Webinar Launch a Success

Webinar Pilot Successful

Two complimentary webinars were offered to OWIT members and guests in January as part of a pilot to launch our new one-hour webinar program. Close to 1300 people registered for the webinars, and the response from those who participated was very positive. Chaired by Monika Sandman of the Northern California Chapter, the committee responsible for spearheading the launch also included Laura Rabinowitz from New York and Diane MacDonald from Chicago. The technical side was coordinated by Grace Montealegre from Miami. The webinars have provided a way to enhance membership by offering a level of speakers and topics that most chapters and virtual members cannot  do typically access.

Here is a brief overview of the sessions offered:

Webinar 1 (January 12, 2010): Hot Tips from OWIT Award Winners

Webinar 2 (January 26, 2010) Green Compliance in International Trade

Webinar 3 (July 2010) "WTO Dispute Resolution: An Evolving Role in a Post-Doha Environment" with WTO Appellate Body member Jennifer Hillman launched the OWIT 2010 Trade Leaders Webinar series.  The off-the-record discussion updated the participants on the current workload of the panels and appellate body, changes in the nature of the cases and work as the dispute process becomes more institutionalized, and the challenges moving forward.  Three aspects of the WTO work together to realize the international trade benefits envisioned by the agreement: negotiations among members, implementation of the existing agreements, and dispute resolution.  While the dispute resolution process was one of the hallmarks of the WTO agreements, few imagined the burgeoning, active caseload that resulted - over 400 consultation requests, over 170 panels, over 125 panel reports, and over 80 appeals.  In its relatively short life, the WTO dispute resolution process is evolving from "soft law" to a more adjudicatory process.  Matters presented increasingly focus on legal issues such as burden of proof, prima facie case, and adequacy of notice.  Many governments now retain outside lawyers to present their cases at the same time that the Advisory Centre on WTO Law, and its assistance to developing countries, is increasingly important.  Cases are requesting interpretations of the agreements in areas where the text on which the appellate body must rely is ambiguous.  Looking forward, the WTO dispute resolution process will continue to evolve.  The workload continues to increase, with 19 panels currently actively engaged on increasingly complex cases.  Smaller country participation will continue to grow, often as third parties to disputes and when issues raised present significant economic impacts, e.g., SPS.  Cases will be brought to interpret WTO obligations that to date remain untested through dispute resolution.  External events may test the scope and authority of the WTO agreements and its processes, perhaps climate change or the global financial situation and its responses, among others.  Dispute resolution may be used to attempt to push the boundaries of the negotiated WTO texts.  Balance among the three legs of the WTO system -- negotiation, implementation, dispute resolution -- will ensure that the members continue to value and insist on compliance with WTO obligations.  

OWIT expresses its thanks and appreciation to Jennifer Hillman for the interesting, concise and insightful discussion. 

To see this recording, please visit http://www.owit.org/en/Home/Index.aspx.