Groups » WTO and environment

hello!

  • Deleted User
    Feb 26 2008, 03:47 PM
    welcome to this group! So far, it's just the two of us! So, how are you involved in WTO linkage of trade and environment?? For me, it's my research area for my PhD...

  • B. A.
    Feb 27 2008, 03:35 PM
    Thank you and nice meeting you ! well the wto is actually my main field of expertise, i used to be the head legal counsel of the WTO unit in the jordanian ministry of industry and trade, i used to advise the minister in addition to other governmentl agencies on the implementation of all WTO agreements including trade related enviromental provisions whether under the GATT 1994 or other agreements. also when i became the director of national production protection i used to design subsidy programs for industries to adapt to newly issued enviromental legislations which got me in daily work with the
    legislations........ofcourse the subsidy programs where in line with the conditions of the subsidies agreement and where considered as non actionable subsidies. its a very much interesting area you must be enjoying it ;)

    [Edited Feb 27 2008]


  • Deleted User
    Feb 28 2008, 07:55 AM
    thank you for your reply, and i am delighted that i have just met an expert on my research area! that's wonderful. So, do you manage your law firm now, and have you left working for the ministry?
    In my PhD, i analyze the debate on linking trade to environmental regulation (the typical shrimp turtle case etc), and for that i separate environmental pollution into domestic pollution, cross-border pollution and global pollution. My background is law, but because i want to analyze the issue from an economic point of view, i am part of the economics department in my university.... but yes, the topic is great, and i'm enjoying it.
    how about you - have i understood correctly,that you now work for your own law firm?

  • B. A.
    Feb 28 2008, 02:29 PM
    yes i left the ministry and started my own company specializing in wto law and practice, it provides legal services in free trade through consulting in addition to representation of clients in trade disputes such as anti-dumping,anti-subsidies,safeguards and technical barriers to trade. On the other hand the company also provides economic impact studies so it has both legal and economic sides. its still a new company but progress is great, please have a look at the website www.ejab.com.jo (its not officially launched though, still needs some work). difinitly as a lawyer in the field of enviroment you need to go heavy on economics in order to be able to understand the whole picture, its a very good idea u joined the economic department and make sure you get assignments there. Economics ,to lawyers, can be only understood under pressure :)

  • Deleted User
    Mar 09 2008, 09:04 PM
    your company sounds really interesting, i've been on your site....great! Who are your clients? private companies, public institutions or both??

    and you are totally right - the WTO and environment issue only makes sense if the economic arguments and motivations are properly understood! i'm benefiting highly from economics courses at the university like international trade, foreign trade policy etc, and to understand the economic basics is essential to getting a good grasp on the legal regulations as well! what is the law after all, if it doesn't directly relate to the economic motivations of the players involved...? regulations can be changed, rewritten etc, according to their economic impact...

    so, you have a legal background, right? do you consider moving to other countries with your company as well, in the sense of making it international? or no plans for that yet?
    take care and best wishes for your company!
    Setareh

  • B. A.
    Mar 11 2008, 06:01 PM
    Thank you Setareh, its good you liked the website. yes my target is not only the local or regional market but also the international market as well. if you noticed ,when going over the website, we are dealing with the WTO agreements and not specific laws nor jurisdictions, but emphasizing that the WTO law has become the ultimate trade law for all member countries. Here i have to say that i am targeting developing and least developed countries since most of these coutries are still struggling with the WTO due to lack of capabilities. i am planning to expand but since i am still new in the business i will take it step by step according to momentum of work from each client source. my clients are both governments and entities of the private sector. For governments, the services we provide are basically training and assistance of governments in dispute settlement procedures whether under the WTO or free trade agreements, as for the private sector (i.e. industries snd importers) we povide training services in addition to representation of affected private- sector entities in dispute settlement procedures whether before quasi-judicial authorities or competent courts .

    yes i am a lawyer but got so much involved in economics when i worked with the government, had to train myself on economics and cost accounting in order to fulfill my duties there. Wish me luck and please never hesitate to ask me should you need any help .

    All the best

    [Edited Mar 11 2008]


  • Deleted User
    Mar 16 2008, 11:37 AM
    thank you very much! I wish you all the luck there is, and I hope your company will be very successful so as to help developing countries on the WTO arena. The delegations from developing countries are so often overrun by large developed-country delegations that one wonders how they can get a fair deal out of it having less resources to fight for their points etc. So, yes, it's great that there are companies like yours offering training and advise.
    my case study for the PhD is India. I have not travelled to India nor to Geneva, but I am trying to get more data/information on India's position on this debate of trade restrictions as a response to domestic, cross border or global environmental pollution. Do you maybe have any recommendations where i can best get hold of information? I have been going trough a large number of Indian literature on this matter but not come across any good sources. Maybe you have a better idea where I should get the information?
    Thank you very much! and keep going with your company! good luck,
    Setareh

  • B. A.
    Mar 19 2008, 12:28 PM
    Hi, it seems there are only 2 submissions made by india to the WTO with regard to their positions on enviromental measures, namely on the "structural dimensions of the enviromental project approach for Paragraph 31(iii) negotiations of the Doha Ministerial Declaration (DMD)" . have you got these documents?

    [Edited Mar 19 2008]



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