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A. TRADE AND INVESTMENT PUBLICATIONS
An exploration of the need for and
cost of selected trade facilitation measures
in Asia and the Pacific in the context of
the WTO negotiations. November
2006. Available online (PDF-Format, 78 pages,
1.12 MB). United Nations Economic and Social
Commission for Asia and the Pacific (ESCAP).
This publication brings together the main
research outputs produced by the Asia-Pacific
Research and Training Network on Trade (ARTNeT)
and its members on the need for and cost
of trade facilitation measures related to
GATT Articles V, VIII and X between April
2005 and April 2006. This publication is
divided into two parts: Part I features
a synthesis of country studies conducted
in Bangladesh, China, India, Indonesia and
Nepal. It also includes the main results
of an international trade facilitation expert
survey on the cost of implementation, prioritization
and sequencing of trade facilitation measures.
Part II consists of the individual summaries
of the six ARTNeT studies on which the synthesis
is based.
Accessed on 5 February < http://www.unescap.org/tid/publication/tipub2426.pdf
>
Core Labor Standards Handbook.
October 2006. Available online (PDF-Format,
154 pages, 3.5 MB). ADB and ILO.
This handbook provides information about
core labor standards (CLS), explains the
difference between core and other (non-core)
labor standards and presents examples
of good practices in the application of
CLS in ADB operations. It is divided into
three parts: Part 1 is an introduction
to international CLS. Part 2 presents
the eight Conventions that the ILO’s
International Labor Conference recognized
in 1998 as fundamental to the rights of
every person at work, irrespective of
the level of development of individual
member States. Part 3, Core Labor Standards
in ADB Operations, presents ideas on how
ADB can integrate CLS into its operations.
The Handbook includes several appendices
on practical information about CLS, checklists,
ILO contacts and other information.
Accessed on 6 February
< http://www.adb.org/Documents/Handbooks/Core-Labor-Standards/CLS-Handbook.pdf
>
Environment and Globalization:
Five Propositions. January 2007.
Available online (PDF-Format, 54 pages,
529 KB). International Institute for Sustainable
Development (IISD).
This paper intends to inspire discussion
on the nature and importance of the links
between environment and globalization.
The paper is divided into three sections:
Following the introduction, the authors
outline the nature of the linkages between
environment and globalization, especially
highlighting the fact that these are two-way
linkages: not only can the processes of
globalization impact the environment,
but the dynamics of the environment can
also impact and shape the nature of globalization.
The next section, which is the bulk of
the paper, begins exploring these linkages
through the lens of five “propositions”
that seek to highlight those elements
that are particularly prescient for policy-making
and policy-makers. The last section posits
a set of suggested avenues for action
on environment and globalization. This
section is organized around the notion
that better global governance is the key
to managing both globalization and the
global environment.
Accessed on 6 February < http://www.iisd.org/pdf/2007/trade_environment_globalization.pdf
>
General principles for international
remittance services. January
2007. Available online (PDF-Format, 61
pages, 445 KB). Bank for International
Settlements (BIS) and the World Bank.
This report outlines that, in recent years,
various organizations have tackled issues
related to the important topic of international
remittances. However, few of these reports
have been devoted specifically to the
“payment system aspects” of
remittances – in effect, the practical
realities of actually transferring money.
Understanding these payment system aspects
is crucial to understanding remittances
and to ensuring that remittance services
are safe and efficient. This report provides
an analysis of the payment system aspects
of remittances and sets out general principles
designed to assist countries in improving
the market for remittance services.
Accessed on 6 February < http://www.bis.org/publ/cpss76.pdf
>
Indo-US FTA: Prospects for the
Telecommunication Sector. December
2006. Available online (PDF-Format, 72
pages, 281 KB). Working Paper No. 190,
Indian Council for Research on International
Economic Relations (ICRIER).
