Discuss this articleShare your views with other visitors, and read what they have to say
28-30 September, Geneva, Switzerland. WTO PUBLIC FORUM 2009. Under the heading “Global problems, global solutions: towards better global governance,” the World Trade Organization (WTO) Public Forum 2009 will gather civil society representatives, governments and international organizations to discuss the role of the multilateral trading system and the Doha Round of negotiations within the context of the current global economic crisis. For more information, send an email to publicforum2009@wto.org, or see the event’s website http://www.wto.org/english/forums_e/ngo_e/forum09_background_e.htm
29 September, Geneva, Switzerland. TRADE AND CLIMATE CHANGE CODE WITH GARY HUFBAUER. As climate change policy shifts into high gear ahead of the end-of-year Copenhagen Summit, there is an increased need to better manage and perhaps remodel the interface between trade and climate change policies and agreements. There is a need for new and improved tools to organise convergence (and manage likely divergences) at the trade-climate change interface, and to explore the scope for - and consequences of - changing current trade disciplines and the assumptions that underlie them. One of the most interesting proposals made to date in this regard is that of a “Trade and Climate Code” advanced by Gary Hufbauer, Steve Charnovitz and Jusun Kim in their recent book Global Warming and the World Trading System. At this event, co hosted by ICTSD and WTI Advisors, Gary C. Hufbauer of the Washington-based Peterson Institute for International Economics, Washington, will present his proposal to a Geneva audience. His presentation will be followed by comments from Gary Horlick, of The Law Offices of Gary Horlick, Washington D.C., Hannes Schloemann, WTI Advisors, Geneva, and Johannes Bernabe of ICTSD. For more information, please email Cecile de Gardelle, cdegardelle@ictsd.ch
29 September, Geneva, Switzerland. GLOBAL NETWORKING TO INCREASE MEMBERSTATE CAPACITY WITHIN THE DISPUTE SETTLEMENT PROCESS. While the DSU is intergovernmental in nature, WTO Dispute Settlement would not be possible without the involvement of a wider network of stakeholders. Private firms, legal counsel, and nongovernmental organisations all provide invaluable assistance to Member states hoping to overcome disagreement via the mechanism. This point has particular salience with respect to overcoming the unfortunate underrepresentation of developing country Member states in WTO Dispute Settlement. This panel event, hosted by ICTSD at the WTO Public Forum, will address the role of non-state actors in WTO disputes and will consider how they are now used - and how they might be used further - to help increase the capacity of Member states to engage in the process. For more information, please email Cecile de Gardelle, cdegardelle@ictsd.ch
30 September, Geneva, Switzerland. NEW LABOUR AND ENVIRONMENTAL PROVISIONS IN REGIONAL TRADE AGREEMENTS AND HOW SUCH PROVISIONS RELATE TO THE MULTILATERAL TRADING SYSTEM. The number of RTAs notified to the WTO is growing. The EU and the US are placing their efforts in negotiating and implementing a new generation of regional and bilateral trade agreements. Examples are recent cooperation agreements with Central America, CARIFORUM and Andean countries. Moreover India is currently negotiating RTAs with the EU and ASEAN. One of the main reasons for the increasing number of such agreements is that they allow WTO members to achieve progress toward trade liberalization that they cannot attain in the multilateral system. In the package of issues being covered by RTAs, especially in those between developed and developing countries, new issues are brought to the agenda. At the systemic level: MFN clauses, the relation with Article XXIV and the non execution clause have important implications for developing countries engaging in RTAs. Also regulatory aspects on the relationship between environment and labour standards are starting to arise. While developing countries tend to look at these issues with some level of distrust; consumer and market preferences are reshaping these perceptions. This panel event, organised by ICTSD for the WTO Public Forum, will explore these issues and their implications. For more information, please email Cecile de Gardelle, cdegardelle@ictsd.ch
30 September, Geneva, Switzerland. STRENGTHENING MULTILATERALISM IN TRADE FOR SUSTAINABLE DEVELOPMENT: REFORMING THE WTO FOR THE FUTURE. This session, which will be co hosted by ICTSD and the Global Economic Governance Programme of the University of Oxford, will address the challenge of strengthening the multilateral trading system for trade and sustainable development. The starting point for discussion will be that the WTO is a vital and valuable institution, but that changes need to be made to ensure the multilateral trading system addresses the changing times, the new political and economic realities of the trading system, and the pressing challenges of sustainable development. The event will be held during the WTO Public Forum. For more information, please email Cecile de Gardelle, cdegardelle@ictsd.ch
WTO Events
An updated list of forthcoming WTO meetings is posted at http://www.wto.org/meets_public/meets_e.pdf. Please bear in mind that dates and times of WTO meetings are often changed, and that the WTO does not always announce the important informal meetings of the different bodies. Unless otherwise indicated, all WTO meetings are held at the WTO, Centre William Rappard, rue de Lausanne 154, 1211 Geneva, Switzerland, and are open to WTO Members and accredited observers only.
