Global value chains and firms’ environmental performance, published in World Development

This paper analyzes the link between joining global value chains (GVCs) and firms’ environmental performance. Based on new survey data for firms in countries in Central Asia, Eastern Europe, and MENA, we use propensity score matching (PSM) to compare similar companies that differ in terms of GVC participation. Our results show that firms that enter GVCs perform better across several environmental indicators.

Call for Papers: 8th Asian International Economic Law Network (AIELN) Conference

8th Asian International Economic Law Network (AIELN) Conference: The New Generation of Economic Agreements will be held on 1-2 December 2023 at College of Law, National Taiwan University co-organized by the Asian Center for WTO & International Health Law and Policy (ACWH) of National Taiwan University (NTU) College of Law and the Asian International Economic Law Network (AIELN) – the Asian Branch of the Society of International Economic Law (SIEL).

The organizing committee welcomes proposals on the following areas of international economic laws:

Seminars, Round Tables and Policy Panels

DEFI Unit with the WTO Chair at ESSECT University of Tunis in Tunisia organize on a frequent basis seminars, panels and round tables on various economic topics where senior and junior researchers as well as policy makers present. Follow our facebook page: https://www.facebook.com/chaire.omc.tunis/

Legal Research Priorities in Climate Change

The Global Priorities Institute at Oxford University, inspired by the effective altruism movement, has created a research agenda to prioritize the research that has the potential to do the most good over the long term (https://globalprioritiesinstitute.org/wp-content/uploads/gpi-researchag…). Similarly, our project seeks to identify Legal Research Priorities in concrete fields of law and regarding concrete issues in each field, based on objective criteria.

An Analysis of Eco-Tourism and Its Potential: Case Study of Small Island Developing States

The contribution of the tourism sector towards the development of host nations is undeniable in that it provides several benefits such as creation of employment, generation of added value and tax revenue, and boosting of inward foreign direct investment. Yet, tourism does also have negative environmental, economic and socio-cultural effects and it is also true that tourism can have a negative impact on the physical environment, economic, and socio-cultural landscape of host nations. This is particularly true for the case of SIDS.

Rethinking, Repackaging, and Rescuing World Trade Law in the Post-Pandemic Era

This book explores the ways to 'rethink', 'repackage' and 'rescue' world trade law in the post-COVID-19 era. Using the COVID-19 pandemic as an important context, the book makes original and critical contributions to the growing debate over a range of emerging challenges and systemic issues that might change the landscape of world trade law in the years to come. The book asks: do these unprecedented times and challenges call for reengineering the world trading system and a further retreat from trade liberalisation?

Guedidi I., Baghdadi L., (2020), "CO2 emissions, environmental provisions and global value chains in MENA countries"

The paper investigates the relationship between carbon emissions, environmental provisions in Regional Trade Agreements (RTAs) and Global Value Chains (GVCs) using a panel data gravity model for the Middle East and North Africa (MENA) region over the period 1990-2015. We find that RTAs have a positive effect on carbon emissions. However, good institutional quality in MENA region decreases carbon footprint. Participation of MENA countries in GVCs rises environmental degradation in upstream Low-Tech Manufacturing (LTM) sectors and downstream High-Tech Manufacturing (HTM) and Primary sectors.

CO2 emissions, environmental provisions and global value chains in MENA countries

The paper investigates the relationship between carbon emissions, environmental provisions in Regional Trade Agreements (RTAs) and Global Value Chains (GVCs) using a panel data gravity model for the Middle East and North Africa (MENA) region over the period 1990-2015. We find that RTAs have a positive effect on carbon emissions. However, good institutional quality in MENA region decreases carbon footprint. Participation of MENA countries in GVCs rises environmental degradation in upstream Low-Tech Manufacturing (LTM) sectors and downstream High-Tech Manufacturing (HTM) and Primary sectors.

‘Trade Advisory and NWU-TRADE WTO Chair User Group Webinar (15 October 2020)’

As COVID-19 wreaked havoc on global trade, Martin Cameron (Managing Director of Trade Research Advisory, a spin-out company of the North-West University) and Prof Wilma Viviers (Research professor) in the TRADE (Trade and Development) research entity and holder of the WTO Chair at the North-West University, South Africa hosted the 8th TRADE-DSM User Group Webinar under the auspices of the WTO Chairs programme.

“Financial Risk Management in the Anthropocene era”, in T. Walker et al,

We examine the financial risk management of the climate crisis from three perspectives. First, we assess the serious risks from climate change. The ecological and financial consequences of climate change depend on the future path of emissions, as well as the specific circumstances of specific countries and populations. Second, we assess the previous success of market solutions through pricing sulfur and carbon dioxide emissions.