IT-TNAX-IL LEĠIŻLATURA
P.L. 8587
Dokument imqiegħed fuq il-Mejda tal-Kamra tad-Deputati fis-Seduta Numru 493 tat-13 ta’ Marzu 2017 mill-Ispeaker, l-Onor. Anġlu Farrugia.
______Raymond Scicluna Skrivan tal-Kamra
38th Session of the Steering Committee of the Parliamentary Conference on the World Trade Organisation
9 March 2017 Brussels
Hon Anglu Farrugia, Speaker
REPORT BY THE SPEAKER OF THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES,
PARLIAMENT OF MALTA
Date: 9th March 2017
Venue: Belgium.
Programme: At the invitation of the Secretary General of the Commonwealth Parliamentary Association, Speaker Anġlu Farrugia attended and participated the 38th Session of the Steering Committee of the Parliamentary Conference on the World Trade Organisation. The Conference was held at the European Parliament in Brussels.
KAMRA TAD-DEPUTATI HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES PARLAMENT TA' MALTA
L-ISpeaker Tile Speaker
Following an invitation by the Secretary General of the Commonwealth Parliamentary Association (CPA) I attended and participated in the 38th Session of the Steering Committee of the Parliamentary Conference on the World Trade Organisation (WTO) which took place on the 9th March, 2017, in Brussels. The Parliamentary Conference on the WTO was organised jointly by the Inter-Parliamentary Union (IPU) and the European Parliament, of which the steering committee met as an opportunity to exchange views on the 2017 annual session of the Parliamentary Conference on the WTO. I According to the rules of procedure the Parliamentary Conference on the WTO, the I delegate of the CPA is one of the participants to the steering committee. The conference concentrated on the revised agenda for the 38th session of the steering I. committee, which agenda was adopted and during the committee the following items were discussed: the update on recent developments at the WTO; the follow-up to the 2016 annual session; the forthcoming 2017 annual session of the Parliamentary ,. Conference on the WTO. which conference will take place between the 11th and the 14th of December 2017; and the new trade priorities of the United States of America and the impact on the WTO. This was followed by a very important discussion on the trade as a tool to promote human rights and on this topic, which was part of the agenda, I contributed to debate and referred to the importance of having free trade agreements which should include provisions on the compatibility of trade liberalisation with respect to labour rights. I also emphasised that human rights not only have to be promoted but there should also be a legal mechanism where human rights have to be not only identified but also remedied to those who are victims from such deals.
I also made reference to the importance of the CPA with regards to the elimination of discrimination to the rights of gender and also to the women engagement in encountering issues that should go parallel with those of men engagement. In fact I referred to the good work being carried out by the Commonwealth Women Parliamentarians, which was founded in 1989. One of the most important objectives of the Commonwealth Women Parliamentarians is to discuss ways to increase female representation in parliament and to work towards the mainstreaming of gender I considerations within the Commonwealth. I.
t'
I also made reference to a particular legislation in order to protect family business, also run by women. I am referring to the legislation with regards of the protection of family business which has now been enacted as the first law in the European Union of its kind. This was enacted in Malta.
I reiterated that there cannot be international democracy without the enforcement and remedies that should be available at the international level which should be complemented with domestic and regional regulations. Hence, the WTO within the structure discussed in the steering committee, has been invited to find ways and means how the members of the IPU and those who participated, including the CPA, should seek venues where violation of human rights is clearly identifiable to ensure transparency and enforcement of cases.
The conference came to an end in the afternoon, after there was a special session which was addressed by various experts, amongst them Peter Chase, from the German I Marshall Fund of the United States, Pierre Sauve, who is a senior trade specialist at the Trade & Competitiveness Global Practice group of the World Bank, and Paola Conconi, I Professor of Economics at the Universite Libre de Bruxelles. The subject 'What Future I. for Global Trade?' was debated, especially with regard to the Trump factor in the United ! States and Brexit. There were questions and answers to the experts that delivered the keynote speeches in the afternoon session. I· In the afternoon, also on the 91h of March, the undersigned had a meeting with the Secretary General of the IPU, Martin Chungong, who requested the possibility that the Maltese Parliament, in conjunction with the IPU, organises a regional conference on I immigration where all Mediterranean countries, both on the southern part, that is in the African area, and on the European area, will be invited in Malta in order to discuss the l. question of immigration. I told the Secretary General that I will take the matter to the Maltese Parliament and that the House Business Committee will discuss this invitation and report back to the IPU at the earliest possible. ,.
The conference came to an end in the afternoon of the gth of March. I
I I
i.
i '
DIPAR1'1MBN1' TAIANFORMAZZJONI DBPIIRTMBNT OF INFORMII TION MALTA Press Release
PR 170583 09.03.2017
PRESS RELEASE BY THE OFFICE OF THE SPEAKER
Speaker participates In a parliame11tary co~tfere~tce 011 tile WTO
Speaker Anglu Farrugia represented the Commonwealth Parliamentary Association (CPA) in the 38111 Session of the Steering Committee of the Parliamentary Conference on the WTO held in Brussels, which was organised jointly by the Inter-Parliamentary Union and the European Parliament.
Speaker Farrugia, who is the Chairperson of the CPA Small Branches and a member of the Steering ,. Committee of the CPA, addressed the Committee which focused on fre.e trade agreements having provisions of trade liberalization compatible with respect for labour rights, and on enhancing trade that contributes to the full respect of human rights.
In his address, Speaker Farrugia also referred to the good work carried out by the Commonwealth Parliamentary Association.
..
I I Attachments: photo Page: 1 of1
3, CASTILLE PLACE, VALLI!TI'A VLT 2000 Tel+(356) 2200 1700 F•x +(356) 2200 1775
[email protected] www.doi.gov.mt I I
EPRS I European Parliamentary Research Service Roundtable discussion
What Future for Global Trade?
Thursday 9 March 2017115:00- 16:30 hours Library Reading Room, 5th floor, Altiero Spinelli Building (ASP OSD) European Parliament, Brussels
PROGRAM:Y
15:00 Keynote speech by Bernd LANGE, MEP, Cha ir of the Committee on International Trade (INT A)
Keynote speech by Nurhayat i Ali ASSEGAF, Member of Parliament, Indonesia; Member of the Steering Committee ofThe Parliamentary Conference on the WTO
15:15 Roundtable discussion with: v/ (\. ~ \ (f,C1.1~ • Peter CHASE, Senior Fellow, The German Marshall Fund of the United States • Pierre SAUVE, Senior Trade Specialist, Trade and Competitiveness Global Practice Group, World Bank Group • Paola CONCONI, Professor of Economics, Universite Libre de Bruxell es (ECARES)
Discussant: Laura PUCCIO, Policy Analyst, External Policies Unit, Members' Research Service, EPRS
Moderator: Heikki SUORTII, acting Head of Unit, INTA Secretariat
16:00 Questions and answers
Eoropean Parliament EUIIOI'EAH PARliAMlNTARY www,euroJlliJI&lir9P.a,eu/thinktank!en/upcornlngevents RESEAROI SERVKE
EPRS I European Parliamentary Research Service Roundtable discussion
What Future for Global Trade?
