http://ipaper.ipapercms.dk/WTO/En/MAG/RSS.ashxMAG PagesFri, 20 Nov 2009 13:56:59 +0100http://ipaper.ipapercms.dk/WTO/En/MAG/http://ipaper.ipapercms.dk/WTO/En/MAG/?Page=1http://ipaper.ipapercms.dk/WTO/En/MAG/?Page=111 09 mag Photo: © WTO/Jay Louvion (Studio Casagrande) THE WTO ONLINE MAGAZINE Ministerial Conference WTO Public Forum W TO O p en Day E-Learning WTO OMC2009-11-20T13:56:59+01:00http://ipaper.ipapercms.dk/WTO/En/MAG/?Page=2http://ipaper.ipapercms.dk/WTO/En/MAG/?Page=2Editorial 01 Editorial Mr Chiedu Osakwe Director of Accessions Division growth, development and global welfare. It matters very much for American farmers, manufacturers and service providers as it does for African cotton producers. It matters for Asian economies driving global economic recovery and no less Latin American and Caribbean economies wrestling, like all others, with fundamental domestic economic reforms aimed at improving the lives of their citizens. The WTO sits here in the heart of One of the many challenges confronted Europe, at the centre of the most by the WTO as an organization is how successful experiment for global to convey to the global community economic integration. the importance of its work in the daily run of our economies. Do we make a Europe also needs the Doha Round to difference? In any given period, the sustain its integration process and as Centre William Rappard – the building a platform for broader international in which the WTO Secretariat is located cooperation. Everyone needs the and the venue for the meetings of WTO Doha Round, but we are still to Members – is a beehive of endless make it happen. The WTO Directoractivity. So much is going on that General Pascal Lamy has framed the impacts the global community. In this argument succinctly: an ambitious edition of the Online Magazine, there and urgent conclusion of the Round is information on WTO news, trade in 2010 will yield a double dividend negotiations, culture, e-learning and for the international community. The individual interviews. You, the readers, results would provide the equivalent have to help us better communicate of global stimulus, without the side the key messages we are trying to get effects of either trade-distortions or across. Our activities have a global accumulating fiscal deficits. It will impact. The value of this organization also provide a platform for continuing is irreplaceable. If the WTO did not structural reform. You have to help exist, it would have to be created! us drive this message. The voices of international civil servants and trade The big ticket item in this edition policy wonks are not enough. Give is the Seventh WTO Ministerial your “voice” and give us feedback. Conference. In the next fortnight, from 30 November to 2 December Progress has been registered this year 2009, Director-General Pascal Lamy, in several areas. In May and October, as guardian of the multilateral trading two “Geneva Weeks” for Non-Resident system, and Chilean Trade Minister WTO Members and Observers Andrés Velasco, will chair sessions were held. The Public Forum – the of the Conference. This meeting will organization’s engagement with civil review WTO activities, including the society and all stakeholders – took Doha Development Agenda; and place in September. Taken together, the WTO’s contribution to recovery, these continue to provide opportunities growth and development. We must to improve policy transparency, receive not think about the Doha Round in contributions and feedback. They are extraterrestrial terms. It is a very real uniquely innovative means, very much instrument for poverty-reduction, like this online magazine. Several Trade Policy Reviews (TPRs) have taken place. They assist the process of trade openness and integration. The SACU review was completed this month. Evidence from that review indicates economic progress in this region of Africa. WTO Trade Policy Reviews are a useful tool for Members. In September, the city of Geneva (the home to the WTO) confirmed their long-standing welcome of multilateral institutions. They voted by 62% in support for an expanded “home” for the WTO. This act brought much joy and good cheer to WTO staff and Members alike and further strengthened the organization’s bond with the Confederation. The creative initiative of the “WTO Open Day”, to open up every room, office and conference room, for a visit by the host community, contributed to the reduction in misperceptions and posit2009-11-20T13:56:59+01:00http://ipaper.ipapercms.dk/WTO/En/MAG/?Page=3http://ipaper.ipapercms.dk/WTO/En/MAG/?Page=3Table of Contents 02 03 In the WTO WTO News WTO Website 09 Distance Learning WTO E-Learning News WTO E-Learning Registration 11 Zoom On Ministerial Conference A Greener Approach Success Story Culture Interview Africa inspires Made of recycled materials, this sculpture was produced in Kibera (Kenya) and placed on display