Trade Forum Work Program 2003-2005

(timetable)

The PECC Trade Forum will continue to focus on a specific issue such as agriculture, competition, services, and trade facilitation in their relevant contexts, like the WTO, APEC and Regional Trading Arrangements (RTAs) for 2003-2005 cycle. 

At the same time, there is much "unfinished business " relating to RTAs as a systemic issue, and this will continue to be a priority area for the Trade Forum.

The basic objective of the Forum is to produce high quality analysis that will inform policy debates and discussion at both the regional and individual economy level.  Small sub-groups of experts will work on key issues selected for their importance in the development of the global and regional trade frameworks, the priority placed on them by member committees and their relevance to the concerns of business.

The Forum and its task forces will:

• Develop policy position for consideration by APEC and its members

• highlight and clarify key trade policy issues for business

• Engage in domestic and regional policy debates, including by providing an authoritative source of media commentary on trade policy issues

• Contribute to the development of the body of research findings underpinning regional and global trade negotiation

In 2003-2005 the Trade Forum proposes to focus on two sets of issues: RTAs (and other systemic issues) and trade and investment issues.  

The quality of the task force outputs will be assured by peer review at regular task force meetings and by publication in peer-reviewed journals.  The result will then be presented in a range of formats pitched at levels appropriate to target audience in government, business and the wider community.  Engagement with business and official leaders will be a priority.

Interest in joint work with the Forum has been expressed by PBEC and ABAC, and these offers will be accepted and developed as avenues of engagement with the business community and its policy concerns.

The Forum will continue to work with international institutions that have been involved in its work over the last two years, such as World Bank, OECD, WTO, IDB, ADB, OAS, and ECLAC.  The IDB has indicated that sponsorship of sessions at the Trade Forum meetings will again be available in the coming year.

The Trade Forum draws on a network of trade policy specialists from around the region to provide in-depth analysis of key trade policy issues. PECC's tripartite character facilitates the establishment of dialogue with business and government on these issues and enables the Trade Forum to act as a catalyst in the regional policy making process by helping to build a consensus around new policy initiatives.

The Trade Forum established two Task Forces for 2001-2003: 

• Trade and Investment Issues in the WTO and APEC; and 

• Regional Trading Arrangements

Trade Forum Work Program 2003-2005