Thursday 9 March 2017115:00- 16:30 hours . Library Read ing Room, 5th floor, Altiero Spinelli Building (ASP 050) European Pa rliament, Brussels
SPEAKERS . Bernd LANGE Is Chair of the Committee on International Trade In the European Parliament since 2014. During his almost 20 years as a Member of the European Parliament he has served in various committees. Currently, Mr. Lange is a member of the Committee on International Trade and of the Committee on Industry, Resea rch and Energy. Between 1997 and 1999, he was Vice-Chair of the Committee on Research, Technological Development and Energy, and between 2012 and 2014, he was Trade Polley Spoke~man for the Socialist Group. Since 1974, Mr. Lange has been a member of the SPD (German · Social-Democratic Party) and of IG Metall (Metalworkers Trade Union). After gaining his school-leaving certificate In 1974, he then studied at the University of GOttingen. He earned his degree in 1981. In 2001, Mr. Lange received the Order of Merit of the Federal Republic of Germany. In 2012, he was elected EU Parlamentarian of the Year (categ.oryTrade), and in 201V2013 Fair Politician of the Year.
· Nurhayati AU ASSEGAF has been a member of the Indonesian House of Representatives since 2004. Between 2013 and 2015, she was Chairperson of the Democratic Party Faction In the Lower House and De.Puty Chairperson of the Democratic Party. During her time as MP, she has been active In several commissions and committees. During her first term, Ms. Assegaf was also appointed Special Staff to the First Lady of the Republic of Indonesia. She has founded various Institutions and think tanks dealing with issues including youth, women, children's rights, democracy and education. Before becoming MP, she was Managing Director of the Business and Financial Consultant Assegaf & Partners Ltd. Ms. Assegaf has obtained various degrees, including a Master Degree In American Studies, a Ph.D. in Social and Political Studies, and an Executive Certificate from the Harvard Kennedy School Executive Education.
Peter CHASE Is a ·Senior Fellow with the German Marshall Fund, based In Brussels. He recently left the US. Chamber of Commerce after six years a.s Its senior Representative in Europe. Prior to joining the Chamber, Mr. Chase was a US. diplomat for 30 years, working extensively on transatlantic economic policy issues between 1992 and 2010. During his diplomatic career, he also served 1990-i 992 as Director for Investment Affairs at tile Office of the U.S. Trade Representative and as Legislative Assistant for Economic Polley and Foreign Affairs with Senator Bill Bradley (D-NJ). Mr. Chase, who grew up In Taiwan, received his Bachelor of Arts in Chinese Language and Literature from the University of Washington In Seattle in 1976 and his Master of International Affairs from Columbia University In 1978.
Pierre SAUV£ is a Senior Trade Specialist In the Geneva office of the World Bank's Trade and Competltll(eness Global Practice Group and a Senior Fellow and faculty member at the University of Bem's World Trade Institute, where he previously served as Deputy Managing Director and Director of Studies. He also teaches at the University of Barcelona and the College of Europe, In Bruges. He has held visiting professor appointment& at Harvard University, the london School of Economics and Sciences-Po, Paris and was a No~resident Senior Fellow-at the Brookings ln.stitutlon in Washington, DC. Mr. Sauv~ served as Canada's Services negotiator In the context of the North American Free Trade Agreement talks and was previously a staff member of OECD, GATT and the Bank for International Settlements. He was educated In economics and International relations at the Universlte du Qu~bec fl Montreal and Carleton University In Canada, as well as at Cambridge and Oxford universities In the UK. His research focuses on trade In services, the regulation of Investment and comparative regionalism. ·
Paola CONCONI Is Professor of Economics at tf)e Universlte Ubre de Bruxelles (ULB), a member of the European Center for Advanced Research In Economics and Statistics (ECARES) and Research Associate of the Fund for Scientific Research (FNRS). She Is also a Research Fellow of the CEPR International Tra<;le and Regional Economics Program, the Director of the ~EPR Research Network on Global Value Chains, Trade and Development and a CESifo Research Fellow. Her main research interests are In international trade, firm organization, and political economy. Ms. Conconi received a B.A. In Political Science from the University of Bologna, a M.A. in International Relations from the School of Advanced International Studies (SAIS) at Johns Hopkins University, and a M.Sc. and Ph.D. in Economics from the University of Warwick.
Helkkl SUORm Is acting Head of Unit of the Secretariat of the Committee on International Trade. He has been working at the European Parliament for more than ten years, holding various posltlons. Between 2006 and 2010, Mr. Suorttl was Head of the DG External Policies Budget Service. Since 2010, he has been working In the Secretariat of the Committee on lntematlonal Trade, dealing with various trade related Issues. Before joining the European Parliament. Mr. Suorttl was active In the European Commission. He worked as a case handler In the Directorate General for Trade and as an administrator in the Directorate General for Agriculture. He attended the Vaasa University in Finland, where he earned his degree In economics in 1990. ·
Laura PUCCIO works for the European Parliamentary Research Service as trade policy analyst and Is research associate at the lnstltut d'Etudes Europeennes of the Unlverslt~ Llbre de Bruxelles (ULB). Prior to joining the European Parliament. she was a DISSETTLE-ITN Marie Cul1e fellow at the ULB. During her Ph.D~ Ms. Puccio was a visiting scholar at the law School of Columbia University In New York (2010), visiting lecturer at various universities, and collaborated with the Robert Schuman Centre for Advanced Studies. She holds a Ph.D. in law and an LL.M from the European University Institute, a M.A. from Sderces Po Paris, and a B.Sc. in lnternation.al Economics from Bocconr University. Her publications focus mainly on International and European trade law, and law and economics of trade regulations.
furojlf311 P•r11~111flll WWft europarf europa eu/thjnktank/eo/upcomlngeyeots £\llOI'fAH PAIII.IAMINTARY UAROt SlAYICE
PARLIAMENTARY CONFERENCE ON THE WTO Organized jointly by the Infer-Parliamentary Union and the European Parliament
Thirty-eighth session of the Steering Committee 9 March 2017 European Parliament, Brussels
REVISED PROVISIONAL AGENDA
1. Adoption of the agenda
2. Update on recent developments at the WTO Members of the Steering Committee will be briefed on recent developments in multilateral trade negotiations, including progress on the ratification of the Trade Facility Agreement (TFA) and arrangements for its implementation.
3. Follow-up to the 2016 Annual Session Participants will exchange views on the follow-up to tha 2016 session of the Parliamentary Conference on the WTO. Subjects for discussion w//1 include women's empowerment, including SMEs in global trade, and relevant parliamentary activities related to global value (1 \... chains and inclusive trade. e-/<> ~~,.. ~~ 1,.7J, 4. 2017 Annual Session of the Parliamentary Conference on the WTO ~-i9 ~~ The next Ministerial Conference will take place in Buenos Airos (Argentina) from 11 to 14 December 2017. As usual, a plenary session of the Parliamentary Conferonce on the WTO will be organized alongside the Conference. The Committee will review preparations l..zt.-. WI ;:y for the session and decide on matters including the: ;Otl- 6\ (){ tMN' (a) Dates and venue of the session (b) Formats of the debate and side events (c) Subject items for the agenda (d) Rapporteurs and panellists . (e) Expected outcome of the Session (f) L.lst of international organizations and others to be Invited as observers (g) Schedule of preparations
Particular attention will be paid to the choice of the main debate theme, the subjects of panel discussions and the candidatures of guest speakers and pane/lists. Members of the Steering Committee are invited to reflect on those questions in advance to ensure a more productive exchange of views in Brussels.