during the Open Day, 6 September 2009, Geneva.2009-11-20T13:56:59+01:00http://ipaper.ipapercms.dk/WTO/En/MAG/?Page=4http://ipaper.ipapercms.dk/WTO/En/MAG/?Page=4In the WTO 03 WTO News General Council agrees organizational aspects of Ministerial Conference The General Council, on 20 October, agreed to elect Chile’s Trade Minister Andrés Velasco (Chile) as chair of the Seventh WTO Ministerial Conference, which will be held in Geneva on 30 November - 2 December 2009. It also agreed that there will be two Working Sessions to run in parallel to the Plenary Session, with the sub-themes “Review of WTO Activities, Including the Doha Work Programme” and “The WTO’s Contribution to Recovery, Growth and Development”. > Get more information Doha success can yield double dividend of global stimulus and structural reform Director-General Pascal Lamy, in a speech to the German Engineering Federation Summit in Berlin on 13 October 2009, said that: “A successful conclusion of the Doha Round can yield a double dividend. On the one hand, the Doha Round can play the role of a global stimulus package. On the other hand, the Doha Round can act as a structural reform package.” > Get more information Lamy: “Continued policy and regulatory reform in favour of services trade will be vital to supporting economic recovery” Director-General Pascal Lamy, in a speech to the Global Services Summit on 14 October 2009 in Washington D.C., said: “to speed global economic recovery, we will need to shore up peoples’ faith in an open international trading system. We will need to demonstrate that continued policy and regulatory reform in favour of services trade will be vital to supporting economic recovery. Sectors such as transport, telecoms, finance and distribution are after all the backbone of our international trading system. Other sectors such as energy or the environment hold a huge potential, in particular in the fight against climate change.” > Get more information G20 must now “walk the talk” on Doha - Lamy Director-General Pascal Lamy, in his keynote address to the WTO Public Forum on 28 September 2009, said the G20 leaders at their Pittsburgh Summit agreed that “their negotiators now embark on the work programmes that we have established for the next three months, and that they then assess our collective ability to achieve our 2010 target”. > Get more information Lamy calls for “serious acceleration” of Doha talks to meet 2010 target Director-General Pascal Lamy, in his report to the General Council on 20 October 2009, said “it will be difficult to get to 2010 without a serious acceleration of pace. We need to see real negotiations emerge, not only informal consultations and discussions, but real exchanges among Members”. He said he would be holding consultations on the key issues with negotiating chairs and meet with senior trade officials during the week. > Get more information2009-11-20T13:56:59+01:00http://ipaper.ipapercms.dk/WTO/En/MAG/?Page=5http://ipaper.ipapercms.dk/WTO/En/MAG/?Page=5In the WTO 04 Informal employment curbs trade benefits for developing countries A joint study from the International Labour Organization and the WTO has found that high incidence of informal employment in the developing world suppresses countries’ ability to benefit from trade opening by creating poverty traps for workers in job transition. “Trade has contributed to growth and development worldwide. But this has not automatically translated into an improvement in the quality of employment. Trade opening needs proper domestic policies to create good jobs. This is all the more evident with the current crisis which has reduced trade and thrown thousands into informal jobs,” said WTO DirectorGeneral Pascal Lamy. > Get more information Success for WTO’s Open Day Under a late summer sun on Sunday, 6 September 2009, about 5,000 people came to learn more about the World Trade Organization, its work, staff, artistic treasures and its building that is more than 80 years old. “Our volunteers, our members and all WTO staff would like to thank everyone who visited us and made this day a great success. I hope to see you all again next year”, Director-General Pascal Lamy said. > Get more information Civil society discusses better global governance at WTO’s Public Forum The role of the multilateral trading system in the context of the current economic crisis was the central focus of this year’s WTO Public Forum on 28-30 September 2009. Representatives of civil society, academia, governments and the media debated how the international trading system can best provide global answers to the crisis. > Get more information International Trade Statistics The 2009 edition of the WTO’s International Trade Statistics, a comprehensive overview of world trade up to 2008, was published in electronic format on 28 October 2009 and will be available in print in November. > Get more information Trade