Trade and Sustainable Development Symposium

Regional trade agreements (RTAs) and particularly deep integration agreements concluded in recent years have increasingly allowed firms to operate within a networked global economy. On the other hand, however, RTAs also have also created limitations, not least through the use of strict rules of origin (RoO) which disincentivise the use of cheaper parts and materials from countries outside a particular trading block. By limiting the ability of firms to take part in value chains spreading across various RTAs, the diversity and complexity of RoO can therefore limit efficiency gains opportunities offered by globalisation. Strict and diverse sets of rules of origin may also prevent developing countries including least developed countries from fully benefiting from the enhanced market access granted through preferential schemes or negotiated under their RTAs. A possible solution could be pushing for the simplification and harmonisation of RoO, seizing on the momentum the issue has gained within the WTO after Bali and Nairobi as well as through the negotiations under way in the context of mega-regional agreements. The session will provide an overview of the most pressing issues concerning RoO with regard to their design, implementation, purpose, restrictiveness, and utilisation and will explore the most effective way to go in promoting the harmonisation and simplification of inclusive RoO, to be achieved through a cumulation scheme.

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The development and implementation of provisions related to sustainable development has recently emerged as a two-speed process: while limited progress is being observed at the WTO-level, several bilateral and regional trade agreements have been increasingly featuring a wide variety of measures, including regulatory commitments, labour- and environment-related instruments, and cooperation mechanisms. This session seeks to explore how sustainability concerns, in particular labour and environmental provisions, are incorporated in regional trade agreements (and mega-regionals) and what benefits and challenges arise from these provisions. Additionally, the session tries to identify suitable provisions that could be multilateralised or at least adapted to further the discussion at the multilateral level (i.e. WTO or other international fora).

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Keynote speech delivered by H.E. Mr Jorge Faurie, Minister of Foreign Affairs and Worship of Argentina, on “Argentina in the global economy, the WTO MC11 and the G20”.

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Dispute settlement provisions are an essential enforcement element of regional trade agreements (RTAs). In light of the different paces of rule-making at the multilateral level and regional level, dispute settlement mechanisms (DSMs) under RTAs are likely to become increasingly relevant in the future as litigious fora for addressing trade differences among trading partners, particularly with respect to WTO-extra obligations. However, the use of RTA DSMs has been fairly limited – a phenomenon that may be explained by political, cultural and technical factors, as well as case-specific elements. This session seeks to identify the reasons behind the limited use of regional DSMs, and discusses systemic options for enforcing trade and investment rules that support sustainability. Additionally, the session seeks to explore possibilities for convergence and coherence-building between RTAs and the multilateral trading system in the area of dispute settlement.

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In a globalised world increasingly dependent on global value chains, trade and investment flows have become more and more complementary and mutually reinforcing. To support new business realities, countries are having to deepen the content of trade agreements by addressing a broader set of policy areas, and by negotiating provisions which may fall outside of the WTO mandate. Investment is one such policy area- provisions are no longer mainly negotiated via bilateral investment treaties (BITs), though such agreements continue to proliferate; rather, investment is increasingly addressed through non-BIT international investment agreements, and integrated into regional trade agreements in chapter or provision form. This session aims to understand the main trends in terms of how countries are integrating trade and investment concerns, and whether there are any lessons which could be replicated by other regional actors, or at the multilateral level.

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While the WTO includes some disciplines regarding regulatory policies, most notably in the area of mandatory product standards (SPS/TBT), most of the rules and mechanisms that determine how to collaborate on regulatory policies takes place outside the ambit of trade frameworks. In recent years however, there has been an increasing systemising of regulatory cooperation through trade and investment frameworks, particularly through the modern deep integration agreements. This session seeks to identify innovative provisions and mechanisms for regulatory cooperation that are emerging from recent bilateral and regional trade agreements. Additionally the session will explore the implications of these practices on both members and non-members, and assess whether any of these new practices could be harvested for the multilateral level, or by other regional actors.  

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The Internet has revolutionised communication, information, and innovation, opening up new areas for economic growth, prospects for employment and opportunities for participation in global markets by individuals, small and medium-sized enterprises, and businesses all around the globe. In the run-up to Eleventh WTO Ministerial Conference (MC11), convergence has emerged across proposals with regard to the development potential of e-commerce, and the need for an enabling environment to ensure inclusive growth. As WTO members explore options to advance a discussion on e-commerce in the WTO, regional trade agreements (RTAs) that already include rules for digital trade can provide valuable lessons and key precedents to build upon. The session seeks to provide information and analysis on the most recent developments in the area of e-commerce rulemaking under RTAs, and contrast those against the scope and nature of the current efforts under the WTO. In addition, this session seeks to identify gaps in e-commerce rulemaking between the WTO and RTAs and to bring forward possible measures to address this challenge.

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Latin America has gone global. The rapid transition towards a digital economy, the densification of global value chains, and the ever-increasing trade flows, both among Latin American countries and between them and the rest of the world, bring opportunities but also demand improved and accelerated preparation from governments and business sectors alike.

Small and medium-sized enterprises require thoughtful governmental action to better integrate into the new economy. Access to modern infrastructure and effective financing have a significant impact on the development of new business with export potential. On a continent where 70 percent of the labour force, but only 30 percent of its GDP comes from small and medium-sized enterprises, sound regulatory frameworks play a key role in creating appropriate conditions that facilitate engagement in the global economy.

Latin America has a historic opportunity to take a leap forward. Her natural wealth, combined market size, and vocation for integration make her an attractive business partner, particularly for Southeast Asia and Europe, despite her traditional ties with North America.

This high-level plenary will allow top policymakers and business with a particular interest in Latin America to share their views, confront their opinions, and work on common approaches towards the participation of Latin America in the new global economy in a trajectory coherent with the vision embodied in the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development. The discussions will surround the orientation of Latin America in the context of globalisation, whether as a mere spectator or assuming a role as a creative and progressive player. 

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