VIR21-29

Sessions and Objectives

Trade policy and competition policy: Complementarities in support of economic development agenda

Date: 20/07/2021 Duration: 3.5 (h)

Number of participants: Men(54) / Women(54)

Objective: At the end of this session, participants will have an enhanced awareness of the complementary roles of competition policy and trade policy, their relevance to development, and especially of competition policy elements already present in existing WTO agreements.

Category: Enhance the capacity of government officials to operationalize and correctly implement provisions of one or several WTO Agreements

Indicators:

  • Indicator: Participants opinion

    Evidence: Around 77.78% of participants rated this session as successful (47.62%) or very successful (30.16%). All the individual presentations within this session were highly appreciated by the participants with session 1.1. being successful or very successful for around 85.7% of the participants, sessions 1.2. for 84.13%, session 1.3. for 74.6% and session 1.4. for 82.54%. Overall, the session can be considered a valuable one based on the comments received from participants.

  • Indicator: Presentation to the group – relevance, quality of the substance, quality of the form, time management, etc.

    Evidence: Session 1 was delivered through pre-recorded sessions made available to participants through the WTO e-learning platform (Cornerstone). The length of each recording was 20-40 minutes and participants were able to listen in at their leisure. Session 1 was comprised of 4 pre-recorded sessions each of which was aimed at unpacking the complementarities of trade and competition policies and their relevance for economic development. In addition, competition policy elements in the existing WTO Agreements were discussed. Besides pre-recorded videos, session 1 included a live opening session introducing WTO trainers, the programme, the make-up of the group with a focus on their affiliation, and other logistical details necessary to successfully complete the course.

  • Indicator: Results of quizzes, tests or exams

    Evidence: Out of 108 participants, 77 took at least one quiz. 75 participants passed the quiz for Session 1 (threshold was 60% of correct answers).

Conclusion: Session 1 provided a detailed and extensive description of competition policy and trade policy showing existing complementarities between them. Special attention was given to the importance of such policies for the development agenda of emerging economies. Participants acknowledged the usefulness of this session in their evaluation form responses.

Results: Fully

Case studies on (i) trade policy and competition policy in the digital age; and (ii) trade policy and competition policy in the service of public health

Date: 22/07/2021 Duration: 3.6 (h)

Number of participants: Men(54) / Women(54)

Objective: At the end of this session, participants will be familiar with the possible contributions that trade, intellectual property, government procurement and competition policy can make when used in concert to support public health outcomes in general and in relation to the COVID-19 pandemic. In addition, participants will have an understanding of possible competition policy issues and challenges arising from the increasing importance of digital trade.

Category: Improve knowledge of WTO Agreements or particular area of Agreements, of WTO negotiations, of WTO Committees or WTO subjects

Indicators:

  • Indicator: Participants opinion

    Evidence: Around 82.54% of participants rated this session as successful (57.14%) or very successful (25.40%). Individual presentations within this session also achieved their respective aims. Thus session 2.1. was successful or very successful for around 81% of the participants, session 2.2. for 77.78%, session 2.3. for around 81%, sessions 2.4. and 2.5. for 82.54% and session 2.6 for 74.6%. Overall, the session can be considered a valuable one based on the comments received from participants.

  • Indicator: Presentation to the group – relevance, quality of the substance, quality of the form, time management, etc.

    Evidence: Session 2 was delivered through pre-recorded sessions made available to participants through the WTO e-learning platform (Cornerstone). The length of each recording was 20-30 minutes and participants were able to listen in at their leisure. Session 2 was comprised of 6 pre-recorded sessions devoted to competition policy issues in the digital age and exploring the ways IP, government procurement and competition policy can serve the global aim of fighting the ongoing pandemic. Besides pre-recorded videos, session 2 included a live roundtable titled "The Competition Policy and Intellectual Property interface: emerging relevance during the pandemic". The roundtable, facilitated by distinguished experts in the areas of IP and competition policy, mapped out the evolution of policy thinking in the aforementioned areas, discussed the elements of the TRIPS Agreement that mark points of interaction with competition policy and examined related developments in a diverse range of economies, including more recent developments in emerging jurisdictions.

  • Indicator: Results of quizzes, tests or exams

    Evidence: Out of 108 participants, 77 took at least one quiz. 72 participants passed the quiz for Session 2 (threshold was 60% of correct answers).

Conclusion: This session was devoted to specific case studies of public health (considering the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic) and digital trade (taking into account its growing importance). It elaborated inter alia on access to medical technologies and innovation in accordance with the TRIPS Agreement as well as on the ways one can use the GPA as a tool to fight corrupt and collusive behaviour especially in emergency situations. Based on the ratings and comments of participants, this session can be considered a success.

Results: Fully

Forms of international cooperation in the field of competition policy

Date: 27/07/2021 Duration: 4 (h)

Number of participants: Men(54) / Women(54)

Objective: At the end of this session, participants will have an enhanced awareness of competition policy chapters in RTAs, lessons that international trade cooperation holds for international coordination in the field of competition, including non-binding forms of international cooperation in this area.

Category: Improve knowledge of WTO Agreements or particular area of Agreements, of WTO negotiations, of WTO Committees or WTO subjects

Indicators:

  • Indicator: Participants opinion

    Evidence: Around 77.8% of participants rated this session as successful (50.79%) or very successful (26.98%). This session had five individual presentations each of which also received praises from the participants. Thus session 3.1. was successful or very successful for around 86% of the participants, session 3.2. for 74.61%, session 3.3. for around 81%, session 3.4. for 66.85 and session 3.5. for around 78%. Many participants highlighted session 3 as being useful and beneficial.

  • Indicator: Presentation to the group – relevance, quality of the substance, quality of the form, time management, etc.

    Evidence: Session 3 was delivered through pre-recorded sessions made available to participants through the WTO e-learning platform (Cornerstone). The length of each recording was 20-40 minutes and participants were able to listen in at their leisure. Session 3 was comprised of 5 pre-recorded sessions devoted to discussing varying forms of international cooperation and recent trends with a special focus on the needs of developing economies. Besides pre-recorded videos, session 3 included a live roundtable entitled "Competition policy: emerging trends and challenges – national and regional reflections by e-Seminar Participants" where participants from selected jurisdictions (Paraguay, Sri Lanka, the Russian Federation and Zimbabwe) were invited to share relevant experiences.

  • Indicator: Responses to questionnaires and other written submissions – relevance, comprehensiveness, quality of the substance and form, respect of specifications

    Evidence: Out of 108 participants, 77 took at least one quiz. 70 participants passed quiz for Session 3 (threshold was 60% of correct answers).

Conclusion: The aim of session 3 was to explore different avenues of international cooperation in the area of competition policy, be it a multilateral or plurilateral framework, a binding or a non-binding form of cooperation. In doing so, a special slot was reserved for the discussion of the needs of developing countries. The aim of session 3 is fully achieved according to the e-Seminar participants.

Results: Fully