Policy Reviews Niger and Senegal Further structural reforms would help Niger and Senegal to improve their economic performance, according to a WTO Secretariat report on the countries’ trade policies and practices published on 11 November 2009. > Get more information Zambia From 2003 to mid 2008, Zambia’s economy moved from stagnation towards steady growth, greater prosperity and better access to foreign investment. Real GDP grew at an annual average rate of 5-6% led by the mining, construction and services sectors, according to a WTO Secretariat report on the trade policies and practices of Zambia. > Get more information Botswana, Lesotho, Namibia, south Africa and Swaziland Since the previous review in 2003, SACU members (Botswana, Lesotho, Namibia, South Africa and Swaziland), have collectively expanded at an average annual rate of about 4% in real terms, although this GDP growth has been somewhat erratic mainly reflecting infrastructure and other constraints, according to a WTO Secretariat report on the trade policies and practices of SACU. > Get more information Chile Chile’s trade and investment regime continues to be characterized by openness, transparency, and predictability, and together with sound macroeconomic management, it has contributed to growth and poverty reduction, according to the WTO Secretariat review on the trade policies and practices of Chile. > Get more information2009-11-20T13:56:59+01:00http://ipaper.ipapercms.dk/WTO/En/MAG/?Page=6http://ipaper.ipapercms.dk/WTO/En/MAG/?Page=6In the WTO 05 WTO Website WTO Public Forum The annual WTO Public Forum provides a unique opportunity for governments, non-governmental organizations, business and academia to discuss key issues regarding the multilateral trading system. This year, the WTO welcomed around 1,500 participants to its Public Forum, which was held from 28 to 30 September at the organization’s headquarters in Geneva. The main theme of the Forum was “Global Problems, Global Solutions: Towards Better Global Governance”. The Public Forum offered the possibility for all those involved in the multilateral trading system to debate and reflect upon the post-crisis agenda for the WTO. It confirmed the continuing importance of trade in stimulating the recovery of the world economy, as well as the contribution that a rules-based multilateral trading system provides in global governance. The impact of the global economic crisis on developing countries, in particular the least-developed countries, was also addressed during the Public Forum. The opening session saw a lively debate among WTO Director-General Pascal Lamy, former South African President Thabo Mbeki, Special Envoy on Climate Change for the UN and former Prime Minister of Norway Gro Harlem Brundtland and Uruguayan Senator and former Foreign Minister Sergio Abreu. The session was moderated by Rui Chenggang, a prominent presenter for the Chinese television network China Central Television. “At a time of economic crisis, the civil society contribution is needed more than ever as we come to seek global solutions to global problems” said WTO Director-General Pascal Lamy in the inaugural speech. © WTO/Jay Louvion (Studio Casagrande) The three-day event comprised a total of 44 sessions covering the full spectrum of trade-related issues, ranging from trade finance and unemployment to climate change. Mr Pascal Lamy, WTO Director-General2009-11-20T13:56:59+01:00http://ipaper.ipapercms.dk/WTO/En/MAG/?Page=7http://ipaper.ipapercms.dk/WTO/En/MAG/?Page=7In the WTO 06 Key Facts The annual WTO Public Forum was first launched in 2001. It provides a platform for public debate across a wide range of WTO issues. Over the years, 8,500 representatives from civil society have attended the Public Forum. The sessions are organized by non-governmental organizations, businesses and other international organizations. In front of a full auditorium, the panel assessed the state of play of international governance: what’s in place and what is missing to reach “Better Global Governance”. The need to improve global governance was tackled from diverse angles including the need for a mechanism that ensures coherence amongst international actors and the importance of strong institutions and clear rules as guarantees of global governance and as a means of combating the impact of climate change. © WTO/Jay Louvion (Studio Casagrande) H.E. Mr Thabo Mbeki, former South African President Mr Lamy referred to global governance as a triangle with three sides: leadership, which could be provided by the G 20; capacity to deliver and follow up, which can be found in the expertise, decision-making and intervention capacity of international organizations; and legitimacy and accountability, for which a renewed UN system can serve as a platform. The speakers agreed that the crisis should be seen as an opportunity for redefining global governance and helping