Data Source: Asian WTO Research Network
Bulletin: 2009/6/19
Attachments:
Content:
On 23 May 2009, the AWRN held a business meeting at the National Taiwan University. As Mr. Iwamoto, the Secretary of the Network, was not available, Professor Mitsuo Matsushita chaired the meeting on his behalf. The meeting was attended by Prof. Rokaih Alavi, Dr. Deborah K. Elms, Prof. Minkang Gu, Dr. Fahmida Katun, Prof. Meredith Kolsky Lewis, Prof. Chin Leng Lim, Prof. Da-Nien Liu, Prof. Chang-fa Lo, Prof. Bryan Mercurio, Prof. Junji Nakagawa, Prof. Nohyoung Park, and Prof. Lawan Thanadsillapakul. This report provides a brief summary of the issues discussed at the meeting, based largely on the report of the AWRN business meeting held at Singapore Management University on 11 October 2008.
1. On the number of the regular members
It was agreed that the three-per-jurisdiction would remain.
2. On the financial responsibility of the hosting institution
It was agreed that the hosting institution should be responsible, as a minimum, for the local expenses for the members who participate in a meaningful way, including submitting papers and making oral presentations.
On the other hand, some members expressed a concern that the hosting institution may not cover such cost fully due to the increasing financial burden as a result of the increase in the participating members. It was agreed that (1) the hosting institution shall make best effort to cover the local expenses, (2) it should avoid any situation where some members would be reimbursed and some would not, but (3) in an exceptional case, the hosting institution may decide as to the extent of coverage of local cost on a case-by-case basis. Of course, if the host institution has sufficient resources, it may offer to pay for the expenses for other members or for other expenses of the participating members. Such additional responsibility is not mandatory.
3. On the participants of the meeting
It was agreed that three-plus-one-per country rule would remain. It was also agreed that the hosting institutions may invite participants who are not regular or associate members to attend the meeting, but that only the regular members are entitled to attend the business meetings of the AWRN.
4. On the treatment of absent members
Members warned of becoming too ‘legalistic,’ and emphasized that flexibility may be the most prudent approach, and a gentle moral persuasion to absent members is a good approach.
5. On the criteria of new members
Members felt that criteria should not be based on degree, but some sort of professional relevant background would be suitable. It was emphasized that flexibility and case by case basis would be best. Some members proposed to introduce a procedural criterion for determining membership, e.g., that there should be a recommendation from one of the members, and that recommendation should include substantive comments, or that the recommendation should be from all members of the jurisdiction to which the applicant belongs.
6. Admission of new members – no discussion required
After the discussion, the venue of the 2010 meeting was discussed, members from Hong Kong said that they should be able to host it.
Professor Lawan gave a presentation about the next network meeting to be held in Thailand for two days including a network business meeting in the first half of November 2009. The date and the location the meeting would be noticed in June. The tentative theme would be “Challenging issues under the WTO (e.g., sustainable development, dispute settlement mechanism, FTA, TRIMs and TRIMs plus, intellectual property).” Paper submission deadline would be early October. Host would pay for the hotel, local expense, food, accommodation and the airfare will be borne by the participant.
At the end of the meeting, some members made a few proposals on the expansion of the activities of the AWRN, including collecting information and submitting country reports on national and/or regional trade policy/law, and on the role of the secretariat. The chairman in closing encouraged them to elaborate such proposals and submit to the members.
|
