• TRADE AND INVESTMENT PUBLICATIONS
• SELECTED WORLDWIDE WEBSITES

China and Southeast Asia: Global Changes and Regional Challenges. 2005. 327 pages. For Sale. Price: US$32.90. Institute of Southeast Asian Studies.
The relations between ASEAN and China occupy a unique and important position in the foreign relations of the Asia-Pacific region. China and Southeast Asia's political, strategic and economic importance in the realm of international relations has been transformed by the regions unprecedented economic growth, unexpected financial crisis, and turbulent political changes. The study investigates the impacts of global changes and regional challenges confronting the contemporary developments of China-ASEAN relations. Topics include: changes in strategic perceptions, the economic challenges and legal considerations of the China-ASEAN FTA in the context of a multilateral trading system, the role of East Asia, non-traditional security issues, prospects of regionalism, China-Taiwan-ASEAN triangular relations, and Malaysia’s and Singapore’s diplomatic engagement with China.
Accessed on 19 July 2005 from: <http://www.bookshop.iseas.edu.sg/>

E-Commerce in the Asian Context: Selected Case Studies. 2005. For Sale. US$15.90. Available on-line (HTML-Format, 105 pages, 292 Kb). Co-publication of Institute of Southeast Asian Studies and International Development Research Centre.
E-Commerce in Asia has been receiving considerable attention as a result of the proliferation of Internet connectivity and technologies in the region. In response to this trend, a series of four studies were undertaken to investigate the various economic, social, methodological, and security issues related to this emerging business paradigm. The scope of these reports ranges from the policy environment in Viet Nam, to the empowerment of rural women artisan groups in Southern India. The series was embarked upon as an exploration into the technical and socio-economic achievements and challenges faced by e-commerce in Asia, and to obtain a broad understanding of the lessons learned and future developments of this dynamic business model.
Accessed on 19 July 2005 from: <http://www.idrc.ca/openebooks/179-5/>

Fresh Fruits, Vegetables and Dairy Products: India’s Potential for Exports to Other Asian Countries. Occasional Paper no. 104. January 2005. 132 pages. Introduction available on-line (HTML-Format, 1 page, 6 Kb) Export-Import Bank of India.
The study observes that export potential of fresh fruits, vegetables and dairy sector in India is not fully tapped considering the size and diversity of these sectors. It proposes that the future development in these sectors be better balances between production and other sub-systems. The study reports that world trade of fresh fruits and vegetable is estimated to be US$40 billion in 2003. It further remarks that the Asian region accounts for nearly 15 per cent share in global trade of fruits and vegetables imports. Growth in intra-regional trade was the main contributor of growth in trade in this region.
Accessed on 8 July 2005 from: <http://www.eximbankindia.com/press050134.html>

India-East Asia integration: a win-win for Asia. March 2005. Available on-line (PDF-Format, 17 pages, 231 Kb). Research and Information System for the Non-Aligned and Other Developing Countries, India.
The paper examines India’s unilateral liberalisation policies since the early 1990s as well as its Look East Policy which resulted in considerably greater integration with the rest of Asia than is commonly acknowledged. The authors argue that the enabling conditions for greater economic integration among major Asian economies have already been laid. If Asia is to increase its economic and political weight in the world affairs, India’s involvement would have to be an integral part of the Asia-wide cooperation. It is in this context that closer cooperation among ASEAN, China, India, Japan and the Republic of Korea would provide considerable win-win opportunities and have far ranging implications for the world.
Accessed on 22 July 2005 from: <http://www.ris.org.in/dp91_pap.pdf>

Negotiating free-trade agreements: a guide. June 2005. Available on-line (PDF-Format, 155 pages, 812 Kb). Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade, Government of Australia.
This guide is a practical introduction to the negotiation of free trade agreements. It is aimed particularly at those who may be involved in such negotiations for the first time, and it seeks to explain the main negotiating steps needed to arrive at an agreement and to make it enter into force. It presents issues that may arise in the course of free-trade negotiations and it suggests ways in which they may be handled. It also provides sample from free-trade agreements in force between member economies of APEC.
Accessed on 22 July 2005 from: <http://www.dfat.gov.au/publications/negotiating_ftas/negotiating_ftas.pdf>

