This first edition of the Public Forum proceedings provides a summary of the many views and concerns raised at the 2006 WTO Public Forum, organized under the overall theme "What 2006 2006 WTO for the XXIst Century?". The publication attests to the relevance and importance of the views and concerns expressed 20062006 WTO Public Forum Public WTO during the Forum, and their contribution to the worldwide Forum Public WTO WTOWTO debate on the multilateral trading system. It summarizes the dialogue between participants in each individual session, on the following general themes: systemic issues, development, agriculture, sustainable development and environment, and PublicPublic ForumForum issue-specific topics. The latter refers to specific topics related to the work programme of the WTO, including: regional trade agreements, international standards, subsidies, and accessions, as well as others, such as employment and trade, gender and “What WTO for the XXIst Century?” trade, and migration. “What WTO for the XXIst Century?” for WTO “What “What WTO for the XXIst Century?” for WTO “What 25-26 September 06 ISBN 978-92-870-3395-6 Printed by the WTO Secretariat - 285.07 20062006 WTOWTO PublicPublic ForumForum “What“What WTOWTO forfor thethe XXIstXXIst Century?”Century?” 25-26 September 06 © World Trade Organization, 2007. Reproduction of material contained in this document may be made only with written permission of the WTO Publications Manager. With written permission of the WTO Publications Manager, reproduction and use of the material contained in this document for non-commercial educational and training purposes is encouraged. ISBN 978-92-870-3395-6 Also available in French and Spanish: French title ISBN 978-92-870-3396-3 Spanish title ISBN 978-92-870-3397-0 WTO publications can be obtained through major booksellers or: Direct from WTO Publications World Trade Organization 154, rue de Lausanne CH-1211 Geneva 21 Tel: (41 22) 739 52 08 Fax: (41 22) 739 54 58 Email: [email protected] Online WTO bookshop http://onlinebookshop.wto.org Printed by WTO Secretariat, Switzerland, 2007 TABLE OF CONTENTS I. SYSTEMIC ISSUES 3 A. Decision-making in the WTO: Medieval or up-to-date?, Organized by the World Trade Institute (WTI), Berne, Graduate Institute of International Studies (HEI), Geneva and University of Lausanne 3 B. To remain relevant and viable in the XXIst Century, what will the WTO need to deliver?, Organized by the National Foreign Trade Council (NFTC) 8 C. Neo-protectionism: XXIst Century challenge for the WTO, Organized by UNICE/Confederation of European Business and APEC Business Advisory Council 29 D. Beyond Doha: In search of the Multilateral Trading System (MTS), Organized by the Agency for International Trade Information and Cooperation (AITIC) 34 E. G-20 civil society views on the WTO, Organized by the Friedrich-Ebert- Foundation and CUTS International Session 38 F. The role of the media in boosting public awareness and debate of trade policy-making, Organized by the Panos Institute, London 47 G. How can academic policy-oriented thinking on WTO matters be improved?, Organized by the WTO/Regional Integration International Chair 62 H. Corporate social responsibility and the Doha Round: Are there win-win opportunities for the private sector and developing countries?, Organized by the Geneva Social Observatory (GSO) and Quaker United Nations Office (QUNO) 71 II. DEVELOPMENT 79 A. Coherence and capacity building for trade - Focus on the Enhanced Integrated Framework and the Aid for Trade (A4T) Initiative, Organized by the Development Division, WTO 79 B. Operationalizing Aid for Trade (A4T), Organized by CUTS International, India 95 C. Trade and development post non-Doha: Let’s get real, Organized by the Evian Group at IMD 105 WTO Public Forum 2006 “What WTO for the XXIst Century?” i D. Stocktaking of WTO negotiations: Concerns of Developing Countries, Organized by the Saarc Chamber of Commerce and Industry 111 E. Trade rules and living standards: The interplay of national development strategies and global rules, Organized by the Global Business Dialogue (GBD) 116 F. World Trade and Development Report 2006 -Building a development- friendly world trading system, Organized by the Research and Information System (RIS) for Developing Countries 128 G. Development criteria for differential treatment in trade policies, Organized by Caritas Internationalis and CIDSE 136 III. AGRICULTURE 141 A. How can non-trade concerns in agriculture be best safeguarded: Within the WTO or by strengthening wider global governance?, Organized by COPA-COGECA 141 B. Africa paves the way forward: New possibilities for agriculture trade, Organized by IATP, Coordination Sud, Collectif Stratégies Alimentaires 147 C. Globalization, trade and the transformation of agrifood systems, Organized by the Agriculture and Commodities Division, WTO 154 D. The WTO negotiations on agriculture and their effect on European Agriculture: The case of the European meat industry, Organized by the Union Européenne du Commerce du Bétail et de la Viande (UECBV) 161 E. The Doha Round: Where do we go from here