Latin America has gone global. The rapid transition towards a digital economy, the densification of global value chains, and the ever-increasing trade flows, both among …
Read More »The Global Economy, the 2030 Agenda, and Prospects for Trade
A backlash against economic globalisation has swept through many economies in the two years since trade ministers met in Nairobi, Kenya. The losses and gains, …
Read More »E-Commerce: Maximising Benefits through Regional and Multilateral Rules
The Internet has revolutionised communication, information, and innovation, opening up new areas for economic growth, prospects for employment and opportunities for participation in global markets …
Read More »Regulatory Cooperation and Coherence: The New Frontiers in Trade and Investment
While the WTO includes some disciplines regarding regulatory policies, most notably in the area of mandatory product standards (SPS/TBT), most of the rules and mechanisms …
Read More »Integrating Trade and Investment Policymaking – Lessons from RTAs
In a globalised world increasingly dependent on global value chains, trade and investment flows have become more and more complementary and mutually reinforcing. To support …
Read More »Enforceability of Trade and Investment Rules That Support Sustainability: The Case of Dispute Settlement Mechanisms
Dispute settlement provisions are an essential enforcement element of regional trade agreements (RTAs). In light of the different paces of rule-making at the multilateral level …
Read More »Advancing Environmental and Labour Priorities Through Trade Agreements
The development and implementation of provisions related to sustainable development has recently emerged as a two-speed process: while limited progress is being observed at the …
Read More »Towards Inclusive and Sustainable Rules of Origin
Regional trade agreements (RTAs) and particularly deep integration agreements concluded in recent years have increasingly allowed firms to operate within a networked global economy. On …
Read More »New Industrial Policy in the 21st Century
Ten years on from the financial crisis, countries continue to seek out levers to reinvigorate dynamic growth and sustainable development. Many are increasingly re-examining the …
Read More »Reforming Perverse Fisheries Subsidies at MC11
An agreement among WTO Members to reform certain harmful fisheries subsidies is one of the most likely substantive outcomes of MC11. There may also be …
Read More »National and International Food Systems, Agricultural Trade and the Challenges Ahead
In the 2014-16 period, some 795 million people were estimated to be undernourished. The Eleventh WTO Ministerial Conference (MC11) represents a key opportunity for governments …
Read More »Using the WTO and the Trade System to Discipline Fossil Fuel Subsidies for Climate Mitigation
A recent IMF study places global fossil fuel subsidies at US$5.3 trillion, or 6.5 percent of global GDP. Among a range of negative societal effects, …
Read More »Facilitation 2.0: Accelerating Sustainable Trade and Investment Flows
Full implementation of the Trade Facilitation Agreement (TFA) could reduce trade costs globally by up to 17.5%, with the largest drops expected in low and …
Read More »Sustainable Investment: What Role for the WTO?
With ongoing slow global economic growth, countries continue to work on the levers of dynamic growth and sustainable development. A key strategy is to focus …
Read More »E-Commerce for Development: Where Can Trade Deals Boost the Enabling Environment?
E-commerce holds promise for delivering new business opportunities and inclusive trade. But it has not yet lifted all boats. This session explored the extent to …
Read More »The end of the North-South game: foreign direct investment in the 21st century
Foreign Direct Investment (FDI) has become the most important vehicle to bring goods and services into foreign markets. Traditionally a North-South game, emerging markets today …
Read More »Regulatory convergence through the WTO
Regulatory measures have emerged as the most important source of impediments to international trade and investment. The session examined the key challenges posed by differences …
Read More »Subsidies and industrial policies in a world of global value chains
In a world of highly fragmented production networks, many question the adequacy of existing WTO disciplines to support industrial policy objectives that enhance competitiveness and …
Read More »The digital economy and innovation: Game changers for the multilateral trading system?
Innovation is widely recognised as a key driver of economic growth and prosperity that is actively pursued by governments and business alike. At the same …
Read More »Services and global value chains in the 21st century globalised economy
Together services and GVCs provide the basis for the new model of international trade and investment, where tasks and intermediates have far outstripped the importance …
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