Why academic institutions matter in global trade

This is certainly a lesson we can draw from China’s remarkable export success.

I heard recently an argument according to which during the recovery it would be nonsense to assume that everyone can increase exports. I am sorry.

Of course, everyone can increase exports if imports also grow.

Thus, making the overall resources allocation more efficient which means growth for all.

This is why trade expansion can be a low-cost stimulus.

A particularly efficient means of moving in this direction would be the completion of the Doha Development Round.

We have been working at the multilateral round of trade negotiations since 2001 — in fact the year that China joined the WTO.

Whether it is about generating market access for goods and services through the reduction of obstacles to trade, or levelling the playing field in trade distorting subsidies — whether to agriculture or to fisheries — or providing predictability and transparency to trade, or facilitating trade by cutting red tape, the Doha Round offers untapped opportunities that the global community cannot afford to miss.

We have been accumulating experience over the years on how to improve cooperation with governments in the field of technical cooperation.

The primary purpose of this cooperation is to enhance the capacity of countries to participate meaningfully in international trade, and we have come to appreciate more the involvement of academic institutions as partners in these endeavours.

Academic institutions have helped us raise awareness on trade issues in the national context and among young trade officials, so preparing for the future and ensuring a solid base of skills and knowledge for effective decision-making processes.

The role of academic institutions is also essential in creating capacity at home through local academic and training programmes.

That is why we have embarked on programmes of academic support for capacity building.

With the support of WTO members, the WTO secretariat has gradually structured a set of programmes aimed at contributing to the development and strengthening of capacities in academic institutions in the field of trade policy, trade law and WTO-related issues.

These regional or national activities aim at familiarising academic communities with the functioning of the multilateral trading system and the specificities of WTO agreements.