If you have a relevant resource (books, papers, bulletins, etc.) you would like to see announced in this section, please forward a copy for review by the BRIDGES staff to resources@ictsd.ch. Submissions of publications to ICTSD’s documentation centre would also be welcomed (see mailing address below).
TURNING THE TIDE ON FISHING SUBSIDIES: CAN THE WTO PLAY A POSITIVE ROLE? By the Worldwide Fund for Nature International (WWF), October 2002. In anticipation of the 16 October meeting of the WTO Rules Committee that will address fisheries subsidies, WWF renews its call on governments to eliminate the billions of dollars in wasteful subsidies that drive the depletion of the world’s fish stocks. This document presents WWF’s case for how the WTO can play a positive role towards helping manage the ocean’s resources sustainably, offering substantive solutions to government leaders. For further information, contact Kyla Evans, Head of Press WWF International, tel: +41 22 364 9550; email: kevans@wwfint.org. The issue brief can be found at: http://www.panda.org/downloads/policy/turning_tide_on_fishing_subsidies.pdf.
TRADITIONAL KNOWLEDGE OF BIODIVERSITY IN ASIA-PACIFIC: PROBLEMS OF PIRACY & PROTECTION. October 2002. Prepared by GRAIN and Kalpavriksh. One area where IPRs are particularly controversial is traditional knowledge from the third world, where tribes and communities have used natural remedies for many years, but are often not granted the rights to their discoveries, which can be acquired by pharmaceutical or chemical companies. In this way, the paper argues, plants are vanishing so quickly from the world that one major drug is becoming extinct every two years. This paper looks at this problem and poses questions for improvement in the future. To obtain a copy of this publication, visit www.grain.org/publications/tk-asia-2002-en.cfm.
ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT AND THE WTO AFTER DOHA, (World Bank Paper WPS# 2851). By Bernard Hoekman. June 2002. This paper analyses what actions could be taken in the context of the WTO’s Doha negotiations to assist countries in reaping benefits from deeper trade integration. It discusses the policy agenda that confronts many developing countries and identifies a number of focal points that could be used both as targets and as benchmarks to increase the likelihood that WTO negotiations will support development. To achieve these targets, Hoekman proposes a number of negotiating modalities for both goods and services-related market access issues, as well as rule-making in regulatory areas. To obtain a copy of this paper, visit http://www.worldbank.org/research/trade/archive.html.
DIRTY EXPORTS AND ENVIRONMENTAL REGULATION: DO STANDARDS MATTER TO TRADE? (World Bank Paper WPS# 2806). By John S. Wilson, Tsunehiro Otsuki and Mirvat Sewadeh. March 2002. The paper addresses an important part of the background context for deciding whether or how to link trade agreements to the environment from a developing country perspective. The authors ask whether environmental regulations affect exports of pollution-intensive or “dirty” goods in 24 countries between 1994 and 1998. Based on a Heckslcher-Ohlin-Vanek (HOV) model, net exports in five pollution-intensive industries are regressed on factor endowments and measures of environmental standards (legislation in force). The results suggest that, if country heterogeneity such as enforcement of environmental regulations is controlled for, more stringent environmental standards imply lower net exports of metal mining, nonferrous metals, iron, and steel and chemicals. To obtain a copy of this paper, visit http://www.worldbank.org/research/trade/archive.html.
Electronic Resources
TIPS FORUM 2002: GLOBAL INTEGRATION, SUSTAINABLE DEVELOPMENT AND THE SOUTHERN AFRICAN ECONOMY. The Forum was held in Johannesburg on 9-11 September, sponsored by IDRC, USAID and GTZ. The aim of the Annual Forum is to focus on major economic problems in the region and to evaluate the role of global integration therein. Many of the papers prepared for the Forum address trade policy issues and challenges confronting Southern African economies in the context of WTO negotiations. For the Forum final program and papers, visit http://www.tips.org.za.
NAFTA CHAPTER 11 ON INVESTMENT - UNITED PARCEL SERVICE OF AMERICA, INC. (”UPS”) V. GOVERNMENT OF CANADA — SUBMISSIONS. A number of legal submissions regarding this case have been posted on the Dispute Settlement section of the website of the Canadian Dept. of Foreign Affairs and International Trade, including transcripts of the 29-30 July Hearings on Jurisdictional Objections. See http://www.dfait-maeci.gc.ca/tna-nac/parcel-e.asp.
Positions Available
UNDP LEADERSHIP DEVELOPMENT PROGRAMME. Organised by the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP). The deadline for applications is 1 November 2002. Third annual Leadership Development Programme (LEAD), an entry point for young development professionals interested in a career with UNDP. LEAD provides qualified individuals exciting opportunities to develop the experience, knowledge and skills to serve as development practitioners and leaders in UNDP, while contributing to UNDP’s development work. Qualifications and background: A masters degree (or equivalent) in development related studies, economics, politics/public administration/governance, international relations, business administration, environmental management, conflict resolution; proficiency in English and at least one of the other UNDP working languages: French, Spanish, Arabic, Russian; 2-3 years work experience, normally post-masters, in development, crisis/post-conflict management, consultancy work (particularly in the public sector), work in developing countries, and/or management in a multi-cultural environment. Gender balance and geographical diversity will be considered. There will be a preference for individuals of under 35 years of age. For further information or an application, visit http://www.undp.org/ohr/lead/.