Linking Trade Policies to National and Regional Development Agenda
Executive Summary
April 27-28, 2006, Naivasha Simba Lodge, Kenya

CUTS Nairobi Resource Centre (CUTS-NRC), with support from Fredrich Ebert Stiftung (FES), organised a regional seminar on Linking Trade Policies to National and Regional Development Agenda at the Naivasha Simba Lodge, Kenya, on April 27-28, 2006. The seminar brought various actors together in the policy process, including representatives of government ministries and the private sector, academics, Members of Parliament, and civil society actors.

The goal of the seminar was

• to discuss the important policy concerns on how to link trade to national and regional development agenda, with lessons from Botswana and Cambodia, for the Eastern African countries, namely, Ethiopia, Kenya, Uganda, and Tanzania; and
• to discuss and prepare an agenda for research, advocacy, and monitoring and evaluating policies on national, regional and international trade for development.

It was felt that this seminar comes at critical stage for Africa, because more than ever, Africa in general, and Eastern Africa in particular are facing increasing poverty, inequality, and a decline in economic out-put internally. Externally, African countries face unfavourable trade regimes and agreements, and vulnerability to external shocks. This is borne out by indicators of well being such as poverty index, per capita income, and others, all of which indicate an economic down turn for African economies.

The seminar highlighted the present state-of affairs that have in part been wrought by unfair trade policies, previous neo-liberal policies, and lack of unity of purpose in the negotiation process at the multilateral levels. Hence, there was a need to examine the trade and development policies of the countries represented at the seminar as well as those of regional groups to which they belong.

The seminar sought to learn, from the experience of Botswana and Cambodia, critical issues on trade capacity building, human rights in trade negotiation process, and trade for development. It also sought to explore critical issues on linking national and regional development to trade. In the seminar, various papers and presentation were made, and lead discussants guided the discussions on these varied yet interlined issues on trade, development, and regional integration.

The deliberation explored the conflicting relationship between trade and poverty and the various actors in the trade policy formulation process: the donors and the civil societies; NGOs and workers representative; the state and human rights; the national and regional policy processes; the regional and international policy process; the constraints and challenges of each actor at various levels.

The seminar identified numerous issues, and suggested plan of action including: Advocacy and Networking; Research and Capacity Building; and Trade Policy Formulation, Review, Implementation and Negotiation. This plan of action needs to actualise in order to make trade beneficial to development both at national and regional level, and address issues of social justice.

Lastly, the seminar underscored the need for trade for equitable development, employment creation, observance of human rights, and social justice as well as the need for South-South co-operation in the trade negotiation process.

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Seminar on ‘Competition Policy & Consumer Protection’
April 20, 2006, CUTS C-CIER, Jaipur, India

CUTS Centre for Competition, Investment & Economic Regulation (CUTS C-CIER) organised a seminar on ‘Competition Policy & Consumer Protection’ at CUTS C-CIER, Jaipur, India, on April 20, 2006. Prof. Allan Fels, Former Chairman, Australian Competition & Consumer Commission (ACCC) and Dean, Australia & New Zealand School of Government (ANZSOG), delivered the lecture on the topic.

It was a productive and interactive discussion on the problems caused by anticompetitive behaviour and the policy solution to be adopted on the same. According to Prof. Fels, ‘Anticompetitive behaviours are fairly similar in most economies and policy solutions adopted are also similar’.

The lecture was an open discussion inviting views and perceptions from the audience. Prof. Fels cited examples of restriction on competition that seem economically harmful. He further suggested that to avoid anticompetitive practices, a pro-competition culture is required for the policy solution to be adopted and made effective. This can be promoted by successful advocacy especially by competition regulators.

For further information please contact:
Email: c-cier@cuts.org

Rational practices in the sectors relating to health care facilities of India are being affected by different socio-economic factors. So, in every stage of providing the services, each stakeholder has to make at certain degree of compromise, which ultimately jeopardising the health sector of our country. This assertion have been made in a panel discussion on ‘Rational Use of Drugs: Are Doctors Alone Responsible’, organised by CUTS Calcutta Resource Centre (CUTS-CRC) at the Seminar Hall of Birla Planetarium, Calcutta, to celebrate the World Health Day, on April 07, 2006.

The workshop was attended by many non-governmental organisations (NGOs) working in health issues, including health professionals. The participants shared their experience and opined that the WHO’s slogan to ‘Work Together For Health’ cannot be implemented if all the stakeholders in the sector are sensitised enough to deliver their responsibilities properly.