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Council for Multilateral Business Diplomacy WTO Leadership Prospects and Implications

Council for Multilateral Business Diplomacy WTO Leadership Prospects and Implications. Webinar—20 February 2013 Geneva, Switzerland. Program for Webinar. Record of WTO under Pascal Lamy Review of business survey Election timeline for Director-General

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Council for Multilateral Business Diplomacy WTO Leadership Prospects and Implications

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  1. Council for MultilateralBusiness DiplomacyWTO Leadership Prospects and Implications Webinar—20 February 2013 Geneva, Switzerland

  2. Program for Webinar • Record of WTO under Pascal Lamy • Review of business survey • Election timeline for Director-General • Overview of the nine candidates on business engagement • Panel discussion on leadership prospects and implications

  3. Record of WTO under Pascal Lamy • Doha Round impasse • Growing membership of the WTO (158) • Fighting protectionism • Strong dispute settlement regime • New research on value added and on non-tariff measures

  4. The WTO in 2013 • Prospects for Ninth Ministerial Conference in Bali, 3-6 December 2013 • Trade facilitation • Aid for trade • Agriculture and special and differential treatment • Parallel initiatives on • Services • Information technology • US-EU bilateral trade negotiations • Trans Pacific Partnership

  5. WTO Business Survey • Over 300 respondents • Mostly doing business in Europe and Eurasia but also all other regions • Positive views on • 95% agree WTO does vital work for business • 97% agree trade generates growth and jobs • 72% look to the WTO to ensure compliance by governments • 62% still believe the Doha Round can deliver benefits to business

  6. WTO Business Survey cont. Priorities for improving the global economy • Conclude the Doha Round • Adopt a trade facilitation package • Go ahead on information technology and services • Reduce tariffs and non-tariff barriers • Reform dispute settlement system to make it better • Keep protectionism at bay

  7. WTO Business Survey cont Options for working better with business: • 52% would like more networking events • 56% favor business participation in WTO technical assistance and training • 61% would like business representation in WTO meetings • +90% favor a business role for training and capacity building of parliamentarians

  8. Election Timeline for WTO Director-General • Nine candidates nominated by end of December 2012 • Interviews with General Council end of January 2013 • Selection process to start 1 April • To be completed by 31 May • New Director-General starts 1 September 2013

  9. Nine Candidates for WTO Director-General • Ahmad ThouganHindawi – Jordan • Herminio Blanco – Mexico • Taeho Bark – Republic of Korea • Roberto Carvalho de Azevedo - Brazil • Alan John KwadwoKyerematen – Ghana • Anabel Gonzalez – Costa Rica • Maria Elka Pangestu – Indonesia • Tim Groser – New Zealand • Amina Mohamed - Kenya      

  10. Candidate Views onOutreach to Business at the WTO • WTO needs to be proactive • Information flow, research and reporting • Dispute settlement • Trade negotiations • Define what is meant by the business sector • Sectoral differences • Regional differences • Size differences

  11. Candidate Views onOutreach to Business at the WTO • Mechanisms for outreach • Liaison office within the WTO Secretariat • Business advisory council • Global business forum • Engagement with all non-state actors • Policy forum with larger business role • Links with other development institutions • Partnership with the International Trade Commission

  12. Candidate Views onOutreach to Business at the WTO • Clear rules of engagement with • Open markets • Removing barriers to trade • Looking to 21st century issues • Different trading blocs • Investment and competition • Government procurement • Climate change and natural resources • No mention of food security?

  13. Panel Discussion: Leadership Prospects and Implications • Ricardo Melendez-Ortiz • Chief Executive Officer, International Centre for Trade and Sustainable Development • Mark Halle • Director, Trade and Investment, and European Representative, International Institute for Sustainable Development

  14. Panel Discussion Questions • What difference will it make to the WTO to have a new Director-General? • What are the official and unofficial criteria that are likely to play a role in the selection process? • Do you have any preferences?  If so, why?  If not, why not? • What are the implications for WTO leadership of the trade-related initiatives within and outside of the Doha Round?

  15. Panel Discussion Questions Making a difference with a new Director-General? • Likelihood of developing country origin • Balancing and alignment of different geographic blocs • Coping with regional trade agreements • Introducing new trade issues • Other implications?

  16. Panel Discussion Questions Criteria in the selection process • Scope and rank of experience in trade policy world • Record of accomplishments • Geographic rotation • Alignments of sponsoring country • Campaign presentations • Actual policy positions?

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