WITS REST API

       

Overview

Use WITS REST API to programmatically access databases in WITS. At present the UNCTAD TRAINS dataset is available through our new API module. We are planning to add more dataset in the near future. If you are interested in a specific dataset that are currently available through WITS, please let us know by email at wits@worldbank.org The WITS API module supports two requests format: SDMX and URL based structure. The data response structures for both the requests are identical and available currently in XML and JSON format.

WITS API Documentation TRADE Stats Data UNCTAD TRAINS Data

Aggregate trade and tariff data, plus trade related and relevant development indicators are available through this API.

Trade Stats – Trade: Trade data such as total exports, number or products exported, exporting and importing partner countries and exported and imported product groups are available. Trade indicators like Hirschman Herfindahl market concentration index, index of market penetration, world growth and country growth in percentage.

Trade Stats – Tariff: Tariff information like number of trade agreements, simple and weighted average tariff, duty free imports value and duty free goods share in percentage are available.

Trade Stats – Development: Development indicators such as GDP, GNI per capita, Trade Balance, Trade and Services trade as percentage of GPD is available from WDI.

Trade, Tariff and Development indicator data can be downloaded by specifying values for the below dimensions:

Reporter: The Reporter ISO3 Country/Region Code. Refer metadata section for list of ISO3 Code and name for Countries/Region

Partner: The Partner ISO3 Country/Region Code. Refer metadata section for list of ISO3 Code and name for Countries/Region. Use “999” as partner for indicators where Partner dimension is not applicable.

Product Code: The product group code that belongs to Sector, Stage of Processing or SITC Rev2 Standard groups can be used. Products Groups and its description available in the API. Use “999999” as Product for indicators where Product dimension is not       applicable.

Year: Year for which data is needed. Refer metadata section for available years. Note Starting year is 1988.

Indicator: The value can be a Trade, Tariff or Development indicator code. Indicators and description available in the API.

Limitation on Data Request

In order to avoid server overload, request for entire database is not possible in one query. The following are the options to request data

  • Maximum of two dimension with “All” value is allowed.
  • Data request with All Reporter and All Partners is not allowed.
  • When two of the dimensions have “All”, then rest of the dimension should have a specific value.
  • Trade Stats data for a single reporter, partner, Indicator and product can be requested for a range of years.

For complete information on the available endpoints and parameters along with sample requests, refer to the WITS API User guide


 

Preferential and most-favored-nation (MFN) tariff rates are available in this dataset. Data are harmonized across the countries at 6-digit level of the Harmonized System. Tariff data (traded and non-traded tariff lines) can be downloaded by specifying values for the below dimensions:

Reporter: The Reporter ISO Country Code. Refer metadata section for list of Reporter Code and name

Partner: Country or group of countries to which the (preferential) tariff rate applies. Refer metadata section for list of single partner code and alpha-numeric code that represents a group of countries

Product Code: 6-digit HS code. Refer metadata section for list of Reporter Codes. Refer metadata section for list of product Codes and description

Year: Year in which the tariff was valid. Refer metadata section for available years

Data Type: Reported Tariff rate only or Reported tariff rate and all specific duty expression estimated using UNCTAD method.

The following measures on trade and non-traded tariff lines are available on the response along with the requested dimension values

SimpleAverage: Simple average of ad valorem tariff rates from all national tariff lines within the corresponding HS 6-digit code. OBS_Value denotes the simple average on the response

TARIFFTYPE: Identifies whether the tariff rate is Preferential (PREF) or most-favored-nation (MFN).

TOTALNOOFLINES: Total number of national tariff lines within the corresponding HS 6-digit code.

NBR_PREF_LINES: Number of national tariff lines within the corresponding HS 6-digit code for which preferential rates are applicable.

NBR_MFN_LINES: Number of national tariff lines within the corresponding HS 6-digit code for which preferential rates are NOT applicable (so that MFN rates are used in the calculation of the simple average)

NBR_NA_LINES: Number of national tariff lines within the corresponding HS 6-digit code for which preferential rates are NOT in ad valorem form (so that the line is not included in the calculation of the simple average)

SUM_OF_RATES: Sum of ad valorem tariff rates from all national tariff lines within the corresponding HS 6-digit code

MIN_RATE: Lowest ad valorem tariff rates among all national tariff lines within the corresponding HS 6-digit code.

MAX_RATE: Highest ad valorem tariff rates among all national tariff lines within the corresponding HS 6-digit code

NOMENCODE: Revision of HS used (H0 = HS 1988/92, H1= HS 1996, H2 = HS 2002, H3 = HS 2007, H4 = HS 2012)

EXCLUDEDFROM: Country code of the country excluded from the application of the particular preferential rate for the corresponding product.

Limitation on Data Request

In order to avoid server overload request for entire database is not possible in one query. The following are the options to request data

  • All products tariff schedules can be requested for a single reporter, partner and year
  • Tariff schedule for a single reporter, partner, and product can be requested for a range of years
  • Tariff schedule for one or more reporters, one or more partners, one or more products can be requested for a single year
  • Either reported or AVE estimated data type can be requested in a single request

For complete information on the available endpoints and parameters along with sample requests, refer to the WITS API User guide