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Chaired by Ahmed Abdel Latif (ICTSD), a session in WTO PUBLIC FORUM: 19—21 SEPTEMBER 2011 discussed the impact of the TRIPS (Trade-Related Aspects of Intellectual Property Rights) Agreement 15 years after its coming into force from a legal, economic and institutional perspective and possible lessons for the future of the international intellectual property (IP) regime.

A session in WTO PUBLIC FORUM: 19—21 SEPTEMBER 2011 examined the role of trade in protecting food security and the impact of trade policies and regulations on food price volatility and on the flow of agricultural and food products. Speaking from different perspectives, the panellists shared the view that trade openness can help to ensure food security and moderate price volatility.

A session was organized during WTO PUBLIC FORUM: 19—21 SEPTEMBER 2011 by Medicines Patent Pool and moderated by Mr Antony Taubman, Director of Intellectual Property Division of WTO. The four panellists were: Ms Michelle Childs, Director of Policy and Advocacy, MSF; Professor Carlos Correa, University of Buenos Aires; Mr Nelson Otwoma, National Coordinator/CEO, National Empowerment Network of People Living with HIV/AIDS in Kenya; and Ms Ellen T Hoen, Executive Director, Medicines Patent Pool.

A session in WTO PUBLIC FORUM: 19—21 SEPTEMBER 2011 discussed the availability of global provisions addressing competition policy, state-owned enterprises and subsidies, and the scope for multilateral rules regulating them. The panellists agreed that more rules were needed. They also recognized that these issues can be better tackled multilaterally rather than at the bilateral level and that the WTO would be the ideal forum.

Panellists in a session in WTO PUBLIC FORUM: 19—21 SEPTEMBER 2011 focused on the G-20’s Action Plan, including the recommendation to strengthen international policy coordination for food security, highlighting new and evolving approaches for improving global governance of food security.

A session in WTO PUBLIC FORUM: 19—21 SEPTEMBER 2011 focused on the dialogue between energy and trade policy, as well as the prospective receptiveness of WTO rules for a framework agreement on energy, converging on the inappropriateness of the existing setting to foster the debate and move towards renewable energy.

A session in WTO PUBLIC FORUM: 19—21 SEPTEMBER 2011 discussed the intellectual property rights’ (IPR) provisions of free trade agreements (FTAs) and their impact on innovation. In general, it was agreed that a positive association existed, and that IPRs were also beneficial to trade. Strong IP rules would attract innovative businesses, which in turn, would enhance trade performances.

The rise of the global manufacturing model has important implications for the relationship between trade and development. A session of WTO PUBLIC FORUM: 19—21 SEPTEMBER 2011 provided insights from Europe in terms of trade performance and job creation, the experience of Sweden’s global value chains, and also looked at the case of Costa Rica.

Sustainability, energy and food security issues were at the heart of the discussion in WTO PUBLIC FORUM: 19—21 SEPTEMBER 2011. Also discussed were the Doha Round impasse and WTO reforms.

New York: The risk of polio spreading from Pakistan is high, particularly given the expected mass travel for the upcoming Muslim pilgrimage to Mecca, the United Nations warned today, calling for full vigilance abroad and a scaling up of “inadequate” counter-efforts within the country.