OECD Handbook on Economic Globalisation Indicators. June 2005. For Sale. Price: US$69. Available on-line (PDF-Format, 234 pages, 14 Mb). OECD.
This manual provides guidance on how to measure and interpret measurements of globalisation's extent and intensity. The manual defines concepts and puts forward guidelines for data collection and fine-tuning of globalisation indicators. In particular, it looks at indicators related to foreign direct investment, the economic activities of multinational enterprises, the internationalisation of technology, and trade globalisation.
Accessed on 22 July 2005 from: <http://213.253.134.29/oecd/pdfs/browseit/9205061E.PDF>

The Integrated Assessment of the Impact of Trade Liberalization on the Rice Sector of Viet Nam. 2005. Available on-line (PDF-Format, 99 pages, 1039 Kb). UNEP
Since 1989 Viet Nam has been undergoing a gradual transition from a centrally planned socialist to a market-oriented economy under the reform process known as Doi Moi, which literally means “change and newness”. This process of transition has been accompanied by high growth, macroeconomic stability and significant structural change. The country has gone from being a rice importer to a net rice exporter, and is the second largest rice exporter in the world since 1995. The growth in rice production and rice exports has brought an increase in agricultural income and GDP, and has had a positive impact on poverty reduction. The policies promoting rice production and trade have also had a number of environmental and social impacts, such as adverse effects on human health from the misuse of fertilisers and pesticides, environmental degradation and loss of rice biodiversity from technology inputs. This assessment provides the basis for formulating appropriate measures to mitigate the negative impacts and promote the positive ones. The assessment also supports further trade liberalization in the rice sector. It has also been helpful in supporting national capacity to undertake impact assessment in agriculture and trade in Viet Nam.
Accessed on 21 July 2005 from: <http://www.unep.ch/etb/publications/intAssessment/Vietnam.pdf>

Trade Policy Challenges in 2005. A Report of the CSIS-Economist Trade Seminar Series. February 2005. 56 pages. For Sale. Price: US$16.95. Center for Strategic and International Studies.
The publication is a report of the fifth annual seminar of former Trade Representatives of the United States of America held by the Center for Strategic and International Studies and the Economist on 9 February 2005. The report includes presentations covering the following topics: the Doha Development Round negotiations; the rise of China and the implications for the American trade policy; the agricultural issues in the Doha Round; labour standards; and the pros and cons of bilateral, regional, and multilateral trade negotiations.
Accessed on 22 July 2005 from: <http://csis.zoovy.com/product/0892064706>

Voices of the Least Developed Countries of Asia and the Pacific: Achieving the Millennium Development Goals through a Global partnership. 2005. Available on-line (PDF-Format, 54 pages, 146 Kb). UNDP and UNESCAP
The report is a collaborative effort by the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) and Economic and Social commission for Asia and the Pacific (UNESCAP). It aims to be a timely reminder to the international community that there are least developed countries in Asia and the Pacific no less in need of global support than elsewhere. It lauds the debt cancellation initiative announced in June by G8 finance ministers and notes that the package does not include any Asia-pacific countries. It singles out problems that hinder those countries development, e.g. illegal cross-border migration, trafficking of people and drugs, trans-boundary spread of diseases, spillover of conflicts and environmental hazards, etc. as issues beyond national borders and requiring more assistance. The report recommends for a “win-win” situation include expanding the programme of debt relief to more severely indebted countries, facilitating trade and market access, supporting investment in infrastructure and facilitating entry into the World Trade Organisation.
Accessed on 8 July 2005 from: <http://www.undp.org/mdg/asia/LDC-MDGAsiaP.pdf>