the international community renew and carry its agenda forward. The WTO website contains: > the full programme with list of sessions/speakers > audios of each of the 44 sessions > a slideshow of the three days > an introductory film played at the opening session2009-11-20T13:56:59+01:00http://ipaper.ipapercms.dk/WTO/En/MAG/?Page=8http://ipaper.ipapercms.dk/WTO/En/MAG/?Page=8In the WTO 07 WTO Open Day On Sunday 6 September 2009 the World Trade Organization opened its doors to the public for the first time. 1 Pascal Lamy presents a cheque for CHF 17,279 to Julie Schaller, the Director of Païdos, a local charity for disadvantaged children. © WTO/Jay Louvion (Studio Casagrande) © WTO/Jay Louvion (Studio Casagrande) 1 3 2 2 © WTO/Jay Louvion (Studio Casagrande) © WTO/Jay Louvion (Studio Casagrande) On the main terrace, food stands gave a flavour of the worldwide membership of the WTO and provide the opportunity to sample regional specialities. 3 © WTO/Jay Louvion (Studio Casagrande) 4 4 Guided tours of the building revealed the many works of art donated by countries over the years . . while new display areas helped to bring the story of the WTO up to date. 3 Throughout the day, children participated in face painting workshops, entered a drawing contest on the theme “Draw me globalization” and/or “Draw me the WTO”, and played in an inflatable castle. 5 5 A new introductory video on trade and the WTO can be viewed from the WTO website. It was first shown at the Open Day, 6 September 2009. This video looks at the origins of trade and the role of the WTO within the international trading community. The WTO website contains: > Routes of Trade video > WTO Open Day photo gallery2009-11-20T13:56:59+01:00http://ipaper.ipapercms.dk/WTO/En/MAG/?Page=9http://ipaper.ipapercms.dk/WTO/En/MAG/?Page=9In the WTO 08 Regional Agreement database The Regional Trade Agreement Information System (RTA-IS) allows users to search and export available information on any notified RTA according to different selection of criteria (such as year of entry into force, status, region, WTO Member, type of agreement, etc.). It is also possible to consult the list of all RTAs in force, the list of early announcements, pre-defined reports The Regional Trade Agreement and summary tables containing WTO figures on RTAs. The information is presented in the form of an “ID-Card”, which displays all the factual information available on a given agreement. Moreover, there is a useful link to definitions on the composition of the regions, a glossary of RTAs ID-Card terms and a glossary of the main topics covered by the RTAs. Last but not least, there is available a feedback and contact point. The RTA-IS is maintained in the WTO’s three official languages, English, French and Spanish by the Regional Trade Agreement Section in the Trade Policies Review Division of the WTO. > RTA Database Information System (RTA-IS) is a comprehensive database of all RTAs notified to the GATT/WTO. It contains information only on those agreements that have been notified, or for which an early announcement has been made, to the WTO. The information on the content of these agreements reflects the information provided by the parties to the WTO.2009-11-20T13:56:59+01:00http://ipaper.ipapercms.dk/WTO/En/MAG/?Page=10http://ipaper.ipapercms.dk/WTO/En/MAG/?Page=10Distance Learning 09 E-Learning News Latest eTraining sessions NEW: Trade in Services in the WTO This year we have introduced another new course: Trade in Services in the WTO. This is a new advanced course targeted at government officials working on WTO related issues. “Trade in Services in the WTO” provides the participants with a specific understanding of the General Agreement on Trade in Services (GATS). The course covers trade in services and its importance for economic development, scheduling specific commitments, modal structure of the GATS, application of the GATS to individual service sectors, etc. Upcoming sessions in English, French and Spanish. Session 1 - ENGLISH Beginning: 25 January 2010 Session 2 - FRENCH Beginning: 15 February 2010 Session 3 - ENGLISH Beginning: 29 March 2010 Session 4 - SPANISH Beginning: 26 April 2010 The latest Spanish Session started on 2 November 2009 with 423 participants in three courses: Introduction to the WTO, Technical Barriers to Trade in the WTO, and Agriculture in the WTO. The year is coming to an end. but of course we are already thinking about the flight schedule for next year! The first session next year will be in English and will start on 25 January 2010. Please make sure you check our upcoming course schedule on our website: http://etraining.wto.org. We will be happy to welcome you on board! See you online!2009-11-20T13:56:59+01:00http://ipaper.ipapercms.dk/WTO/En/MAG/?Page=11http://ipaper.ipapercms.dk/WTO/En/MAG/?Page=11Distance Learning 10 Registration procedures WTO eTraining organizes various sessions