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TABLE OF CONTENTS

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Questionnaire: Women in ARTNeT (WIA)—on the road to gender parity in ARTNeT (Deadline: 10 November 2018)

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Sustainable Development Provisions in Investment Treaties (upcoming)

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Upcoming event and call for applications: Regional workshop on Evidence-based trade policy making for sustainable development (28-30 November 2018; Bangkok)

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Upcoming event: IIA reform and sustainable development: Sharing Asia-Pacific experiences (23 October 2018; Geneva, Switzerland)

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Recent event: Green industry conference for sustainable development (3-5 October 2018; Bangkok)

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Call for papers at ADBI

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Call for papers: Understanding child labour in agriculture at RMIT University (Deadline: 11 January 2019)

•

Internship opportunity at UNU-CRIS (Deadline: 1 November 2018)

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From our member: East Asian Economic Review

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From our member: US-India FTA: Possibilities and Pitfalls

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From our partner: Reinvigorating Trade and Inclusive Growth

•

ARTNeT people's on the move

•

Keep in touch with ARTNeT!

•

ARTNeT publication guidelines

•

Use ARTNeT to showcase your work

TRADE@ESCAP

Upcoming event: Meeting of the Extended UNNExT Advisory Group on Cross-border Paperless Trade Facilitation (30 October - 1 November 2018; Bangkok) [https://www.unescap.org/events/meeting-extended-unnext-advisory-group-cross-border-paperless-trade-facilitation-0]

The meeting intends to develop tools to facilitate cross-border paperless trade, in particular, those legal and technical work items identified by the Legal and Technical Working Groups (LTWGs) of the Interim Intergovernmental Steering Group on Cross-border Paperless Trade Facilitation. The outcome of the meeting will be used as an input for the LTWGs to further advance the delivery of supporting documents of the draft road map.

For more information please visit here [https://www.unescap.org/events/meeting-extended-unnext-advisory-group-cross-border-paperless-trade-facilitation-0].

Upcoming event: 4th UNNExT Masterclass (5-14 November 2018; Cheon-An, Republic of Korea) [https://www.unescap.org/events/4th-unnext-masterclass]

The UNNExT Masterclass is an intensive two-week capacity building programme on trade facilitation and Single Window. The 4th Masterclass will focus on facilitation of processes on license, permits, certificates and other regulatory restrictions (e-LPCO) in a Single Window environment to realize digital Customs and paperless trade environment.

For more information please visit here [https://www.unescap.org/events/4th-unnext-masterclass].

Upcoming event: Policy dialogue on Transforming SMEs in Southeast Asia (31 October - 1 November 2018; Bangkok)

The objective of this policy dialogue is to provide a platform where stakeholders in the region can share good practices on how to realise the transformation of SMEs in SEA, both by fostering access and use of digital technologies and by promoting the acceleration of high-growth enterprises.

For more information please visit here [https://www.unescap.org/events/policy-dialogue-transforming-smes-southeast-asia].

News: Lao PDR is visiting ESCAP to discuss e-commerce issue

On 26 October 2018, the delegates of the Ministry of Industry and Commerce of Lao PDR will be visiting ESCAP in order to discuss and consult on the issues regarding the policy response and support needed for developing e-commerce in the country.

Recent event: NTM Week 2018 Side Event - Workshop on Reducing the Costs of NTMs in North and Central Asia (11 October 2018; Geneva, Switzerland) [https://www.unescap.org/events/ntm-week-2018-side-event-workshop-reducing-costs-ntms-north-and-central-asia]

The ESCAP in collaboration with the UNCTAD, ITC and the UNECE, organized a workshop on Reducing the Costs of Non-Tariff Measures (NTMs) in North and Central Asia, 11 October 2018, in Geneva, Switzerland. The workshop held as a side event during the NTM Week 2018 hosted by UNCTAD on 9-11 October. NTM Week 2018 provided a platform for policymakers, practitioners and researchers to discuss cutting-edge issues surrounding the impact of NTMs, including voluntary sustainability standards (VSS), on international trade and sustainable development.

