|
Trade Insight: A Dialogue on Trade and Development in South Asia
Vol. 4, No. 2, 2008
 The world is facing various trade, development and environmental challenges due to warming climate and rising food prices. Negotiations at both national and global levels are under way to identify mechanisms that help address these challenges. In this regard, the role that international trade can play in helping the international community and national governments address the problems emanating from climate change and rising food prices cannot be underestimated. This issue of Trade Insight focuses on trade and climate change, highlighting the areas where the World Trade Organization (WTO) can contribute to mitigate the consequences. The magazine also deals with rising food prices and implications for South Asia, and covers articles on biofuels and trade, bilateral trade agreements within South Asia, least-developed countries' issues in the Doha Round, and effectiveness of aid for trade.
(PDF Size: 1.13 MB) Download | 
The distribution of gains from SAFTA among South Asian countries is a matter of concern. This Issue Paper argues that regardless of whether the free trade agreement on the whole is welfare-enhancing or not, the LDC Members stand to lose out under the current framework of SAFTA. It contends that that the weaker economies suffer trade diversion and revenue loss as they open up to the region. The Paper suggests that services trade be brought under SAFTA for trade creation and welfare gains for weaker economies, and recommends regional cooperation on transit to help landlocked countries like Bhutan and Nepal. 
In the light of the global policies to promote the application of biotechnology in agriculture and the possible implications of intellectual property rights (IPRs) for farmers in Nepal, this book deals with some crucial equity aspects of the commercialisation of agricultural biodiversity, and more importantly, the issue of protecting farmers' rights over plant varieties and related knowledge. The book emphasises the need to protect farmers' rights in the plant variety protection law that Nepal needs to implement as part of its obligation and commitment under the Agreement on Trade-Related Aspects of Intellectual Property Rights (TRIPS) of the World Trade Organisation (WTO). The book suggests some important legal measures that Nepal can implement to protect farmers' rights over IPR-protected plant varieties. The book also deals with measures that are crucial for recognising farmers' rights over farmer-developed varieties and related knowledge.
Existing laws and policies like Consumer Protection Act, 2054, Transportation Act, 2049 and Competition Promotion and Market Protection Act, 2063 prohibit anticompetitive practices, including in the form of syndicate. Realizing the need to discuss the plight of consumers and business people in view of the existing syndicate in the transport sector and also to identify the role that stakeholders can play to scrap syndicates, SAWTEE, ActionAid Nepal (AAN) and Forum for Protection of Consumer Interest (FPCI) jointly organized a talk programme on 'Competition Issues in Public Transport'...
