This is Part 2 in a series of 5 introductory lectures on the World Trading Organization that I was asked to give at Univesity Pelita Harapan in January 2014
NAFTA(North American Free Trade Agreement)sajal789
this is regarding NORTH AMERICAN FREE TRADE AGREEMENT ITS MEMBERS NATIONS AND HOW IT HAS HELPED THE NATIONS TO COMPETE IN THE WORLD WITH OTHER COUNTRIES
Regional Economic Integration (REI) refers to the commercial policy of discriminatively reducing or eliminating trade barriers only between the states joining together.
Regional economic groups eliminate or reduce trade tariffs (and other trade barriers) among the Partner States while maintaining tariffs or barriers for the rest of the world (non-member countries).
Geographical proximity, cultural, historical, and ideological similarities, competitive or complementary economic linkages, and a common language among the Partner States are importantly required for effective economic integration.
The aim of economic integration is to lessen costs for both consumers and producers, in addition to increase trade between the countries taking part in the agreement.
A primary economic objective of integration is to raise:
a) real output and income of the participants
&
b) rate of growth
by increasing specialization and competition by facilitating desirable structural (linkages) changes.
NAFTA(North American Free Trade Agreement)sajal789
this is regarding NORTH AMERICAN FREE TRADE AGREEMENT ITS MEMBERS NATIONS AND HOW IT HAS HELPED THE NATIONS TO COMPETE IN THE WORLD WITH OTHER COUNTRIES
Regional Economic Integration (REI) refers to the commercial policy of discriminatively reducing or eliminating trade barriers only between the states joining together.
Regional economic groups eliminate or reduce trade tariffs (and other trade barriers) among the Partner States while maintaining tariffs or barriers for the rest of the world (non-member countries).
Geographical proximity, cultural, historical, and ideological similarities, competitive or complementary economic linkages, and a common language among the Partner States are importantly required for effective economic integration.
The aim of economic integration is to lessen costs for both consumers and producers, in addition to increase trade between the countries taking part in the agreement.
A primary economic objective of integration is to raise:
a) real output and income of the participants
&
b) rate of growth
by increasing specialization and competition by facilitating desirable structural (linkages) changes.
We will first look at the world trading system as it has evolved under the General Agreement on Tariffs and Trade (GATT) and the establishment ot a permanent international institution known as the World Trade Organization (WTO).
2. Theories of International Trade, Tariff and Non-tariff barriers and Trade ...Charu Rastogi
This presentation starts with an overview of the initial theories of international trade like mercantilism, theory of absolute advantage, theory of comparative advantage and factor proportions theory. It goes on to discuss trade barriers, tariff and non-tariff barriers and trade blocks.
An Introduction to Regionalism and WTO Rules on Preferential Trading Arrangem...Simon Lacey
This is the fifth lecture in a series on the world trading system. This lecture focuses on the proliferation of preferential trading arrangements and the relevant WTO rules governing such instruments
We will first look at the world trading system as it has evolved under the General Agreement on Tariffs and Trade (GATT) and the establishment ot a permanent international institution known as the World Trade Organization (WTO).
2. Theories of International Trade, Tariff and Non-tariff barriers and Trade ...Charu Rastogi
This presentation starts with an overview of the initial theories of international trade like mercantilism, theory of absolute advantage, theory of comparative advantage and factor proportions theory. It goes on to discuss trade barriers, tariff and non-tariff barriers and trade blocks.
An Introduction to Regionalism and WTO Rules on Preferential Trading Arrangem...Simon Lacey
This is the fifth lecture in a series on the world trading system. This lecture focuses on the proliferation of preferential trading arrangements and the relevant WTO rules governing such instruments
Lesson Three | Principal Legal Obligations under WTO LawSimon Lacey
This is the third in a five-part series of lectures on WTO law and policy given at the Masters in Trade, Investment and Competition (MTIC) Program of the University Pelita Harapan Graduate School
Lesson One | Globalization and Economic IntegrationSimon Lacey
This is the first in a series of five lectures I am giving in 2014 at the University Pelita Harapan (UPH) Graduate School's Masters Program in International Trade, Investment and Competition (MTIC).
An Introduction to WTO Rules on Market AccessSimon Lacey
This is one of a series of lectures given on University Pelita Harapan's Masters in International Trade, Competition and Investment Law and Policy (MTIC) Program. This lecture discusses the WTO rules on market access, focusing on tariffs, quantitative restrictions, tariff-rate quotas, and other non-tarriff measures such as technical barriers to trade and sanitary and phytosanitary measures
Restrictions on Internet Commerce - Trade Rules and their LimitsSimon Lacey
This is a presentation I gave at Georgetown University Law Center in May 2012. It discusses restrictions on the internet and how they constrain the commercial activities of some very big companies worldwide. It then discusses international trade rules and how these may be used to challenge the abuse of such restrictions now and/or constrain the impact of such restrictions in the future.