For more information please visit here [https://www.unescap.org/events/ntm-week-2018-side-event-workshop-reducing-costs-ntms-north-and-central-asia].

Recent event: Eighth Meeting of the Asia-Pacific Foreign Direct Investment (FDI) Network (25-26 September 2018; Bangkok) [https://www.unescap.org/events/eighth-meeting-asia-pacific-foreign-direct-investment-fdi-network]

The Eighth Meeting of the Asia-Pacific Foreign Direct Investment (FDI) Network discussed current developments and challenges in FDI policy making, promotion and facilitation in the region. It also explored ways to improve the national legal frameworks and international investment agreements (IIAs) system to ensure it better supports the achievement of the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development. Network members discussed national experiences, best practices and challenges, which are to be fed into the global discourse at the World Investment Forum (WIF) 2018 (22-26 October, Geneva, Switzerland).

For more information please visit here [https://www.unescap.org/events/eighth-meeting-asia-pacific-foreign-direct-investment-fdi-network].

Questionnaire: Women in ARTNeT (WIA)—on the road to gender parity in ARTNeT (Deadline: 10 November 2018) [https://www.surveygizmo.com/s3/4619304/Women-in-ARTNeT-Questionnaire]

The campaign's main objective will be to promote the inclusion of women and their contributions in applied research, generating solid evidence for better policymaking in the areas of trade, investment, and innovation and their role in sustainable development, especially in developing countries of Asia-Pacific.

At this stage, we would like to gather ideas and suggestions from our ARTNeT members, particularly from women professionals associated directly or indirectly with various ARTNeT initiatives. Your answers to the following short questionnaire—along with any point you would like to bring up—will be invaluable in helping the Secretariat define, formulate, and deliver a campaign that is most meaningful to all the members.

Access to the questionnaire here [https://www.surveygizmo.com/s3/4619304/Women-in-ARTNeT-Questionnaire].

Sustainable Development Provisions in Investment Treaties (upcoming)

This publication investigates, analyses and compares the sustainable development provisions (SDPs) incorporated in the selected sample international investment agreements (IIAs) and those contained in the 340 bilateral investment treaties (BITs) of eighteen Asia-Pacific least developed countries (LDCs) and landlocked developing countries (LLDCs). Compared with the sample IIAs, BITs of Asia-Pacific LDCs and LLDCs not only contain smaller number of SDPs, but these SDPs are also of less types and subtypes. Furthermore, the comparative study of the types and subtypes of the SDPs of the two groups of IIAs also suggests that, as BITs of Asia-Pacific LDCs and LLDCs contain less social SDPs and allow narrower access of non-state stakeholders to engage in investment governance, they appear less socialized and governance-oriented than the sample IIAs. It is recommended that these countries should formulate or improve their respective IIA-making strategy with a suitable level of sustainable development orientation. Such a strategy need to be based on an assessment of their respective national situations and sustainable development challenges, with necessary reference made to the existing IIAs that are deemed sustainable development-oriented.

Upcoming event and call for applications: Regional workshop on Evidence-based trade policy making for sustainable development (28-30 November 2018; Bangkok) [https://www.unescap.org/events/regional-workshop-evidence-based-trade-policy-making-sustainable-development]

This workshop will comprise of two segments – one focusing on policy issues targeting senior to mid-level policymakers and one focusing on technical issues, and targeting researchers and technical/analytical government personnel. The policy part of the workshop will discuss emerging issues in trade and investment in the region, as requested by member States, including policy implication of recent trade frictions, the rise of non-tariff measures, LDC graduation – all in the context of the 2030 Sustainable Development Agenda. The technical side of the workshop include a two-day training on R statistical software on data management, gravity modelling and trade analysis.

For more information and registration details please visit here [https://www.unescap.org/events/regional-workshop-evidence-based-trade-policy-making-sustainable-development].

