan Standard Industrial Classification.

Costa Rica - COMEX (Ministry of Foreign Trade of Costa Rica)

The Ministry of Foreign Trade provides the public with information on tariffs , trade flows, foreign direct investment and other economic statistics and indicators in Costa Rica. Data on exports , imports and foreign direct investment comes from the Foreign Trade Promoter (PROCOMER) and Banco Central de Costa Rica (BCCR). Information on tariffs and other indicators originates from the Ministry of National Planning and Economic Policy (MIDEPLAN) and the National Statistics Institute (INEC), among others. Bilateral trade statistics are presented for members of most relevance to the country in terms of trade flows with the main products traded. 

Austria - Austrian National Bank

The Oesterreichische Nationalbank (OeNB) is the central bank of the Republic of Austria and, as such, an integral part of both the European System of Central Banks (ESCB) and the Eurosystem. In the public interest, the OeNB contributes to monetary and economic policy decision making in Austria and in the euro area. The main tasks of the OeNB center on contributing to a stability-oriented monetary policy within the Eurosystem, safeguarding financial stability in Austria and supplying the general public and the business community in Austria with high-quality, i.e. counterfeit-proof, cash. In addition, the OeNB manages reserve assets, i.e. gold and foreign exchange holdings, with a view to backing the euro in times of crisis, draws up economic analyses, compiles statistical data, is active in international organizations and is responsible for payment systems oversight.

Italy - ISTAT

The Italian National Institute of Statistics is a public research organisation and is the main producer of official statistics in the service of citizens and policy-makers. It operates in complete independence and continuous interaction with the academic and scientific communities. Since 1989, ISTAT has been performing the role of directing, coordinating, and providing technical assistance and training within the National Statistical System. The mission of ISTAT is to serve the community by producing and communicating high-quality statistical information, analyses and forecasts in complete independence and in accordance with the strictest ethical and professional principles and most up-to-date scientific standards, in order to develop detailed knowledge of Italy's environmental, economic and social dimensions at various levels of geographical detail and to assist all members of society (citizens, administrators, etc.) in decision-making processes.

Netherlands - Statistics Netherlands

Statistics Netherlands is responsible for collecting and processing data in order to publish statistics to be used in practice, by policymakers and for scientific research. In addition to its responsibility for (official) national statistics, Statistics Netherlands also has the task of producing European (community) statistics. The information Statistics Netherlands publishes incorporates a multitude of societal aspects, from macro-economic indicators such as economic growth and consumer prices, to the incomes of individual people and households. Statistics Netherlands’ statistical programmes are set by the Central Commission for Statistics, which is an independent commission that watches over the independence, impartiality, relevance, quality and continuity of the statistical programme.

USA - USITC

The United States International Trade Commission is an independent, quasi-judicial Federal agency with broad investigative responsibilities on matters of trade. The agency investigates the effects of dumped and subsidized imports on domestic industries and conducts global safeguard investigations. The Commission also adjudicates cases involving imports that allegedly infringe intellectual property rights. Through such proceedings, the agency facilitates a rules-based international trading system. The Commission also serves as a Federal resource where trade data and other trade policy-related information are gathered and analyzed. The information and analysis are provided to the President, the Office of the United States Trade Representative (USTR), and Congress to facilitate the development of sound and informed U.S. trade policy. The Commission makes most of its information and analysis available to the public to promote understanding of international trade issues. The mission of the Commission is to (1) administer U.S. trade remedy laws within its mandate in a fair and objective manner; (2) provide the President, USTR, and Congress with independent analysis, information, and support on matters of tariffs, international trade, and U.S. competitiveness; and (3) maintain the Harmonized Tariff Schedule of the United States (HTS).