From Doha to Bali: Assessing the Bali Deliverables after 12 long years of mul...Simon Lacey
This is a lecture I prepared recently in anticipation of the WTO Ministerial Conference to be held from 3 to 6 December on Bali. It discusses the history of the Doha Round to date and offers a preliminary evaluation of the likely outcomes from the Ministerial meeting.
Lesson Four | Market Access in the WTO (goods)Simon Lacey
This is lesson four of an introductory lecture series on WTO law and policy I am giving at Unviersity Pelita Harapan (UPH) Graduate School as part of the Masters in Trade, Investment and Competition Law and Policy (MTIC) Program in January 2014
Indonesia and its Track Record at WTO Dispute SettlementSimon Lacey
This lecture reviews how Indonesia has engaged with the WTO dispute settlement system both as complainant and respondent and concludes that Indonesia still has a long way to go before it earns the fear and respect of other WTO Members as a no-hold's barred advocate of its own export interests!
China's Quest to Capture the International Financial Information Services MarketSimon Lacey
This presentation covers China's two attempts to capture the international financial information services markets, the first being in 1997, the other being in 2007. In both cases, China was ultimately dissuaded from pursuing this course any further and in both cases, the WTO played a significant role.
Orderly Liquidation Authority under Dodd-FrankSimon Lacey
This is a presentation I prepared while at Georgetown University Law Center in 2001 on Orderly Liquidation Authority under the then newly enacted Dodd-Frank Act.
Consistency of the EU's Renewable Energy Directive with WTO RulesSimon Lacey
This presentation discusses the WTO complaint by Argentina against the EU Renewable Energy Directive (DS 459) and frames this dispute in the context of whether or not Indonesia should also weigh in and file its own complaint
The dangers of anti-globalization and moves against economic opennessSimon Lacey
This lecture was delivered as part of an online symposium organized by Trends Research and Advisory on the subject of Reopening of the National and Global Economies: The Lessons Learned.
Trade Tensions and the Global Technology Industry: A case study of HuaweiSimon Lacey
This presentation seeks to explain the rationale behind the recent U.S. enmity towards Chinese technology companies by framing it in terms of an attempt by the U.S. to retain its overwhelming military superiority.
Technological decoupling 5 reasons why it won't workSimon Lacey
This short slide presentation is a summary of an e-book I published with Trends Advisory and Research and sets out in five reasons why the U.S. policy of technological decoupling is bound to fail.
This paper, an excerpt from a larger collection of texts, contains some interesting historical background on international economic relations preceding and during the Great War and gives interesting context for the motives behind what ultimately lead to the post WWII economic order
The Reciprocal Trade Agreements Act of 1934 - The American Economic ReviewSimon Lacey
This 1935 article written right after the passage and signing into law of the Reciprocal Trade Agreements Act is quite the historical gem and well worth reading for those with an interest in the field.
An Introduction to Non-Tariff Barriers and WTO RulesSimon Lacey
This is a lecture that I recently gave at the Ministry of Trade in Indonesia to kick off a series of lectures I will perform there over the final months of 2013 on NTBs and what Indonesia can do about them
World in Crisis: Can the trading system still serve the needs of developing c...Simon Lacey
This is a presentation I gave in April 2009 at the South African Institute of International Affairs on the impact that the Global Financial Crisis had had on developing countries and the multilateral trading system
Exploiting Artificial Intelligence for Empowering Researchers and Faculty, In...Dr. Vinod Kumar Kanvaria
Exploiting Artificial Intelligence for Empowering Researchers and Faculty,
International FDP on Fundamentals of Research in Social Sciences
at Integral University, Lucknow, 06.06.2024
By Dr. Vinod Kumar Kanvaria
June 3, 2024 Anti-Semitism Letter Sent to MIT President Kornbluth and MIT Cor...Levi Shapiro
Letter from the Congress of the United States regarding Anti-Semitism sent June 3rd to MIT President Sally Kornbluth, MIT Corp Chair, Mark Gorenberg
Dear Dr. Kornbluth and Mr. Gorenberg,
The US House of Representatives is deeply concerned by ongoing and pervasive acts of antisemitic
harassment and intimidation at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT). Failing to act decisively to ensure a safe learning environment for all students would be a grave dereliction of your responsibilities as President of MIT and Chair of the MIT Corporation.
This Congress will not stand idly by and allow an environment hostile to Jewish students to persist. The House believes that your institution is in violation of Title VI of the Civil Rights Act, and the inability or
unwillingness to rectify this violation through action requires accountability.
