Entre el 18 y 19 de junio se presentó y discutió en las instalaciones del Centro Internacional de Política Económica Para el Desarrollo Sostenible (CINPE) el informe “Impacto de las normas de propiedad intelectual y acceso a medicamentos: Costa Rica y el Acuerdo CAFTA-DR” basado en la utilización de un modelo prospectivo de análisis económico aplicado a la nueva realidad que el acuerdo de libre comercio configura para los países de América Central. Se trata del  resultado de un esfuerzo conjunto de las organizaciones (ICSTD, OPS-OLos Derechos de Propiedad Intelectual (DPI) se han convertido de forma gradual en un elemento de creciente importancia en el marco del acceso a medicamentos, afectando el diseño e implementación de un buen número de programas, acciones y políticas de salud pública. La evaluación del  impacto de la protección de los DPI sobre el acceso a medicamentos de manera metodológicamente rigurosa y  sistemática resulta esencial tanto para decisores políticos como trabajadores/as del sector salud y otros actores involucrados.

Entre el 18 y 19 de junio se presentó y discutió en las instalaciones del Centro Internacional de Política Económica Para el Desarrollo Sostenible (CINPE) el informe “Impacto de las normas de propiedad intelectual y acceso a medicamentos: Costa Rica y el Acuerdo CAFTA-DR” basado en la utilización de un modelo prospectivo de análisis económico aplicado a la nueva realidad que el acuerdo de libre comercio configura para los países de América Central. Se trata del  resultado de un esfuerzo conjunto de las organizaciones (ICSTD, OPS-OMS, PNUD) que conforman el llamado consorcio e igualmente producto  del fructífero diálogo del mismo con instituciones locales, en este caso el CINPE.

Ha sido una buena oportunidad no sólo para dar a conocer las posibles implicaciones del Acuerdo CAFTA-DR sobre el acceso a medicamentos en los países firmantes del CAFTA-DR sino igualmente un escenario propicio para intercambiar experiencias y compartir información sobre las diferentes perspectivas que caracterizan  el necesario equilibrio entre Salud Pública y DPI. Especialmente en unos momentos donde, tras la aprobación de la Estrategia Global sobre Salud Pública, Innovación y Propiedad Intelectual y su progresiva implementación en las Américas se perfila un escenario más dinámico con nuevas iniciativas y proyectos específicos dirigidos a promover la innovación y acceso a los medicamentos. MS, PNUD) que conforman el llamado consorcio e igualmente producto  del fructífero diálogo del mismo con instituciones locales, en este caso el CINPE.

Ha sido una buena oportunidad no sólo para dar a conocer las posibles implicaciones del Acuerdo CAFTA-DR sobre el acceso a medicamentos en los países firmantes del CAFTA-DR sino igualmente un escenario propicio para intercambiar experiencias y compartir información sobre las diferentes perspectivas que caracterizan  el necesario equilibrio entre Salud Pública y DPI. Especialmente en unos momentos donde, tras la aprobación de la Estrategia Global sobre Salud Pública, Innovación y Propiedad Intelectual y su progresiva implementación en las Américas se perfila un escenario más dinámico con nuevas iniciativas y proyectos específicos dirigidos a promover la innovación y acceso a los medicamentos.

The International Centre for Trade & Sustainable Development (ICTSD) and the Quaker UN Office (QUNO) held a dinner on Tuesday 23rd June, at 6.30 pm, at the Hotel Epsom, 18 rue de Richemont, Geneva.
 
The dinner provided the opportunity for participants at the WTO-WIPO Colloquium for Teachers of Intellectual Property to meet informally over dinner with the Geneva-based community working on intellectual property.
 
Each year, the WTO and WIPO offer a two-week in-depth Colloquium for around 20 selected experts teaching in the field of intellectual property, predominantly from universities in developing countries. The colloquium gives this group of academic experts an intensive programme on current issues in the WTO and WIPO, and on the state of negotiations. This dinner, hosted by ICTSD and QUNO is the key opportunity for participants to meet with national counterparts and get a more informal, practical account of how negotiations are shaped in Geneva and beyond.
 
