Bridges Weekly Trade News Digest • Volume 9 • Number 8 • 9th March 2005
Events
For a more comprehensive list of events in trade and sustainable development, please refer to ICTSD’s web calendar. If you would like to submit an event, please email us.
Coming Up: 10 - 16 March
11-13 March 2005, Stresa, Italy: THE WTO AT 10: THE ROLE OF THE DISPUTE SETTLEMENT SYSTEM. Organised by the Research Centre on International Economic Organisations of the Universities of Piemonte Orientale, Torino, Genova, Milano, and Bocconi. The conference will address various issues relating to the role of the WTO’s dispute settlement system, special focus will be given to the role played within the system by the Appellate Body. The three main topics discussed at the conference are the challenges to the WTO from within and without; the dispute settlement system in action; and the dispute settlement system in perspective. For further information contact Dr. Isabel Recavarren, tel: (+39 02) 5836 5212; fax (+39 02) 5836 5202; email: isabel.recavarren@unibocconi.it; Internet: http://www.wto.org/english/tratop_e/dispu_e/anniversary_conferences_e.htm.
14-16 March, Washington, DC, US: ENERGY WEEK 2005. Energy Week 2005, organised by the World Bank, features presentations and discussions with leading energy development practitioners and offers networking activities to participants from Governments, NGOs, consultants and World Bank Group staff. The theme of Energy Week 2005 is "Our Energy Future," which aims to ensure affordable and reliable supplies of energy in developing countries as a prerequisite for economic development and poverty reduction. The program will feature sessions addressing the key developments that are shaping the future of energy supply and the kinds of energy services, which will be available in developing countries in the future. Topics that will be covered include sustainability in extractive industry development; environmental policies and management; and energy planning and technology choice. For further information contact the World Bank, tel: (+1 202) 473 1000; fax: (+1 202) 477 6391; Internet: http://www.worldbank.org/energy/energyweek2005/.
14-18 March, Geneva, Switzerland: UNCTAD COMMISSION ON TRADE IN GOODS AND SERVICES AND COMMODITIES, 9TH SESSION. The main agenda includes discussions on market access, market entry and competitiveness; trade in services and development implications; trade, environment and development; and a progress report on the implementation of agreed conclusions and recommendations of the Commission, including the post-Doha follow-up. For further information contact Mr. Mehmet Arda, tel: +41(0)22 917 5790; fax: +41(0)22 917 0509; email: mehmet.arda@unctad.org; Internet: http://www.unctad.org/Templates/Meeting.asp?intItemID=1942&lang=1&m=9478&year=2005&month=3.
WTO Events
An updated list of forthcoming WTO meetings is posted at: http://www.wto.org/english/news_e/meets.pdf. Please bear in mind that dates and times of WTO meetings are often changed, and that the WTO does not always announce the important informal meetings of the different bodies. Unless otherwise indicated, all WTO meetings are held at the WTO, Centre William Rappard, rue de Lausanne 154, 1211 Geneva, Switzerland, and are open to WTO Members and accredited observers only.
11 March: WTO COUNCIL FOR TRADE IN GOODS.
11 March: WTO COUNCIL FOR TRADE-RELATED ASPECTS OF INTELLECTUAL PROPERTY RIGHTS - SPECIAL SESSION.
11 March: WTO WORKING GROUP ON TRADE AND TRANSFER OF TECHNOLOGY.
14 - 15 March: WTO NEGOTIATING GROUP ON MARKET ACCESS.
14 March: WTO COMMITTEE ON GOVERNMENT PROCUREMENT.
15 March: WTO TRADE POLICY REVIEW BODY - MONGOLIA.
16 March: WTO COMMITTEE ON AGRICULTURE.
Other Upcoming Events
22 - 23 March, Entebbe, Uganda: PROJECT LAUNCH MEETING FOR CAPACITY BUILDING ON COMPETITION POLICY IN SELECT COUNTRIES OF EASTERN AND SOUTHERN AFRICA. Organised by Consumer Unity & Trust Society (CUTS). One of the main objectives of the project is to develop the capacity of national stakeholders in project countries to understand and appreciate prevailing competition concerns from the national, regional and international perspectives and enable them to respond appropriately. The project is being executed in Botswana, Ethiopia, Malawi, Mauritius, Mozambique, Namibia and Uganda. This project is to run through December 2006. For further information contact Rijit Sengupta, tel: (+91 141) 228 2821; fax: (+91 141) 228 2733; email: 7up3@cuts.org; Internet: http://ww.cuts-international.org.
11-12 April, New York, US: COMMISSION ON SUSTAINABLE DEVELOPMENT (CSD). The task of the thirteenth CSD will be to map out a framework of policy options and actions to tackle constraints and obstacles toward meeting the Millennium Development Goals. For further information contact the Department of Economic and Social Affairs, tel: (+1 212) 963 2803; Fax: (+1 212) 963 4260; Internet: http://www.un.org/esa/sustdev/csd/csd13/csd13.htm.
20-22 April, Geneva, Switzerland: WTO ANNUAL PUBLIC SYMPOSIUM 2005. The theme of the symposium is "The WTO After 10 Years: Global Problems and Multilateral Solution." Participants are expected to reflect on the WTO’s first ten years and discuss the challenges the organization faces looking forward. The WTO’s annual symposia are intended to stimulate public debate on the WTO. A new report, The Future of the WTO: Addressing Institutional Challenges in the New Millennium, is expected to help inform and guide the discussions. For more information contact: Bernard Kuiten; tel: (+41 22) 739 5676; email: PublicSymposium2005@wto.org; Internet: http://www.wto.org/english/news_e/events_e/symposium_2005_e.htm.