Upcoming event: IIA reform and sustainable development: Sharing Asia-Pacific experiences (23 October 2018; Geneva, Switzerland) [http://worldinvestmentforum.unctad.org/iia-reform-and-sustainable-development-sharing-asia-pacific-experiences/]

Organized by the ESCAP in collaboration with an ARTNeT member International Institute for Trade and Development ( ITD [http://itd.or.th]) the breakout session will review recent developments, best practices and challenges related to IIAs in the Asia-Pacific region. It will give particular attention to efforts under “Phase 2” of the reform process aimed at modernizing IIAs and investment promotion policies and enhancing their sustainability dimension by integrating SDGs in IIAs. The event will also touch upon regional efforts towards implementation of “Phase 3” of IIA reform, aimed at maximizing synergies between IIAs and national legal frameworks for investment.

For more information please visit here [http://worldinvestmentforum.unctad.org/iia-reform-and-sustainable-development-sharing-asia-pacific-experiences/].

Recent event: Green industry conference for sustainable development (3-5 October 2018; Bangkok) [https://www.unescap.org/events/5th-green-industry-conference-sustainable-development]

The Fifth Green Industry Conference opened in Bangkok, with a strong focus on the opportunities green growth could yield for businesses and emerging economies. Organized by the UNIDO [https://www.unido.org], together with the ESCAP, and the support of Thailand’s Ministry of Industry, the three-day Conference explored how the green industry can create jobs and economic opportunities to diversify the economy, while decreasing resource dependency and pollution. Over 400 participants gathered in Bangkok this week, including high-level government officials, representatives of the private sector, industry associations, academia and civil society to discuss how the concept of green industry helps countries achieve multiple development objectives in the context of the 2030 Agenda.

For more information please visit here [https://www.unescap.org/events/5th-green-industry-conference-sustainable-development].

Call for papers at ADBI

Recent Advances in International Trade, Finance, and Business 2018 (Deadline: 1 November 2018)

Our partner ADBI [https://www.adb.org/adbi/main] is pleased to announce the third conference on international business and trade to be held during 16–18 December in Hong Kong, China. Chu Hai College of Higher Education will host the conference. We welcome submissions in broadly defined areas of international trade, finance and business.

For more information please visit here [https://www.adb.org/adbi/research/call-for-papers/advances-international-trade-finance-business-2018].

Economic Integration in Asia and Europe (Deadline: 30 November 2018)

The ADBI invites submissions of original unpublished papers on economic integration in Asia and Europe: how it evolved, where it is headed, what the two regions have in common, and what their differences are. Selected papers will be presented at a seminar to be held in an ADB member country. Participation costs will be covered for one presenter of each accepted paper. The presenter must be a citizen of an ADB member country.

For more information please visit here [https://www.adb.org/adbi/research/call-for-papers/economic-integration-asia-europe].

Call for papers: Understanding child labour in agriculture at RMIT University (Deadline: 11 January 2019) [https://inomics.com/conference/understanding-child-labour-agriculture-1326540]

Labour market conditions are increasingly becoming central to international development policy and practice. In response, the Australian APEC Study Centre at RMIT University, an ARTNeT partner, will host a workshop on Understanding Child Labour in Agriculture on 8-9 April 2019 at RMIT’s Melbourne Campus. The aim of the workshop is to highlight existing and new evidence on the social and economic costs and benefits of child labour in the agricultural sector (primary industries) of developing countries.

We invite experts from academia, government and non-government organisations. We are interested in perspectives from economics, political science, sociology, law, anthropology and psychology. Please send an extended abstract or preferably a working paper by 11 January 2019 to Associate Professor Alberto Posso ( [http://alberto.posso@rmit.edu.au]).

For more information please visit here [https://inomics.com/conference/understanding-child-labour-agriculture-1326540].

Internship opportunity at UNU-CRIS (Deadline: 1 November 2018) [http://cris.unu.edu/internship-program-0]

The internship programme from our partner UNU-CRIS [http://cris.unu.edu/] is now open for applications. Applicants must: Be enrolled in a Bachelor or Master program or be the holder of a Bachelor or Master degree; Demonstrate a strong interest in the UN, global governance or regional integration studies and specifically in one of the research programs of the Institute, namely: 1) The Role of Regions in Global Governance, 2) The United Nations and Regional Public Goods and 3) Changing Patterns of Regional and Global Governance.

