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4-5 November, Paris, France. OECD GLOBAL FORUM ON ENVIRONMENT ON ECO-INNOVATION. Most OECD countries consider eco-innovation to be an important part of the response to contemporary challenges, including climate change and energy security. In addition, many countries think that eco-innovation could be a source of competitive advantages in the fast-growing environmental goods and services sector. A number of policy issues have emerged from an inventory of policies and programmes that OECD countries have put in place to promote eco-innovation. The Global Forum on Environment on Eco-Innovation will provide an opportunity to share experiences and explore avenues for further international co-operation on these and related issues. The forum is free of charge and interested participants are kindly requested to fill in the registration form available at http://www.oecd.org/document/48/0,3343,en_2649_34333_42430704_1_1_1_37425,00.html and return it by email to gfsd.eco-innovation@oecd.org or by fax (+33 (0)1 44 30 61 79).
5-6 November, Geneva, Switzerland. CONFERENCE ON BUILDING PARTNERSHIPS FOR MOBILISING RESOURCES FOR IP AND DEVELOPMENT. The overall aim of the conference, which is being hosted by the World Intellectual Property Organization, is to support developing countries, with a particular focus on Least Developed Countries (LDCs) and Africa, to access resources to promote the legal, commercial and economic exploitation of intellectual property in these countries. The conference will provide practical examples which show the development impact that can be achieved through the integration and use of IP in national development plans and in the context of the UN Development Assistance Framework and Poverty Reduction Strategy Papers. The conference will focus on three main IP-related thematic areas: aid for trade, science, technology and innovation for development, and ‘the digital divide’. For registration and more information, visit http://www.wipo.int/meetings/en/2009/res_dev_ge/index.html
6 November, Geneva, Switzerland. THE IMPACT OF THE DOHA ROUND ON KENYA: LESSONS FOR DEVELOPING COUNTRIES. The UN Development Programme and IDEAS Centre have the pleasure to host the presentation of the report, “The Impact of the Doha Round on Kenya,” which analyses the effects on Kenya’s economy of a Doha negotiation package that came close to being agreed in July 2008. The study examines the adjustment costs of trade liberalisation under Doha and provides insights on how the Doha Round might affect the distribution of income. By analysing the impact of the Doha Round on Kenya, this study contributes to the larger debate about the role of trade liberalisation in development. It also contains an analysis of the impact of such Doha package for the Sub- Saharan African region offering the broader contours of the effects of a likely deal. Speakers and discussants will include Eduardo Zepeda of the Carnegie Endowment for International Peace and UNDP, Esperanza Duran of AITIC and Nicholas Imboden of IDEAS Centre, among others. The meeting will be held from 1:00pm to 3:00pm on Friday 6 November at the World Meteorological Organization. Light refreshments will be provided from 12:00pm. For logistical reasons, please confirm your participation by sending an email to laurent.charlet@ideascentre.ch or by fax at +41 (0)22 807 17 41.
9 November, Cape Town, South Africa. PROMOTING DIALOGUE ON TRADE REFORM IN SOUTH AFRICA. The South African Trade Policy Review draft document calls for a strategic review of tariffs to support industrial development. In the document, the Department of Trade and Industry argues that the trade liberalisation that began in the 1990s has not been able to transform South Africa’s production and exports away from resources; hence, it asserts the need to subordinate trade policy to the National Industrial Policy Framework in order to promote such diversification. Clearly tariffs are an instrument of industrial policy, and therefore a strategic approach to managing them seems sensible. However, unless the process is conducted transparently, there is a risk it may be captured by strong lobbies or ‘rent seekers’. Moreover, the Department of Trade and Industry’s Trade Policy Review document does not indicate when protection, if instituted, would be withdrawn nor how the intended benefits would be monitored. Therefore, in order to promote transparency, this public forum will attempt to assess South Africa’s tariff review process and the associated methodology undertaken for tariff investigations. The forum will also assess the efficacy of using subsidies to support targeted industries, their WTO legality, the scope for SA to pursue them, and the likely form they could take. For more information, contact Sheila Kiratu at sheila.kiratu@saiia.org.za.
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.
