http://www.ecipe.org daily 1 2007-03-23T17:43:13Z http://www.ecipe.org/ecipe-lunch-seminar-regulatory-divergences-as-trade-barriers-what-are-the-options-for-future-trade-policy-on-services Mutual recognition and harmonisation have been instrumental for regional market integration, including the Single Market. As common regulations in different economic areas deepen and become increasingly more complex, regulatory divergences between the East and West also create barriers to trade. Standards and requirements can also used as a tool for industrial policy and protectionism. No publisher karl 2012-02-02T12:16:01Z Event http://www.ecipe.org/ecipe-lunch-seminar-china-leviathan-under-challenge The perception on China has changed among European countries. In the event of aglobal economic crisis, the country would be seen more as a potential financial paymaster rather than disruptive pupil. Yet, there are many challenges ahead for China. Economic pressures are building up, especially in the construction and real estate sectors. Growth is certainly moderating, and some observerswarn of a hard landing for China in the next few years. China’s traditional model for growth is certainly becoming exhausted. And to these economic challenges should also be added political ones. There are increasing pressures on permitting a more open public debate. China’s role in global and regional security policy has been growing rapidly, but it is still not clear exactly what China wants to use its power for, other than securing access to raw materials. A change of such policies may not be possible without challenging the sacred principals for China’s ruling party. No publisher karl 2012-01-19T15:09:27Z Event http://www.ecipe.org/archived-events/ecipe-seminar-what-can-be-learnt-from-past-experiences-of-european-industrial-policies Is Europe again flirting with an activist industrial policy as model for increased competitiveness? Events in the last few years suggest that the trend towards a non-interventionist industrial policy may have come to a halt. The financial crisis of 2008-09 and the severe recession that followed prompted governments to give financial support to industries, which had been hard hit by falling demand. These interventions were in response to exceptional events, but seemed to indicate a greater willingness on the part of governments to support industries or companies that were deemed to be too important to fail. Will this trend continue – and what can new efforts to design industrial policies learn from Europe’s past experience in that field? No publisher karl 2012-01-19T15:09:22Z Event http://www.ecipe.org/archived-events/ecipe-gem-lunch-seminar-free-trade-agreements-in-asia-and-the-pacific-2013-where-to-now The number of bilateral free trade agreements involving economies in East Asia has surged. Yet their utilisation remains relatively low. In the context of the so-called 'noodle bowl' of agreements and its effects on business costs, of slow progress in the WTO, and of the greater focus on barriers to international business which operate 'behind the border', economies in the region are now looking for new paths to integration. These include the Trans-PacificPartnership (TPP) and also arrangements with ASEAN at their centre. What are the prospects of these different paths, how do they sit alongside existing regional institutions like APEC and also the WTO process, and what are the implications for trade and investment? These questions are discussed in this talk. Some implications for and opportunities for cooperation with the EU will also be noted. No publisher karl 2011-11-23T08:35:50Z Event http://www.ecipe.org/archived-events/the-digital-economy-after-doha In our series of seminars ahead of the WTO Ministerial Conference in December, we look at the WTO IT Agreement, a sector agreement that many consider as the template for future work in the WTO. No publisher karl Trade, IT and the Internet World Trade Organisation 2011-11-13T17:11:32Z Event http://www.ecipe.org/archived-events/invitation-to-a-lunch-seminar-are-sectoral-agreements-a-way-forward-for-the-wto-the-case-of-chemicals The Trade Ministers summit in Geneva in December is unlikely to give a boost to trade negotiations at the World Trade Organisation. The Doha Round of trade negotiations, which soon will celebrate its tenth anniversary, has been off track for years. Ministers will come to Geneva armed with statements declaring their affection to multilateralism, but they have no intent of doing actual negotiation and probably harbour little hope that negotiations in the Round can be revived. No publisher karl World Trade Organisation 2011-09-29T09:13:52Z Event http://www.ecipe.org/archived-events/invitation-to-a-roundtable-is-there-a-case-for-a-transatlantic-investment-treaty Investment policy in the European Union is about to become centralized and member states are currently debating the shape and design of Europe’s new investment policy. Is it also time now to consider a Bilateral Investment Treaty (BIT) between the EU and the United States? The EU has already set out investment agendas in negotiations over bilateral trade agreements (e.g. with Canada), and at some point in