Since telecommunication is one of the
main drivers of economic growth and globalization,
WTO negotiations and newer FTAs (Free
Trade Agreements) have focused on liberalizing
trade in this sector. This paper analyses
the possibilities of liberalizing trade
in telecommunication services if India
and its largest trading partner –
the United States of America – enter
into a bilateral agreement. The study
finds that India and the United States
have trade complementarities in telecommunication
services and that it should be a priority
sector in the FTA negotiations. It identifies
certain areas where collaboration between
companies of both countries would be mutually
beneficial. It also finds that telecommunication
services have been significantly liberalized
in the United States’ FTAs –
much beyond the scope of the GATS. While
the current policy regime in India is
consistent with some of the requests made
by the United States in its bilateral
negotiations, for meeting others, the
policy regime needs to be examined and,
if required, reformed. The paper suggests
certain reforms which would enhance the
productivity, efficiency and global competitiveness
of the sector and enable the country to
benefit from the bilateral liberalization.
Accessed on 6 February < http://www.icrier.org/pdf/workingPaperNo190.pdf
>
SAFTA: Living in a World of Regional
Trade Agreements. February 2007.
Available online (PDF-File, 27 pages,
498 KB). Working Paper No. 07/23, International
Monetary Fund (IMF).
The paper evaluates the South Asia Free
Trade Agreement (SAFTA) within the global
structure of overlapping regional trade
agreements (RTAs) using a modified gravity
equation. First, it examines the effects
of the Trade Liberalization Programme
which started in 2006 and argues that
SAFTA would have a minor effect on regional
trade flows and the impact on custom duties
would be a manageable fiscal shock for
most members. Second, the paper ranks
the trade effects of other potential RTAs
for individual South Asian countries and
SAFTA and finds that RTAs with North American
Free Trade Agreement (NAFTA) and the European
Union dominate one with the Association
of South East Asian Nations (ASEAN).
Accessed on 6 February < http://www.imf.org/external/pubs/ft/wp/2007/wp0723.pdf
>
Thailand Human Development Report
2007. Sufficiency Economy and Human Development.
January 2007. Available online (PDF-Format,
152 pages, 5.17 MB). United Nations Development
Programme (UNDP).
The theme of the Thailand Human Development
Report 2007 is chosen as a timely contribution
to the on-going debate in Thailand about
how to translate the sufficiency economy
thinking into practical policies and concrete
action. It focuses on the application
of sufficiency economy in a wide range
of areas: poverty reduction, rural development,
environmental protection, education, corporate
social responsibility, sound macro-economic
policy making, as well as good governance.
The report also aims to help disseminate
the sufficiency economy thinking to a
wider global audience, demystifying its
meaning, explaining clearly what it is
and what it is not.
Accessed on 6 February < http://www.undp.or.th/NHDR2007/pdf/NHDR_BookEng.pdf
>
Trading away our oceans. Why
trade liberalization of fisheries must
be abandoned. January 2007. Available
online (PDF-Format, 76 pages, 4.68 MB).
Greenpeace International.
This paper intends to show the negative
conservation and development impacts of
trade liberalization in fish and fishery
products, which were included in the scope
of the Doha Round’s Non-Agricultural
Market Access (NAMA) negotiations. It
argues that further liberalization would
speed up the pace of over-fishing, further
increase unsustainable aquaculture production,
and have generally devastating consequences
for fish, the wider marine environment,
developing countries and the one billion
poor people worldwide who depend on fish
as their primary source of protein.
Accessed on 30 January 2007
< http://www.greenpeace.org/raw/content/international/press/
>
World Development Report 2007.
Development and the Next Generation.
September 2006. Available online (PDF-Format,
336 pages, 2.64 MB). World Bank.
The time has never been better to invest
in young people living in developing countries—that
is the message of this year’s World
Development Report, the twenty-ninth in
the series. The number of people worldwide
aged 12–24 years has reached 1.3
billion, the largest in history. It is
also the healthiest and best educated—a
strong base to build on in a world that
demands more than basic skills. This report
examines five pivotal phases of life that
can help unleash the development of young
people’s potential with the right
Government policies: learning, working,
staying healthy, forming families and
exercising citizenship. Within each of
these transitions, Governments need not
only to increase investments directly
but also to cultivate an environment for
young people and their families to invest
in themselves. The report identifies three
policy directions for helping youth develop
themselves and contribute to society:
expanding opportunities, enhancing capabilities,
and providing second chances.
Accessed on 6 February
< http://www-wds.worldbank.org/external/default/
>
WTO Dispute Settlement: One-Page
Case Summaries (1995-September 2006).
