The Global Programme has published the conclusions of its "Regional Meeting on Research and Training Needs in International Trade in Asia-Pacific Countries". It details the "strong threat perception in most participating countries as to the implications of increased globalisation". This is due to a variety of factors, which include an inadequate understanding of Uruguay Round commitments, worries about adapting national legal systems and economic policies to conform to commitments made at the multilateral level, and an inadequate appreciation of the benefits from increased access to other markets.

Many of the countries have had little cost-benefit research carried out on the consequences of the 1995 Uruguay Round and little is available to prepare negotiating strategies for those willing to accede to the WTO.

Furthermore, most countries do not have access to expertise in training trade negotiators or trade promoters. The meeting identified three broad categories of research issues to include the national political impact of trade policy negotiations, preparing national industries to face international competition and maximising gains from increased market access. In order to address the training deficit, participants advocated a policy of training the trainers.

Participants also endorsed networking mechanisms at a national and regional level among research institutions, with one or two leading institutions in each region being named as Centres of Excellence.

The meeting was organised in collaboration with UNCTAD's Commercial Diplomacy Programme and the United Nations Economic and Social Commission for Asia and the Pacific (UNESCAP) and was held at the Indian Institute of Foreign Trade, New Delhi, 13-15 November 2000.

UNCTAD Commercial Diplomacy Programme

Indian Institute of Foreign Trade

United Nations Economic and Social Commission for Asia and the Pacific (UNESCAP)

Conclusions of meeting

Publications relating to meeting

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