Report of the Canadian Delegation to the Parliamentary Panel within the Framework of the WTO Public Forum 2009 and the 19th Session of the Steering Committee of the Parliamentary Conference on the World Trade Organization (WTO)

Organized jointly by the Inter-Parliamentary Union and the European Parliament

The Parliamentary Panel within the Framework of the WTO Public Forum

1. Background

The Parliamentary Conference on the WTO is a joint undertaking of the Inter-Parliamentary Union and the European Parliament. Its primary objective is to enhance the external transparency of the WTO and make it accountable to parliamentarians as elected representatives of the people. The sessions of the Parliamentary Conference on the WTO are held once a year.

2. Program for the Parliamentary Panel

The 2009 WTO Public Forum was held on WTO premises in Geneva from September 28 to 30, with the theme “Global Problems, Global Solutions: Towards Better Global Governance.”^[1] As part of the overall program, the Inter-Parliamentary Union (IPU) and the European Parliament held a parliamentary panel entitled:

Can protectionism protect trade? The legislators’ perspective

This parliamentary panel took place on Wednesday, September 30, 2009.

3. The Canadian delegation

Representatives from various parliaments, members of the WTO and civil service organizations participated in the Parliamentary Panel, including the Hon. Donald H. Oliver, QC, Senator.

4. Speakers

The Parliamentary Panel examined how protectionism and trade can co-exist from a parliamentary perspective. The Parliamentary Panel was moderated by Mr. Ram Etwareea, a journalist with Le Temps, and included the following speakers:

·         Mr. Jacques Bourgeois — MP (Switzerland)

·         Mr. Shakeel Mohamed — MP (Mauritius)

·         Mr. Vital Moreira — Member of the European Parliament

·         Mr. James Bacchus — former Chairman of the WTO Appellate Body, former member of the US Congress

They pointed out that finding the means to protect one’s own national economy without violating the WTO rules is fundamentally a political issue. A number of people noted that many countries, including those in the G-20, have committed to avoiding protectionism. However, reports show a slight increase in protectionist measures in these same countries. While some of these measures fall within the WTO’s accepted parameters, they send a contradictory message that could encourage other countries to follow suit. Other people maintained that agriculture needs a certain level of protection because it cannot be compared to services and manufactured products, and it meets non-economic criteria as well (need for food self-sufficiency, land up-keep, etc.). They nonetheless agreed that protectionist measures that hindered trade should be avoided. Overall, the Parliamentary Panel gave participants a unique opportunity to discuss with other interested parties the effects of protectionist measures and the economic crisis on the WTO Doha Round talks.

5. The next parliamentary session on the WTO

The date of the next parliamentary session on the WTO has yet to be determined. The Steering Committee met on October 1, 2009, and submitted a number of proposals for the next meeting.

The 19th Session of the Steering Committee of the Parliamentary Conference on the World Trade Organization

1. Background

The Parliamentary Conference on the WTO is a joint undertaking of the Inter-Parliamentary Union and the European Parliament. Its primary objective is to enhance the external transparency of the WTO and make it accountable to legislators as elected representatives of the people. The sessions of the Parliamentary Conference on the WTO are held once a year and on the occasion of WTO Ministerial Conferences.

The Steering Committee of the Parliamentary Conference on the WTO is responsible for all matters relating to the organization of the Parliamentary Conference on the WTO.

2. Agenda

The Steering Committee of the Parliamentary Conference on the WTO met on October 1, 2009, at IPU Headquarters in Geneva, Switzerland. The session included the following agenda items:

·         Update on recent WTO developments with the Chairman of the General Council, Ambassador Mario Matus of Chile;

·         Discussion about the 2009 WTO Public Forum;

·         Participation of parliamentarians in the 7th Session of the WTO Ministerial Conference;

·         Suggestions for the Parliamentary Conference on the WTO in 2010 and beyond;

·         Steering Committee membership.

 

3. The Canadian delegation

The Steering Committee meeting welcomed 53 participants from 17 national parliaments and regional parliamentary assemblies, including the Hon. Donald H. Oliver, QC, Senator of the Parliament of Canada.

4. The meeting

The IPU report on the 19th Session of the Steering Committee of the Parliamentary Conference, which includes a summary of decisions taken by the Committee, can be found in Appendix 1.

 

Respectfully submitted,