of courses on different WTO issues throughout the year in the three official languages of the WTO: English, French and Spanish. WTO eTraining courses are open for government officials from developing countries and economies in transition, who have either WTO Member or Observer status. Governments are invited to nominate several candidates. Registration for eTraining courses is easy. It is a two-track process. To register, two forms need to be filled in and submitted: ONLINE FORM Interested officials should register online first. After completion of the online registration form (available at: http://etraining.wto.org at “course catalog”), the system will generate a registration number, which you will need to fill in the Nomination Form. Please find the online form at: http://etraining.wto.org 01 02 NOMINATION FORM The registration number will be required. The participation of each candidate should be confirmed by the responsible government authorities. The Nomination Form is sent attached to the Invitation Letter and is also available at the eTraining website in the “Course Catalog” section. Please send the completed nomination form either by email (scanned) to etraining.registration@wto.org or by fax to +41 22 739 5191. After the completed registration of the candidate, the WTO Selection Committee will evaluate each candidature. The committee will consider the following criteria among others: completion of all the elements of the registration procedure, a wide geographical coverage, first come first served basis, availability of internal resources, such as tutors or trainers. Accepted participants will receive their Usernames and Password to access the respective course by email approximately 7-10 days before the start of the course. Candidates can participate only in one course per Session. Successful completion of WTO eTraining courses may be used as pre-requisites for participation in further WTO activities. > eTraining website2009-11-20T13:56:59+01:00http://ipaper.ipapercms.dk/WTO/En/MAG/?Page=12http://ipaper.ipapercms.dk/WTO/En/MAG/?Page=12Zoom on 11 Focus on 7th Ministerial Conference Geneva, 2009 Preparations are underway for the Seventh Ministerial Conference of the WTO, to be held in Geneva from 30 November to 2 December 2009. These conferences are usually held at least once every two years. However the latest was held in Hong Kong in 2005. GENEVA The general theme for discussion will be “The WTO, the multilateral trading system and the current global economic environment”. In addition, there will be two working sessions aimed at providing an interactive forum for ministers under two broad sub-themes: “Review of WTO activities, including the Doha Work Programme” and “The WTO’s contribution to recovery, growth and development.” Besides ensuring that delegates have everything they need to conduct their work, the WTO organizing team will also set up NGO and Media centres within or in the vicinity of the Conference venue. Both will provide the opportunity for information gathering and briefing sessions throughout the three days. To stay informed about MC7, check out the WTO website: > Seventh WTO Ministerial Conference WTO Ministerials usually attract large crowds. This has been the case for all our Ministerials. The Seventh Conference is a different gathering, because it is not about negotiations but instead, will focus on WTO’s regular activities. The Chair of the General Council, Ambassador Matus of Chile, who is piloting the preparatory process for the Seventh Ministerial has promoted the “FIT” principle of Full participation, Inclusiveness, and Transparency. This principle will apply to the Ministerial Conference itself as well as to its preparation.2009-11-20T13:56:59+01:00http://ipaper.ipapercms.dk/WTO/En/MAG/?Page=13http://ipaper.ipapercms.dk/WTO/En/MAG/?Page=13Zoom on 12 A Greener Approach 4,000,000 pages . In addition, last-minute documents will be posted immediately in Hot off the Press on the Members’ website. For those delegations that do not have offices in Geneva, provision will be made for a dedicated working area equipped with computers and printers at the CICG as well as Wi-Fi connections to facilitate the use of portable electronic equipment to consult documents. Documentation issued in advance of the Conference will be made available to Delegations in the usual manner, including at the WTO headquarters. The official records of the Plenary as well as the Working Sessions will be made available after the meetings as official WTO documents in all three official languages as per normal practice. . 