This event affords the colloquium pparticipants, who will shape the knowledge of future IP policymakers, can discuss informally the national positions in the TRIPS Council and WIPO with those involved in the negotiations. Given your experience, and that there will be a participant from xxx in the colloquium your participation would be most valuable.
 
During the dinner, there was also a short panel presentation entitled ‘Developing Countries and the Global IP Agenda,’ with Maximiliano Santa Cruz (Mission of Chile, Chair-WIPO Standing Committee on Patents), Pedro Roffe (ICTSD), and Sisule Musungu, IQSensato.
 
Please email to cdommen@quno.ch or quno@quno.ch or by phone on 022 748 4810 for further information.

 
Friday, 26th June
·         Morning
Opening ceremony
-       Bernard Njonga,  ACDIC
-       Christophe Bellmann,  ICTSD
-       Madou Sangué,   IOF
-       Mme ELOMBAT Mbedey Chantal, MINEPAT, Cameroon governement

Coffee break
 
Session I: Non Tariff Barriers in WTO and EPAs
1.      Non tariffs barriers in WTO negotiations:  Mrs Dineswaree Mohun, Permanent Mission of Mauritius in Geneva- Switzerland
2.      Non tariffs barriers in EPAs negotiations, Morgan Githinji, ACP Secretariat, Brussels

3.      Non tariffs barriers in CARIFORUM EPA, Mr Junior Lodge, WTO Negotiations
Caribbean Regional Negotiating Machinery, Geneva
 
Lunch
·         Afternoon
Session II: Sanitary and Phytosanitary Measures (SPS) and markets access for ACP countries
1.      Sanitary and phytosanitary measures (SPS) and market access in industrial and agricultural products, Mr Martin Doherty, International Consultant, England
 
2.      Technical Barriers to Trade (TBT), Market access and EPAs, Mr Achille Bassilekin, ACP Secretariat, Geneva –Switzerland
 
·         Commentator: The case of fish products (shrimps and others) in West Africa, Henri Jean Claude Gouthon, Chambre Consulaire UEMOA, Benin
·         Commentator: Fruits and Vegetables , Mr Cheikh Ngane, ONAPES, Senegal
 
 
 
 
Saturday 27th June
·         Matin
Session III: Trade defence measures and restrictions to trade preferences
 
1.      Rules of origin: Problems and solutions, Mr Christian Charles Ossono, Inspecteur of Customs, Ministry of Trade, Cameroon
2.      Rules of origins in specific commodities
·         The case of fish products, Mr Eckart Naumann, TRALAC Associate, Zambia
·         Textiles, Mr Marc Bennett, International Consultant, Tanzania
Coffee break
3.      Subsidies reduction and EPAs, Mr Abdoulaye  Zonon, Economist, CAPES, Burkina Faso
4.      Administrative Measures: Licenses, custom evaluation and export taxes, Mr Emanuel N’Nang Abessolo, Fiscal expert, Gabon
 
Lunch
·         Afternoon
Session IV: Pending issues in Central Africa EPA negotiations
1.      Legal, systemic and dispute settlement issues, Dr Cosmas O’chieng, University of Lancaster, GB
2.      Market access offer,  Dr Maximin Emagna, EPAs technical Assistant, Ministry of Trade, Cameroon
Discussant on Market Access offer and GATT Article XXIV, Dr El Hadji Diouf, ICTSD, Geneva
Coffee break
3.      Intellectual property right, Mr Ahmed Abdel Latif, ICTSD, Geneva, Switzerland
4.      Services and investments, Mr Aristide Ebang Essono, CEMAC-IOF Adviser, Bangui
Closing Ceremony
-       Closing remarks by the organisers
-       The Representative of the Government of Cameroon

Biofuels are a promising source of energy with major implications for global competitiveness, energy security and uncertain social and environmental impacts. Therefore, crafting policy and regulatory frameworks for biofuels nationally and internationally is likely to require intense debate, negotiations and compromise. Building on the current momentum that exists in almost all corners of the world, the stage could be set now for policies and instruments supportive of a biofuels strategy that would expand the benefits of globalization, and improve livelihoods and human wellbeing, while managing the social, economic and environmental challenges.

