Bridges Weekly Trade News Digest • Volume 8 • Number 26 • 21st July 2004
Resources
RESOURCES
LESSONS LEARNED ON TRADE AND SUSTAINABLE DEVELOPMENT. By Aaron Cosbey (International Institute for Sustainable Development, 2004). This book distills the lessons from six years of research undertaken by and for the Trade Knowledge Network (1998 - 2004). It draws on in-country research, thematic research and workshop papers to identify the key issues, and explores in depth what the TKN research has to say about them. The result is an excellent primer on the issues faced by the South in the area of trade and sustainable development. The book includes a companion CD covering all of the surveyed TKN research (more than 40 papers in all, including several in Spanish). For further information and to download the book, visit http://www.tradeknowledgenetwork.net/publication.aspx?id=631
FREE TRADE AGREEMENT BETWEEN THE USA AND THAILAND THREATENS ACCESS TO HIV/AIDS TREATMENT. Oxfam Briefing Note (July 2004). This briefing Note warns that US demands for the US-Thai FTA to toughen existing intellectual property protection for drugs produced by giant pharmaceutical companies will hamper Thailand’s successful HIV/AIDS treatment program and undermine future access to affordable medicines. Thailand is currently implementing a treatment program based on a generic fixed dose combination recommended by the WHO. This three-in-one tablet is around 10 times cheaper than the patented brand name drugs, and enhances patients’ compliance by decreasing the number of pills that need to be taken to two a day. The patent rules in the proposed US-Thai FTA, if based on recent US FTAs with other developing countries, will close down the option of accessing such inexpensive generic medicines in the future. To access the report see http://www.oxfam.org/eng/pdfs/bn_USThai_FTA__HIVAIDS.pdf
THE USE OF ECONOMIC INSTRUMENTS IN ENVIRONMENTAL POLICY: OPPORTUNITIES AND CHALLENGES. By the UNEP Economics and Trade Branch (2004). This publication seeks to help policy-makers and experts to identify, design and evaluate economic instruments and integrate them effectively into pre-existing regulatory structures. It presents a wide range of tools for conducting comprehensive assessments and tailoring solutions to a specific country situation and need. It also provides a framework for conducting policy design, implementation and evaluation through a case study approach, analysing past experiences in an effort to assess which instruments have worked effectively to address particular types of environmental problems. To access the report visit http://www.unep.ch/etu/publications/Economic_Instrument_Opp_Chnall_final.pdf
ECONOMIC INSTRUMENTS IN BIODIVERSITY-RELATED MULTILATERAL ENVIRONMENTAL AGREEMENTS. By the UNEP Economics and Trade Branch (2004). This study investigates the current and future potential role of economic instruments in the context of three biodiversity-related Multilateral Environmental Agreements: the Convention on Biological Diversity, the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Flora and Fauna, and the Ramsar Convention on Wetlands. The main types of economic instruments relevant to protecting biodiversity and the principal provisions and negotiations on economic instruments in the three MEAs are identified. Using numerous examples, the study suggests a range of thematic areas where the use of economic instruments could be further developed. It also discusses some of the conditions for successful implementation of such instruments. To access the report visit http://www.unep.ch/etu/publications/EconInst/eco_inst_bio_mea.pdf
ENERGY SUBSIDIES: LESSONS LEARNED IN ASSESSING THEIR IMPACT AND DESIGNING POLICY REFORMS. By the UNEP Economics and Trade Branch (2004). This publication aims to raise awareness of the actual and potential impact of energy subsidies and to provide guidance to policy-makers on how to design and implement energy subsidy reforms. It is based on work undertaken by UNEP in collaboration with the International Energy Agency. The report provides an overview of methodologies for policy makers and stakeholders to evaluate the economic, environmental and social effects of energy subsidies. This analytical framework sets the scene for a detailed discussion of energy subsidy issues at the country level, presenting nine country case-study experiences. It analyses the lessons learned and offers policy recommendations on how to design, implement and assess energy subsidies reform. To access the report visit http://www.unep.ch/etu/publications/energySubsidies/Energysubreport.pdf