"THE WTO: 20 YEARS AND BEYOND"

Transcription

1 THIRD SINGAPORE-WTO POLICY DIALOGUE ON THE WORLD TRADING SYSTEM FOR SENIOR GOVERNMENT OFFICIALS FROM ASIA AND THE PACIFIC "THE WTO: 20 YEARS AND BEYOND" VENUE: RENDEZVOUS HOTEL, 9 BRAS BASAH ROAD SINGAPORE, OCTOBER 2015 Programme 1 Working Copy (as of 18 September 2015) This programme for the Third Singapore-WTO Policy Dialogue and documents circulated are designed wholly and exclusively for technical assistance and capacity building purposes and under the WTO Secretariat's own responsibility. They are without prejudice to the positions of Members or to their rights and obligations under the WTO. The Third Singapore-WTO Policy Dialogue on the World Trading System in Singapore from 19 to 20 October 2015 is sponsored and organized by the World Trade Organization (WTO) and the Government of Singapore, through the Singapore Cooperation Programme (SCP) and the Ministry of Trade and Industry (MTI) in collaboration with the Singapore Management University (SMU), as part of the agreed activities in the Singapore-WTO MoU signed in 1996 to establish the Singapore-WTO Third Country Training Programme. For questions and inquiries on the Third Singapore-WTO Policy Dialogue, please contact cocoordinators: Dr Luanga Mukela Faustin, Counsellor, Head for Asia and Pacific Economies Regional Desk, Institute for Training and Technical Cooperation of the WTO, ( mukela.luanga@wto.org ; Tel: ; fax: ). Ms Margaret Liang, Coordinator for the Dialogue (Tel: ; margaret.liangyy@gmail.com; and Ms Loh Jing Ting, for handling the logistics and applications for the Dialogue (Tel: ; LOH_Jing_Ting@mfa.gov.sg 1 Final Programme, presentations and Guidelines for Participants are posted on the Third Singapore-WTO Policy Dialogue on the World Trading System in Singapore from 19 to 20 October 2015 Webpage: 1

2 BACKGROUND The 3rd Singapore WTO Trade Policy Dialogue will be held prior to the 10th WTO Ministerial Conference (MC10) under the title of Singapore Dialogue on the WTO: 20 Years and Beyond. Similar to previous editions of the Dialogue in 2013 and 2011 (before MC9 and MC8 respectively), this year's Dialogue is intended to provide an opportunity for senior government officials to exchange views and brainstorm on issues and challenges confronting the Multilateral Trading System, in light of recent developments in the global economy. This would involve high-level officials from the Asia-Pacific region in a broadranging strategic dialogue on topics such as the MC10, reinvigorating Doha and key issues for the WTO in the next 20 years. A working programme (draft) follow OCTOBER 2015; Venue: Rendezvous Hotel, 9 Bras Basah Road, Singapore :30 17:30 MONDAY, 19 October : Registration 9:00 9:30 Opening Ceremony Welcome remarks Representative of the Singapore Management University (SMU): Prof Yeo Tiong Min, Dean, Faculty of Law Opening remarks Key Note Speech WTO Representative - Mr Yi Xiaozhun, Deputy Director General, World Trade Organization Singapore Government Representative: Minister or Senior Minister of State, Ministry Of Trade and Industry, Singapore [TBC]. 9:30 9:45 Group Photograph 9:45 10:00 Coffee Break 10:00 12:00 Session I: WTO at 20 Successes and Lessons Learnt Dr Faustin Mukela Luanga, Counsellor, Head for Asia and Pacific Regional Desk, Institute for Training and Technical Cooperation, WTO 1. What has the WTO achieved in the past 20 years? Speakers [20 minutes each] 1. Dr. Marc Bacchetta, Counsellor, Economic Research and Statistics Division, WTO 2