5. Trade as a tool to promote human rights Members will discuss specific proposals that enable trade to promote human rights, end consider how it can incentivize reform on the ground. The interlinkage between trade and human rights is certainly not rrew. Many Free Trade Agreements include provisions on the compatibility of trade liberalisalion with respect for labour rights. There are a/so large numbers of legislative propoS 2. 6. The new trade priorities of the United States of America and their impact on the WTO Members of the Steering Committee will be briefed on the Impact on the WTO of the United States presidential &faction. The policies end intended actions that the new administration has announced will b& considered. 7. Preparations for the 2017 annual WTO Public Forum Every September or October. it has become customary for the WTO to organize Public Forums at its Geneva offices. The Forum includes dozens of events, one of which is usually organized specifically for parliamentarians. Members of the Steering Committee will exchange views on how to make best use of the Forum's opportunities, and consider a theme for discussion at the parliamentary panel. 8. Any other business 15.00·16.30 Public event " What Future for Global Trade?" Details on this event will be shared as soon as possible. PARLIAMENTARY CONFERENCE ON THE WTO Orsarrized jointly by the Inter-Parliamentary Union and the european Parliament RULES OF PROCEDURE adopted on 26 November 2004, amended on 12 September 2008 The days when foreign policy, and more specifica lly trade policy was the exclusive domain of the executive branch are over. Th e WTO is rapidly becoming more than a trade organisation, having an ever growing impact on domestic policies and the daily life of citizens. The Inter-Parliamentary Union and the European Parliament are therefore jointly organising a Parliamentary Conference on the WTO (hereinafter the Conference) that will meet at lea&t once a year and on the occasion of WTO Ministerial Conferences. The Conference is an official parliamentary event that is open to the public. ARTICLE 1 - Objectives 1.1 The Conference is a forum for the exchange of opinions, information and experience, as well as for the promotion of common action on topics related to the role of parliaments and the organisation of parliamentary functions in the area of international trade issues. 1.2 The Conference seeks to promote free and fair trade that benefits people everywhere, enhances development and reduces poverty. 1.3 The Conference will provide a parliamentary dimension to the WTO by: (a) overseeing wro activities and promoting their effectiveness and fairness - keeping in mind the original objectives of the WTO set in Marrakech; (b) promoting the transparency of wro procedures and improving the dialogue between governments, parliaments and civil society; and (c) building capacity in parliaments in matters of international trade and exerting influence on the direction of discussions within theW 10. ARTICLE 2 - Composition 2.1 Participants in the Conference are • deh:.'gations designated by parliaments of sovereign Sl·at·es that are members of the WTO; • delegations designated by IPU Member Parliaments from countries that are not represented in the WTO; and • delegations designated by the European Parliament, the Parliamentary Assembly of the Council of Europe, the Commonwealth P<~rliamentary Association and the Assemblee parlementaire de Ia Francophonie. 2.2 Observers to the Conference will be • Representatives of international organisations and others who are concerned by issues of international trade and specifk..1lly invited by the Steering Committee on the basis of a list that has been approved jointly by the co-organisers; and • representatives of governments of sovereign States thal are members of the WTO. - 2- 2.3 The event will also be open to other persons with a specific interest in international trade questions. These persons may follow the work of the Conference without intervening in it:s proceedings and will have no speaking rights. They will be issued a security badge bearing their name only. They will not receive an official invitation or be accredited to the event. ARTICLE 3 - Presidency 3.'1 The Conference is presided over jointly by the President of the Inter-Parliamentary Union and the PrC:.'Sident of the European Parliament, or their substitutes. 3.2 The Presidents shall open, suspend and close the sittings, direct the work of the Conference, see that the Rules are observed, call upon speakers, put questions for decision, make known the results of decisions and declare the Conference dosed. The decisions of the Presidents on these matters shall be final and shall be accepted without debate. 3.3 The Presidents shall decide on all matters not covered by these Rules, if necessary after having taken the advice of the Steering Committee. ARTICLE 4- Stt!Cring Committee and Secretariat 4.1 The Steering Committee is jointly established by the Inter-Parliamentary Union and the European Parliament and is composed of representatives of parliaments of sovereign States, of the JPU and the European Parliament as the Conference co-organizers, of selected other regional and international parliamentary assemblies and structures, and of the WTO Secretariat. 4.2 The Steering Committee is responsible for all matl:ers relating to the organisation of the Conference and shall take decisions on the basis of consensus. All decisions taken by the Steering Committee shall, as appropriate, be circulated in writing and approved before th e end of each meeting. 4.3 Membership in the Steering Committee shall be institutional, with every parliament or organization having the right to choose its representative(s). In the interest of consistency in the work of the Steering Committee, parliaments and organizations shall endeavour to ensure that, as far as possible, the person(s) who represented them in previous sessions of the Committee continue to take part in subsequent sessions. 4.4 When more than one representative of a national parliament takes part in a session of the Steering Committee, only one member of parliament per delegation shall be part of the decision-making process. 4.5 Changes in the composition of the Steering CommiLtee shall be proposed jointly by the IPU and the European Parliament, as tl1e Conference co-organizers, subject to approval by the Steering Committee as a whole. Where possible, equitable geographical distribution shall be taken into consideration. 4.6 National parliaments shall hold a seat on the Steering Committee for a period of four years. However, the Steering Cornrnittee may invite a given parliament to hold its seat on the Steering Committee for another term. The rotation shall be scheduled in such a way that no more than half of the parliaments representing a given geographical region shall be replaced at any one time. - 3- 4.7 The definition of geographical regions for the purpose of rotation shall be established by the Steering Committee. 4.8. The Conference and the Steering Committee are assisted in their activities by the secretariats of the lnter-Par.liamentary Union and the European Parliament. ARTICLE 5 - Agenda 5.1 The Conference decides on its agenda on the basis of a proposal from the Steering Committee, which shall be communicated to the participa n L~ at least one month before the opening of each plenary session. ARTICLE 6 - Speaking rights and decisions 6.1 Participants and observers have the same speaking rights. 6.2 Priority to speak shall be given to participants wishing to make a procedural motion which shall have priority over the substantive questions. 6.3 The Conference shall take all decisions by consensus of the delegations of participants. Conference decisions sh all be taken after due notice has been given by the President. ARTICLE 7 - Outcome of the Conference 7.1 The draft outcome document of the Conference shall be prepared by the Steering Commiltee with the assistance of one or more rapporteurs and communicated to the participants sufficiently in advance. 7.2 Amendments to the draft outcome document shall be presented by the deleg ARTICLE 8-Adoption and amendment to the Rules 8.1 The Conference shall adopt and amend the Rules. 8.2 Any proposal to amend the Rul es of the Conference shall be formulated in writing and sent to the Secretariat of the Conference at least three months before the next meeting of the Conference. The Secretariat shall immediately communicate such proposals to the members of the Steering Committee as well as to the delegations of the Conference. It shall also communicate any proposal for sub-amendments at least one month before the next meeting of the Conference. 