the future it will need to decide a way forward for BIT negotiations with many other countries. What would be the conditions for a good BIT between Europe and the United States? No publisher karl 2011-10-09T14:13:12Z Event http://www.ecipe.org/archived-events/so-now-what-can-negotiations-at-the-world-trade-organisation-be-revived In December Trade Ministers will gather in Geneva for a summit at the World Trade Organisation. It is already clear that the meeting will offer next to nothing for the Doha Round of trade negotiations, which soon will celebrate its tenth anniversary. Ministers will come to Geneva armed with statements declaring their affection to multilateralism, but they have no intent of doing actual negotiation and probably harbour little hope that negotiations in the Round can be revived. No publisher karl World Trade Organisation 2011-10-06T14:44:27Z Event http://www.ecipe.org/archived-events/internet-and-human-rights-lecture-by-the-un-special-rapporteur-on-the-promotion-and-protection-of-the-right-to-freedom-of-opinion-and-expression-mr-frank-la-rue Few question today the unique and transformative role of the Internet. It has helped to spread the world's knowledge and wealth to an unprecedented number of people. The Internet has also played a key role in helping them claim their human rights, as we have witnessed during the Arab Spring. The Internet has empowered people and changed world affairs - but it has also raised anxieties over public safety, intellectual property and geopolitics - that have lead some governments to restrict access and expression, or impose unprecedented liabilities. No publisher karl 2011-09-13T12:29:27Z Event http://www.ecipe.org/archived-events/re-modelling-the-ita-for-the-digital-economy The IT Agreement in the WTO remains one of the organisation's greatest achievements as well as disappointments. Since its conception in 1996, we have seen ever faster cycles of innovation and product convergences, the internet, and the rise of China, India and the emerging economies in the ICT supply chains and services trade. No publisher karl Trade in Services Trade, IT and the Internet World Trade Organisation 2011-11-17T07:28:22Z Event http://www.ecipe.org/archived-events/the-end-of-euro-dollar-supremacy-will-the-renminbi-become-the-global-currency Is China’s magnificent rise in the world economy increasing the appetite in Beijing to establish the Chinese currency, the Renminbi (RMB), as the leading world currency? China is advancing RMB internationalisation and increasingly takes away restrictions against using the currency for trade and current account transactions. Yet restrictions have not been lifted for all transactions – and capital account liberalisation, including a move to free convertibility, remains a highly charged issue in China. No publisher karl 2011-05-30T18:07:36Z Event http://www.ecipe.org/archived-events/so-now-what-the-politics-of-trade-and-global-leadership Yet another attempt to conclude the Doha Round has fizzled out and increasingly frustrated political leaders are now asking serious questions about the Round’s future, if indeed there is one. High-level commitments from G20 summits have not helped to form a better environment for a new global trade agreement – and, overall, the spirit of decisive global economic cooperation at the G20 during the crisis appears to have waned. What are the next steps for global economic leadership – especially for the World Trade Organisation? You are cordially invited to a conference on the politics of trade and global leadership with a panel of seasoned experts and officials. No publisher karl 2011-05-11T18:45:04Z Event http://www.ecipe.org/archived-events/reforming-intellectual-property-rights-in-europe Passions run high as the European Union is about to overhaul its policy for the protection of intellectual property. In a recent proposal the European Commission has signaled how it wants to reform parts of its IPR policy, and selected members of the EU has launched a new initiative to establish a new system for patents in Europe. Are these initiatives on the right track? Have priority been given to areas which need reform? No publisher karl 2011-05-31T08:31:50Z Event http://www.ecipe.org/archived-events/whats-next-for-foreign-and-economic-relations-with-china The LSE, International Trade Policy Unit, and the ECIPE, would like to cordially invite you to a forthcoming Discussion Forum. No publisher karl 2011-06-07T07:01:33Z Event http://www.ecipe.org/archived-events/is-green-protectionism-becoming-a-real-threat The economic crisis triggered concerns about the return of protectionism in the world economy. But has not protectionism resurfaced in the western world - although in a different form - and become a respectable view as long as it is dressed up as an environmental regulation? Green protectionism is a phenomenon where discriminatory or outright protectionist policies are added to an environmental policy, often without there being a clear rationale for using discrimination to achieve an environmental objective. The question is: has green protectionism become a big problem for the world economy? No publisher karl 2011-05-12T08:10:07Z Event