3 2. Has the WTO met its objectives? 3. Has the WTO adapted with times? 4. What could have been done better in the past 20 years? 2. Prof Thomas Cottier, World Trade Institute, University of Bern 3. Associate Professor Henry Gao, School of Law, Singapore Management University (SMU) and Member of the WTO Chairs Programme Advisory Board - 4. See Chak Mun, Senior Fellow, Singapore Ministry of Foreign Affairs Diplomatic Academy Open Discussion: All participants 12:00 End of Session 12:00 13:00 Lunch: Restaurant at Hotel Rendezvous (Provide the name of the restaurant) Session II : Update on the State of Play and Preparations for 13:00 15:00 MC10 Mr Yi Xiaozhun, Deputy Director General, World Trade Organization Speakers [15 minutes each] 1. Update on the State of Play of negotiations. 2. How have expectations for an outcome changed (if at all) since the original deadline of 31 July 2015 for the Post Bali Work Programme? 3. How can we keep the membership engaged and invested in ongoing negotiations? 1. Mr. Evan Rogerson, Director, Agriculture and Commodities Division, WTO 2. H.E. Fernando De Mateo, Ambassador of Mexico and Permanent Representative to the WTO. Chairperson of the WTO General Council [will also address item 3 - Confirmed] 3. H.E. Fernando De Mateo, 4. What are the key messages to highlight in Nairobi? 4. H.E. Marcos Galvao Brazilian Ambassador 5. Bali Package and beyond: how to finish the Doha business? 5. Mr. Ronald Saborio, Former Costa Rican Ambassador to the WTO 15:00 End of Session 15:00 15:15 Coffee break Open Discussion: All participants 3

4 15:15 17:15 Session III: Strengthening the WTO s Non-Negotiating Pillars Dr Robert KOOPMAN, Director Chief Economist of the WTO, Economic Research and Statistics Division, World Trade Organization 1. The WTO is more than the Doha Round. How do we highlight this message? 2. What can we do to improve the monitoring, transparency and dispute settlement functions? 3. Must the tripod negotiating, monitoring and dispute settlement arms - be balanced? Speakers [ 15 minutes each] 1. Prof. Locknie Hsu, SMU School of Law 2. Mr Ronald Saborio, Former Costa Rican Ambassador 3. a) Prof Bernard HOEKMAN, Robert Schuman Chair, Research Area Director "Global Economics", and b) Henry Gao, Associate Professor, SMU 4. Technical assistance and capacity building 4. Dr Faustin Mukela Luanga, Counsellor, Head for Asia and Pacific Regional Desk, Institute for Training and Technical Cooperation, WTO Open Discussion: All participants 17:15 End of Session 17:15 17:30 Introduction to Discussions on Session IV Issues The Resource person will explain how the Session IV Issues would be presented according to the various sub-topics, including some common issues/questions to be addressed. This is to allow the participants time to prepare beforehand so as to facilitate more active participation and Q/As for Session IV Resource Person: 1. Ms Mary Elizabeth Chelliah, Deputy Director Ministry of Trade and Industry, Singapore -- MTI 17:30 End of Session 8:30 17:30 TUESDAY, 20 October :00 16:30 Session IV: The Next 20 Years Future Issues Beyond Doha 9:00 10:00 A) Regional and Plurilateral Trade Cooperation: What are the implications on the Multilateral Trading System 4

5 Dr. Marc Bacchetta, Counsellor, Economic Research and Statistics Division, WTO 1. What does the proliferation of these mega cross-regional RTAs mean for international trade relations in general, and the WTO in particular? Are they becoming substitutes for a global solution in world trade? How should the WTO address this situation? 2. What can we do to improve the monitoring, transparency and dispute settlement functions? How do we see the challenges and opportunities of RTAs for trade and investment development? How should the WTO address this situation? 3. How do we address the potential frictions among these RTAs and induce greater coherence in trade relations? How should the WTO address this situation? Speakers/Panelists [15 minutes each] 1. Mary Elizabeth Chelliah, Deputy Director MTI 2. Mr Assistant Professor Pasha Hsieh, SMU School of Law 3. Dr Deborah Elms, Executive Director, Asian Trade Centre 10:00 10:15 Coffee break 10:15 12:15 B) A New Trade Agenda? Issues for the WTO's Future: Investment; Food Security/Food Supply Chains; Regulatory Measures; Competition See Chak Mun, Senior Fellow, Singapore Ministry of Foreign Affairs Diplomatic Academy 1. Investment Issues: investment and arbitration and linkage with trade; Business perspective on why it is useful to have uniform rules on investment. Speakers/Panelists [ 20 minutes each] 1. a) Christopher Thomas, CIL/NUS ( or replacement ) (to speak on investment and arbitration and linkage with trade) [TBC by MTI] and (Designation?) b) Speaker from Private Sector (Business view why it is useful to have uniform rules on Investment) [TBC by MTI] 2. Food Security and Food Supply Chains Issues 2. a) Mr. Evan Rogerson, Director, Agriculture and Commodities Division, WTO and b) Mr Matt Kovac, Policy Director, Food Industry, Asia 5

