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WTO's second seminar on mainstreaming
Author: WTO (copyright 2002) — (69 minutes)
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If trade is to be a motor for growth and development, trade policy needs to be anchored in an overall development policy framework. Concretely, this process of “mainstreaming” involves establishing priority policy actions, supported by a plan of action which includes coherent and coordinated delivery of trade-related technical assistance and capacity building. This was the focus of WTO's second seminar on mainstreaming, held on 31 October and 1 November 2002.

Accessions
Prof. Anna Lanoszka (37 minutes)
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GATT Article XII procedures for accession are explained step by step by Prof. Anna Lanoszka, who worked for the WTO Accessions Division for several years. Each accession is different, taking into account the specificity of the acceding country and the special position of LDCs is acknowledged. Up-to-date information on the accession situation is included.

Basic principles of the WTO system
Pieter Jan Kuijper, Director of Legal Affairs Division (68 minutes)
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How has the 45 years old GATT legal architecture been transposed into the WTO and the new areas — TRIPS and Services — are covered. P.J. Kuijper reviews the basic principles of Most-Favoured-Nation Treatment (MFN) and National Treatment, negotiating techniques, special provisions such as safeguards, unfair competition (dumping and subsidies), state trading, transparency and neutrality principles. General and security exceptions, rules for regional agreements and special and differential treatment for developing and least-developed countries are also covered.

WTO Trade Policy Reviews and LDCs
Clemens Boonekamp, Director, and Sergios Stamnas, Counsellor
TPR Division (38 minutes)
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Improvements recently introduced to help LDCs undertake the periodic evaluation of their trade policies are explained by C. Boonekamp, while S. Stamnas details the main steps and information to be provided by countries under review.

Why is it important to liberalize ?
Patrick Low, Director, Cabinet of the Director General (70 minutes)
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Gains deriving from trade specialization are explained: better efficiency in resource allocation, gains to consumers, links between imports and exports. The dynamic arguments for trade, which include reciprocal influence between trade and growth, diffusion of technology, challenges facing small domestic markets are also covered, as well as arguments against opening trade.

The trade and finance approach to development
Richard Eglin, Director of Trade and Finance Division (67 minutes)
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The WTO is part of a larger system including the IMF and development agencies such as the World Bank and UN regional agencies. Integrating micro-economic, financial, trade and development policies, at domestic level, is the new paradigm.

The General Agreement on Services — GATS
David Hartridge, Director of Trade in Services Division
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Based on the structure of the GATT (legal rules and lists of commitments), the GATS is the only set of multilateral rules covering trade in services. It provides for flexibility and recognizes the right of governments to regulate, including for instance through prudential measures taken in the financial services area. The increased participation of developing countries in trade in services is encouraged by the GATS. D. Hartridge also provides in-depth information on the various modes of delivery for services, on on-going and future negotiations, as well as on the impact of the GATS on electronic commerce.

The Trade-Related Intellectual Property Rights Agreement (TRIPS)
Adrian Otten, Director of TRIPS Division

• Tape 1 — Presentation (64 min.)
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  The various IP rights covered are defined and the Uruguay Round process which led to the TRIPS Agreement is explained. The architecture of the Agreement is presented in detail, in particular its basic principles, how protection is provided and enforced, the settlement of disputes, transition periods for developing and least-developed countries, and notification obligations.
    
• Tape 2 — Questions and answers (48 min.)
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  This Q&A includes clarifications on compulsory licensing, copyright and patent protection for pharmaceuticals (effects on prices), LDCs difficulties to implement the TRIPS Agreement, transfer of technology, foreign direct investment, traditional knowledge, counterfeiting and piracy of indigenous music, protection of new plant varieties and genetically modified organisms.

Electronic Commerce and WTO
Andrew Stoler, Deputy Director-General (44 minutes)
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The first part presents an overview of the existing work programme on electronic commerce, the relevance of WTO provisions to E-commerce and development and the digital divide. In a second part, practical projects are addressed, such as WTO Reference Centres and the WTO website.

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