8.3 The Conference shall decide on any proposal to amend the Rules after hearing the opinion of the Steering Committee, including on their admissibility. PARLIAMENTARY CONFERENCE ON THE WTO Organized jointly by the Inter-Parliamentary Union and the European Parliament Thirty-eighth session of the Steering Committee 9 March 2017 European Parliament, Brussels Information Document SUBSTANTIVE ITEMS DISCUSSED AT PREVIOUS SESSIONS OF THE PARLIAMENTARY CONFERENCE ON THE WTO Geneva, 13-14 June 2016 Overall theme What future for the WTO? Substantive theme Making trade work for development after Nairobi Panel discussion Trade as a vehicle of social progress: The gender perspective Q!lm • Dialogue with senior WTO negotiators and officials WTO in the era of mega-regional trade agreements Briefing session: Enacting the Trade Facilitation Agreement Briefing session: The riddles of the WTO dispute settlement system Geneva, 16-17 February 2015 Overall theme WTO at the age of 20 Substantive theme Trade as an enabler of peace and better living conditions Panel discussion Conveying the benefits of the WTO to the wider public: The case of consumers and young people Other Dialogue with senior WTO negotiators and officials Policy, politics and trade: keeping the WTO negotiations on the right track Briefing session: Enacting the Trade Facilitation Agreement -2- Bali (Indonesia), 2 and 5 December 2013 Debate theme (a) Reflections on the post-Bali agenda of multilateral trade negotiations (b) Can bilateral and plurilateraltrade agreements bring faster results than the multilateral process? Panel discussions (a) Streamlining administrative and other trade-related official procedures. What role for parliaments? (b} Making the benefits of trade work for sustainable development, job creation and poverty alleviation Other Policy dialogue with Ministers and senior WTO officials Progress report on MC9 negotiations Geneva, 15-16 November 2012 Overall theme Back to basics: Connecting politics and trade Debate theme Trade as a tool of economic growth, job creation and poverty alleviation Panel discussion Trade in services: time for political decisions Other • Policy dialogue with members of the high-level panel designated by the WTO Director-General to define the future of trade. Analysing 21" century trade challenges Geneva, 21 -22 March 201 1 Debate themes (a} Multilateralism in the midst of the rising tide of bilateral and regional trade pacts (b} Rebalancing the rules of the multilateral trading system In favour of the poor Interactive Panel discussion Connecting to society: Trade policy-making in the era of mass communication ~ Dialogue with senior WTO negotiators. Trade and sustainable development: from collision to cohesion Geneva, 11-12 September 2008 Debate themes (a) Looking beyond Doha (b) Can international trade help mitigate climate change? Panel discussions (a) Defusing the threat of conflicts over food and energy through trade (b) Trade in the era of digital revolution Other Dialogue with senior WTO negotiators - 3 - Geneva, 1·2 December 2006 Debate themes (a) Lessons to be learnt from the history of multilateral trade negotiations under WTO auspices (b) Multilateralism and bilateralism in trade policy Panel discussions (a) Should agriculture be withdrawn from the single undertaking? (b) How effective is the WTO dispute-settlement system? Other Dialogue with Ministers and senior WTO Officials. What future for the Doha Round? The benefits of a success, the costs of a failure. Hong Kong, 12 and 15 December 2005 Overall theme The contribution of trade to the attainment of the Millennium Development Goals Debate themes (a) Completing the Doha Development Agenda (b) Coherence between Trade Policy and other Public Policy Challenges Panel discussion Good practices of oversight by parliaments in the field of international trade Other • High-level dialogue on trade and development with representatives of international organizations, civil society, business and the media Brussels, 24-26 November 2004 Debate themes (a} Agriculture (b) Trade in services from a development perspective Panel discussion The significance of the WTO General Council decision of 31 July 2004 for the future of the Doha Round Other Practical aspects of trade-related capacity-building with special focus on the needs of parliaments Cancun, 9 and 12 September 2003 Debate themes (a) Trade in agriculture and reduction in subsidies (b) TRIPS and public health (c) Trade in services Geneva, 17-16 February 2003 Debate themes (a} Access to markets (b) Development dimension of the multilateral trading system (c) Options for a parliamentary dimension of the WTO Panel discussion The need for a coherent policy framework of technical assistance and capacity-building . 4 . PARLIAMENTARY PANELS ORGANIZED WITHIN THE FRAMEWORK OF THE WTO PUBLIC FORUMS WTO Public Forum 2016 How can global value chains make trade more inclusive? A legislative perspective WTO Public Forum 2015 • Reducing trade costs: why speedy legislative action on the Trade Facilitation Agreement is of paramount importance WTO Public Forum 2014 Post-Bali agenda: where does parliamentary oversight fit in? WTO Public Forum 2011 • Trade in natural resources · curse or blessing? A parliamentary perspective. WTO Public Forum 2010 Can the existing multilateral trading system cope with the emerging challenges? WTO Public Forum 2009 • Can protectionism protect trade? The legislator's perspective. WTO Public Forum 2007 • Trade and climate change: Is trade killing our planet? WTO Public Symposium 2005 The WTO at 10. The perceived loss of "sovereignly" due to WTO accords: should parliamentarians be concerned? WTO Public Symposium 2003 Par1iaments and the WTO LIST OF INTERNATIONAL ORGANISATIONS AND OTHERS TO BE INVITED TO FOLLOW THE WORK OF THE PARLIAMENTARY CONFERENCE ON THE WTO AS OBSERVERS Approved bj; the Steering Committee at its 7"' session (Geneva, 7 September 2004), amended at the 11 session (Hong Kong, 15 December 2005), 17"' session (Geneva, 4 April 2008), 24" session (Geneva, 21 September 2011), 2Ef' session (Brussels, 29 May 2013), 1 3~ session (Geneva, 2 October 2014) and 34 h session (Geneva, 1 October 2015) Palestine Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO) International Fund for Agricu~ural Development (IFAD) International Labour Organization (ILO) International Monetary Fund (IMF) International Trade Centre (lTC) United Nations (UN) United Nations Conference on Trade and Development (UNCTAD) World Bank World Trade Organization (WTO) ACP-EU Joint Parliamentary Assembly African Parliamentary Union (APU) Amazonian Parliament Andean Parliament Arab Inter-Parliamentary Union ASEAN Inter-Parliamentary Assembly (AlPA) Baltic Assembly Central American Parliament EFTA Parliamentary COmmittee Indigenous Parliament of the Americas Inter-Parliamentary Assembly of Member Nations of the Commonwealth of Independent States (IPACIS) Inter-Parliamentary Committee of the West African Economic and Monetary Union (WAEMU) Inter-Parliamentary Union of the Member States of the Intergovernmental Authority on Development (IPU-IGAD) Latin American Parliament Maghreb Consultative Council Nordic Council Pan-African Parliament Parliament of the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) Parliamentary Assembly of the Black Sea Economic Co-operation (PABSEC) Parliamentary Assembly of the OSCE Parliamentary Assembly of the Union of Belarus and Russia Parliamentary Association for Eu ro-Arab Co-operation (PAEAC) Parliamentary Confederation of the Americas (COPA) Parliamentary Union of the Organisation of the Islamic Cooperation Member States (PUIC) Southern African Development Community (SADC) Parliamentary Forum Consumers International International Trade Union Confederation (ITUC) BALl SESSION OF THE PARLIAMENTARY CONFERENCE ON THE WTO Bali (Indonesia), 2 and 5 December 2013 Organized jointly by the lnter-Parliament;Jry Union and the European Parliament in connection with the 9111 WTO Ministerial Conference (MC9) JA'IlON 101 tNJOI PROVISIONAL ANNOTATED AGENDA 1. Adoption of the agenda 2. Policy dialogue with Ministers a nd senior WTO officials During the sitting on 2 December, parliamentary delegates will be briefed on the status of pre-Ministerial Conference consultations between W10 Members. The dialogue will continue at the sitting on 5 December, when tl1e outlines of the eventual MC9 decisions will already be more or less known. On both occasions, parliamentarians will interact directly with some of the Ministers and senior WTO offldals who collectively share the responsibility for advandng the Doha Development Agenda. 