OAS - DED - The Integration of Belize into the Multilateral and Regional Trading System

ABOUT THE COURSE

As a member of the World Trade Organization (WTO) and of CARICOM, Belize is engaged in a liberalization and economic integration process at both the multilateral and regional levels. In order to better prepare the public and private sectors to the challenges stemming from trade negotiations, the University of Belize and the Department of Trade and Tourism of the Organization of American States (OAS) are organizing, with the support of the Canadian International Development Agency (CIDA), the course “The Integration of Belize into the Multilateral and Regional Trading System.” This three-week intensive course will take place in Belize City in September-October 2009.

The course aims at strengthening the effective participation of Belize in the Doha Development Agenda and the upcoming CARICOM trade negotiations, and at enabling the country to draw on the benefits of an open, rules-based trading system. The course will also address the fact that to be effective trade agreements must be implemented (the course will focus on CARIFORUM-EC Economic Partnership Agreement (EPA)), parallel efforts need to be made to take advantage of enhanced market access and investment opportunities. The course will help build trade capacity in Belize’s different ministries, the private sector and civil society.

The unique features of the course include:

the comprehensive examination of the main trade issues under the Doha Development Agenda, CARICOM external negotiations, and the implementation of the CARIFORUM-EC EPA and the Caribbean Single Market and Economy-CSME, ensuring that both the multilateral and regional perspectives are covered;

the inclusion of case studies and practical exercises;

the participation of government officials having direct responsibility for trade issues as well trade specialists from the private sector and civil society, with a view to promoting networking and interface among participants, including through the use of a secure website for alumni;

the holding of the course in the premises of the co-sponsoring academic institution in order to take advantage of the academic resources (library, computer facilities, etc.) accessible on site;

a roster of speakers which draws from the OAS, other international organizations, CARICOM and experts from other regions, academia and Belize; and

the special attention to the needs of smaller economies.

The course is open to candidates who met the following criteria:

they are citizen or permanent resident of Belize, and fluent in English;

they are government officials or officials from regional institutions with responsibilities in trade policy and/or economic integration, or are from Belize’s private sector, civil society and academia with interest in the trade area.

Applications from government officials should be sent to the Ministry of Works with copy to the OAS office in Belize (OASBelize@oas.org). Other applications (private sector, civil society, academia, etc.) should be sent to the OAS office in Belize (OASBelize@oas.org).

Classes will generally be held from 8:30 am to 4:30 pm and will cover the main issues of the trade agenda from both a multilateral and regional perspective, with a special focus on the WTO negotiations (including the Doha Development Agenda) and CARICOM external trade negotiations and integration process. These topics include: the evolution of the multilateral trading system: From the GATT to the WTO; regional trade agreements in the Americas and the CARICOM Single Market and Economy (CSME); trade facilitation; market access, rules of origin, agriculture, sanitary and phytosanitary measures, subsidies, safeguards and antidumping, services; investment; intellectual property; dispute settlement, and small and vulnerable economies.

Lunch will be served to participants on site from 12:30 pm to 1:30 pm.

In order to receive a certificate/diploma for the above-mentioned course, each student will have to prepare a 10-page paper (double space) on a trade and development-related issue, after consultation with the coordinators. Each student will be required to meet with one of the two coordinators during the course. The coordinators will be in touch with each student after the course to help them prepare their paper, which will have to be submitted within six weeks of the end of the course.

Coordinators: Maryse Robert, César Parga, and Theresa Wetter, OAS General Secretariat