interdependence of export credits with other programs such as large-scale projects7, tied
and/or untied aids, and mixed credits.
To set benchmarks on the credit terms and conditions of export credits, the
Arrangement classified importing countries into three classes: rich, intermediate, and
poor based on their per capita GDP8. First, the benchmark for minimum interest rates
was set based on (i) the income class of an importing country, (ii) length of the
repayment period, and (iii) market rates reflecting credit worthiness/economic conditions
of the importing country9. Second, the benchmark for maximum repayment period was
set based on (i) the income class of an importing country, and (ii) financial involvement
such as credit lending or investment lending. Third, the benchmark for minimum down
payments was based on the income class of an importing country. Fourth, the benchmark
for minimum risk premium rates was set based on (i) the risk assessment of an importing
country, (ii) cost of covering long-term operating costs and losses, and (iii) quality and
percentage of risk coverage provided. Fifth, the Arrangement set the benchmark for
offering aid credits as follows. Prior to a face-to-face consultation to match any aid credit
7 A large-scale project refers to a project involving mining operations, steel mills, industrial plants, and
public utility plants, which requires a large scale of financing with a long term maturity.
8 These countries are classified based on having their gross national product per capita at a level at which
the World Bank would or would not grant a loan longer than 17 years to them. For example, for a rich
country, the World Bank would not grant a loan longer than 17 years to it since it is considered to be
creditworthy enough to attract commercial credits (OECD, 1998).
9 The Arrangement agreed to use the Commercial Interest Reference Rates (CIRRs) as the minimum
interest rates to respond to the movement of interest rates determined by the market and to prevent an
interest rate subsidy that results from the divergent range between high- and low-interest-rate countries.
The CIRRs were established according to five principles: (i) to represent final commercial lending interest
rates in the domestic market of the currency concerned; (ii) to correspond closely to the rate for first-class
domestic borrowers; (iii) to be based, where appropriate, on the funding cost of fixed interest-rate finance
over a period of no less than five years; (iv) to not distort domestic competitive conditions; and (v) to
correspond closely to a rate available to first-class foreign borrowers.
10