3. Debate on substantive themes (a) Reflections on the post-Bali agenda of multilateral trade negotiations Given the accumulated burden of a multiyear stalemate in Doha Round negotiations, it would be unrealistic to expect that the Ministerial Conference in Bali could resolve outstanding problems across the board. The Conference may, however, give much-needed impetus to the reflection on how to pursue fresh and credible approaches to advancing trade negotiations, including through the use of alternative negotiating pall1s. Delegates will be invited to excl1ange views on a possible parliamentary contribution to the advancement of a longer-term multilateral trade policy agenda better adapted to 21" century realities. (b) Can bilateral and plurilateral trade agreements bring f.1ster results than the multilateral process? It is sometimes argued that plurilatera/, regional and bilateral trade agreements enable parties to reach levels of trade liberalization that go beyond multilateral consensus and address specific issues that do not figure on the multilateral agenda. Can such agreements complement the WTO system and serve as building blocks for future mu/VIateral trade liberalization? Or is regulatory fragmentation detrimemal to the multilateral regime? 4. Pa nel discussions (a) Streamlining administrative and other trade-relat1..>d official procedures. What role for parliaments? Trade facilitation is meant to reduce red tape and simplify customs and other procedures for handling goods at borders. What are the priority tasks for legislators in creating a more transparent, predictable and efficient environment for cross-border trade? What would the resulling trade gains be for developed and developing countries? Annot;tted provisional agenda 2. (b) Making the benefits of trade work for sustainable development, job creation and poverty cllleviation As recognized by the Parliament.ary Conference on the WTO on previous occasions, the benefits of trade are not automatic and trade itself is a necessary but insuffident condition for triggering and sustaining growth and development. What further measures can be initiated by parliaments to address the trade-employment nexus, stimulate domestic demand and make the trading system work for the poor? 5. Adoption of the oulcomc document At t!Je end of the session, the participants will be invited to adopt an outcome document, a draft of which will be prepared by the Conference Steering Committee. BALl SESSION OF THE PARLIAM ENTARY CONFERENCE ON THE WTO Bali (Indonesia), 2 and 5 December 2013 Organized jointly by the Inter-Parliamentary Union and che european Parliament in connection with the 9'b WTO Ministerial Conference (MC9) PROVISIONAL PROGRAMME Monda , 2 Oecemblc'r 08:30 -18:00 Registration of delegates 09:30- 10:00 Inaugural session • Mr. Phairoj Tanbanjong, Member of the IPU Executive Committee • Mr. Vital Moreira, President of the Committee on International Trade, European Parliament • Mr. Roberto Azevedo, WTO Director-General • Mr. Marzuki Alie, Speaker of the House of Representatives of the Republic of Indonesia 10:00-12:00 Presentation of reports and debate on substantive theme (a): Reflections on the post-Bali agenda of multilateral trade negotiations Rapporteurs • Mr. Paul Rubig, Member of the European Parliament • Mr. Panacheril C. Chacko, MP (India) 12:00-13:00 Policy dialogue with Ministers and senior WTO officials Guest SP-eakers • Mr. Gita lrawan Wirjawan, Minister of Trade of the Republic of Indonesia, Chairperson of the 9'h WTO Ministerial Conference • Ambassador Shahid Bashir, Chairman of the Wl'O General Council, Permanent Representative of Pakistan to the W I 0 • Ambassa dor Angelos Pangratis, Permanent Representative of the European Union to the WTO in Geneva 13:00-14:30 Lunch break 14:30- 16:00 Interactive panel discussion Streamlining administrative and other trade-related official procedures. What role ror parliaments? Moderator • Ms. Ditte )uui-Mrgensen, Director, Directorate for WTO, Legal Affairs and Trade in Goods, Directorate-General forTrade, European Commission Panellists • Senator Jean Bizet (France) • Mr. Niccolo Rinaldi, Member of the European Parliament • Mr. James Bacchus, former Chairman of the WTO Appellate Body, former Congressman (USA) Version 2911112013 Provisional programme 16:00 - 18:00 Presentation of reports and debate on substantive !heme (b): Can bilateral and plurilateral trade agreements bring faster results than the multilate.ral process? Rapporteurs • Mr. Helmut Scholz, Member of the European Parliament • Mr. Hugo Napoleao, MP (Bra7.il) 19:00 Dinner reception courtesy of the host parliament (Hotel Westin) Thursda , 5 01'CE'mbt>r 08:30- 18:00 Registration of delegates 09:30- 13:00 Meeting of the Steering Committee (in camera) 14:30 - 15:00 Briefing session Progress report on MC9 negotiations Guest speaker • WTO Deputy Director-General 15:00- 17:00 Interactive panel discussion Making the benefits of trade work for sustainable development, job creati on and poverty alleviation 2J:1ecial guest • Dr. Mukhisa Kit.uyi, Secret 2016 ANNUAL SESSION OF THE PARLIAMENTARY CONFERENCE ON THE WTO What future for the WTO? Geneva, 13-14 June 2016 Organized jointly by the tnter-Partiamentary Union and the European Parliament FOR tNFOJJIATION PROGRAMME Monda , 13 June 10:00- 12:30 Pre-Conference session of the Steering Committee (in camera meeting, IPU Headquarters) 10:00 - 18:00 Registration of participants 15:00 - 15:30 Inaugural session • Mr. Krlster Orntjlider, MP (Sweden), Co-Chairman of the Parliamentary Conference on the WTO • Mr. Bernd lange, Chairman of the Committee on International Trade of the European Parliament, Co-Chairman of the Parliamentary Conference on the WTO Ambassador Harald Neple, Permanent Representative of Norway to the WTO, Chairperson of the WTO General Council 15:30 - 16:30 Presentation of reports and interactive debate on the substantive theme Making trade work for development after Nairobi Rapporteurs • Mr. Paul R!ibig, Member of the European Parliament • Mr. Anurag Singh Thakur, MP (India) • Mr. Helmut Scholz, Member of the European Parliament • Mr. Dennis Dumisani Gamede, MP (South Africa) 16:30 - 18:00 Dialogue with senior WTO negotiators and officials WTO in the era of mega-regional trade agreements Guest Speakers Ambassador Daniel Blocker!, Permanent Representative of Sweden to the WTO, Chairman of the WTO Committee on Regional Trade Agreements Ambassador Marc Vanheukelen, Permanent Representative of the European Union to the WTO Ambassador Amr Ramadan, Permanent Representative of Egypt to the WTO Ambassador Junichi lhara, Permanent Representative of Japan to the WTO Ambassador Fernando De Mateo Y Venturini, Permanent Representative of Mexico to the WTO Moderator Mr. Bernd Lange, Chairman of the Committee on International Trade of the European Parliament, Co-Chairman of the Parliamentary Conference on the WTO 18:00 - 19:30 Reception at the WTO Provisional programme of the session 2. Tuesda , 14 June 10:00-11:00 Hearing with the WTO Deputy Director-General, Mr. Karl Brauner Post-Nairobi work: reflections on the future of the WTO 11: 00 - 11 :20 Briefing session Enacting the Trade Facilitation Agreement Keynote speaker • Ms. Nora Neufeld (WTO Secretariat) 11:20 - 13:00 Continuation of interactive debate on the substantive theme Making trade work for development after Nairobi 13:00- 15:00 Lunch break 15:00 - 16:30 Panel discussion Trade as a vehicle of social progress: The gender perspective Panellists • Ms. Nurhayati Ali Assegaf, MP (Indonesia) Senator Azam Swat (Pakistan) Ms. Arancha Gonzalez, Executive Direclor, lntemalional Trade Centre • Ms. Noralnl Ahmad, MP (Malaysia), Commonwealth Parliamentary Association Moderator • Ms. lnmaculada Rodriguez-Piilero Fernandez, Member of the European Parliament 16:30- 17:00 Briefing session The riddles of the WTO dispute settlement system Keynote speaker • Ms. Valerie Hughes (WTO Secretariat) 17:00-17:30 Closing session: adoption of the outcome document Rapporteur • Mr. Bernd Lange, Member of the European Parliament 2016 ANNUAL SESSION OF THE PARLIAMENTARY CONFERENCE ON THE WTO What future for the WTO? Geneva, 13-14 June 2016 Organized jointly by the Inter-Parliamentary Union and the European Parliament ,~~11°~ OUTCOMEDOCUMENT f()l\ Adopted by consensus on 14 June 2016 1. The WTO has since its creation played a pivotal role In strengthening multilateral! sm. promoting an inclusive world economic order and fostering an open, rules-based and non discriminatory multilateral trading system. We remain convinced that a fair and equitable international trading system, base 2. In this regard, we recognize the importance of the outcomes achieved at the Tenth Ministerial Conference in Nairobi, in December 2015. The Ministerial Decisions related to agriculture and LOCs are crucial for the developing countries and LOGs. The decision regarding export competition on agriculture is an important agreement that will help level the playing field in a sector still marked by some protectionist trading practices and rules in certain countries, which is of importance for the developing countries. 