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Chile-Thailand International Workshop on Trade Policy for ASEAN Members

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Chile-Thailand International Workshop on Trade Policy for ASEAN Members Chile-Thailand International Workshop on Trade Policy for ASEAN Members April 19 – 30, 2021 (Online Platform) Tentative Curriculum Design Statement (CDS) Page 1 of 13 1. Introduction The globalization process is reducing the boundaries between the regions through facilitating trade, investment and building closer cooperation between countries with regulations and law. Thailand serves as an important point to access into ASEAN markets to different Latin American companies and products. The trade and investment from Thailand to other ASEAN member countries is possible because of its infrastructure and locational advantages to ASEAN member countries and links with China, Japan, Korea and India. Trade and investment relationship between Thailand and Latin America have been developing and growing year by year. Apart from being an ASEAN member country, Thailand has its own separate FTAs which are signed and in effect with China, Japan, Laos, New Zealand, Australia, Chile and Peru. In addition, various FTA are on process of negotiation. Thailand and Latin America have been looking for the way to do business together before the first FTA of Thailand – Peru was successfully finalized in 2010. Bilateral regional trade flows are remarkably different due to trade direction and capacity. Imports from Thailand are manufactured products, while Latin America exports are mostly primary commodities. FTA between Peru and Thailand are the first key access and milestone to liberalize trade and investment between the regions. International Trade Agreement plays an important role to open gates between countries, decrease limitations and trade barriers. Free trade agreements (FTAs) provide a wide range of benefits to businesses. The goods and products in those countries will be reduced or eliminated tariff rates which means the cost for business will be reduced. The companies from countries with FTA will minimize the cost of trade and investment. Moreover, companies also can access to new business opportunities for example new resource, new market, new business partner, new portfolio of client1. Moving further towards facilitating trade and investment between the countries, policy makers need to give attention to issues which stretch beyond simply reducing tariffs in goods and services to developmental issues including, negotiations on non-tariff issues like Sanitary and Phytosanitary (SPS) measures involving the recognition of standards, Technical Barriers to Trade (TBT), trade facilitation (including developing transportation networks), reducing custom procedures resulting in reduced transaction costs (thus enhancing price competitiveness), R&D, investment, IPR, Government Procurement, competition policies, rules of origin, Generalized Systems of Preferences (GSP) and more. Limited number of companies possess knowledge and skills to take advantage of the possible benefits contained in the FTA and trade policies, including preferential tariffs, easier market access and other business opportunities. This limited capacity can be remedied through the development of public human resource capacities and institutional support systems to develop and implement trade and investment policies and regulatory frameworks, and the facilitation of industry clusters and facilities which can facilitate the private sectors with improved access to regional and global value chains. 1 https://www.herrera-partners.com/2019/04/25/on-free-trade-agreements-between-thailand-and-latin-america-the-cases-of-peru-chile-colombia-and- mercosur/ Page 2 of 13 However, this can only be possible if every member state incorporates ASEAN’s priorities into its national agenda. Organizations involved in trade and investment promotion in ASEAN nations, thus, need to be exposed to the growing economic strength of ASEAN and the opportunities and obstacles with economies such as those with China, the Republic of Korea (ROK), Japan, Australia/New Zealand and India. Other FTAs are with many other nations and regions including Chile are critical for policy makers in ASEAN countries to understand the agenda and objectives and how they can help businesses in their respective countries benefit from the ASEAN regime. With this background, Mekong Institute is organizing an online international workshop on “Trade Policy Development for ASEAN members”. The workshop aims to develop the capacity of the practitioners of government organizations in the ASEAN member states. This workshop will be beneficial to organizations involved in with trade policy development since it provides in-depth inputs on the economic and developmental implications of trade policies (at the unilateral, multilateral, and regional levels), while also ensuring the adequate treatment of the more practical aspects of policy making. Emphasis will be given to trade policy principles, lessons from trade policy experiences, trade growth, the WTO and Doha agenda, Chilean trade policy, and most importantly the aspects that would be most relevant for ASEAN economies to benefit from the Chilean experience and the regional agenda in Latin America. Understanding the development process of trade policies will equip the policy makers and practitioners from government agencies with the necessary skills for greater participation in the policy making process. The program will highlight the importance of ASEAN and the facilitation of trade and investment through a better understanding of policy maker and practitioners in government sectors in trade policy development process. 2. Workshop Objectives The workshop will focus on the current state-of-play in international trade and will allow participants to develop a deeper understanding of ASEAN, the global trade system, trade policies of individual ASEAN countries and Chile, facilitation of AEC integration, tariff and non-tariff measures and key aspects of Chilean experience that would benefit ASEAN countries including the regional agenda in Latin America. Specific objectives of the training are: . To increase understanding of the status of trade policies in the ASEAN countries with their trade partners, trade benefits of accessing to WTO; . To comprehend the AEC framework and its significance in promoting regional and international trade; . To enhance knowledge on development of trade policy and implications of COVID-19; To deepen understanding on key aspects relevant for ASEAN economies to benefit from Chilean experience. The program is designed to cover a broad range of trade and investment issues and addresses traditional and non-traditional issues and emerging challenges in 2020. Page 3 of 13 3. Workshop Outcomes As an outcome of the workshop, participants will acquire knowledge and practical experience on developing trade policies and understand the prospects of trade with Chile and Latin America. Upon completion, participant would be able to: Better understanding of the global trade system, existing trade policies and emerging issues in the ASEAN countries as well as the significance of accession as WTO member; Identify possible areas of development and co-operation with ASEAN members and other partners including Chile; Understand the process of trade policy development on the implications of the COVID-19; Understand key aspects trade relations and potentials with Chile. 4. Duration and Location The event will be held online from April 19-30, 2021 spread over two weeks. 5. Workshop Contents In this course, participants will explore interrelated modules as follow: Module 1 Setting the Stage – Overview of the World Trade System Module 2 Digital Trade Policy Development Module 3 Developing Trade Policy to Address Global Value Channel Issues and Improve Preparedness and Resilience for Possible Future Crisis Module 4 Aspects of Trade Relations with Chile and their Potentialities Modules 1: Overview of the World Trade System This module will “set the stage” for the entire course by providing participants with an overview of the global trade system. This broader global context is essential for understanding trade policy issues in ASEAN and Chile Cooperation to support ASEAN’s community building efforts. Case studies, impacts and challenges on trade policy will also be discussed. Topics are . Trade policy objectives; . Chile’s trade policy and economic development strategy; . Unilateral, bilateral and multilateral opening; . Results in trade, investment, employment and growth. Chile's position in the world and Latin American context; . Participation of SMEs in international trade; . Trade negotiations: network of trade agreements together with recent negotiations: Pacific Alliance, Indonesia, India, Modernization with the European Union, United Kingdom, Brazil, ASEAN, South Korea, EFTA, CPTPP; . COVID-19 and current challenges: Geographic diversification, More Trade and Digital Economy; . Citizen participation, transparency and new issues (gender, inclusive growth, Page 4 of 13 environment); . International cooperation and trade policy; . Impact and challenges in global value chains. Learning Objectives The participants are able to: . Understanding of the structure and functioning of the global trade system, the key challenges and issues due to COVID-19 and impact on global value chains and improve preparedness and resilience to any future shocks and its relevance for trade policy and development in ASEAN and Chile; . Gain experiences of trade negotiation of Chile. Understand the importance of network of trade agreements. Module 2: Digital Trade Policy Development This module will focus on
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