RESOURCES

PROCESS MATTERS: SUSTAINABLE DEVELOPMENT AND DOMESTIC TRADE TRANSPARENCY. Edited by Mark Halle and Robert Wolfe. International Institute for Sustainable Development, 2007. Broad public education and focused solicitation of information from economic actors contribute to a trade policy that will be both legitimate and effective. This book contributes to a growing literature on the national trade policy process. Does an open and transparent process alter the way a government perceives the public interest? Or is trade policy still dominated by whoever has the ear of government? These questions are addressed in case studies of Canada, Norway, the Netherlands, Brazil, India and South Africa. The authors assess the policy process both in terms of transparency and of opportunities for meaningful participation by stakeholders ranging from export-oriented commercial organizations to rejectionist NGOs. The book also illuminates how the policy process can contribute to sustainable development by ensuring that the needs of growth, the environment and social cohesion are all considered. If trade policy is made in the light of day, then there is a chance that it will not merely serve the interests of a narrow elite. Available online at http://www.iisd.org/pdf/2007/process_matters.pdf.

FOOD MILES OR POVERTY ERADICATION: THE MORAL DUTY TO EAT AFRICAN STRAWBERRIES AT CHRISTMAS. By Benito Müller. Oxford Institute for Energy Studies & Oxford Climate Policy, October 2007. This article looks at the recent controversy about discouraging consumers particularly in the UK from buying produce of least developed countries because of their 'food miles', i.e. the transport carbon emissions (especially from air freight), and the effect that such an environmental consumer boycott has on the efforts to eradicate poverty in these countries. He proposes a solution to the dilemma which offers a 'double development dividend', not only in terms of clean exports, but also in promoting much needed Clean Development Mechanism (CDM) activities in these poorest and most vulnerable countries. Internet: http://www.oxfordclimatepolicy.org/publications/mueller.html

AT THE CROSSROADS: THE WORLD TRADING SYSTEM AND THE DOHA ROUND. By Stefan Griller. European Community Studies Association of Austria Publication Series, Vol 8. This book discusses both fundamental problems of world trade law, like its position in the system of public international law or problems of legitimacy and democratic control, and some of the more practical items on the agenda: Does the "Doha-Development-Round" really foster development? Is it possible to reconcile intellectual property protection with the health protection for the poor? Renowned international lawyers and economists discuss these and other problems, providing some new answers a lot of food for thought. Internet:
http://www.springer.com/dal/home/springerwiennewyork/law?SGWID=1-40636-22-52106666-detailsPage=ppmmedia|toc

MANDATORY DISCLOSURE OF THE SOURCE AND ORIGIN OF BIOLOGICAL RESOURCES AND ASSOCIATED TRADITIONAL KNOWLEDGE UNDER THE TRIPS AGREEMENT. South Centre, October 2007. The discussion on TRIPS and CBD in the WTO demonstrates the growing convergence on content, scope, relevance and effectiveness of an international mandatory obligation on disclosure of source and country providing biological resources and traditional knowledge. Remaining divergences focus on the substantive and procedural functions of the disclosure requirement and in particular, the legal consequences on the processing, granting and validity of a patent. Internet: http://www.southcentre.org/info/policybrief/11Mandatory%20Disclosure.pdf