For more information please visit here [http://cris.unu.edu/internship-program-0].

From our member: East Asian Economic Review [http://www.kiep.go.kr/eng/sub/periodical.do?bbsId=journal#]

The latest issue of East Asian Economic Review by our member KIEP [http://www.kiep.go.kr/eng/index.do] includes ‘Behind-the-Border’ Regulatory Policies and Trade Agreements by Bernard Hoekman, Dissecting Gains from Trade: Changes in Welfare Cost of Autarky by Paras Kharel from our member SAWTEE [http://www.sawtee.org], Asset Price, the Exchange Rate, and Trade Balances in China: A Sign Restriction VAR Approach by Wongi Kim and more.

For the full publication please visit here [http://www.kiep.go.kr/eng/sub/periodical.do?bbsId=journal#].

From our member: US-India FTA: Possibilities and Pitfalls [https://www.isas.nus.edu.sg/wp-content/uploads/2018/10/US-India-FTA-Amitendu-051018.pdf]

American President Donald Trump’s repeated mention about the United States (US) and India looking at a bilateral trade deal has generated attention about its prospects. The US’ intention of correcting imbalances with major trade partners through bilateral talks highlights such possibilities with respect to India. Given the lack of convergence between the two sides on trade issues and their different approach to free trade agreement (FTA) negotiations, any bilateral agreement talks would encounter challenges. They could further complicate the US’ intention of using its bilateral FTAs to isolate China.

For the full brief from our member NUS-iSAS [https://www.isas.nus.edu.sg/] please visit here [https://www.isas.nus.edu.sg/wp-content/uploads/2018/10/US-India-FTA-Amitendu-051018.pdf].

From our partner: Reinvigorating Trade and Inclusive Growth [https://www.worldbank.org/en/topic/trade/publication/reinvigorating-trade-and-inclusive-growth]

The joint publication released today by our partners the World Bank Group, International Monetary Fund, and the World Trade Organization reinforces the importance of trade in the global economy. The publication emphasizes that trade policies should aim to build greater, more durable openness and encourage countries to reinvest in open, rules-based global trade. In today’s world of fast-moving change in the global economy, there is a need more than ever to ensure that the rules, policies, and practices governing global trade are modernized.

For the full publication please visit here [https://www.worldbank.org/en/topic/trade/publication/reinvigorating-trade-and-inclusive-growth].

ARTNeT people's on the move

Anders K. Møller is a former intern working with ESCAP TIID where he co-authored a paper [https://www.unescap.org/resources/implications-brexit-asia-pacific-region-focus-least-developed-countries-escap-trade-0] on the implications of Brexit to the Asia-Pacific region with Arun Jacobs. He is currently a 2017-19 ODI Fellow in Myanmar where he just began working for Myanmar Development Institute [http://www.mdi.org.mm/]in Nay Pyi Daw. In the previous year, Anders was based in Yangon where he did applied economics research on low-cost housing, public finance management, and municipal solid waste management, and also guest lectured on political economy at Yangon University. His research interests include industrial policy and urbanization.

Keep in touch with ARTNeT!

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ARTNeT publication guidelines [http://artnet.unescap.org/pub/wp-guidelines.pdf]

The ARTNeT Secretariat welcomes submissions of policy briefs, working papers, book reports, research reports, and book reviews by ARTNeT members, partners and collaborators. For any submission to be considered, the editorial 'Guidelines for Submissions to the ARTNeT Working Papers Series' [https://artnet.unescap.org/publications/submission-guidelines]must be adhered to.

Use ARTNeT to showcase your work

If you are an ARTNeT member, partner or collaborator and would like to publicise your publications, research or events in the next newsletter, please e-mail us at [artnetontrade@un.org].

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