Bridges Weekly Trade News DigestVolume 11Number 33 • 3rd October 2007

Resources


CHANGES IN THE GOVERNANCE OF GLOBAL VALUE CHAINS OF FRESH FRUITS AND VEGETABLES: OPPORTUNITES AND CHALLENGES FOR PRODUCERS IN SUB-SAHARAN AFRICA. South Centre, September 2007. This paper, investigates, compiles and analyses evidence on the nature of changes in the global governance of fresh fruits and vegetables value-chain and the underling causes of the changes. In doing so, the paper also identifies opportunities and challenges arising from the change in the value-chain governance and the determinant of success and failure in the new modus operandi associated with the changes. Internet: http://www.southcentre.org/publications/researchpapers/ResearchPapers12.pdf

SUSTAINABLE RESOURCE USE. By Silva Larson and Alex Smajgl. Australian Commonwealth Scientific and Industrial Research Organisation, July 2007. The book examines how institutional dynamics impact the sustainable management and use of resources, as well as common and private property rights in several regions of the world. It features research and opinions of various authors in economics and institutional change. Internet: http://shop.earthscan.co.uk/ProductDetails/mcs/productID/788/

TRANSPARENCY AND TRADE FACILITATION IN THE ASIA PACIFIC: WHAT’S AT STAKE? By Matthias Helble, Ben Shepherd, John S. Wilson. World Bank & Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC), September 2007. This paper suggests that improving transparency of trade policy is a critical aspect of trade facilitation and any structural reform agenda that interfaces with regional or global integration goals. Identifying two indicators for trade facilitation and transparency reform-predictability and simplification-the work analyses three scenarios involving policy reform to the regional average in relation to tariffs, non-tariff barriers, and transparency. Using the results of its study, the paper argues that there is considerable scope for APEC to consolidate and build on progress already made in the area of transparency and trade facilitation and that it will be important for policymakers and stakeholders to develop both a set of substantive goals and concrete policy options that can be implemented with these priority areas in consideration. Internet: http://econ.worldbank.org/WBSITE/EXTERNAL/EXTDEC/EXTRESEARCH/0,,contentMDK:21459346~pagePK:64165401~piPK:64165026~theSitePK:469382,00.html