4,000,000 pages represent the documents circulated during previous Ministerial Conferences. In line with the aim to achieve a leaner and more cost-effective Ministerial Conference at the International Conference Centre Geneva (CICG) from 30 November to 2 December, a series of measures will be introduced to ensure an environmentally greener and ecologically more responsible meeting. This is a real opportunity to reduce the use of paper and avoid a waste of resources, thus contributing to a greener approach for WTO’s activities. During the Conference, documents will be made available through the on-line documentation service (Documents online) and through a Ministerial Conference gateway on the WTO’s website (www.wto.org), which will also feature podcasts and webcasting of ministerial statements as well as press briefings. In adopting this greener approach to the 7th Ministerial Conference, WTO Members will be sending a signal of environmental and financial responsibility to the world and delegations are thanked in advance for their cooperation and understanding. During the Conference, it is expected that the volume of documents distributed will be considerably less than at past conferences. The WTO website contains: > A Greener Approach > Information for delegations > Seventh WTO Ministerial Conference2009-11-20T13:56:59+01:00http://ipaper.ipapercms.dk/WTO/En/MAG/?Page=14http://ipaper.ipapercms.dk/WTO/En/MAG/?Page=14Zoom on 13 PROFILE Ms Elisa Frías has represented the Government of the Dominican Republic at the WTO and provided technical support to Venezuela’s delegation to the Organization. Ms Frías has worked in the area of international trade for seven years. She tells us how WTO eTraining courses have contributed to her professional development. She has participated in e-courses on corrective trade measures, agriculture, and technical barriers to trade, among other national and regional seminars organized by the WTO. In the near future, Ms Frías plans to further her professional development in this field. Her latest challenge is to provide international trade consultancy services in her home country, the Dominican Republic. She is planning to share expertise acquired at the WTO to help the private, public and civil sectors by providing consultancy services or conducting some other form of activity. Success story2009-11-20T13:56:59+01:00http://ipaper.ipapercms.dk/WTO/En/MAG/?Page=15http://ipaper.ipapercms.dk/WTO/En/MAG/?Page=15Zoom on 14 Interview Elisa Frías WTO MAG: How was your experience with WTO eTraining? “In Geneva, I have had the opportunity to work directly on a number of issues, such as sanitary and phytosanitary measures, technical barriers to trade, WTO rules, agriculture, industrial goods, and trade and development, among others.“ Elisa Frías: The WTO online courses have helped to broaden and clarify my basic knowledge of the Uruguay Round agreements, which are of vital importance when analysing the Doha Round negotiations and the Members’ positions. I think that the courses were very useful as they helped me to understand and explore the links between certain WTO topics. To give a very personal example, they helped me to understand and explore the links between a proposal on perishable agricultural goods and the agreements on Anti-dumping and Subsidies and Countervailing Measures. In general, I find the courses are well designed. Not only is the website very interactive and user friendly but the provided service is also good. I once ran into some problems but my request was immediately acknowledged and the problem resolved by the course administrator. How do eTraining courses contribute to understanding the negotiations? I think the courses can help people who are far away - in capitals or Embassies, for instance - to understand the basis of what is happening here in Geneva and in the Doha Round Negotiations. They can be very useful for improving one’s knowledge of the WTO agreements with a view to correcting imbalances and making improvements. Learning about the agreements awakens curiosity and helps improve understanding regarding not only why the Doha Round was launched but also the negotiating positions currently on the table. Tell us about your professional career here in Geneva. A number of things have made my time at the WTO an excellent experience: the opportunity to interact with 153 nationalities, both delegation members and WTO Secretariat staff, to attend lectures given by Nobel economic prize winners, and to be involved in technical assistance through online courses. By far the most exciting thing for me has been participating in the negotiations and obtaining decisions in favour of the developing countries. My most challenging moments have been the senior officials’ meetings held in Geneva to move the Doha negotiations forward. These meetings require more concentration, bilateral sessions, and the preparation of matrices and position papers. It is great to take part in the dynamics of the negotiations! Imagine that you are a lecturer in foreign trade and are trying to teach your students about what happens here during a round of negotiations. Very briefly, what would you tell them? How would you describe