and what are the implications?, Organized by the Canadian Federation of Agriculture (CFA) 165 F. Outstanding issues in agriculture and impacts on farm policies, Organized by the International Federation of Agricultural Producers (IFAP) 167 G. New directions for agriculture trade rules, Organized by CIDSE, the Heinrich Böll Foundation and the EcoFair Trade Dialogue 173 IV. SUSTAINABLE DEVELOPMENT AND ENVIRONMENT 177 A. Session on WTO and sustainable development, Organized by the Trade and Environment Division, WTO 177 ii WTO Public Forum 2006 “What WTO for the XXIst Century?” B. A sustainable development roadmap for the WTO, Organized by the International Institute for Sustainable Development (IISD) 187 C. Assessing the impacts of liberalization, Organized by the International Centre for Trade and Sustainable Development (ICTSD) 195 D. Sustainable impact assessments of trade liberalization, Organized by the Centre for International Sustainable Development Law (CISDL) 197 E. NAMA and sustainable development: Reflecting on a new agenda for the XXIst century, Organized by Greenpeace International 203 V. SPECIFIC ISSUES 213 A. RTAs threat or opportunity for the WTO, Organized by the Federation of German Industries (BDI) 213 B. International standards in the multilateral trading system (MTS): A stakeholders’ discussion, Organized by the United Nations Economic Commission for Europe (UNECE) 217 C. Subsidies and international trade, Organized by the Economic, Research and Statistics Division, WTO 225 D. Improving the accession process in the XXIst Century Organized by the International Development Research Centre (IDRC), Canada 228 E. Can trade deliver decent work in the XXIst Century?, Organized by the International Confederation of Free Trade Unions (ICFTU) and Solidar 232 F. Migration and development: What role for the WTO?, Organized by the Organization for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD) 239 G. Equitable trade: Creating a level playing field for men and women, Organized by the Commonwealth Secretariat 243 H. Aid for Trade (A4T): Any chances for a gender-sensitive development?, Organized by the International Gender and Trade Network 253 VI. ANNEX I – OPENING SPEECHES 257 A. Opening remarks by Mr. Pascal Lamy, WTO Director-General 257 B. Message by Mr. Kofi A. Annan, Secretary-General of the United Nations 261 WTO Public Forum 2006 “What WTO for the XXIst Century?” iii C. Address by the Right Honourable Prime Minister Mr. Pakalitha Mosisili MP, Kingdom of Lesotho 263 D. Address by Mr. Ted Turner, Chairman UN Foundation 271 E. Address by Mr. Antony Burgmans, Chairman Unilever 281 VII. ANNEX II – WTO PUBLIC FORUM 2006 PROGRAMME 287 iv WTO Public Forum 2006 “What WTO for the XXIst Century?” FOREWORD Over the years, the WTO Public Forum has become a very important and unique opportunity to promote positive dialogue among all the relevant stakeholders of the multilateral trading system. Given its distinctive ownership structure and set-up, the Forum provides a firm platform for participants to trigger ideas and articulate concerns on the shape, direction and performance of the World Trade Organization. This year's theme "What WTO for the XXIst Century?", successfully encouraged a frank exchange of ideas and reflections among all participants on the type of WTO they would like to see in the XXIst century. The Doha Development Agenda (DDA) was launched in 2001 with the aim of generating new trade opportunities, as well as rebalancing the rules of the multilateral trading system in favour of the poor. As many of you know, strong differences among the WTO membership lead to the temporary suspension of the DDA in July 2006. The Public Forum scheduled on 25-26 September 2006, thus provided an exceptional opportunity for an honest and constructive dialogue among participants reflecting upon the potential consequences of a stalemate in the negotiations and identifying flexibilities required to achieve a successful outcome of the Round. This publication provides a summary of the many views and concerns that were raised during the Forum. It is a recognition of their relevance and importance to feed into the architecture of a world trade system for the benefit of all. I strongly believe in the power of engagement and hope that we will continue to work together in the future to ensure that the WTO provides the world’s citizens an opportunity to make their voices heard. Finally, I would like to express my thanks to the European Commission and Norway, without whose generous contributions, the WTO Secretariat would not have been in a position to organize this important public activity. Pascal Lamy WTO Public Forum 2006 “What WTO for the XXIst Century?” v vi WTO Public Forum 2006 “What WTO for the XXIst Century?” ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS Publication of proceedings from the WTO 2006 Public Forum was prepared under the general direction of Deputy Director-General Valentine Sedanyoye Rugwabiza. Willy Alfaro, Director of the External Relations Division (ERD) led the project that was carried out by María Pérez-Esteve of the ERD.