World Natural Gas: Demand, Supply and International Trade to 2030. April 2005. 193 pages. For Sale. Price £14.50. Content and appendix available on-line (PDF-Format, 8 pages, 46 Kb). Centre for Global Energy Studies.
Natural gas is the fastest growing primary energy fuel in the world with demand growing more rapidly than any other primary energy source. This study analyses and forecasts the prospects of this vital source of energy up to 2030. In providing forecasts of world natural gas demand and supply to 2030, trade movements in 2030 and their implications, this study is an important tool and a source of valuable information for all those involved in the gas industry. It turns the spotlight on the important natural gas consumers and producers in the world.
Accessed on 20 July 2005 from: <http://www.cges.co.uk/pdf-lib/contentsWorldGas.pdf>

World Trade Report of 2005: Standards, ‘offshoring’ and air transport focus of 2005. 2005. Available on-line (PDF-Format, 378 pages, 3696 Kb). WTO
The report includes analytical essays on offshoring services (a particular aspect of outsourcing), air transport services and the use of quantitative economic analysis in dispute settlement. It also touches on recent and selected medium-term developments in global merchandise and services trade. Offshoring services are not new, the report states, and are in fact no different from other forms of trade driven by comparative advantage. Moreover, the impact of offshoring services on production, employment and trade is less severe than suggested by some press reports and public commentary.
Accessed on 8 July 2005 from: <http://www.wto.org/english/res_e/booksp_e/anrep_e/world_trade_report05_e.pdf>

http://www.igeme.org.tr/introeng.htm
Export Promotion Center of Turkey
E-mail: igeme@igeme.org.tr
Export Promotion Center of Turkey (IGEME) is a public organization under the Secretariat of the Prime Ministry for Foreign Trade of Turkey. It was founded with the aim of developing and promoting Turkish exports. The organization acts as an intermediary in establishing business contacts between foreign importers and Turkish exporters. Thus, it contributes to both parties providing a two-way service, enlightening Turkish businessmen and furnishing foreign importers with information on economic conditions, market prospect, exporters and regulations in Turkey. IGEME performs this function in a series of activities which can be categorized in five main areas, research and development, training, trade information, publicity and promotion, and international relations.
Accessed on 25 July 2005

http://www.efsa.eu.int
European Food Safety Authority
E-mail: info@efsa.eu.int
The European Food Safety Authority (EFSA) is the keystone of European Union (EU) risk assessment regarding food and feed safety. In close collaboration with national authorities and in open consultation with its stakeholders, EFSA provides independent scientific advice and clear communication on existing and emerging risks - including animal health and welfare and plant protection - and provides scientific advice on nutrition in relation to Community legislation. EFSA’s risk assessments provide risk managers with a sound scientific basis for defining policy driven legislative or regulatory measures required to ensure a high level of consumer protection with regards to food safety.
Accessed on 15 July 2005

http://www.isit.or.th/index.asp
Iron and Steel Institute of Thailand
E-mail address: info@isit.or.th
The Iron and Steel Institute of Thailand (ISIT) is an independent body, established by the Ministry of Industry of Thailand. The institute aims to develop Thai iron and steel industry to be internationally competitive and to support the country future growth by enhancing the competitiveness of Thai iron and steel industry. It offers the following services: coordinating and cooperating in making and implementing the master plans for Thai iron and steel industry; gathering and assessing information that can support the industry, trade and formation of State policy; ensuring a balance between production and demand; promoting co-operation among industrialists, government agencies and overseas interests so as to achieve the steel industry development; providing services for the iron and steel industry, such as marketing promotion, information, training, technical services and product testing and supporting transparency and good governance business practice among members.
Accessed on 11 July 2005