multilateral negotiations in which all the countries involved are trying to reach an agreement? I would tell them that it was like a special sort of obstacle race in which all the runners have to reach the finishing line at the same time. To do this, however, the runners have to jump a number of hurdles, which requires them to train (agree on a national negotiating position), confer with their trainers (capital-based authorities) and fellow runners (all other WTO members) throughout the course of the race, and occasionally form teams (informal alliances). Elisa started her professional career at 21 years old when she joined the Vice Ministry of Trade Negotiations of the Dominican Ministry of Foreign Affairs. There, she worked on bilateral, regional and above all multilateral issues. After this, she worked mainly for the Multilateral Affairs Division and once she completed the WTO Trade Policy Course, she was transferred to Geneva. She tells us how her use of eTraining courses helped her to better understand the negotiations.2009-11-20T13:56:59+01:00http://ipaper.ipapercms.dk/WTO/En/MAG/?Page=16http://ipaper.ipapercms.dk/WTO/En/MAG/?Page=16Zoom on 15 Culture Ghosts at the WTO “. my place of work is to my eyes more like Isabel Allende’s house of the spirits. Ghosts wandering through the endless corridors, taking a nervous break in the Salle des Pas-Perdus, assisting circumspect delegates in a meeting room, pacing up and down the park under the colossal plane trees, sometimes shouting at each other, hiding their frustrations, or laughing with friends on the sunny terrace. .” Extract form Ghosts in the Centre William Rappard by Edmundo Murray, WTO > Access to the complete article © WTO Inauguration of the headquarters, 1926 The building was officially named the Centre William Rappard in 1977. William Rappard (1887 – 1958) was recognized in his time as a leading internationalist, occupying senior positions in the League of Nations and in Swiss diplomacy. > WTO building During construction, 1925 Key dates 1785 1923 1926 1977 1995 Original Villa Rappard built (now a school) Swiss architect Georges Épitaux commissioned to design new ILO headquarters Inauguration of the ILO building GATT moves to renamed Centre William Rappard (shares with UN High Commissioner for Refugees and Graduate Institute of International Studies’ library) World Trade Organization replaces GATT, becomes main occupant of CWR Photos: © ILO historical photo archives The main building was constructed on an estate which was gradually formed by the union of a number of plots of land between 1755 and 1893. In 1785, construction began on the Villa Rappard, the house that still stands next to the main WTO building and today houses a Montessori school.2009-11-20T13:56:59+01:00http://ipaper.ipapercms.dk/WTO/En/MAG/?Page=17http://ipaper.ipapercms.dk/WTO/En/MAG/?Page=17Zoom on 16 WTO organizes “Geneva Weeks” for non-resident delegations These special week-long events bring together representatives of WTO member countries who do not have permanent missions in Geneva and therefore cover WTO matters from other European capitals or from their capitals. The purpose is to inform these member countries and observers about recent developments taking place at the WTO. The 19th Geneva Week for Non-Resident Members and Observers was held at the WTO from 26 to 30 October 2009. Geneva Week participants met with the WTO’s Director-General and the Chairpersons of the various negotiating groups to receive updates on the state of play of the Doha Development Agenda negotiations and other WTO activities. Key areas of the negotiations were discussed, including agriculture, non-agricultural market access (NAMA), services, trade and development issues, rules and trade facilitation. Participants took part in a roundtable discussion on fisheries subsidies, a NAMA scheduling workshop and were briefed on the preparations underway for the WTO’s upcoming 7th Ministerial Conference. > 19th Geneva week © WTO2009-11-20T13:56:59+01:00http://ipaper.ipapercms.dk/WTO/En/MAG/?Page=18http://ipaper.ipapercms.dk/WTO/En/MAG/?Page=18Zoom on 17 “6 Questions to .“ Matthew Baker WTO Head Librarian Profile Matthew was born in Connecticut, USA in 1973, and grew up in Michigan. He has an MLIS (Master of Library and Information Science) from McGill University, an MSc in the history of international relations from London School of Economics, and a BA in history and political science from Western Michigan University. Prior to becoming a librarian, he worked as a journalist covering the financial markets in London. He also worked on a project to control the spread of invasive marine species through ships’ ballast water at the International Maritime Organization. Since becoming a librarian, he has worked in a knowledge management team at Canada Health Infoway, which was set up to create electronic health records compatible across