The objective of this dialogue was to discuss issues at the interface between biofuels, trade policy and sustainable development. More specifically, the dialogue presented three ICTSD research papers on “US Trade Policies on Biofuels and Sustainable Development”, by Jane EARLEY, “EU Support for Biofuels, ‘Environmental Sustainability’ Criteria, and Trade Policy”, by Alan SWINBANK, and “Proposals for Biofuel Certification and the Law of the WTO”, by Marsha ECHOLS. Copies of the papers were made available including the paper on “Biofuels Subsidies and the Law of the WTO” by Toni HARMER. Discussants were invited to react to these presentations followed by open discussions.

These papers are part of ICTSD’s Trade and Sustainable Energy series, published under its programme on Trade, Climate Change and Sustainable Energy, which aims to generate policy-oriented and solutions-focused knowledge on key issues at the interface between the multilateral trading system and various regimes and initiatives promoting the transition to a sustainable energy future.

O papel que os biocombustíveis podem ter para, efetivamente, combater a mudança do clima em escala global dependerá de diversos fatores, políticos e econômicos, tais como: negociações internacionais sobre o clima, criação de mercados globais de carbono e de produtos de baixa intensidade de carbono, metas e políticas nacionais de incentivo, barreiras comerciais, métodos produtivos, eficiência na redução das emissões de gases de efeito estufa, preço relativo de diferentes tecnologias competidoras, ambientes propícios para investimentos em diversos países com potencial para a produção, avanços tecnológicos, entre outros. O proposto seminário buscará discutir algumas dessas questões com os principais especialistas brasileiros sobre o assunto.
 
Data: 23 de junho de 2009
Horário: 9h às13h30
Local: Auditório Direito GV
Rua Rocha, 233 – São Paulo, SP
Informações: (11) 3281 3314 ou manuela.viana@fgv.br

The WTI-ICTSD Trade Policy Dialogues bring together trade academia, diplomacy and practice for high-end discussions of issues related to trade policy, law and economics. The Dialogues are co-hosted by the World Trade Institute (WTI) in Berne (www.wti.org) and the International Centre for Trade and Sustainable Development (ICTSD) in Geneva (www.ictsd.org) and implemented in cooperation with WTI Advisors, an affiliate of the World Trade Institute (www.wtiadvisors.com).

World Trade Organization (WTO) – Room CRII

11 June 2009, 13:00 - 15:00

As part of World Trade Week UK, the United Kingdom Mission in Geneva and the International Centre for Trade and Sustainable Development (ICTSD), are pleased to invite you to an informal dialogue on The Role of Open Markets and the WTO in the Current Economic Crisis.

Please note that Chatham House Rules will apply.

Lead Panellists:

• Ms. Claire Durkin, UK Director for Europe, International Trade and Development: “The Role of Trade Openness & Liberalisation”
• Ms. Dorothy Tembo, Executive Director, Enhanced Integrated Framework, Geneva “Assisting Developing Countries fully integrate into Global Markets”
• Mr. Ricardo Meléndez-Ortiz, Chief Executive, ICTSD: “WTO and Global Sustainability”
• Ms. Patricia Francis, Executive Director, International Trade Centre, ITC) “The role played by the private sector in harnessing Aid for Trade”
• Mr. Alejandro Jara, DDG, WTO: “The Future Role of WTO”

Lead Discussants:

• Prof. Jean-Pierre Lehmann, IMD, Lausanne
• Prof. Joost Pauwelyn, Graduate Institute of International Studies, Geneva

World Trade Week UK aims to highlight the importance of global trade in creating jobs and growth. Through a series of events in the UK and at UK Embassies and Consulates overseas, World Trade Week UK will bring together businesses, NGOs, think tanks, business organisations and policy makers. Through varied and innovative activities, the focus will be on discussing and showcasing the positive benefits of open trade and how both developed and developing countries can work together towards realising an economic recovery and ensure that trade continues to contribute to poverty alleviation.

Light refreshments will be provided outside of the Conference Room from 12:30.
Please note refreshments cannot be consumed in the Conference Room.

If you would like to attend, please kindly register by email or fax until 8 June 2009 with
Ms. Cécile de Gardelle at cdegardelle@ictsd.ch or fax no. +41-22-917 8093.

Further details on World Trade Week can be found at: http://www.worldtradeweekuk.com/Pages/WTWHome.aspx