Thoughtful, fact-based and informed dialogue on trade is fundamental to assuring a robust and more inclusive model for trade around the world, as well as to demonstrably contributing to peace and security through engagement and mutual prosperity. Leadership today requires vision and courage, and the integrity to do more than pander to narrow interests and narrow views of the world.
The importance of such leadership at this moment in history cannot be overstated, nor can the importance of genuine dialogue with a wide range of stakeholders, including government, business, academia, civil society and the numerous international institutions tasked today with assuring the constructive evolution of the global economic system.
The GTPA supports the recent letter by John Denton, Secretary-general, International Chamber of Commerce, Paris, France in the Financial Times.
It is imperative that those countries embracing and promoting the importance of freer, rules-based trade and trade liberalisation continue to support the WTO, contribute to its evolution and recommit to championing trade, even as we all work together to address current imperfections in the architecture of international commerce. Maximising the benefits of international trade and investment for all through effective policy design and deployment must be a shared responsibility and priority of all levels of government, international institutions and regulatory authorities, and must take into consideration the importance of policy consistency across jurisdictions when necessary.
The GTPA supports the statement that we need to do more to offer real ideas and solutions and these need to be based on real-world experience. Now is the time that we need to engage more businesses to actively engage in the trade policy debate and we need to hear directly from the business community to help look at how the global multilateral based trading system can be “reformed” so that free and fair trade works for all businesses, which also includes MSMEs who are the backbone of most economies globally and the generator of jobs for the future.
Unfortunately, most MSMEs do not have the time, resources or knowledge to often invest in fully understanding how they might have a voice in both a local government debate on Trade but how this in turns relates to engagement at the multilateral level. We need to do more to help MSMEs to engage in this debate through education and this includes ensuring that more can be done to support and facilitate trade policy training programmes for MSMEs.
For most MSMEs navigating the complexity of doing business globally and maintaining a competitive edge requires the development of new skills and knowledge, as well as the ability to draw on a trusted network of skilled professionals with the required competencies to support their business to grow through global trade. The increasing rate of change in the trade environment makes it incredibly challenging for MSMEs to further expand their engagement and knowledge in Trade Policy. To assist MSMEs to engage in the trade policy debate it is imperative that mechanisms are provided to actively encourage MSMEs to engage in maintaining their existing skills as well as expand their technical competencies and soft skills to include undertaking and knowledge of the role of Trade Policy and how to engage with the government to best represent their needs and engage in the current dialogue.
“The Global Trade Professional Programme (GTP) can be of assistance here. As the GTP has been developed to build a trusted network of global trade professionals (under ISO 17024) as well as a trusted network of Global Certified Global Trade Consulting services and Globally Trading Businesses (under ISO 17065). The GTP Programme actively encourages trade practitioners to expand their knowledge beyond just a niche area of specialisation and actively encourages companies engaged in Trade Management to further develop their knowledge and understanding of technical trade skills and trade policy knowledge.” states Alexander R, Malaket, Chair, International and Technical Advisory Committee, GTPA, and President, OPUS Advisory Services International Inc.
The GTPA also endorses the comments by Mr John Denton in terms of the need to reflect on how we can make Trade rules work for the good of individuals and the business community.
We are observing a fundamental shift in the digital delivery of business to consumer (B2C) and business to business services (B2B). Technology is leading this, and increasingly then new services and ecommerce offering will be digital and ‘born global’ – that is intended from the outset for markets beyond domestic borders.
Therefore, the GTPA applauds new initiatives by the WTO to look at leading efforts in establishing a work program to set rules for digital trade that was announced at the 11th World Trade Organisation’s (WTO) Ministerial Conference (MC11) in Buenos Aires, Argentina.
Initiatives that look to modernise Trade Policy rules such as the framework to shape the rules of international e-commerce are vital in providing a new role for the WTO in this digital era. These are stories we need to promote more, as they will assist in implementing basic standards for digital trade in areas like consumer protection and electronic contracts. Such standards may play a critical role in removing barriers and complexities to digital trade, with studies finding that around 70 regional trade agreements around the world currently include chapters on e-commerce.
“E-commerce, digital trade and the tech start-ups they foster are increasingly important elements of Australia’s trade future. The fact that Australia has been the driving force behind driving this work program is a testament to how we often work quietly behind the scenes but punch far above our weight in terms of success.”- Ms McAuley said.
“The GTPA is a global alliance, by definition collaborative in nature, privileged to count among its members, leading thinkers, experts and practitioners in all aspects of international trade. It is incumbent upon us to champion trade, support and enable its progression as a force for inclusion, growth and global security. Trade is one of a limited number of levers that policymakers and political leaders can influence to positively drive growth. Recent events bring sharply into focus, the need for responsible, informed discourse and statesmanship on matters of international commerce”. said Mr Malaket