ISSUE 3/2002

Businesses in developing countries, not just developed ones, have been able to advocate successfully to improve their competitive position in international markets. This article provides real-life examples and a road map to help businesses shape effective advocacy strategies.

Business advocacy on trade - supported by a broadly-based network of business sectors - can raise the level of ambition and achievement in the world trading system.

The second, ongoing round of negotiations for the General Agreement on Trade in Services (GATS) puts exporters around the world in a position to help shape the future of this important sector. However, many service exporters and industry associations do not know where to begin. This article draws on ITC's GATS Consultation Kit to explain why and how service industry associations should communicate with their policy-makers.

Successful negotiations for the Doha Development Agenda depend, to a large degree, on the quality of collaboration between national trade negotiators and political leaders, on the one hand, and business leaders, on the other. In its absence, national trade negotiating strategies cannot serve the business interests of a country. ITC has programmes to help business play its part effectively.

© International Trade Centre, International Trade Forum - Issue 3/2002 World markets for organic fruit and vegetables: Opportunities for developing countries in the production and export of organic horticultural products. 312 pages (Technical Paper) . The publication presents the recent findings of a joint F

What are the main concerns of the business community in developing and transition economies in preparing for current WTO negotiations? How are they making their interests known?Trade Forum asked members of ITC networks for

Barriers to international commerce - particularly technical regulations and sanitary and phytosanitary measures - are a key concern of developing countries. A joint ITC/Commonwealth Secretariat study uncovers what's on the minds of exporters, government and standards experts in six developing countries.

After the World Trade Organization's Fourth Ministerial Conference held in Doha, Qatar in November 2001, delegations in Geneva worked immediately to set in place the machinery for the new trade negotiations. They had no time to lose as ministers have set a three-year deadline - up to 1 January 2005 - to complete the Doha Development Agenda.

While liberalization has opened up world trade to freer competition, there have recently been more national measures blocking market access on the grounds of unfair pricing by exporters. Products such as steel, iron and chemicals from developing countries and transition economies have been increasingly subject to such measures - known as "trade remedy actions". There is a system within WTO to stop governments from abusing these actions, but in any case the consequences are serious for an exporter or a country subjected to such measures. As this article points out, even being charged with dumping carries a heavy penalty in the effort required to set the record straight. So exporters should take care to avoid creating grounds for such actions.