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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. ICTSD 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/.
1-3 December, Malang, Indonesia. ROUTES OUT OF THE CRISIS: STRATEGIES FOR LOCAL EMPLOYMENT RECOVERY AND SKILLS DEVELOPMENT IN ASIA. This expert meeting, sponsored jointly by the OECD and the International Labour Organization, will examine the diverse impact of the economic crisis in Asia. Countries whose economies have been heavily reliant on the export of basic commodities and manufactured goods have borne the brunt of the economic slowdown, to date. On the other hand, countries with robust domestic economies, sound fiscal positions, excess reserves and large domestic markets have been able to weather the shock better. The overall aim of the meeting is strengthen the capacity of constituents, policy makers and practitioners at the local level to undertake effective employment recovery and skills strategies in response to the financial and economic crisis. For more information, please see http://www.oecd.org/document/15/0,3343,en_2649_34417_43893967_1_1_1_37457,00.html.
2 December, Geneva, Switzerland. BOOK LAUNCH: Agricultural Subsidies in the WTO Green Box: Ensuring Coherence with Sustainable Development Goals. Do the World Trade Organization’s rules on ‘green box’ farm subsidies allow both rich and poor countries to achieve important goals such as food security, or do they worsen poverty, distort trade and harm the environment? Current WTO requirements set no ceiling on the amount of green box subsidies that governments can provide, on the basis that these payments cause only minimal trade distortion. Governments are thus increasingly shifting their subsidy spending into this category, as they come under pressure to reduce subsidies that are more directly linked to production. However, growing evidence nonetheless suggests that green box payments can affect production and trade, harm farmers in developing countries and cause environmental damage. By bringing together new research and critical thinking, this book examines the relationship between green box subsidies and the achievement of sustainable development goals, and explores options for future reform. The event is open to all, but advanced registration is required. For more information, or to register, please see http://ictsd.org/i/events/dialogues/61948/.
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.
25 November: COMMITTEE ON TRADE AND DEVELOPMENT - SESSION ON AID FOR TRADE
27 November: COUNCIL FOR TRADE-RELATED ASPECTS OF INTELLECTUAL PROPERTY RIGHTS - SPECIAL SESSION
30 November: SEVENTH MINISTERIAL CONFERENCE - OPENING SESSION
1 December: SEVENTH MINISTERIAL CONFERENCE - PLENARY SESSION
1 December: SEVENTH MINISTERIAL CONFERENCE - WORKING SESSION
2 December: SEVENTH MINISTERIAL CONFERENCE - PLENARY SESSION
2 December: SEVENTH MINISTERIAL CONFERENCE - WORKING SESSION
2 December: SEVENTH MINISTERIAL CONFERENCE - CLOSING SESSION
Other Upcoming Events
7 - 18 December, Copenhagen, Denmark. 15TH CONFERENCE OF THE PARTIES TO THE UN FRAMEWORK CONVENTION ON CLIMATE CHANGE. Under the agenda agreed at the UN Climate Change Conference in Bali in December 2007, this conference is expected to finalise an agreement on a framework for combating climate change after the first commitment period of the Kyoto Protocol expires at the end of 2012.The sessions of the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change are open to Parties of the Convention and observer states (governments), the United Nations System and observer organisations duly admitted by the Conference of the Parties. In addition, accredited press is allowed to cover the proceedings of the Convention. For more information, please see http://unfccc.int/meetings/items/4749.php.
8-10 December, Geneva, Switzerland. MULTI-YEAR EXPERT MEETING ON TRANSPORT AND TRADE FACILITATION. Transport and trade facilitation infrastructure and services have become essential components for developing countries´ competitiveness in the global market. Partnerships between the public sector and the relevant business sectors are critical to enhancing the efficiency and sustainability of transport and trade infrastructures and services. Public-private partnerships have proven to be successful cooperative means for the provision of public infrastructure and services. In the context of the current economic crisis, investment in transport infrastructure and services is confronted with additional challenges. The meeting will explore best practices for public-private partnerships and the role of technology in developing efficient transport infrastructure and services to facilitate international trade in developing countries. It will also consider the potential impact of future commitments ensuing from the World Trade Organization negotiations on trade facilitation. The findings and recommendations of this expert meeting will be reported to the second session of the Trade and Development Commission, to be held 3-7 May 2010. For more information, please visit http://www.unctad.org/Templates/meeting.asp?intItemID=1942&lang=1&m=17874
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