23-25 September: WORKSHOP ON ENVIRONMENTAL GOODS AND SERVICES
24 September: COMMITTEE ON AGRICULTURE
24 September: WORKING PARTY ON THE ACCESSION OF TAJIKISTAN
25 September: COMMITTEE ON BALANCE-OF-PAYMENTS RESTRICTIONS
25 September: DISPUTE SETTLEMENT BODY
28 September: WTO PUBLIC FORUM 2009 - REGISTRATION OF PARTICIPANTS
28-30 September: WTO PUBLIC FORUM 2009 - GLOBAL PROBLEMS, GLOBAL SOLUTIONS: TOWARDS BETTER GLOBAL GOVERNANCE
Other upcoming events
14-16 October, London, United Kingdom. FIFTH INTERNATIONAL FORUM ON ILLEGAL, UNREPORTED AND UNREGULATED FISHING. This conference, hosted by Chatham House, will bring together experts and policy-makers working on issues related to illegal fishing from around the world to explore the latest initiatives, regulations and research in fisheries governance and trade in illegal fish products. Building on the success of previous meetings, the agenda will contain sessions on the new EU IUU fishing regulation, the economic implications of IUU fishing, addressing IUU fishing in Africa and the Asia-Pacific region, controlling & monitoring IUU fishing and fisheries governance. To kick off the conference, Chatham House and WWF will be hosting a screening of the film “The End of the Line: How Overfishing is Changing the World and What We Eat’” on 14 October from 6.00 to 8.30 pm at Chatham House. The film will be followed by a discussion with panellists from industry, government and civil society. The Forum and film screening are open to all. However, pre-registration is essential and must be received by Friday 2 October to guarantee admission. To register, please contact Tim Eaton at teaton@chathamhouse.org.uk and let us know which event(s) you would like to attend. More information on the forum is available at http://www.chathamhouse.org.uk/events/view/-/id/1218/.
22-23 October, Washington DC, USA. DIALOGUE ON FORESTS, GOVERNANCE, AND CLIMATE CHANGE. Jointly organised by Chatham House, the Rights and Resources Initiative and the World Resources Institute, this is the second in a series of meetings aiming to promote learning and frank discussion on the key issues facing forests and forest communities as the world scales up efforts to mitigate and adapt to climate change. The meeting will focus on the international implications of the Waxman-Markey bill now working its way through the US Congress, as well as the preliminary steps by the UNREDD and FCPF to establish REDD Readiness in developing countries to date. The meeting is open to all, and there is no charge for admission. However, preregistration is essential, and you must register by the end of Friday 15 October to be guaranteed admission. To register, please send your name and affiliation to Lucy Ellinas at climateforest.registration@chathamhouse.org.uk
26-28 October, Geneva, Switzerland. THE 2009 BRIDGES CHINA DIALOGUE. CHINA AND
GLOBAL SUSTAINABLE RECOVERY: TRADE, ENERGY CONSERVATION AND LOW-CARBON INITIATIVES. Against the backdrop of the current recession, China’s economic and political landscape is of paramount importance in facilitating a speedy global recovery. The 2009 Bridges China Dialogue will bring together experts from government, business, academia and civil society organisations for an in-depth discussion and examination of China’s market dynamics and policy implications with regards to a global sustainable recovery. For information on panels, speakers and attendance, please visit the meeting’s website: www.bridgeschina.com
2-3 November 2009, Bangkok, Thailand. ASIA-PACIFIC TRADE ECONOMISTS’ CONFERENCE. Under the heading “Trade-led growth in times of Crisis,” the conference will be an opportunity for trade researchers and policy makers to discuss implications of the global economic crisis for trade in the Asia-Pacific region. The conference will feature panel discussions led by eminent trade specialists and presentations by researchers on a wide range of trade-related issues, including trade governance, trade facilitation, trade liberalisation in services, and trade and development. The conference will celebrate the 5th anniversary of the Asia-Pacific Research and Training network on Trade (ARTNeT) and is organized by the United Nations Economic and Social Commission for Asia and the Pacific (ESCAP), in collaboration with the International
Development Research Centre (IDRC), Canada, the United Nations Conference on Trade and Development (UNCTAD), the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) Regional Centre in Colombo, and the World Trade Organization (WTO). The conference brochure can be viewed at
http://www.unescap.org/tid/artnet/mtg/ARTNeT%20conference-1.pdf with organizational details listed on the Conference website http://www.unescap.org/tid/artnet/artnet_conference.asp. Please register by writing to artnetontrade@un.org (no registration fee).
Add a comment
Enter your details and a comment below, then click Submit Comment. We’ll review and publish the best comments.