Year
2015
Abstract
Nonproliferation “export controls” have evolved in recent years into “strategic trade controls”, in recognition of the growing importance of other trade flows, especially transit, transshipment, and re- export, in the global economy. However, analysts and officials involved in strategic trade control often lack quantitative global understanding of relevant trade patterns that would help them focus control and enforcement efforts. Further, many are unaware of readily available data sets that can illuminate the issue or how to make use of such data. A Strategic Trade Atlas was developed to promote understanding of global trade flows of nuclear-related and other strategic goods and raise awareness of the availability and utility of trade data. As a first test, a Strategic Trade Atlas was prepared in 2014 for the World Customs Organization (WCO) and its Member States to support their planning and execution of the first global strategic trade control law enforcement operation. This atlas provided macroscopic graphical representations of global trade flows classified under Harmonized System (HS) codes associated (by the WCO) with strategic commodities (including nuclear and nuclear-related dual-use items). The profiles summarized vast amounts of data into readily understandable representations of each country’s primary strategic imports and exports and their main trading partners for strategic goods. The profiles were based upon the freely available UN COMTRADE database, which is maintained by the United Nations Statistical Division. This and other high quality, statistically relevant data sources exist, but are largely untapped resources for strategic trade control purposes. Efforts to promote and facilitate use of trade data should enhance the effectiveness and efficiency of strategic trade control efforts.