January 2007. Available online (PDF-Format,
160 pages, 1.94 MB). World Trade Organization
(WTO).
This first edition publication offers case-by
case, single page summaries of panel and
Appellate Body reports adopted by the WTO
Dispute Settlement Body as of 1 September
2006. The document is intended to facilitate
understanding of WTO dispute settlement
cases among WTO Members by providing core
facts, substantive findings contained in
the adopted panel, summaries of key findings
on significant procedural matters and, where
applicable, Appellate Body reports for each
decided case. Cases are indexed by article
and by WTO agreement.
Accessed on 6 February
< http://www.wto.org/english/res_e/booksp_e/dispu_summary06_e.pdf
>
B. SELECTED WORLDWIDE WEBSITES
http://www.aptsec.org
Asia-Pacific Telecommunity (APT)
E-mail: aptmail@apt.int
The Asia-Pacific Telecommunity was established
in 1979, by the joint initiatives of the
United Nations Economic and Social Commission
for Asia and the Pacific (ESCAP) and the
International Telecommunication Union (ITU).
It is a network of Governments, telecom
service providers, manufactures of communication
equipment, research and development organizations
and other stakeholders active in the field
of communication and information technology.
The objective of APT is to foster the development
of telecommunication services and information
infrastructure throughout the region, with
a particular focus on the expansion thereof
in less developed areas. It helps members
in their preparation for global conferences
such as the World Summit on the Information
Society (WSIS) and ITU meetings as well
as promoting regional harmonization for
these events.
http://www.bicusa.org
Bank Information Center (BIC)
E-mail: info@bicusa.org
The Bank Information Center (BIC) partners
with civil society in developing and transition
countries to influence the World Bank
and other international financial institutions
(IFIs) to promote social and economic
justice and ecological sustainability.
BIC is an independent, non-profit, non-governmental
organization that advocates for the protection
of rights, participation, transparency,
and public accountability in the governance
and operations of IFIs. In Asia, BIC works
with grassroots social movements and national-level
NGOs involved in challenging particular
multilateral development bank (MDB) loans.
BIC supports partner organization’s
efforts to mitigate some of the most acute
consequences of poor development policies.
Perhaps most importantly, BIC aims to
open spaces for affected communities to
influence decision making at the institutions,
and build the capacity of NGOs and grassroots
social movements in Asia to engage effectively
with the IFIs.
http://fieo.org/
Federation of Indian Export Organizations
(FIEO)
E-mail: ieo@nda.vsnl.net.in
The Federation of Indian Export Organizations
is an apex body of Indian export promotion
organizations that was set up jointly
by the Ministry of Commerce and private
sector trade and industry representatives
in the year 1965. The website serves as
a gateway to a broad range of information,
including on India’s services sector,
on establishing contacts with Indian exporters,
forthcoming events, export promotion organizations
in India, trade fairs and much more. The
website also features a ‘trading
zone’ that allows to search, identify
and communicate with business partners;
to submit business enquiries to source
any products/services from India; and
to submit/view offers to sell products/services
to India.
http://globalsubsidies.org
Global Subsidies Initiative (GSI)
The Global Subsidies Initiative is initiated
by the International Institute for Sustainable
Development (IISD) as a project designed
to put the spotlight on subsidies and
the corrosive effects they can have on
environmental quality, economic development
and governance. The website offers general
information on subsidies, a section with
questions and answers, a glossary as well
as subsidy watch, a newsletter, and the
GSI Research Platform. The research platform
provides specialized information and tools
on subsidies globally. It features searchable
databases on literature that relates to
subsidies to agriculture, energy, fisheries,
services, and transport as well as a searchable
database for World Trade Organization
subsidy notifications.
http://www.itssd.org
Institute for Trade, Standards
and Sustainable Development (ITSSD)
E-mail: info@itssd.org
The Institute for Trade, Standards and
Sustainable Development is an independent,
non-profit educational organization dedicated
to the promotion of a positive paradigm
of sustainable development consistent
with private property, free market and
WTO rules-based principles. ITSSD examines
evolving international law and policy
as it relates to trade, science, technology
and sustainable economic freedom and development
around the world and emphasizes the importance
of economic growth, free markets, the
rule of law, strong intellectual property
rights, scientific discovery, technological
innovation, and the establishment of balanced,
science-based and cost-effective national
regulatory and standards systems.