all Canadian provinces. He spent three years as head of technical services at the Library of the UN Economic Commission for Africa in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia, before joining the WTO in January 2007. He is married with two children, Chloé, aged 5 and Estelle, aged 2. He enjoys travelling, reading, music, cooking, and spending time with his family. WTO MAG: How would you explain your work in the WTO to a child? Matthew Baker: I think a library is something that most children would understand in the first place, at least I hope. I live across the street from a library, so I use that as an example when I explain my work to my own children. I think they imagine me working in the children’s section. If I were to explain my work to the children’s parents, I’m responsible for the Library, which is divided into three sections: the main library, a statistics section and an official document section. The Library is also part of a larger team called Information Management Services, which includes the Official Documents and Records (including the Central Repository and Registry), Archives, and Information Systems sections. The Library and Information Management Services work for the better access and management of the information resources available to the organization.2009-11-20T13:56:59+01:00http://ipaper.ipapercms.dk/WTO/En/MAG/?Page=19http://ipaper.ipapercms.dk/WTO/En/MAG/?Page=19Zoom on 18 What was so far your best experience in the WTO? I think my best experience so far with the WTO would probably be the Open Day. This was a very impressive experience, especially seeing the appreciation the Geneva community showed to the organization and their interest in the art and other aspects of the building The Library was open during the event, and we counted over 3,000 visitors, between individuals and tour groups. There was an exhibition of historical documents in the Library, which was a good opportunity for the Information Management Services, our larger section, to further combine its efforts and present itself to the public. It was also a good opportunity to learn about the history of our Library, which proved to be useful since we had a lot of questions on this subject. One visitor even wanted to take home the chandeliers!!! And your worst? I would say the sudden and tragic death of our colleague Yann Koopman. This is the sort of thing that puts everything else in our life and work into perspective. What kind of pupil were you at school? I always had intense interests as a student, particularly in history and music. When I was 16 my plan was to become a musician, but I didn’t pursue this when I was 18 and it came time to decide what I really wanted to do. What is (are) your favourite book(s)? Your favourite(s) movie(s)? I enjoy books about history, particularly covering ancient civilizations, or those that take you on a journey outside your everyday life. I tend to read several books in parallel. I usually have three or four books by my bed, which I read in turn according to my mood. I’m currently reading one called The Book of Laughter and Forgetting by Milan Kundera, and another one about Shakespeare by Bill Bryson. I’m trying to learn Spanish, so I’m reading the Lola Lago series, which I would recommend to any Spanish student (below a certain level). I unfortunately haven’t seen as many movies I would like to lately since I have small children. I would always find time to go see a new Woody Allen film, for example. The movie which probably had the greatest impact on me was Star Wars when I was five, which changed my life at that point. I haven’t seen anything since which has had quite the same impact. With whom in the WTO would you like to exchange jobs for a month? If I were to exchange jobs for a month, I would probably be interested in seeing how the Trade and Environment Division works. This is a particularly pressing issue, from a trade perspective but also from many other angles. For example, we in the Library are often faced with the choice between purchasing print and online materials, such as periodicals or e-books, which need to be considered both from the standpoint of usability and eventually on their environmental impact. Many staff have indicated to us that they would be happy reading articles on-screen, but would print materials of a longer length or information they need to read in detail. This needs to be weighed as we transfer much of our collection online, and it would be interesting to work closer to the subject area to learn more.2009-11-20T13:56:59+01:00http://ipaper.ipapercms.dk/WTO/En/MAG/?Page=20http://ipaper.ipapercms.dk/WTO/En/MAG/?Page=20Contact 19 WTO World Trade Organization Centre William Rappard, Rue de Lausanne 154, CH-1211 Geneva 21, Switzerland Information and External Relations Division enquiries@wto.org E-Learning Unit, ITTC etraining@wto.org2009-11-20T13:56:59+01:00