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National agricultural Policy Center National agricultural Policy Center (NAPC)(NAPC)

The Operation of Trade and Trade Policy The Operation of Trade and Trade Policy Division (TPD)Division (TPD)

By: Isam IsmailBy: Isam IsmailTPD's CoordinatorTPD's Coordinator

Damascus, May 11, 2005Damascus, May 11, 2005

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Mission: Research on the integration of Syrian

agriculture in the world economy Bilateral and regional agreements (EU, individual Arab

countries) WTO Accession.

Trade policies analysis (International and Domestic).

Proposed approach Skill building (learning-by-doing).

Focus on the production on new knowledge on the effects and policy options related to trade reforms in

Syria Links with other NAPC Divisions’

Target public (policy makers, private sector, academics).

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2005 Workplan2005 Workplan

ObjectivesObjectives

– Enhance skills and capacities of the NAPC's staff.

– Establish links with the international research community.

– Support to the Syrian general debate on trade reforms.

– Support the GoS in the technical aspects of international trade negotiations.

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ActivitiesActivities

Skill development activitiesSkill development activities Review Papers (RP)Review Papers (RP)

Evaluating Information SourcesEvaluating Information Sources

Research and institutional activitiesResearch and institutional activities Periodical Report (SAT 2005 including SI)Periodical Report (SAT 2005 including SI)

Policy Support Activities (TPB, CMB, WTO) Policy Support Activities (TPB, CMB, WTO)

Publication of paper on GAFTAPublication of paper on GAFTA

Seminars (Internal seminar and AP Seminars (Internal seminar and AP forum)forum)

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Output End of: A. 1Review papers: Outline December First Draft January Second draft February B.1.1 Elaboration of SAT 2005 Chapters 1, 2 and 3 - first draft July Collection of information for Chapters 4 to 6 July Chapters 4- 6 - first draft October Final draft December B.1.2 Special Issue (EU and Association Agreement) Outline February First draft March Second draft May B.2.1 Trade Policy briefs Policy briefs 1-6 March Policy briefs 6-12 October B.2.2 Commodity and Market briefs Trade brief 1 May Trade briefs 2-6 August B.3 Publication of paper on GAFTA August B.4 Seminars Internal Seminar April AP Forum October-November

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Year: 2004 2005

Task Nov Dec Jan Feb Mar Apr May Jun Jul Aug Sep Oct Nov Dec

A.1 Review papers

Reading and outline

First Draft

Second draft

B.1.1 SAT 2005

Chapters 1, 2 and 3 - first draft

Collection of information for Chapters 4 to 7

Chapters 4- 6 - first draft

Second draft and completion SAT 2005

B.1.2 SAT 2005Special Issue (EU and Association Agreement)

First draft

Second draft

B.2.1 Trade Policy briefs 1-5

B.2.1 Trade Policy briefs 6-10

B.2.2 Commodity and Market brief 1

B.2.2 Commodity and Market briefs 2-5

B.2. 3 WTO related studies and policy notes

B.3 Publishing GAFTA WP

B.4 Seminars

Internal seminar

AP Forum

TPD Information

TPD Coordination

Ad hoc Training courses (communication skills, information sources)

TOTAL

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Division Staff/TopicsDivision Staff/Topics Mahmoud BabbiliMahmoud Babbili

– Multilateral trade negotiations and Agricultural Multilateral trade negotiations and Agricultural policies in the developed economiespolicies in the developed economies

Yasser Al EssaYasser Al Essa– Free trade agreements and regional agreementsFree trade agreements and regional agreements

Isam IsmailIsam Ismail– Trade policy options for developing countries and in Trade policy options for developing countries and in

the Syrian Arab Republic the Syrian Arab Republic Hajar BaghasaHajar Baghasa

– Non-tariff barriersNon-tariff barriers Basheer Al Hamwi Basheer Al Hamwi

– Public regulations on export marketingPublic regulations on export marketing

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Performed ActivitiesPerformed Activities

SAT 2004.SAT 2004. Start working on SAT 2005 with SI Start working on SAT 2005 with SI

“Syrian-EU Association agreement”.“Syrian-EU Association agreement”. Review Papers (RP).Review Papers (RP). Policy Briefs (PB).Policy Briefs (PB).

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Special Issue/Syrian-EU Association Special Issue/Syrian-EU Association

AgreementAgreement Introduction 1 Other Countries Experience 2 Syria and Barcelona Process 2.1.     EU-Syria co-operation 2.2.     Negotiations for an Association Agreement3 EU-Syria Trade Relation 3.1.     Agricultural Exports 3.2.     Agricultural Imports4 The Syrian-EU Association Agreement 4.1.     General provisions 4.2.     Provisions affecting the agricultural sector 4.3.     Agricultural provisions in detail5 Expected impacts6 Policy recommendations

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Review Paper (RP)Review Paper (RP) Mahmoud BabbiliMahmoud Babbili: : Negotiations' Position of Negotiations' Position of

the Main trading partners and their Rationalethe Main trading partners and their Rationale Isam IsmailIsam Ismail: : The Impacts of Agricultural Trade The Impacts of Agricultural Trade

Liberalization on Development (Lessons for Liberalization on Development (Lessons for Syria)Syria)

Hajar BaghasaHajar Baghasa: : Non-tariff barriers and Syrian Non-tariff barriers and Syrian Government Procedures towards Trade Government Procedures towards Trade LiberalizationLiberalization

Basheer HamwiBasheer Hamwi: : Main Determinant Factors of Main Determinant Factors of the Export Successthe Export Success

Yasser Al EssaYasser Al Essa: : Is it possible to classify Is it possible to classify countries according to the size and forms of countries according to the size and forms of agricultural supportagricultural support

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Policy BriefsPolicy Briefs Exporting in Syria: business environment, trade Exporting in Syria: business environment, trade

reform and promotion activities (reform and promotion activities (BasheerBasheer).). Non-tariff barriers in Great Arab free Trade Area Non-tariff barriers in Great Arab free Trade Area

((HajarHajar).). The WTO negotiations: Will developing The WTO negotiations: Will developing

countries benefit from a new agreement? countries benefit from a new agreement? ((MahmoudMahmoud))

The Euro-Mediterranean Association The Euro-Mediterranean Association Agreement” Is it worth for Syria?” (Agreement” Is it worth for Syria?” (YasserYasser))

Trade policy reform in Syria, what has changed? Trade policy reform in Syria, what has changed? ((IsamIsam))

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Remarks

More Training especially in technical issues

Internet efficiency Members number and rearranging the

workplan Trade data from (GDC) SAT reviewing

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