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WTO Capacity Building Group

  

The APEC forum is built on the fundamental principles of strengthening the multilateral trading system, non-discrimination, predictability, stability and transparency. It is supportive of trade-related developments which are essential for the progress of developed and developing economies. The WTO Capacity Building Group (WCBG) supports APEC activities to enhance members' ability to implement the Uruguay Round (UR) outcomes, by promoting opportunities for training and an exchange of views on acute issues relating to the Doha Development Agenda.

After the setback of the WTO Ministerial Conference in Cancun, the main task of the world community has been to reinvigorate trade negotiations and provide new impetus to the Geneva talks. At the same time, the role of trade capacity building to strengthen institutional skills and knowledge in order to formulate and implement sound trade policies and to participate effectively in regional and international institutions, has increased tremendously. The WCBG recognises that capacity building needs have significantly increased and that these needs have to be given appropriate priority.

 Latest Developments
The 10th Meeting of the WTO Capacity Building Group was held in Ho Chi Minh City, Viet Nam, on May 24, 2006.

To improve WTO capacity building activities, the WCBG has worked towards performing an evaluation of APEC's past WTO capacity building projects and extracting lessons learned. The evaluation has been performed by an independent expert from UNCTAD, who utilizes existing evaluation methodologies within APEC, particularly the work of the APEC Small Group on Evaluation. The results of this evaluation and its recommendations are expected to help APEC target and administer WTO capacity building assistance better.

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Key Deliverables for 2006
Events include:
  • Training Course on Multi-Stakeholder Trade Policy Consultations (22-24 March 2006, Da Nang, Viet Nam)
  • Evaluation of APEC's Past WTO Capacity Building Activities (Phase Two)

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Brief History
In May 1999 CTI decided to realign its work to enable substantive work on Uruguay Round (UR) implementation to be carried out in more effective way. An Implementation of WTO (earlier UR) Obligations Group was created. In 2001 after adoption of the APEC Strategic Plan on Capacity Building in implementing of WTO obligations (2000), this group was re-named the WTO Capacity Building Group.
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WTO Capacity Building Group - Key Contacts
Co-Convenors
Ms Pauline Kehoe
Director General
Indonesia, Philippines & Southeast Asia Regional Program,
Asia Branch Canadian International Development Agency
200 Promenade du Portage, Hull,
Quebec Canada K1A 0G4
Tel: (819) 997-1382
Fax: (819) 953-3350
E-mail: pauline_kehoe@acdi-cida.gc.ca

Mr Hironori MOCHIKI
Multilateral Trade System Department
Ministry of Economy, Trade and Industry
1-3-1 Kasumigaseki, Chiyoda-ku
Tokyo 100-8901, Japan
Tel: (81 3) 3501 1655
Fax: (81 3) 3501 1592
E-mail: mochiki-hironori@meti.go.jp

APEC Secretariat
Mr. Alexander L Sukhov
Director (Program)
E-mail: als@apec.org
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