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.