http://www.ifap.org
International Federation of Agricultural
Producers (IFAP)
E-mail: ifap@ifap.org
The International Federation of Agricultural
Producers is the world farmers organization
representing over 600 million farm families
grouped in 115 national organizations
in 80 countries. It is a global network
in which farmers from industrialized and
developing countries exchange concerns
and set common priorities. IFAP advocates
farmers’ interests at the international
level and has General Consultative Status
with the Economic and Social Council of
the United Nations. Publications of IFAP
include various newsletters, policy statements
and more. The website offers information
on various topics, including agricultural
cooperatives, development cooperation,
rural poverty reduction and food security,
trade and women farmers.
http://nttfc.org/
National Trade and Transport Facilitation
Committee (NTTFC) of Pakistan
E-mail: nttfc@cyber.net.pk,
info@nttfc.org
The National Trade and Transport Facilitation
Committee of Pakistan is a standing committee
of the Ministry of Commerce, established
to simplify the documents and procedures
related to international trade of Pakistan
and harmonize these with international
practices. Its terms of reference are
a) continuous review of the trade and
transport procedures and systems with
a view to update their simplification
and harmonization; b) undertake coordination
of efforts of concerned organizations
in the field of facilitation of international
trade and transport; c) collect and disseminate
information on international transport
formalities, procedures, operation and
related matters; d) pursue the simplification
and alignment of trade and transport documents
on the basis of the United Nations layout
key; and e) promote the adoption of the
standard trade and transport terminology
and international code for trade and transport
information. The website offers access
to broad information, including relevant
customs information, policy papers, economic
surveys, various declaration forms, software,
legal acts, maps, and more.
http://www.angkorwatsrcc.org.kh
Siem Reap Chamber of Commerce,
Cambodia
E-mail: srcc@angkorwatsrcc.org.kh, info@angkorwatsrcc.org.kh
The Siem Reap Chamber of Commerce works
to protect the rights and interests of
its members and to develop the business
environment. It supports the business
community by assisting in the establishment
of new ventures, providing legal and fiscal
advice, disseminating information on external
markets and partnership opportunities
and by arbitration of commercial disputes.
It also gives advise to the Government
and local authorities in the area of economic
and commercial legislation and regulation.
The website provides information on membership,
services, trade fairs, commercial law,
and more.
http://legislation.to/cms/home.html
Tonga Legislation Online
This website contains English and Tongan
versions of the legislation of Tonga,
as in force on 31 December 2005 (plus
a number of 2006 laws that became available
and subject to the note about omissions
etc). The website is meant to be a useful
resource and is expected to form the basis
for a new official revised edition of
the laws of Tonga, now under preparation.
The legislation is arranged in the form
of an index with the main law (Act or
Chapter) in alphabetical order, with any
amendments nested beneath. Under each
main law entry are the regulations and
other subordinate legislation made under
the main law, with their own amendments
beneath them.
http://www.worldmapper.org
Worldmapper
E-mail: info@worldmapper.org
Worldmapper contains a large collection
of maps (and associated information) that
relate to a particular subject. The maps
and data files cover 200 territories,
mainly United Nation Member States plus
a few others to include at least 99.95
per cent of the world's population. The
maps presented on this website are equal
area cartograms, otherwise known as density-equalizing
maps. The cartogram re-sizes each territory
according to the variable being mapped.
The colors used on the maps group the
territories into 12 geographical regions,
and allow for an easier visual comparison
between the maps than would otherwise
be possible. The shading of each territory
within a region is consistent throughout
all of the maps. Map categories include
disaster, disease, food, goods, income,
movement, pollution, production, resources,
transport, violence, wealth and much more.
Information is taken mainly from secondary
sources and UNESCAP accepts no responsibility
for its accuracy. Mention of any companies
and their products does not imply endorsement
by the United Nations.
The designations
employed and the presentation of the material
in this publication do not imply the expression
of any opinion whatsoever on the part of
the Secretariat of the United Nations concerning
the legal status of any country, territory,
city or area, or of its authorities, or
concerning the delimitation of its frontiers
or boundaries.
©2007 United Nations
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ISSUE
3/2007