The presentation will focus on contemporary issues that are being debated within WTO and the United Nations. It will examine the interplay between environmental, health and safety requirements, on the one hand, and, on the other, market access for developing countries. It will also look at the importance of private standards for market access. The liberalization of trade in environmental goods and services will be illustrated and the role of organic agriculture as a dynamic economic and export sector, and its role in pro-poor agricultural development, will be highlighted.

Le cours mettra l’accent sur les questions d’actualité qui font actuellement l’objet d’un débat à l’OMC et à l’ONU. Il s’agira d’examiner les interactions entre les prescriptions en matière d’environnement, de santé, de sécurité, d’une part, et l’accès aux marchés pour les pays en développement, d’autre part. On s’intéressera également à l’importance des normes du secteur privé pour l’accès aux marchés. Il sera en outre question de la libéralisation du commerce des biens et services environnementaux et du rôle de l’agriculture biologique en tant que secteur économique dynamique et d’exportation, particulièrement important pour un développement agricole favorable aux pauvres.

Delivered by: Division on International Trade in Goods and Services, and Commodities

• Programme
• Presenters - Presentateurs
• Participants

Presentations:

• Challenges and opportunities arising from new packages of private (sustainability) standards for food exports from developing countries, Ulrich HOFFMANN, Head, Trade and Sustainable Development Section, DITC.

• The WTO negotiations on liberalization of trade in environmental goods and services - opportunities for developing countries, Alexey VIKHLYAEV, Economic Affairs Officer, Trade and Sustainable Development Section, DITC.

• Organic agriculture - a trade and sustainable development opportunity for developing countries, Sophia TWAROG, Economic Affairs Officer, Trade and Sustainable Development Section, DITC.

Documents:

Resources on private voluntary standards:

• Trade and Environment Review 2006, Chapter 1
• Challenges and Opportunities Arising from Private Standards on Food Safety and Environment for Exporters of Fresh Fruit and Vegetables in Asia: Experiences of Malaysia, Thailand and Viet Nam
• The Implications of Private-Sector Standards for Good Agricultural Practices Exploring Options to Facilitate Market Access for Developing-country Exporters of Fruit and Vegetables: Experiences of Argentina, Brazil and Costa Rica

Resources on environmental good and services:

• UNCTAD (2004). UNCTAD’s Work on Environmental Goods and Services: Briefing Note, Document No. TN/TE/INF/7, WTO, Geneva.
• Environmental goods and services: Defining negotiations or negotiating definitions?, 2004; Alexey Vikhlyaev; UNCTAD Trade and Environment Review 2003.
• Environmental goods and services: Challenges and opportunities for Central American and Caribbean countries, 2004, Luis Barriaa, Catherin Cattafestab, Raul Garridoc, Maria Pia Hernandezd, and René Vossenaare; UNCTAD Trade and Environment Review 2003.

Resources on organic agriculture:

• Trade and Environment Review 2006, Chapter 3, Part 1
• Certified Organic Export Production: Implications for Economic Welfare and Gender Equity among Smallholder Farmers in Tropical Africa
• Best Practices for Organic Policy. What developing country Governments can do to promote the organic agriculture sector?