3. We appreciate the decision on public stockholding for food security purposes and call for the conclusion of negotiations on finding a permanent solution to the issue, in keeping with the decision. We believe that the issue of food security is vital for developing countries and that WTO rules must support efforts to combat hunger. In line with the same decision, we also want to stress the importance of a speedy adoption of a proposal for a Special Safeguard Mechanism, in conformity with the Nairobi Ministerial Decision on the issue. 4. It is now of utmost importance that all Members of the WTO implement the decisions taken both in Nairobi and in Bali, including swift ratification of the Trade Facilitation Agreement, creation of new export opportunities for LDC service-providers under the LDC services waiver and simplification of regulations governing rules of origin. We call for the extension of the Information Technology Agreement for those WTO Members concerned. 5. We urge WTO Members to capitalize on the momentum created by recent progress, bearing In mind the strategic objective of strengthening the multilateral trading system and the need to consolidate the WTO as the centre of trade negotiations, while at the same time recognizing that new approaches will be necessary. Flexibility, openness, inclusiveness and political engagement will be key to advancing on all the remaining issues of the Doha Development Agenda (DDA). Since the Doha Round was launched in 2001, the world has changed dramatically in economic, political and technological terms. New challenges such as a-commerce, digital trade and international investment can also be discussed without prejudice to outstanding issues of the DDA. 6. It is widely acknowledged that trade in services, as a new frontier for enhancing the participation of developing countries and LOGs in international trade, is important not only for developed countries, but is rapidly emerging as a critical vehicle for realizing development gains for all. However, positively integrating developing countries, especially LDCs, into the global services economy and increasing their participation in services trade, particularly in modes and sectors of export interest to them, remains a major development challenge. 7. We need to intensify efforts to achieve rapid progress in services negotiations in each of the pillars of services negotiations such as market access, domestic regulations and LDC services waiver to achieve progressively higher levels of liberalization of trade in services, while ensuring that particular attention is given to sectors and modes of supply of export interest to developing countries. WTO Members also nee - 2- 8. We be.lieve that the process leading up to the Ministerial Conference has once again shown the importance of more transparent and inclusive negotiations. The Ministerial Conference should not be used to replace the negotiating bodies at the WTO. In order to achieve greater efficiency and accountability, a review of the wor1 9. Recent years have witnessed a surge in plurilateral, regional and bilateral trade agreements, motivated by participants' desire to further liberalize and address trade rules and disciplines in policy areas insufficiently dealt with in the WTO and, to some extent, by the lack of progress in the Doha Round. Such agreements present a double advantage since: (a} they can stimulate trade between participants, especially by unlocking liberalization and upgrading rules and disciplines in policy areas tackled less thoroughly in the WTO; and (b) they may support the multilateral system, provided that such agreements are open, transparent and WTO-compatible, based on shared rules and create the conditions for possible future discussions in the WTO. We stress, however, that, in this sense, these agreements should not undermine the role of multilateral accords in international trade. 10. We acknowledge that trade can not only be a key factor in economic development but can also act as an important tool in the path to development. We underscore the need to link the multilateral trade agreements and the implementation of the international development agenda, including the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). 11. Paragraph 8 of the Doha Mandate mentions gender equality and women's empowerment among the goals which are essential for all countries to attain. We note that gender mainstreaming and women's empowerment are instrumental to development strategies for achieving gender equality and are key to the eradication of poverty. Therefore, we encourage policymakers to mainstreaming gender in macro-economic policies, especially in trade policy. 12. Despite the fact that 95 per cent of global enterprises are SMEs, which are significant as engines of growth, innovation, social integration and employment, SMEs currently only account for a small portion of trade among WTO Members. Considering the need to further strengthen the capacity and ability of SMEs to engage in international trade and enter the global market, we therefore encourage the WTO Members to reduce supply chain barriers to trade and enable SMEs to generate profits from the global value chain. This includes but is not limited to. expansion of market acces.s, financial access and funding mechanisms, business networking, technical assistance, communication and transport infrastructure, as well as capacity building. 13. The challenges facing the WTO stress the need for the continued involvement of parliamentarians in this important world trade body. Parliamentarians not only ratify the outcomes of negotiations, they are also a crucial bridge/liaison between the WTO and the people they aim to serve. We urge the WTO to make full use of the Parliamentary Conference on the WTO, co-organized by the IPU and the European Parliament, ensuring that parliamentarians have access to all the information they need to carry out their oversight role effectively and contribute meaningfully to trade policies. PARLIAMENTARY CONFERENCE ON THE WTO OrganiziJd jointly by the lnter-Parliamentwy Union and the European Parliament Thirty-seventh session of the Steering Committee 28 September 2016, IPU Headquarters, Geneva tNfOJJilflON SUMMARY fOB 1. The Steering Committee of the Parliamenta~ Conference on the WTO met on 28 September 2016 at IPU Headquarters for its 371 session. The session was co-chaired by Mr. K. Ornfjader representing the Inter-Parliamentary Union. The co-Chair representing the European Parliament was Mr. D. Martin, as Mr. B. Lange was unable to attend. Fifty-two people attended (see Annex 1). 2. In his welcome speech, the Secretary General of the IPU ensured the Committee members or the availability or the IPU Secretariat to assist them in fulfilling their mission especially at this moment when the WTO is more than ever facing major challenges in lenns of more action for the successful conclusion of the Doha Development Agenda and the implementation of the Bali and Nairobi Ministerial Decisions. 3. The session was held in conjunction with the annual WTO Public Forum, whose topic this year was inclusive trade. Steering Committee members attended the Forum and a parliamentary session entitled How can global value chains make trade more Inclusive: A legislative perspective. More than 100 participants attended this session. It was moderated by Ms. E. McCiarkin (European Parliament) and addressed by Ms. N. Ali Assegaf (Indonesian Parliament), Ms. I. Rodrlguez-Pii'lero Fernandez (European Parliament), Mr. S. Majeed (Pakistan Parliament) Ms. B. Bijelic (OECD). The informative discussion covered a wide range of issues that require parliamentary inlervention, including the adoption and implementation of specifte agreements related to small and medium sized enterprises (SMEs), e-commerce. e-services and investment. Participants were also able to benefit from the rich content of the Forum's numerous events, starting with a high-level panel debate. 