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2006/SOM1/CTI/FTA-RTA/001

Agenda

Submitted by: Viet Nam

/ APEC Workshop on Best Practices in Trade Policy for RTAs/FTAs: Practical Lessons and Experiences for Developing Economies
Ha Noi, Viet Nam
27 February-1 March 2006

APEC WORKSHOP ON BEST PRACTICES IN TRADE POLICY FOR RTAs/FTAs: PRACTICAL LESSONS AND EXPERIENCES FOR DEVELOPING ECONOMIES

(27 February-1 March 2006

Horison Hotel, 40 Cat Linh Street, Ha Noi, Viet Nam)

AGENDA

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Day 1: 27 February 2006

Morning Session

08:30 - 09:00:Registration of participants

Moderator: Mr. TRAN Quoc Khanh, Director General, Multilateral Trade Policy Deparment, Ministry of Trade of Viet Nam.

09:00 - 09:15:Welcoming remarks by H.E. Mr. LUONG Van Tu, Deputy Minister, Ministry of Trade of Viet Nam

(Doc. Number 002)

09:15 - 10:00:“WTO Rules on RTAs/FTAs from Perspective of Developing Countries”

(Doc. Number 003)

Speaker:Prof. Robert Scollay, Coordinator of the Pacific Economic Cooperation Council (PECC); Associate Professor of the APEC Study Centre at the University of Auckland

10:00 - 10:15:Qs & As Session.

10:15 - 10:30:Coffee Break.

10:30 - 11:30“Methodologies for RTA/FTA Feasibility Studies”

(Doc. Number 004)

Speaker:Prof. Robert Scollay, Coordinator of the Pacific Economic Cooperation Council (PECC); Associate Professor of the APEC Study Centre at the University of Auckland

11:30: - 12:00Qs & As Session.

12:00 - 13:30Lunch Break

Afternoon Session

Moderator: Prof. Robert Scollay

TRADE IN GOODS

13:30 - 14:15“The Origin of Goods- Rule of Origin in Regional Trade Agreements”

(Doc. Number 005)

Speaker:Mr. Antoni Estevadeordal, Principal Advisor, Integration and Regional Programs Department, Inter-American Development Bank, Washington, DC

14:15 - 14:30Qs and As Session

14:30 - 14:45Coffee Break

14:45 - 15:30:“Legal Frameworks for North-South RTAs under the WTO System”

(Doc. Number 006)

Speaker:Ms. Akiko Yanai, Regional Integration Studies Group, Institute of Developing Economies (IDE), 3-2-2 Wakaba, Mihama-ku, Chiba, Japan

15:30 - 15:45Qs and As Session

15:45 - 16:30:“Rules of Origin: Implementing Change-New Zealand Experience”

(Doc. Number 007)

Speaker:Mr. Kit Kickey, Customs Authority of New Zealand

16:30 - 16:45Qs & As Session

End of day 1

Evening Activities

18:30 - 20:00Mr. TRAN Quoc Khanh, Director General, Multilateral Trade Policy Deparment, Ministry of Trade of Viet Nam.

Venue:The Ha Noi Horison Hotel, 40 Cat Linh Street.

All speakers and participants are warmly welcome to attend.

Dress code:Smart casual.

Day 2: 28 February 2006

Morning Session

Moderator: Mr. Antoni Estevadeordal

09:00 - 09:30“Briefing and overall assessment of RTAs/FTAs cooperation in APEC so far. CTI’s workplan on RTAs/FTAs for 2006”.

(Doc. Number 008)

Speaker:Mr. Chris DeCure, CTI Chair of APEC.

09:30 - 09:45Qs & As Session

TRADE IN SERVICES AND INVESTMENT

09:45 - 10:30:“Models for Services Negotiation in RTA/FTA: Options for Developing Countries”

(Doc. Number 009)

Speaker:Mr. BUI Huy Son, Senior Economic Researcher, Viet Nam

10:30 - 10:45:Qs & As Session

10:45 - 11:00Coffee break

11:00 - 12:00“Services Liberalization by APEC Member Economies”

(Doc. Number 010)

Speaker:Dr. Sherry Stephenson,

Coordinator, Services Expert Group, PECC Trade Forum
Director, Department of Trade, Tourism and Competitiveness
Organization of American States (OAS)

12:00 - 12: 15Qs & As Session

12:15 - 14:00Lunch break

Afternoon Session

Moderator: Prof. Robert Scollay

14:00 - 14:45“Negotiation of an Investment liberalization agreement under an RTA/FTA”

(Doc. Number 011)

Speaker:Ms. Jane Drake-Brockman, Managing Director, Trade and Environment Solutions, Executive Director, Australian Services Roundtable

14:45 - 15:00Qs & As Session

OTHER SPECIFIC RULES

15:00 - 15:45“Labour Movement and International Trade”

(Doc. Number 012)

Speaker:Mr. Roman Grynberg

Adviser & Head, Economic Affairs Division - International Trade & Regional Co-operation Section, Commonwealth Secretariat

15:45 - 16:00Qs & As Session

16:00 - 16:15Coffee Break

16:15 - 16:45:“Labour Standards in US and EU Preferential Trading Arrangements "

(Doc. Number 013)

Speaker:Ms Qalo Veniana, Commonwealth Secretariat

16:45 - 17:00Qs & As Session

End of day 2

Day 3: 01 March 2006

Morning session

Afternoon Session

Moderator: Mr. Roman Grynberg

09:00 - 09:45:“The treatment of agriculture in regional trade agreements”

(Doc. Number 014)

Speaker: Dr.. Sherry Stephenson

Coordinator, Services Expert Group, PECC Trade Forum
Director, Department of Trade, Tourism and Competitiveness
Organization of American States (OAS)

09:45 - 10:00:Qs & As Session

10:00 - 10:15:Coffee Break

FTAs/RTA STORIES FROM SPECIFIC COUNTRY’S PERSPECTIVES

10:15 - 10:45:“Lessons and Experiences of Mexico in dealing with issues emerging from RTAs/FTAs participation”

(Doc. Number 015)

Speaker:Mr. José Guadalupe Sáenz Solís

Director General for Trade Policy

Ministry of Economy, Mexico

10:45 - 11:15:“Lessons and Experiences of Australia in dealing with issues

emerging from RTAs/FTAs participation”

(Doc. Number 016)

Speaker:Ms. Jane Drake-Brockman, Managing Director, Trade and Environment Solutions, Executive Director, Australian Services Roundtable.

11:15 - 11:45:“Vietnam’s participation in ASEAN Free Trade Area: Lessons and Experiences”

(Doc. Number 017)

Speaker:Mr. BUI Huy Son, Senior Economic Researcher, Viet Nam

11:45 - 12:00:Qs & As Session

12:00 - 12:30“Free Trade and Customs Union Agreements: Experience of the Russian Federation”

(Doc. Number 018)

12:30-12.45Conclusions and closing remarks by Viet Nam

Mr. TRAN Quoc Khanh, Director General, Multilateral Trade Policy Deparment, Ministry of Trade of Viet Nam.

(Doc. Number 019)

12:45:Lunch

END OF THE FTAs WORKSHOP

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