The round table discussion will try to assess the current state of play in the aftermath of Cancún. It will also consider regionalism and bilateralism by reviewing existing, prevailing and pending regional trade arrangements and bilateral trade agreements as well as bilateral investment treaties. The round table will review whether such arrangements promote or detract from the goals of the multilateral trading system.

The discussion will explore how the international community, including the developed countries, the Bretton Wood institutions and the UN system, can contribute to achieving a sustainable multilateral trading system, with particular reference to regional perspectives. What can the regional commissions do, by themselves and together, to put the multilateral trade negotiations back on track? In addition, how can the regional commissions contribute to regional integration in a manner that would be consistent with and contribute to the multilateral trading system, while ensuring that such integration is conducive to countries&apo; economic development, in particular that of least developed countries and other marginalized countries (i.e. land-locked and sea-locked countries and countries with economies in transition). What can the regional commissions do to address prevailing regional concerns effectively?

Particpants:

• Ms. Brigita Schmognerova, Executive Secretary of the Economic Commission for Europe (ECE)
• Mr. Kim Hak-Su, Executive Secretary of Economic and Social Commission for Asia and the Pacific (ESCAP)
• Mr. Jose Luis Machinea, Executive Secretary of the Economic Commission for Latin America and the Caribbean (ECLAC)
• Mr. K. Y. Amoako, Executive Secretary of the Economic Commission for Africa (ECA)
• Ms. Mervat Tallawy, Executive Secretary of the Economic and Social Commission for Western Asia (ESCWA)

Quick links: | ECA | ECLAC | ESCAP | ESCWA | UNECE |