Postsecondary education is a unique opportunity for students to learn and have their ideas and beliefs challenged. However, universities receiving hundreds of millions of federal funds annually have denied
students that opportunity and have been hijacked to become venues for the promotion of terrorism, antisemitic harassment and intimidation, unlawful encampments, and in some cases, assaults and riots.
The House of Representatives will not countenance the use of federal funds to indoctrinate students into hateful, antisemitic, anti-American supporters of terrorism. Investigations into campus antisemitism by the Committee on Education and the Workforce and the Committee on Ways and Means have been expanded into a Congress-wide probe across all relevant jurisdictions to address this national crisis. The undersigned Committees will conduct oversight into the use of federal funds at MIT and its learning environment under authorities granted to each Committee.
• The Committee on Education and the Workforce has been investigating your institution since December 7, 2023. The Committee has broad jurisdiction over postsecondary education, including its compliance with Title VI of the Civil Rights Act, campus safety concerns over disruptions to the learning environment, and the awarding of federal student aid under the Higher Education Act.
• The Committee on Oversight and Accountability is investigating the sources of funding and other support flowing to groups espousing pro-Hamas propaganda and engaged in antisemitic harassment and intimidation of students. The Committee on Oversight and Accountability is the principal oversight committee of the US House of Representatives and has broad authority to investigate “any matter” at “any time” under House Rule X.
• The Committee on Ways and Means has been investigating several universities since November 15, 2023, when the Committee held a hearing entitled From Ivory Towers to Dark Corners: Investigating the Nexus Between Antisemitism, Tax-Exempt Universities, and Terror Financing. The Committee followed the hearing with letters to those institutions on January 10, 202
Francesca Gottschalk - How can education support child empowerment.pptxEduSkills OECD
Francesca Gottschalk from the OECD’s Centre for Educational Research and Innovation presents at the Ask an Expert Webinar: How can education support child empowerment?
A Strategic Approach: GenAI in EducationPeter Windle
Artificial Intelligence (AI) technologies such as Generative AI, Image Generators and Large Language Models have had a dramatic impact on teaching, learning and assessment over the past 18 months. The most immediate threat AI posed was to Academic Integrity with Higher Education Institutes (HEIs) focusing their efforts on combating the use of GenAI in assessment. Guidelines were developed for staff and students, policies put in place too. Innovative educators have forged paths in the use of Generative AI for teaching, learning and assessments leading to pockets of transformation springing up across HEIs, often with little or no top-down guidance, support or direction.
This Gasta posits a strategic approach to integrating AI into HEIs to prepare staff, students and the curriculum for an evolving world and workplace. We will highlight the advantages of working with these technologies beyond the realm of teaching, learning and assessment by considering prompt engineering skills, industry impact, curriculum changes, and the need for staff upskilling. In contrast, not engaging strategically with Generative AI poses risks, including falling behind peers, missed opportunities and failing to ensure our graduates remain employable. The rapid evolution of AI technologies necessitates a proactive and strategic approach if we are to remain relevant.
How to Make a Field invisible in Odoo 17Celine George
It is possible to hide or invisible some fields in odoo. Commonly using “invisible” attribute in the field definition to invisible the fields. This slide will show how to make a field invisible in odoo 17.
002 Features and Functions of the World Trade Organization
1. UPH MTIC Program | Introduction
to WTO Law
Features and Functions of the World Trade Organization
Simon Lacey
2. What is the WTO – or what is it NOT ?
2
Common Misconceptions
•
The WTO is not part of the United Nations.
•
The WTO is not an organization staffed by men in dark suits, wearing reflective
sunglasses and flying around at night in black helicopters.
•
Nor is the WTO part of some international conspiracy to take over the world.
•
It is also not an organization that advocates the interests of multinational
corporations to the detriment of poorer developing countries.
www.simonlacey.net
4. The WTO as an International
Organization
4
The WTO was established on 1 January 1995 (thus a young organization).
It comprises 153 Members, with countries as diverse (politically and
economically) as Israel, Saudi Arabia, Cuba and the USA, and includes
developed, developing and least developed countries (developing countries in
the majority).
It has approximately 30 countries currently in the queue to join, representing
such differing political and economic systems as Uzbekistan, the Bahamas,
Belarus and Bosnia Herzegovina.
It has a “small” secretariat located on the shores of Lake Geneva.
It decides by consensus.
www.simonlacey.net
5. The WTO as a Body of Rules
5
The WTO, as an organization, administers a body of rules known as the “Final
Act Embodying the Results of the Uruguay Round of Multilateral Trade
Negotiations” but which most people just call the “WTO Agreement and its
related Annexes” (about 500 pages of treaty texts).
