The World Trade Organization (WTO) has organized the first ever advanced course for policy makers from developing countries, to develop nations' knowledge of trade regime issues and environmental policies.

The two week course, which began on April 16, brings together decision makers from 26 developing countries. Participants were selected from a list of nominated government officials currently involved in trade and/or environment work in their country.

During the two week programme, the WTO said there would be a series of lectures, interactive discussions and simulation exercises on linkages between trade and environment policies, where participants could learn more about relevant WTO disciplines and case law, environmental technologies and services, environmental requirements and market access, including forestry standards and carbon labelling.

As part of its programme to support the development of the least advanced nations, the course is to also focus on issues relating to climate change and trade as well as the green economy.

The WTO regularly organizes training activities on trade and environment for developing countries. In the last two years, three regional workshops have taken place in Asia, Africa (French-speaking African countries) and Latin America. The main objective of these workshops is to provide in-depth training on trade and environment, to provide an opportunity for information exchange on key issues, and to facilitate more effective participation of developing countries in WTO work on trade and the environment.

According to the WTO, of the 48 poorest nations to feature on the United Nations list of designated countries which benefit from trade concessions, 31 are WTO members, requiring them to maintain regimes compliant with international trade law. In sum, these nations account for 12% of the world's population, but account for less than 2% of global gross domestic product and 1% of global trade in products.

April 23, 2012

Source: Tax News

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