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WTO webcasting The WTO provides webcasting (internet broadcasting) of major events and for training purposes. Notices of upcoming events are posted on the WTO homepage. Most videos are available in Real Media and Windows Media format. |
Downloads: Before downloading, read the system requirements carefully. |
July 2004 DDA package
WTO News Conference — April 5, 2004 Release of international trade statistics with Research Director Patrick Low, Senior Economist Michael Finger and WTO Spokesperson Keith Rockwell.
Introductory videos back to top
A virtual tour of the WTO (27 minutes) This video follows a pair of students on an introductory tour of the WTO building, as they question officials from the organization and from governments about how the WTO works.
To the heart of the WTO This video explains the WTO through member governments' eyes. It seeks to shed light on how the WTO system works, through the experience and motivations of two very different countries: Brazil, a large developing nation, and Norway, a small but economically advanced state. The case on environmental standards for gasoline, brought by Venezuela and Brazil against the US and the case on sound recordings brought by the US and EC against Japan are taken as examples to explain the WTO dispute settlement process.
Training videos back to top WTO's
second seminar on mainstreaming GATT Article XII procedures for accession are explained step by step by Prof. Anna Lanoszka, who worked for the WTO Accessions Division for several years. Each accession is different, taking into account the specificity of the acceding country and the special position of LDCs is acknowledged. Up-to-date information on the accession situation is included. How has the 45 years old GATT legal architecture been transposed into the WTO and the new areas — TRIPS and Services — are covered. P.J. Kuijper reviews the basic principles of Most-Favoured-Nation Treatment (MFN) and National Treatment, negotiating techniques, special provisions such as safeguards, unfair competition (dumping and subsidies), state trading, transparency and neutrality principles. General and security exceptions, rules for regional agreements and special and differential treatment for developing and least-developed countries are also covered. Improvements recently introduced to help LDCs undertake the periodic evaluation of their trade policies are explained by C. Boonekamp, while S. Stamnas details the main steps and information to be provided by countries under review. Gains deriving from trade specialization are explained: better efficiency in resource allocation, gains to consumers, links between imports and exports. The dynamic arguments for trade, which include reciprocal influence between trade and growth, diffusion of technology, challenges facing small domestic markets are also covered, as well as arguments against opening trade. The WTO is part of a larger system including the IMF and development agencies such as the World Bank and UN regional agencies. Integrating micro-economic, financial, trade and development policies, at domestic level, is the new paradigm. Based on the structure of the GATT (legal rules and lists of commitments), the GATS is the only set of multilateral rules covering trade in services. It provides for flexibility and recognizes the right of governments to regulate, including for instance through prudential measures taken in the financial services area. The increased participation of developing countries in trade in services is encouraged by the GATS. D. Hartridge also provides in-depth information on the various modes of delivery for services, on on-going and future negotiations, as well as on the impact of the GATS on electronic commerce.
The first part presents an overview of the existing work programme on electronic commerce, the relevance of WTO provisions to E-commerce and development and the digital divide. In a second part, practical projects are addressed, such as WTO Reference Centres and the WTO website.
> On
Tuesday 23rd November 2004 the Director-General met with Mr. Peter
Mandelson, EU Trade Commissioner |
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