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Trade Policy-Trade Policy-Related Activities Related Activities
Trade Policy-Trade Policy-Related Activities Related Activities
Commonwealth Secretariat
The Commonwealth Secretariat: a catalyst for global consensus-building a source of assistance for promoting democracy and
poverty eradication
On int’l trade, ComSec long-term goal is to support pro-poor policies for economic growth and sustainable development
ComSec Strengths and ITRC
• C’welath Culture of amicable partnership • Non-confrontational dialogue• One quarter of world’s govts, one-third of world population
and one-fifth of global trade• Diverse community of nations – rich and poor, large and
small, Islands and Landlocked • Diversity with shared inheritance of language, institutions
and culture• Commendable reputation – impartial and non-ideological
grouping• Track record of South-South collaboration
• ComSec work in Trade - consensus building, advocacy, advisory services and capacity building
• ITRC undertakes policy-oriented research and analysis providing informed inputs
• Implementation related activities – ITRC and other sections/divisions are involved
Trade policy activities: Context and Objectives
ITRC - Challenges
• Highly diversified member groups and issues of interest
• A Dynamic Landscape – issues in multilateral and regional forums
• Technical Issues – demanding urgent
attention
ITRC Approach
• ITRC scans the development landscape and identifies areas where orthodoxy is not providing solutions and seeks to develop heterodox approaches to address these.
Three Main Scopes of ITRC Work
11Support on trade & devt issues
Strengthening trade policy formulation and management
More active and effective participation in trade negotiations (both global and regional)
Capacity Building
Analysis of relevant and issues and developments in the area of Int’l Trade
Analysis of issues upon members’ request
Main Scopes ….
22Think Tank
33
Main Scopes….
Facilitating and supporting the positions and participation of LDCs and SVS, in regional and multilateral trade talks.
Advocacy and Contribution to Consensus-building
ITRC: Recent Activities
• Recent work focused on Global Economic Crisis Assisting countries in Doha Round ACP/EU EPA negotiations Conducting analytical studies on a variety
of trade policy issues.
Monitoring situations for Commonwealth developing countries …
ITRC: Recent Activities – Global Economic Crisis
Trade
CameroonPNG
Zambia
CameroonPNG
Zambia
GhanaMalawiNigeriaSri LankaSt Lucia
SVG
GhanaMalawiNigeriaSri LankaSt Lucia
SVG
BangladeshDominica
The GambiaGrenadaGuyanaIndia
KenyaLesothoPakistan
Sierra LeoneTanzaniaUganda
XX
BangladeshGuyana
BangladeshGuyana
DominicaMozambique
Sierra Leone
DominicaMozambique
Sierra Leone
Aid Remittances
FDICommonwealth developing countries: Vulnerability to the global economic crisis
BangladeshDominicaGhana
GrenadaGuyanaKenya
MalawiMaldivesPakistanSri LankaSt Lucia
SVGZambia
CameroonThe Gambia
IndiaLesotho
Mozambique
NigeriaPNG
Sierra LeoneTanzaniaUganda
CameroonThe Gambia
IndiaNigeriaPNG Uganda
Sierra Leone
CameroonThe Gambia
IndiaNigeriaPNG Uganda
Sierra Leone
CameroonThe Gambia
IndiaLesotho
Mozambique
NigeriaPNG
Sierra Leone
TanzaniaUganda
BangladeshGhana
GrenadaGuyanaKenya
LesothoMaldives
PakistanSri LankaSt Lucia
SVGTanzaniaZambia
DominicaGhana
GrenadaKenyaMalawi
Maldives
PakistanSri LankaSt Lucia
SVGZambia
Note: Based on IMF projections on prospects for Trade, FDI, Aid & Remittances. Red = High risk, Orange = Medium risk, Green = Low risk
Economic Crisis: Poverty effects ....Country Reduced growth
due to crisis (% points)
Poverty increase due to reduced
growth
(in ‘000)
Bangladesh -1.2 289.3Ghana -2.2 227.7Kenya -0.4 57.7Nigeria -5.0 5046.8Uganda -1.0 233.0Zambia -2.4 38.8
Source: ODI
• Monitoring situation for SVEs and LDCs• Potential medium to longer term implications being
studied – New rules and implications– Competitiveness– Securing trade and development objectives through
Doha and EPAs
• Our response to the crisis
ITRC: Recent Activities – Global Economic Crisis
ITRC: Recent Activities
• Reviewing issues and progress• Helping countries assess, review, and strategize• Hampshire conference in April 2009 with experts and
negotiators from LDCs and SVEs• Consensus building efforts in larger forums - workshop for
G90 on Enhancing Synergy for G-90 and Other Developing Countries in Doha Negotiations.
• Monitoring developments in G-20 meetings and championing concerns of poorer countries
Doha Round
Doha Round ….
Doha-mandated Small States work programme - ITRC provides technical advice to Geneva-based missions.
Helping Commonwealth ACP small states in formulating proposals for development-friendly fisheries policies
Assessing potential implications arising out of various agreements
ITRC – maintains close contacts with various ACP regional groups and provides support & TA to assess
(i) the progress of EPA negotiations
(ii) ACP development objectives in EPAs negotiations
(iii) better appreciate investment provisions in EPAs
(iv) assist the Caribbean and Pacific regions in the preparation of their requests and offers
(v)ComSec facilitates/supports High Level Meetings to
Activities Related to EPAs
Other ITRC Activities
• Not only trade negotiations, but also issues of general trade and development interest
– Regional Integration and development (South Asia and Pacific)– services trade and domestic regulation – Aid for Trade– Investment and Bilateral Investment Agreements– HIPIC Initiative– Small states– Reform of the international trade and financial structure
Analytical works
• Our workshops/seminars are supported by analytical works
• ITRC track record on analytical work– Aid for Trade work (by Prof Stiglitz)– Pioneering research on Mode IV – Small states work– Comprehensive assessment of EPAs
Selected Analytical Works
• LDCs and SVEs in the global economic system• EU-India FTA and implications for excluded
countries • Bilateralism and Development• Agricultural Trade Liberalisation: Poverty and
Welfare Implications • Navigating New Waters: A Reader on ACP-EU
Relations (vol 1&2) • Commodity Prices and Development
• Rise of BICS in World Trade and potential implications for other developing countries
• Aid effectiveness and quantifying AfT• Services trade and domestic regulations• Review of EPA development issues• Bilaterally negotiated government procurement and
intellectual property rights issues
Selected Works ….
ITRC Work and Partnership
• Collaboration around issues – such as LDCs and small states
• Collaboration with international organizations (e.g. UNCTAD, ACP Secretariat, EC, World Bank, CUTS)
• Partnership with regional organizations, think tanks and civil societies
Our work and the role of commercial diplomacy
• Relevance to commercial diplomacy of certain countries/country groups
• Pro-active role played by certain groups• Taking interest about work being carried out• To influence the mandate
• Strengthening the skills of officials in trade negotiations/policymaking is crucial.
• More emphasis on strategic alliance on key issues to maintain our active presence and ensure effective advocay.
• More interactions with regional think tanks and civil society groups to identify emerging issues of interest to members and prepare responses.
Key Lessons Learnt
Thank you very much.