16th December 2005

Hong Kong Trade and Development Symposium Session 7.4: Putting Development First: The Need for Policy Space in the WTO

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Panelists will demonstrate how new and proposed WTO rules are shrinking the ability of nations to put proper polices in place for sustainable development. Current and proposed rules for intellectual property, services, goods trade, and investment limit the ability of developing countries to deploy effective development policy. Indeed, 25 percent of all WTO panel disputes from 1995-2005 were efforts to limit the very policies that made many East Asian nations development success stories.

Panelists will argue that the economic rationale for preserving policy space in trade negotiations is justified now more than ever. During the 20th Century nations in East Asia, Latin America and elsewhere successfully balanced states and markets to grow from lower to middle income countries. Today, in the face of increasing poverty, inequality, and environmental degradation, states need as many tools as possible to raise the standards of living of their people.

Panelists will cover the history of policy space in the WTO negotiations, and issues related to intellectual property rules, performance requirements, subsidies, services, and agriculture.

Agenda

Economic Benefits of Doha Agenda and Costs in Terms of Lost Policy Space by Kevin P. Gallagher, Professor of International Relations at Boston University and Senior Researcher at the Global Development and Environment Institute, Tufts University, USA

Performance Requirements by Nagesh Kumar, Director General of Research and Information Systems for Developing Countries

Intellectual Property Rules by Carlos Correa, Director of the Center for Interdisciplinary Studies of Industrial Property Law and Economics, Universidad de Buenos Aires

Policy Space in the WTO Negotiations by Werner Corrales, Senior Fellow on Systemic Issues, ICTSD, Advisor to UNCTAD Secretary General, former Minister of Development of Venezuela

Hans-Peter Egler from the Swiss State Secretariat for Economic Affairs (SECO) will provide a 10 minute commentary.

Discussion & Dialogue Among the Presenters and the Attendees of the Session.

Speaker’s Bios

Kevin P. Gallagher is a professor of international relations at Boston University and senior researcher at the Global Development and Environment Institute, Tufts University, USA.

Nagesh Kumar is Director General of Research and Information Systems for Developing Countries.

Carlos Correa is Director of the Center for Interdisciplinary Studies of Industrial Property Law and Economics, Universidad de Buenos Aires.

Werner Corrales, International Centre Trade Sustainable Development Special Advisor to UNCTAD Secretary General, former Minister of Development of Venezuela.

Organisers

The Global Development And Environment Institute (GDAE) is a research institute at the Fletcher School of Law and Diplomacy and Tufts University dedicated to promoting a better understanding of how societies can pursue their economic and community goals in an environmentally and socially sustainable manner.

Research and Information Systems (RIS) is an autonomous research institution established with the financial support of the Government of India. It is India’s contribution to the fulfillment of the long-felt need of the developing world for creating a ‘Think-Tank’ on global issues in the field of international economic relations and development cooperation. RIS has also been envisioned as a forum for fostering effective intellectual dialogue among developing countries.

Background Documents

Putting Development First: The Importance of Policy Space in the WTO and IFIs