4. There were eight items on the 37lh session agenda, including presentations from three WTO experts. First. Mr. K. Brauner (Deputy Director General WTO) gave three updates on recent WTO developments. Second, Mr. D. Bratanov, (Economic Affairs Officer, WTO Accessions Division) gave an overview ofWTO accession talks and the role of parliaments in those talks. Third, Mr. C. Nee (WTO Senior Research Economist} discussed the report on the WTO trade forecast. 5. Mr. Brauner renewed W TO's commitment to work with parliaments. He said that parliaments had a critical role to play in tackling the huge challenges related to trade. globalization, inequality and other problems that many citizens were facing across the world. The more globalization developed, the more it was rejected by parallel trends. Those trends sought to limit commercial activity to within national borders through protectionist measures that harmed trade. Mr. Brauner slated that open trade and investment policies were in fact highly beneficial, as some companies had successfully proved. Such policies presupposed large-scale change so that international integration and international trade (where services played an increasingly Important role} could adapt to current globalization patterns. 6. According to Mr. Brauner, there was a strong expectation that parliaments would be involved In globalization issues. Through their lawmaking and executive oversight functions, parliaments had the power to clarify misperceptions that the opponents of globalization were attempting to spread as widely as possible. Mr. Brauner concluded by highlighting the WTO's current priority, which was to change the pace of its work and forge ahead with proposal-driven processes. 7. During the question-and-answer exchange, Committee members concurred with Mr. Brauner that change was necessary so that citizens could have more trust and confidence in international organizations, including the WTO. Change was a springboard from which poverty and inequality could be tackled. However, change should also ensure that the rules of competition and transparency were respected in order to establish an environment that was conducive to investment. Members called for greater coordination among stakeholders and more resources with which to assist developing countries. They argued that women should be more closely involved, 3ih session of the Steering Committee: Summary 2. not only In industries, labour and e-commerce, but also in policymaking reform . Members also recommended that domestic policies relating to online security for private individuals should be enhanced. The Committee thanked Mr. Brauner for the useful updates and asked to be kept infonmed regularly, so as to improve its contribution to ongoing WTO business. 8. Under agenda item 3, Mr. D. Bratanov presented an overview of the current state of WTO accession talks and the role of parliaments in that process. Since 1995,36 States had acceded through Article XII negotiations and nine new Members had joined as least developed countries. Article XII Members account for one fifth (164) ofWTO Members. Nineteen States were currently in the process of accession. Although multilateral, bilateral and plurilateral processes could be applied to all acceding applicants, each accession was unique. Eight examples were used to illustrate the point: Azerbaijan, Belarus, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Comoros, Ethiopia, Iran (Islamic Republic of), Serbia and Sudan. 9. Mr. Bratanov outlined the contribution that parliaments can make in the early and late stages of the accession process. Some delegations included parliamentarians at the initial stages of negotiation. They could play a determining role in the realignment of domestic legislation to WTO standards. That aspect was so crucial that the WTO often requested copies of draft legislation from applicant countries to ascertain how far the country's proposed refonms reflected the Organization's standards. Parliamentarians also intervened at the end of the process by ratifying the final accession agreement. 10. Mr. Bratanov listed some advantages of acceding to the WTO: ensuring a predictable framework for international exchanges; guarding against protectionism: fostering international cooperation; and helping governments to make domestic reforms that they might otherwise struggle to achieve. Accession also involved political and technical challenges, which could include lengthy negotiations and tough domestic reforms. 11 . Committee members said that the accession process was an opportunity for parliamentarians to contribute substantively. However, they regretted that they were not adequately involved in the process and were sometimes rather excluded. They called for focal points that could take charge of WTO issues to be established within parliaments. They also urged parliamentarians to enhance their knowledge of international trade in order to deliver what was expected of them, both during the accession process and when agreements were being implemented. 12. The Committee was briefed about the report on the WTO trade forecast by Mr. N. Coleman (agenda item 4). He highlighted the WTO's forecasting efforts since the financial crisis. Slow trade growth had been due to a series of idiosyncratic regional shocks. World trade growth in 2016 was at its slowest rate of increase (1.7%) since the financial crisis. Expectations for 2017 were more promising, at between 1.8 and 3.1 per cent. It was premature to infer that the United Kingdom's decision to leave the European Union (Brexit) had caused and Immediate downturn in economic activity. The effect of that decision would only emerge in the medium to long term. Currently, WTO estimates of UK GOP were still included in the GOP of the European Union (EU). 13. Mr. Nee commented on charts showing the ratio of world trade growth to world GOP growth and import levels in developed and developing countries. He compared export and import activity in Asia, South America, the EU and other regions. He also looked at reasons why trade might have slowed down after the financial crisis, including a relative lack of trade liberafization In comparison to the 1990s and early 2000s. However, that lack did not mean that protectionism was on the rise. 14. During the debate, issues raised by the Committee members included: whether the Trans- Pacific Partnership Agreement (TPP) could be an example of post-crisis fiberalization; whether increasing wages could help to stimulate demand; and the impact on forecasts of uncertainty regarding Brexlt and the presidential elections in the United States of America. 1 Article XII on Accession 1. Any Stele or separate customs territory possessing full autonomy in the conduct of Its external commercial relations and of the other matters provided for In this Agreement and the Multilateral Trade Agreements may accede to this Agreement, on terms to be agreed between ~ and the WTO. Such accession shall apply to this Agreement and the Multilateral Trade Agreements annexed thereto. 2. Decisions on accession shall be taken by the Ministerial Conference. The Ministerial Conference shall approve U1e agreement on the tenns of accession by a two-thirds majority of the Members of the WTO. 3. Accession to a Plurilateral Trade Agreement shaH be governed by the provisions of that Agreement. 3rt' session of the Steering Committee: Summary 3. 15. Mr. Nee said that, as TPP had not yet been ratified, it could not have had an impact on trade since the financial crisis. By comparison, liberalization activity in the 1990s had Included the completion of the EU single market, the establishment of NAFTA and the WTO, and the opening of trade wilh former communist countries. That said, the WTO Trade Facililalion Agreement had been completed after the financial crisis. It was close to being implemented, and had the potential to provide a substantial boost to world trade. 