ECIPE Conference: Trade Facilitation and the WTO: How to Foster Reform and Capacity in Developing Countries?
Trade facilitation initiatives hold greater potential benefits in terms of promoting trade, than many traditional market access initiatives. What is less clear is how this should be achieved . At this seminar, noted trade economist Michael Finger will present his new ECIPE study on the role of a WTO agreement in promoting trade facilitation. Finger outlines what measures would be of most benefit to developing and emerging markets and what would be feasible, before looking at the potential obstacles to a successful and meaningful WTO agreement. With contributions from high-level panellists, the debate should be stimulating, in this highly topical area of current trade negotiations.
Trade facilitation has been among the more active topics in the Doha negotiations. Simplifying and reducing trade procedures through multilateral, regional and bilateral initiatives lead to a better trade climate. Benefits would mainly go to developing and emerging markets.
Trade facilitation initiatives hold greater potential benefits in terms of promoting trade, than many traditional market access initiatives. What is less clear is how this should be achieved – should new obligations be imposed within the WTO, or should national efforts be at the forefront of new initiatives? And how should either of these be structured and financed?
At this seminar, noted trade economist Michael Finger will present his new ECIPE study on the role of a WTO agreement in promoting trade facilitation. Finger outlines what measures would be of most benefit to developing and emerging markets and what would be feasible, before looking at the potential obstacles to a successful and meaningful WTO agreement. With contributions from high-level panellists, the debate should be stimulating, in this highly topical area of current trade negotiations.
Brief summary from the conference>>
Presentations from the conference:
J Michael Finger presentation>>
Adrian van den Hoven Presentation>>
Participants:
Roderick Abbott, former Deputy Director General of the WTO
Peter Balas, Deputy Director General of DG Trade, European Commission
Fredrik Erixon (chair), Director of the European Centre for International Political Economy (ECIPE)
J Michael Finger, former Lead Economist and chief, Trade Policy Research Group, the World Bank
Adrian van den Hoven, Director of the International Relations Department,
Business Europe
Sheila Page, Senior Research Associate at the International Economic Development Group, Overseas Development Institute
RSVP by 13 January 2008 to info@ecipe.org
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