These rules are first and foremost concerned with how governments regulate
trade between each other (trade in goods and trade in services).
They are only concerned with other issues like food safety, protection of the
environment, intellectual property rights, investment, government procurement
etc. to the extent that these issues affect trade between WTO Members.
www.simonlacey.net
6. Main Principles Embodied in WTO Rules
6
Non Discrimination
– This is achieved by means of the MFN and National Treatment obligations, which apply
throughout all the agreements in different forms (GATT, GATS, TRIPS etc.)
Transparency
– Any laws, regulations or measure which affect trade must be published BEFORE they enter into
effect, and if possible, be preceded by a process of consultation (notification obligations).
Predictability
– Traders need to know the terms and conditions subject to which they will be operating, WTO
Members cannot, say, increase tariffs above bindings or re-introduce quantitative restrictions.
Consensus decision-making
– All WTO bodies operate on the basis of consensus. However, consensus does not mean
unanimity, and in the WTO context merely means that no Member present when a decision is
taken, explicitly objects to it.
Single Undertaking
– With the exception of a very limited number of plurilateral agreements, the Uruguay Round legal
texts must be accepted by WTO Members as a whole, (no opt-out, or choosing which
agreements to be bound by “à la carte”)
www.simonlacey.net
7. The WTO as a Balance of Rights and
Obligations
7
Each WTO Member has a Schedule of Tariff Concessions which set out the
maximum tariff levels (called “bindings”) it shall levy on goods from other WTO
Members.
For services trade, each WTO Member has a Schedule of Specific Commitments
which sets out the terms and conditions subject to which foreign service providers
will be allowed to enter and operate on the Member’s domestic services market.
Together with the rules contained in the WTO Agreement and its related Annexes,
the Schedule of Tariff Concessions (for goods) and the Schedule of Specific
Commitments (for services), these make up the package of rights and obligations
which WTO Members enjoy and are bound by.
www.simonlacey.net
8. The Concept of the Single Undertaking
8
The use of the term Single Undertaking first came into common parlance during the
Uruguay Round
It was used to sum up the notion that the Round would not be concluded, until
consensus had been achieved in all the various negotiating groups
Today, given that the Uruguay Round is over, we still talk of the Single Undertaking
with regard to the notion that all the Results of the Uruguay Round are binding on
all WTO Members. Apart from the plurilateral agreements, Members cannot pick
and choose which agreements they wish to be bound by and which not
www.simonlacey.net
9. Exceptions to the Single Undertaking
9
In terms of the Single Undertaking as a negotiating imperative, we talk today of an
“early harvest” in the Doha negotiations, whereby some of the commitments on
which consensus may be achieved early on, could be adopted by the WTO
Membership and become operationalized before the Round as a whole has been
concluded.
Paragraph 47 of the Doha Ministerial Declaration makes an explicit reference to
this possibility with regard to dispute settlement.
Otherwise, the large degree of flexibility built into some agreements, particularly the
GATS, make it almost pointless to talk of a Single Undertaking with regard to, say,
market opening and other specific commitments in services trade.
www.simonlacey.net
10. Purpose and Functions of the WTO
10
The main objective of the Organization is the establishment of rules for Members’
trade policy regimes which help international trade to expand with a view to raising
living standards.
These rules aim to promote non-discrimination, transparency and predictability in
the conduct of trade policy (we will look into these concepts slightly later in this
presentation).
The WTO pursues this objective by
– Administering trade agreements
– Acting as a forum for trade negotiations
– Settling trade disputes
– Reviewing national trade policies
– Assisting developing countries in trade policy issues through technical
assistance
– Cooperating with other international organizations.
www.simonlacey.net
16. The New Director General
16
Brings a badly needed breath of fresh air to the Director
Generalship.
Should be able to play a decisive role in steering big
emerging market Members towards playing a more
constructive role.
Also has the tough role of finding a face-saving
conclusion to the Doha Round and then re-orientating
the Organization to meet the needs of an evolving
trading system.
www.simonlacey.net
17. The WTO as a System of Agreements
17
The WTO Agreements have a fairly unique treaty structure, which is due to the fact
that they are simply the embodiment of a long and arduous round of trade
negotiations which lasted from 1986 to 1993.
The main document is one entitled “The Final Act Embodying the Results of the
Uruguay Round of Multilateral Trade Negotiations”
Annexed to the Final Act are all the legal texts and other documents which make
up the entirety of the WTO nomenclature, namely: The Agreement Establishing the
World Trade Organization (The WTO Agreement), the Ministerial Declarations and
Decisions and the Understanding on Commitments in Financial Services.
www.simonlacey.net
19. The Marrakesh Agreement
Establishing the WTO
19
Otherwise known as the “WTO Agreement”
Essentially an institutional charter for the Organization
Governs such issues as functions of the WTO, structure, relations with other
organization, budget and contributions, decision-making procedures, accession,
withdrawal et al.