http://www.multitrade.org.np/index.html
Multilateral Trade Integration and Human Development in Nepal
E-mail: multitrade@multitrade.org.np
Multilateral Trade Integration and Human Development in Nepal is a joint initiative of the Government of Nepal and the United Nations Development Programme. It is implemented by the Ministry of Industry, Commerce and Supplies, the focal institution for the formulation of trade policy. The specific objectives of the programme are: to support the Government to take on-going WTO accession negotiations to their logical conclusion; to build national capacity to fulfil the obligations of WTO membership, including development of legislative and institutional mechanisms; to carry out the human development impact assessment of trade policies and WTO accession in particular; to identify and suggest measures and policy interventions for the integration of human development into trade policies; and to build capacity of policy-makers in integrating human development with trade policy.
Accessed on 20 July 2005

http://ipr2.mofcom.gov.cn
State Office of Intellectual Property Protection, Ministry of Commerce, China
E-mail: ipr@mofcom.gov.cn
The State Office of Intellectual Property Protection (SOIPP), set up within the Ministry of Commerce, is the daily executive agency under the National Working Group on Intellectual Property Rights Protection. The main responsibilities of SOIPP are as follows: researching into and proposing the guidance, plans and policy recommendations on national IPR protection work; organizing and coordinating national special campaign on IPR protection and confirming the focal tasks of it; supervising the disposal of major IPR infringement cases, dealing with the letters from the masses that correlate with IPR protection; organizing the “IPR Protection Publicity Week" activity to raise the whole people's consciousness of IPR protection; setting up the communication and coordination mechanism with foreign investment enterprises and organizing the meetings regularly; launching the activities of law enforcement, personnel training and education on IPR protection and conducting international exchanges and cooperation; and managing of SOIPP’s website.
Accessed on 11 July 2005

http://www.unctadindia.org/
Strategies and Preparedness for Trade and Globalisation in India
E-mail: veenajha@unctadindia.org
The Project, launched in cooperation with the Department of International Development, Ministry of Commerce of India and UNCTAD, has two main objectives. First, it will assist Indian trade negotiators, policy makers and other stakeholders in understanding the development dimension of key trade issues, particularly as they related to the current WTO agenda. Secondly, it will strengthen the country's human and institutional capacities for analysis of globalization-related issues and facilitate a policy environment that will support and sustain a more equitable process of globalization.
Accessed on 18 July 2005

http://www.thecoffeeguide.org
The Coffee Guide
The website is an internet version of International Trade Centre’s “Coffee – An Exporter’s Guide”, which was first published in 1992 and completely updated in 2002. Apart from giving data from the book, it offers a question and answer service on coffee trade issues. Site users will be able to read coffee experts’ answers to questions. The service is free of charge and available in English, French and Spanish. The Coffee Guide is written for use by growers, processors, traders, exporters, coffee associations and people engaged in transport, finance, quality control, certification and other related sectors in coffee producing countries.
Accessed on 8 July 2005

http://www.exportersclub.org/index.cfm
The Exporters Club, Malaysia
E-mail: info@exportersclub.org
The Exporters Club was established in June 2002 to provide and facilitate a dynamic platform for Malaysian exporters to promote their products and services to overseas market. It intends to encourage potential business opportunities that are essential to its members. The company’s main activities are export promotion, training, publication, networking, business matching, consultancy, warehousing, internet marketing, participation in trade exhibitions and catalogue shows, organizing selling and buying missions etc.
Accessed on 13 July 2005

http://www.state.gov/e/eb/tpp/
Trade Policy and Programs under Bureau of Economic and Business Affairs, US Department of States
E-mail: ebtpp@state.gov
The two primary goals of the trade policy of the United States of America are to expand access for American exporters to overseas markets, and to ensure that commercial competitors and partners abroad observe fair trade practices. The State Department's Trade Policy and Programs (TPP) division under the Bureau of Economic and Business Affairs actively participates in the policymaking process to ensure that foreign policy goals are fully considered in the formulation of their trade policy. TPP is divided into four offices with responsibility for the diverse aspects of trade policy namely Office of Multilateral Trade Affairs, Office of Bilateral Trade Affairs, Office of Agriculture, Biotechnology and Textile Trade Affairs, and Office of Intellectual Property Enforcement.
Accessed on 21 July 2005

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.