4-6 November: TRADE POLICY REVIEW BODY - SOUTHERN AFRICAN CUSTOMS UNION (SACU)
5 November: COUNCIL FOR TRADE IN SERVICES
5 November: SUB-COMMITTEE ON LEAST-DEVELOPED COUNTRIES
5 November: COMMITTEE ON BUDGET, FINANCE AND ADMINISTRATION
5-6 November: COMMITTEE ON TECHNICAL BARRIERS TO TRADE
6 November: COMMITTEE ON SPECIFIC COMMITMENTS
9 November: COMMITTEE ON TRADE IN FINANCIAL SERVICES
10 November: WORKING PARTY ON GATS RULES
Other Upcoming Events
11-13 November, New Delhi, India. A BETTER FUTURE FOR HUMANITY IN THE 21ST CENTURY - INTELLECTUAL PROPERTY (IP) IN A CHANGING WORLD: NEW CHALLENGES AND OPPORTUNITIES. The event is organised by The World Intellectual Property Organization (WIPO), in cooperation with the Department of Industrial Policy and Promotion, Ministry of Commerce and Industry of the Government of India and with the assistance of the Federation of Indian Chamber of Commerce and Industry (FICCI). The forum will provide an opportunity for a range of stakeholders engaged in promoting innovation, including high-level economic and technology policy-makers, heads of intellectual property (IP) offices, academics and the private sector to exchange experiences and ideas on topical IP issues. Emphasis will also be placed on examining ways to harness the potential benefits of using IP strategically to create opportunities for improved business competitiveness, market expansion and economic development. The forum is open to WIPO Member States and WIPO-accredited international organisations engaged in innovation promotion. IP professionals and representatives of the private sector and the research and academic communities are also invited to participate. Contact Sheetal Chopra at sheetal.chopra@ficci.com for registration information.
17 November, London, United Kingdom. GLOBAL TRADE CONTROLS. Through relevant debates and information sharing, this high-level conference, sponsored by the Washington International Trade Association, will provide attendees with a thorough update and practical tools to carve out essential business opportunities. The two-day conference will mainly comprise plenary and panel sessions to encourage feedback and interaction with the audience, together with streamed sessions on both days to allow further in depth discussion. During the conference there will be a review of developments in global trade controls to ensure best practice, an update of the latest issues and the practical impact on everyday work, and debates on current contentious topics. For more information, please visit http://www.wita.org/ht/display/EventDetails/i/36584/pid/33238
19 November, Washington, DC, USA. THE DOHA ROUND: CAN WE GET TO YES? Throughout eight years of on-again, off-again, sometimes painful negotiations, a familiar refrain has been heard from trade ministers worldwide-that they “remain committed to the Doha Round.” How much has been accomplished thus far, and how did we get where we are today? Beyond the political rhetoric, what concrete steps could negotiators take to reach an agreement by the end of 2010? How has the political landscape influenced negotiations? If an agreement cannot be reached, what would that mean for the WTO and its member nations, particularly the least developed countries that this round was supposed to help? A panel of critics and former negotiators will ponder the future of the Doha Round of Negotiations. Registration is open until 18 November 2009. The event is organised by the Washington International Trade Association. For more information, visit http://www.wita.org/ht/display/EventDetails/i/38066/pid/317.
24-25 November, Berlin, Germany. 4TH INTERNATIONAL RENEWABLE ENERGY STORAGE CONFERENCE. The IRES 2009 presents new perspectives, the state of technology and especially the resulting energy storage applications that open up ground breaking opportunities for the dynamic exploitation of electricity and heat from renewable sources. Besides the technological and scientific questions regarding an integrated regenerative energy system IRES will also highlight the necessary political framework for the market penetration of renewable energy and the support schemes for energy storage technologies. The IRES conference series brings together stakeholders from the regenerative and conventional energy industries, from R&D and politics. It acts as a stimulus for their strategies to enhance the entry of renewable energy. The conference programme is available online at http://www.eurosolar.de/en/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=362&Itemid=105
24-25 November, Geneva, Switzerland. INTERNATIONAL CONFERENCE ON RISK ASSESSMENT AND MANAGEMENT. Risk permeates all aspects of life. A professional management of uncertainty is essential for the resilience and effectiveness of all organisations, be they governmental or business. The conference is organised to promote an exchange of experience on the use of risk assessment and management techniques in: technical regulations; standards; conformity assessment; accreditation; metrology; and market surveillance. The conference will benefit from input from academia, governmental authorities, international standards organisations, conformity assessment bodies and business associations. For more details, please visit http://www.unece.org/trade/wp6/documents/2009/2009_ConferenceRisk.htm
30 November - 2 December, Geneva, Switzerland. SEVENTH WTO MINISTERIAL CONFERENCE. This three-day meeting will be a regular gathering of ministers to engage in a broad evaluation of the functioning of the multilateral trading system. It is not intended to serve as a Doha Round negotiating session. The general theme for the discussions will be ‘The WTO, the Multilateral Trading System and the Current Global Economic Environment’. For more information, please visit http://www.wto.org/english/thewto_e/minist_e/min09_e/min09_e.htm
30 November – 2 December, Geneva, Switzerland. GLOBAL TRADE AND DEVELOPMENT SYMPOSIUM. The International Centre for Trade and Sustainable Development is organising the Geneva Trade and Development Symposium (GTDS), to take place over 3 days in parallel to the Seventh Ministerial Conference of the World Trade Organisation. The three broad topics for the GTDS will respond to the three principal types of challenges currently facing the multilateral trading system: institutional challenges, perspectives on the Doha Round, and new issues and challenges such as climate change. The symposium will be held at the World Meteorological Organisation (WMO) and will be open to all who wish to participate (however, registration is required). For more information, please see http://www.ictsdsymposium.org/.
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