Short agreement comprising some 26 articles
www.simonlacey.net
20. The Annex 1A Agreements –Trade in
Goods
20
These agreements cover trade in goods, they are:
GATT 1994
Agreement on Agriculture
SPS Agreement
Agreement on Textiles and Clothing (no longer in force)
TBT Agreement
TRIMS Agreement
Anti-dumping Agreement
Customs Valuation Agreement
Preshipment Inspection
Rules of Origin
Import Licensing Procedures
Subsidies and Countervailing Measures
Safeguards
www.simonlacey.net
21. Annex 1B – Trade in Services
21
The General Agreement on Trade and Services and its Annexes:
–
–
–
–
–
–
–
–
Annex on Article II Exemptions
Annex on Movement of Natural Persons Supplying Services under the Agreement
Annex on Air Transport Services
Annex on Financial Services
Second Annex on Financial Services
Annex on Negotiations on Maritime Transport Services
Annex on Telecommunications
Annex on Negotiations on Basic Telecommunications
The Schedules of Specific Commitments also form an integral part of Annex 1B
www.simonlacey.net
22. Annex 1C –Intellectual Property
22
Annex 1C to the WTO Agreement comprises the Agreement on Trade-Related
Aspects of Intellectual Property Rights.
The TRIPS Agreement was one of the new areas which became subject to
multilateral trade rules as a result of the Uruguay Round (together with services).
Many of its substantive obligations were already codified at the international level in
other treaties, but the main innovation provided by the TRIPS Agreement was to
henceforth make these obligations subject to formal dispute settlement (see next
slide).
www.simonlacey.net
23. Annex 2 – Dispute Settlement
23
Annex 2 to the WTO Agreement comprises the Understanding on Rules and
Procedures Governing the Settlement of Disputes
This is an important document for dealing with trade disputes and one of the most
important innovations of the Uruguay Round
We shall discuss the DSU and its application in later sessions (with Peter van den
Bossche)
www.simonlacey.net
24. Annex 3 –Trade Policy Review
24
Annex 3 sets out provisions governing the Trade Policy Review Mechanism.
The trade policy review had already existed prior to the entry into force of the
WTO, and had been operational since the 1980s.
But the Uruguay Round codified the procedure more formally and brought it under
the treaty structure of the WTO.
It also established the Trade Policy Review Body as part of the WTO’s institutional
structure
www.simonlacey.net
25. Annex 4 - Plurilaterals
25
Annex 4 to the WTO Agreement contains the so-called Plurilateral Trade Agreements,
namely
Agreement on Trade in Civil Aircraft
Agreement on Government Procurement
International Dairy Agreement (expired)
International Bovine Meat Agreement (expired)
www.simonlacey.net
26. Ministerial Decisions and Declarations
26
These are a series (27) of decisions and declarations also annexed to the WTO
Agreement, concerning various issues, such as:
Decision on Measures in Favour of Least-Developed Countries
Decision on Notification Procedures
Declaration on the Relationship of the WTO with the IMF
and various other decisions and declarations
www.simonlacey.net
27. Understanding on Commitments in
Financial Services
27
This Understanding, explicitly mentioned in the Uruguay Round Final Act
The Understanding was necessary in order to allow the so-called “overtime”
negotiations on financial services which certain Members (particularly the US)
insisted on before allowing the Round to be concluded.
www.simonlacey.net
28. GATT 1947 and GATT 1994
28
Although superseded by GATT 1994, the legal text of GATT 1947 is still of the
greatest relevance today, and as such GATT 1947 has been appended to the
Uruguay Round Final Act.
The GATT 1994 comprises the provisions of the GATT 1947 as well as a number of
legal instruments which entered into force under GATT 1947 before the date of
entry into force of the WTO Agreement.
The GATT 1994 also comprises a number of Understandings which are
enumerated and subsequently set out at the start of Annex 1A (in goods).
www.simonlacey.net
29. The Work of the WTO – Expanding Membership
29
The WTO aspires to be a universal organization, meaning that any State or
separate customs territory may apply to join.
The WTO is somewhat like a club, to which applicants must negotiate their entry
fee.
At present, some 30 such applications are at various stages of being negotiated.
WTO accession negotiations are generally fairly long and drawn-out affairs, and
can take anything from 2 to 15 years.
Working Parties are set up to manage the negotiation process for each applicant
individually, and it is the WTO General Council that ultimately adopts the protocol
of accession once these negotiations are complete.
www.simonlacey.net
30. The WTO Accession Process in a Nutshell
30
Accession to the WTO is by agreement with current members.