16. As to whether increasing wages could be stimulating demand, Mr. Nee said that he could not comment since individual WTO Members decided such policies. However, the WTO did not want to be seen simply as a cheerleader for trade. The Organization had always recognized that trade liberalization imposed adjustment costs on some segments of society. The nature of the WTO as a rules-based, member-driven organization should make it easier for Members to address those concerns. Income stagnation was often attributed to trade, whereas technological change might play an even bigger role. Technology shocks could be softened by government policies, but it was up to Individual WTO Members to design and implement them. 17. Concerning the trade forecast, Mr. Nee said that it was not yet possible to directly model the Impact of Brexlt, since the WTO treated the EU as a single entity. Any Impact would be reflected indirectly through GOP forecasts of the whole EU , which included the UK. The WTO did not produce its own GOP projections, but relied instead on consensus estimates of other organizations. The Committee found the forecast a useful barometer to gauge the general progress of trade and economic developments. It contained relevant information that could help them In their parliamentary oversight duties. 18. Due to time constraints, the co-Chair suggested that item 5 of the agenda be addressed in writing and sent back to the Secretariat of the Steering Committee. The Committee members were positive about the Forum. They found its sessions, including the opening plenary and the parliamentary session, to be interesting and instructive due to the wide range of topics covered and the opportunities they offered to exchange experiences. New information on the increasing importance of SMEs, a-commerce and investment had been of particular interest. In that regard, members called for the Trade Facilitation Agreement to be implemented more swiftly; it had yet to meet the required number of ratifications to allow it to enter into force. 19. Committee members regretted that so little time was given to the Important Issues addressed during the Forum. They suggested that either the number of topics for consideration be reduced or that the length of the next Forum be extended. 20. In accordance with past practice, the Committee adopted a statement at the end of the session. While welcoming this year's theme of inclusive trade, it noted that etrectlve inclusiveness should allow for the greater involvement of developing countries, small enterprises, women and Innovative businesses. The Committee urged WTO Members to make greater efforts to ensure that such Inclusiveness became a realny. It called for a Trade Facilitation Agreement in services because of their growing importance to world trade. The Committee advocated closer cooperation between parliaments and governments on the formulation of trade policies In order to contribute to achieving the Sustainable Development Goals (see Annex 2). It also welcomed Afghanistan's accession to the WTO. 21. As set out in Article 4.6 of the Rules of Procedure, new Committee members were appointed to replace those who had completed their terms. New members as of 111 January 2017 would include Argentina, Bahrain, Luxembourg, Senegal, Singapore, Switzerland and the United Republic of Tanzania. Thirty-seventh session of the Steering Committee of the Parliamentary Conference on the WrO Trente-septieme session du Comite de pilotage de Ia Conference parlementaire sur I'OMC Geneva I Geneva, 28/09/2016 LIST OF PARTICIPANTS L~TEDESPARTiaPANTS COUNTRY or ORGANISATION NAME PAYS ou ORGAN/SA TION I NOM BENIN Mr. Pascal Essou, MP Mr. Orden Alladatin, MP BOTSWANA Absent BRAZIL • BRESIL Absent BURKINA FASO Absent CAM EROON-CAMEROUN Mr. Joseph Hyacinthe Owona Kono, MP CHINA • CHINE Mr. Wei Xing Mr. Ding Li COLOMBIA - COLOMBIE Absent FRANCE Absent INDIA - /NDE Mr. Anurag Singh Thakur, MP Mr. Aseem R. Mahajan Mr. M.S. Srikar Mr. Deepak Sharma INDONESIA - INDONESIE Ms. Nurtrayati Ali Assegaf,MP Mr. Charles Honoris, MP Mr. Hasnuryadi Sulaiman Mr. Hardjono Sartomo Mr. Angga Dwi Putra JAPAN • JAPON Mr. Tsuneo Kitamura, MP Ms. Akiko Ogawa Mr. Jin Yamaguchi Ms. Saeko Hashimoto Ms. Minami Makino Ms. Keiko Graumann Fujii Ms. Hlromi Ito Ms. Naoko Owen-Murakami JORDAN - JORDANIE Absent PANAMA Absent POLAND- POLOGNE Senator Michal Sewerynskl Senator Robert Dowhan Mr. Wojciech Gruba PORTUGAL Absent REPUBLIC OF KOREA - REPUBLIQUE DE COREE Absent 3Th session of the Steering Committee: List of Participants 2. RUSSIAN FEDERATION- FEDERATION DE RUSS/E Mr. Pavel Ermoshin SAUDI ARABIA- ARABIE SAOUD/TE Mr. Saleh Alhusseini, MP Mr. Anas AI Saeed SOUTH AFRICA- AFRIQUE DU SUD Mr. Dennis Dumisani Gamede, MP Ms. June Kuzwayo Mr. Vusi Gamede SWEDEN -SUEDE Absent UGANDA - OUGANDA Absent UNITED KINGDOM- ROYAUME-UNI Absent EUROPEAN PARLIAMENT - PARLEMENT EUROPEEN Mr. David Martin, MEP Ms. lnmaculada Rodrlguez-Pinero Fernandez, MEP Ms. Emma McCiarkin, MEP Mr. Hannu Takkula, MEP Mr. Helmut Scholz, MEP Mr. William Dartmouth, MEP Mr. Alberto Rodas Ms. Helena Halldorf Romero Mr. Felix Lutz Ms. Kadri Paris Mr. Chris W illiams Mr. Alex Boyd Ms. Ursa Pondelek COMMONWEALTH PARLIAMENTARY ASSOCIATION Absent ASSOCIATION PARLEMENTAIRE DU COMMONWEALTH INTER""ARLIAMENTARY UNION Mr. Krister Ornfjader, MP UNION INTERPARLEMENTAIRE Mr. Martin Chungong Mr. Akiyo Afouda PARLIAMENTARY ASSEMBLY OF THE COUNCIL Mr. Ogmundur J6nasson, MP OF EUROPE ASSEMBLEE PARLEMENTAIRE DU CONSEIL DEL'EUROPE WORLD TRADE ORGANIZATION Mr. Said Ef Hachimi ORGANISATION MONDIALE DU COMMERCE GUEST SPEAKERS I ORATEURS INVITES WORLD TRADE ORGANIZATION Mr. Karl Brauner, Deputy Director-General ORGANISATION MONO/ALE DU COMMERCE Mr. Dimitar Bratanov, Economic Affairs Officer, Accessions Division Mr. Nee Coleman, Senior Research Economist Thirty-seventh session of the Steering Committee of the Parliamentary Conference on the WTO 28 September 2016, IPU Headquarters, Geneva STATEMENT We welcome the theme of this year's WTO Public Forum. Inclusive Trade. II is an opportunity to discuss how everyone- men and women- and businesses can participate in the trading system, and how WTO rules can help to ensure that everyone benefits from trade. Today, the business environment is changing, anti-globalization sentiments are on the rise and world growth is slowing. It is therefore important to ensure that trade is truly inclusive, and that it allows developing countries, including the least developed countries (LDCs), small enterprises, women and innovative businesses to play an active role in the global trading system. We would also like to express our support for policies that encourage firms of all sizes. to take full advantage or global value chains, particularly small and medium-sized enterprises. and companies led by women and young entrepreneurs. Equally, we support policies that harness development work in order to encourage greater participation, value addition and upward mobility in global value chains, particularly in developing and least developed countries. As legislators with particular responsibilities in the field of trade we call for representatives of all WTO members to make trade inclusive. We welcome the fact that the WTO is discussing these topics and a wide range of other issues, all of which follow on from last year's Ministerial Conference in Nairobi. However, we reiterate how important it is that the WTO deliver on its commitments and take into account the aspirations of all its stakeholders. Members should be looking to move from reflection to action towards the successful conclusion of the Doha Development Agenda and implementation of the Bali and Nairobi Ministerial Decisions as a matter of priority. They should be making pragmatic, realistic and creative proposals that will property prepare for the next WTO Ministerial Conference in 2017, which should take place in Latin America. Recognizing the increasing importance of trade in services, we call for a similar Trade Facilitation Agreement in Services, which will go a long way towards addressing the issues faced by services trade. We extend a warm welcome to Afghanistan as the 164•' member of the WTO. It acceded to the Organization on 29 July 2016 after nearly 12 years of negotiation and Is the ninth least developed country to join the WTO. We congratulate Afghanistan on this achievement, particularly given the very challenging circumstances the country is facing . Afghanistan has also ratified the Trade Facilitation Agreement. It is positive that the speed of ratification has now picked up. The Agreement will enter into force after being ratified by two thirds of the WTO membership. To date, 94 members have ratified, which Is neaJ1y 65 per cent of the two-thirds requirement. We urge all WTO members that have not yet done so to speed up their ratification procedures and make the necessary implementation arrangements. That will allow all members to reap the benefits of the Agreement as soon as possible. Recognizing the importance of inclusive trade for achieving the Sustainable Development Goals for all members of the WTO, we should take into account the urgency for the WTO to encourage governments to work closely with parliaments in fonnulating trade policies.