|
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. 
This Briefing Paper examines problems that have to be addressed to make the Agreement on South Asian Free Trade Area (SAFTA) viable amid the proliferation of other bilateral and regional free trade agreements. The paper points out the slow pace of tariff liberalization programme under SAFTA, the huge size of sensitive lists maintained by members, the Agreement's failure to deal effectively with non-tariff barriers, huge transaction costs, and the exclusion of trade in services from the Agreement as impediments to making SAFTA relevant.
This Research Brief explains the concept of 'access and benefit sharing' (ABS) in biodiversity protection, identifies cases where it has been used, analyses them, recognizes their shortcomings and suggests a method for the implementation of ABS in which such gaps will no longer exist. The objective is to provide decision makers of South Asian governments with recommendations to develop and implement rules that protect the interests of all stakeholders through robust and transparent consultation processes, while also ensuring equity and social justice to specifically safeguard the rights of local, indigenous and farming communities.