A candidate country must make ‘offers’ to these members which are then
offers
accepted.
These offers concern:
– tariff levels (market access for foreign goods)
– services (access to one’s own market for foreign service suppliers)
– agriculture (market access and use of subsidies).
But the process also involves making often far-reaching legislative changes, the
purpose of which is to ensure that the market access opportunities given by means
of these offers, is not subsequently undermined by other, contradictory policies.
www.simonlacey.net
31. WTO Accession Which Members are
Most Active?
31
Each Working Party is different and attracts the interest of different Members
Not every Member has resources in Geneva or the capital to dedicate to
accessions and some wont have a trade interest which is significant enough for
them to “weigh in”
However a core group of Members are represented on every accession working
party: Australia, Canada, the European Communities and its Member States, India,
Japan, New Zealand, Switzerland, and the United States
www.simonlacey.net
32. WTO Accession: The Different Issues
Involved
32
Market access interests
– Real and present Market access interest
– Potential or theoretical market access interest
Systemic interests
– Compliance with current rules
– Compliance with future rules
Other Geopolitical or strategic interests
– Going after geopolitical objectives
– Settling old scores
www.simonlacey.net
33. WTO Accession and Market Access
Interests
33
The importance of market access as a driving force for Members
It will, most probably, be a market access issue which underlies any decision for a
non-core group Members to join a given accession working party
www.simonlacey.net
34. WTO Accession: Real and Effective
Market Access Interests
34
Definition: a good or service which a WTO Member currently exports into the
market of the applicant
Members’ objectives here are clear: Improve current market access terms or lock in
current market access conditions
www.simonlacey.net
35. WTO Accession: Real Market Access
Issues for Trade in Goods
35
Negotiate a tariff binding at or below the applied level which the product currently
enjoys;
Commitment not to set up more restrictive trade barriers where none have existed
before (TRQs, import licensing procedures);
Use of antidumping duties by the applicant (case of Belarus and Lithuania, or
Ukraine and Kyrgyz Republic);
Opposite case of antidumping duties in place by a Members and negotiating a kind
of “peace clause: for them (case of Mexico and China).
www.simonlacey.net
36. WTO Accession: Potential or
Theoretical Market Access Interests
36
Definition: market access requests of an applicant involving a product where
there is little or even no trade currently taking place.
As a rule, involve products which are of general export interest to a given
Member such as of cheese, or luxury watches (Swiss) Tequila (Mexicans)
Member in question will have this request as part of a standard formula or
template
The importance of this concession to the Member in question can be seen
more in terms of domestic politics
www.simonlacey.net
37. WTO Accession: Systemic Issues
37
A number of broader and more far-reaching concerns also see Members take
a tough and committed stance
Two Distinct Categories of Systemic Interests:
– Applying Today’s Rules Now
– Creating Conditions on the Ground for Tomorrow
www.simonlacey.net
38. WTO Accession: Systemic Issues:
Applying Today’s Rules Now
38
Example: Immediate and Full Implementation of the TBT and SPS Agreements
Issue important for Members who want to protect their market access interests
from nullification or impairment by WTO-illegal TBT or SPS measures
The best strategy for applicants is to identify what are the most significant products
for Members and bring standards into compliance for these products
And then there is always the legislative action plan
Members generally hostile to any requests for implementation period, given the
lengthy period of time accessions usually take anyway
www.simonlacey.net
39. WTO Accession: Systemic Issues = Creating
Conditions on the Ground for Tomorrow
39
Members can see a given accession as a chance to ask the applicant to
accede with rules in place which the multilateral system may be moving
towards
Example The GPA
–
–
–
–
Essentially only 15 Signatories (counting the EU as one)
Only limited success in broadening membership since the UR
WTO Accession seen as a good way to “up-the-numbers”
14 acceded Members have become observers, of which 7 are currently negotiating
accession
– Also an underlying market access interest given the importance of the public
sector in many acceded Members
www.simonlacey.net
40. WTO Accession: Other Geopolitical or
Strategic Interests
40
A number of accessions have also seen a different set of issues leveraged within
the unique dynamic represented by the WTO accession process
Essentially two types of non-trade related issues:
– Pursuit of Geopolitical Objectives (example of Kyoto Protocol)
– Settling old scores (settlement of old Comecon debts)
www.simonlacey.net
41. WTO at Work - Doha
41
DOHA
DEVELOPMENT
AGENDA - DDA
Monitoring of the
negotiations and
organization of work
Ad hoc Negotiating Structure for the Doha “Round”
Trade Negotiations Committee (TNC)
• reports to the General Council