6 3. Regulatory Measures and Competition Issues (How do we ensure a level playing field in the 21 st Century, taking into account current business model) 3. Toh Han Li, CEO: Competition Commission of Singapore? 12:15 13:15 Coffee break 13:15 14:15 C) A New Trade Agenda? Issues for the WTO's Future: The evolution of the global economy and supply chains. Should policy evolve, if so what kind of conceptual framework would be useful to build on the core GATT/WTO principles? Dr Robert KOOPMAN, Director Chief Economist of the WTO, Economic Research and Statistics Division, World Trade Organization 1. The evolution of the global economy (Global Value Chains - GVCs, digital trade, knowledge economy and technological change) and the implications for the international trading system.. 2. Supply Chains from business perspective Speakers/Panelists [20 minutes each] 1. Prof Bernard HOEKMAN, Robert Schuman Chair, Research Area Director "Global Economics", 2. Ms Lin Shiumei Vice President for Public Affairs UPS, Asia-Pacific [Confirmed ] 14:15 14:45 Open and General Discussions on a New Trade Agenda: Issues for the WTO s Future. Should policy evolve, if so what kind of conceptual framework would be useful to build on the core GATT/WTO principles? Moderators 1. See Chak Mun, Senior Fellow, Singapore Ministry of Foreign Affairs Diplomatic Academy 2. Robert KOOPMAN, Director Chief Economist of the WTO, Economic Research and Statistics Division, World Trade Organization 14:45 15:00 Coffee break 15:00 16:30 D) What is the future of the WTO? (Here we should look at the WTO in the broader context) H.E. Fernando De Mateo Ambassador of Mexico and Permanent Representative to the WTO. Chairperson of the WTO General Council Speakers/Panelists [15 minutes each] 6

7 1. A New Round? If not, what? 2. Structural reform of the WTO? 1. H.E. Marcos Galvao Brazilian Ambassador 2. Professor Locknie Hsu, SMU 3. Prof Thomas Cottier, World Trade Institute, University of Bern 16:30 17:30 Session V: Translating Ideas into Action? 4. Ho Meng Kit, CEO Singapore Business Federation SBF. [TBC by MTI] 5. Mr. Ronald Saborio, Former Costa Rican Ambassador to the WTO This session will discuss different ideas which have emerged in the previous sessions with a view to looking into possible actions and guidance for the future of the world trading system. Chair : Mr Yi Xiaozhun, Deputy Director General, World Trade Organization ] Moderators / Panelists: Dr Deborah Elms, Executive Director, Asian Trade Centre See Chak Mun, Senior Fellow, Singapore Ministry of Foreign Affairs Diplomatic Academy Dr Robert KOOPMAN, Director Chief Economist of the WTO, Economic Research and Statistics Division, World Trade Organization H.E. Fernando De Mateo Ambassador of Mexico and Permanent Representative to the WTO. Chairperson of the WTO General Council 17:30 18:00 Closing Session / Closing Remarks Prof. Locknie Hsu, SMU School of Law WTO Representative - Mr Yi Xiaozhun, Deputy Director General, World Trade Organization Singapore Government Representative: - Mary Elizabeth Chelliah, Deputy Director MTI 19:30 Dinner Hosted by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Singapore 7