Conference on
 
Regional Trade Agreements:
The Fragmentation of International Trade Law

Santo Domingo, Dominican Republic
Saturday, 28-29 May 2010

 

(The Academic Conference of the ELSA Moot Court Competition on WTO law (the EMC2) Final Oral Round event.)

Conference Organiser: COLADIC-RD (www.coladic-rd.org)
Locally the Conference is Supported by: The Ministry of Foreign Affairs, UNIBE, DICOEX, INDOTEL, ALNAP bank and Santo Domingo Chamber of Commerce and Production: Division of Alternative Dispute Resolution Center.


Fees:

■   Attendance Package 1: US$ 400

■   Attendance Package 2: US$ 450

■   ACP Countries* Attendees Package 1: US$ 200 (further discounts are available for ELSA & COLADIC members)

■   ACP Countries* Attendees Package 2: US$ 250 (further discounts are available for ELSA & COLADIC members)

■   Students Package 1: US$ 130 (with further discounts are available for ELSA & COLADIC members)

■   Students Package 2: US$ 180 (with further discounts are available for ELSA & COLADIC members)

■   EMC2 participants: Free entrance
 
 

Introduction to conference theme

Regional Trade Agreements (RTAs) are an exception to most-favoured-nation (MFN) treatment for trade in goods (under GATT Article XXIV) and services (under GATS Article V). The “Enabling Clause”, which permits special and differential treatment in favour of and among developing countries, also permits RTAs. The term RTA includes free trade agreements, customs unions and partial trade agreements. Countries do not need to be in the same region to sign a RTA, but can be on opposite ends of the planet. It is expected that close to 400 RTAs will be implemented by 2010. The goal of this conference is to analyze several legal questions raised by a new generation of RTAs.

RTAs raise many concerns for the multilateral trading system. They create a complex web of overlapping trade rules that are difficult and costly for companies to navigate. They can divert trade from more efficient to less efficient producers, which can then stimulate investment based on the temporary advantages created by RTAs. They can create resistance to global trade liberalization, since less efficient producers are likely to be displaced in important markets if they lose the preferential treatment they enjoy under RTAs, reducing or even eliminating the viability of the RTA-induced investments. RTA dispute settlement systems can overlap with that of the WTO, increasing the cost of disputes and raising complex issues regarding the choice of dispute settlement forum.

RTAs can also lead countries with relatively little bargaining power to make concessions that they might not have made in WTO negotiations. For example, some RTAs have introduced stricter intellectual property rules than those set out in the WTO TRIPS Agreement, which may increase the cost of medical care in their member countries. Many RTAs between developed and developing countries contain provisions regarding environmental protection, labour rights and other social issues, but the legal implication of these provisions is not clear. Finally, it is not even clear which RTAs, or which aspects of specific RTAs, conform to WTO rules. To what extent do RTAs undermine the global trading system?

Conference sponsored by:




Call for Papers “Regional Trade Agreements: The Fragmentation of International Trade Law” is to be solicited from the Academic Advisor of the Conference Professor Bradly Condon ( This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it ).


EMC2 FOR 2010 Santo Domingo Conference Sponsors:










EMC2 FOR 2010 Santo Domingo Conference Speaker Sponsors:

 

The Conference participants are welcome to the following two hotels in Santo Domingo or to any available hotels. Please contact This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it to find out if any special rates apply for the Conference participants in the following two hotels:
1. Clarion Hotel Santo Domingo http://www.clarionsantodomingo.com.do/app/do/frontpage.aspx 
2. The Hostal Nicolas de Ovando (it is a hotel, do not be confused by the name!) http://www.accorhotels.com/gb/hotel-2975-hostal-nicolas-de-ovando-santo-domingo/index.shtml