• chaired by the Director-General (ex-officio)
(new) Negotiating Groups (ad hoc)
“Special Sessions” of existing Bodies
www.simonlacey.net
42. Doha Work Programme
42
Implementation (§12)
Agriculture (§13-14)
Services (§15)
Market Access for Non-Agricultural Products (§16)
TRIPS (§17-19)
Trade and Investment (§20-22)
Trade and Competition Policy (§23-25)
Transparency in Government Procurement (§26)
Trade Facilitation (§27)
WTO Rules (§28-29)
Dispute Settlement (§30)
Trade and Environment (§31-32)
Electronic Commerce (§34)
Small Economies (§35)
Trade, Debt and Finance (§36)
Trade and Transfer of Technology (§37)
Technical Cooperation and Capacity Building (§38-41)
Least-Developed Countries (§42-43)
Special and Differential Treatment (§44)
www.simonlacey.net
43. The Doha Round in Brief
43
Since the launch of the Round in 2001, progress has been slow and tumultuous:
September 2013 – Collapse in Cancun
July 2004 – The July Package temporarily puts the Round back on track
December 2005 - the Hong Kong Ministerial – steady progress
July 2008 – Lamy bets the farm and loses, leading to an impasse
Since 2008 – a number of Ministerial Conferences, without substantial progress on the Doha Work Program
December 2013 – Bali, seen as somewhat of a breakthrough
www.simonlacey.net
44. Assessing the BaliPackage
44
Food Security
Trade Facilitation
Least Developed
Countries
Other Issues
www.simonlacey.net
45. Assessing Bali: Food Security
45
In November 2012, a group of developing countries led by India (known
as the G-33) tabled an informal proposal seeking additional flexibilities in
agricultural disciplines.
The main thrust of the proposal is to allow developing countries to pay
domestic farmers above-market prices to grow staple crops needed for
national stock-piling programs. These rules would normally run afoul of
WTO subsidy disciplines on trade-distorting domestic support.
Another element of this proposal is to loosen or broaden the definition of
what constitutes non trade-distorting domestic support to allow
developing countries to finance a range of agricultural reform policies.
Farm lobbies in developed countries have urged their trade negotiators
to fight these proposals or to encumber any such provisions with tight
constraints so they don’t represent a blank check for developing country
governments to bankroll their farm sectors indefinitely.
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46. Assessing Bali: Trade Facilitation
46
This is the one Singapore Issue that Members
achieved an explicit consensus on in July 2004 to
start negotiations on.
The negotiating mandate directs Members to
“clarify and improve” a number of existing GATT
disciplines including:
Article V (Freedom of Transit),
Article VIII (Fees and Formalities connected with
Importation and Exportation), and
Article X (Publication and Administration of Trade
Regulations).
Negotiations also focus on technical assistance
and capacity building
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47. Assessing Bali: Least Developed
Countries
47
Original Doha mandate spoke of integration of the LDCs into
the multilateral trading system requiring meaningful market
access, support for the diversification of their production and
export base, and trade-related technical assistance and
capacity building;
At Hong Kong, language was adopted that would see WTO
Members required to provide duty-free and quota-free
(DFQF) market access on a lasting basis, for all products
originating from all LDCs.
At Bali, the onus will be on Members to unhook this
commitment from the Single Undertaking and operationalize
it immediately.
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48. Assessing Bali: Other Issues
48
Expanding membership and coverage of the Information Technology Agreement
(now seems very unlikely in the face of Chinese intransigence)
Ratifying the changes to the Government Procurement Agreement agreed at the
WTO Ministerial in 2011 (probably not going to happen either since not enough
Members have themselves implemented the new rules)
Achieving consensus on an Agreement on Non-Preferential Rules of Origin (not
really being talked about at all for Bali but may come after)
Abandoning the Single Undertaking in areas such as services (this has long
been the de-facto position of many countries and is a tendency that will only
increase)
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49. Effective Participation in Trade Negotiations
49
Although the WTO boasts some 153 Members, some are more effective than
others at using their Membership to further the national economic interest.
Sending a negotiating team to the WTO is much like sending a team to the
Olympics or the World Cup: many teams compete, but only a handful do so
effectively.
The negotiating team needs sufficient and adequate input from those affected by
their negotiated outcomes, i.e. economic operators and the private sector in
general.
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50. What are the Benefits of the WTO?
50
The WTO website lists 10 benefits of the WTO and the trading system it oversees.
They are, it says:
The system helps promote peace.
Disputes are handled constructively.
Rules make life easier for all.
Freer trade cuts the cost of living.
It provides more choice of products and qualities.
Trade raises incomes.
Trade stimulates economic growth.
The basic principles make life more efficient (for traders).
Governments are shielded from lobbying (from domestic pressure groups).
The system encourages accountable governance.
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51. Benefits of WTO Membership: Market
Diversification
51
Being a WTO Member, and thus benefiting from MFN access to other WTO
Members allows exporters to develop alternative export markets.
Market diversification makes sense if exports into one market are suddenly
disrupted (such as by an antidumping measure etc.).
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52. Benefits of WTO Membership: Access to the
Dispute Settlement System
52
Although WTO dispute settlement is always a last resort, sometimes it represents
the only way to force a recalcitrant Member to restore market access.
There are many examples of developing countries taking on other developing and
developed countries at the WTO and having their market access restored.
Without the WTO dispute settlement process, an aggrieved country has very little
leverage over the country denying it market access. This is because the WTO also a
system of remedies and sanctions in place when a WTO Member illegally restricts
the market access of another Member.
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53. Benefits of WTO Membership:
Transparency
53
WTO Members have to publish any regulations or measures which affect their
trade regimes.
Some WTO Agreements (GATS, TBT, SPS) require them to establish enquiry
points which must respond to requests for information from foreign exporters and
service providers.
WTO Members enacting any measure to restrict trade (e.g. imposing a safeguard
measure) have to provide advance notice before doing so.
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54. Benefits of WTO Membership: Binding
Rules = Predictability
54
WTO Members who have agreed to bind tariffs at certain levels, or to do away
with quantitative restrictions, cannot just disregard these commitments from one
day to the next.
In light of this reality, economic operators can be confident of the minimum
conditions of market access they can expect.
If WTO Members do breach these commitments, the dispute settlement system is
there to police them.
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55. Benefits of WTO Membership: More
Choice as Consumers
55
We are all consumers of goods and services.
Being part of the WTO ultimately results in a domestic market that is more
liberalized and by definition more competitive.
One of the results of this competition is greater choice and cheaper prices.
Foreign banks and financial services providers are able to operate in the domestic
market.
Foreign telecommunications providers and retailers are allowed to operate in the
domestic market.
The result is more choice, cheaper prices, and better quality of life for everyone.
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56. Benefits of WTO Membership: More
Attractive to FDI
56
WTO membership requires far-reaching legislative changes.
It results in an economic system which is more attractive to FDI, and WTO
Membership will be a sign to foreign investors that an economy fulfills certain
basic governance criteria.
There is evidence that FDI in China experienced a huge leap in the year
immediately following its accession to the WTO, as did Vietnam
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57. Benefits of WTO Membership: Improved
Governance
57
WTO membership requires far-reaching changes of a legislative and institutional
nature.
It results in the discretion of the government to suddenly and arbitrarily impose
new barriers to foreign (and thus also domestic) economic operators being heavily
curtailed.
It also curtails the government’s ability to pander to special economic interests
within the domestic economy that might be advocating protection at the cost of the
rest of the economy.
In short, it acts as a code of good conduct which limits the ability of governments to
enact damaging economic policies for the short-term benefits of a few.
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58. Challenges Currently Facing the
WTO
58
Lack of negotiating authority in the US (will this change any time soon?)
Increasing tendency towards bilateralism and regionalism amongst WTO
Members (is this bad for the system?);
Increasing size of the Organization and out-dated decision making structures
(need for reform);
Negative perception of the Organization since Seattle Ministerial (is this
deserved?).
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59. The WTO as Treaty, Institution or
Something Else
59
So far we have looked at the WTO as an organizational structure
comprising Members (Countries and Customs Territories)
We have also looked at it as a system of agreements
It is also a binding body of rules, set out in the WTO agreements
and enforced within the context of the institutional structures
The WTO is also a work in progress, constantly adding new
Members, and updating/amending its rules, as well as adding new
agreements to its treaty structure.
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60. Conclusion
60
The benefits of the world trading system administered by the WTO are real, even
if they seem somewhat intangible sometimes.
WTO membership results in more competition, which can bring short-term
hardship as well as short and long-term benefits.
There is a clear need to manage expectations when it comes to trade
negotiations and obtaining WTO membership.
Trade policy is just one piece of the puzzle when it comes to the overall
economic reform program and must be managed sensibly.
The WTO is a institution and a system of rules created by humans and thus it is
not perfect. It does not claim to work perfectly to the satisfaction of everyone. If
Winston Churchill were to describe it, he would probably say that it is the worst
way to manage international economic relations – except for all the other ways.
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61. Thank You
UPH MTIC Program | Introduction
to WTO Law
Features and Functions of the World Trade Organization
Editor's Notes
The food it serves at its two canteens is pretty average and most people there prefer to eat across the road at the World Meteorological Organization.