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This draft issue brief examines the intersection of Export Credit Agencies (ECAs), the OECD Arrangement on Guidelines for Officially Supported Export Credits, and the WTO Agreement on Subsidies and Countervailing Measures (ASCM). It analyzes how the 'safe haven' clause in the ASCM protects OECD members' export credits from being classified as prohibited subsidies, the resulting competitive disadvantages for developing countries, and the legal precedents set by the Brazil-Canada aircraft disputes. The document also highlights the lack of comprehensive environmental and social guidelines governing ECA activities.

This research paper by the Center for International Environmental Law (CIEL) and WWF International examines the potential conflicts between the WTO's General Agreement on Trade in Services (GATS) and domestic water management policies. The authors argue that while water management requires flexibility and adaptive planning to protect ecosystems, the GATS favors legal predictability and 'locking in' policy choices, which may constrain a state's ability to regulate water rights, pollution, and resource extraction.

The report details a 2003 workshop on integrating public benefits—such as rural electrification, energy efficiency, and renewable energy—into power sector reforms in developing countries. It concludes that while reforms can threaten traditional public service obligations, they also provide opportunities to establish transparent, accountable regulatory frameworks that can sustain and expand these benefits. The document emphasizes that the achievement of public benefits is independent of ownership structure but requires explicit policy integration and expanded capacity building for a wider range of stakeholders, including NGOs and academia.

This briefing by Razeen Sally examines the challenges facing the World Trade Organization (WTO) amidst a shifting global power structure characterized by overwhelming US dominance and the decline of European and Japanese influence. The author argues that the WTO is suffering from regulatory overload, excessive legalisation, and political deadlock, which have crippled its ability to function as a negotiating mechanism. To survive as a vehicle for liberalisation, the author suggests the WTO must return to its core purpose of reducing trade barriers and secure clear US leadership supported by pragmatic coalitions in the Asia-Pacific region.

This briefing by Friends of the Earth International examines the theories, institutions, and impacts of the global trade system, arguing that its core principles are fundamentally flawed and prioritize economic growth and corporate interests over environmental sustainability, social equity, and human development.

This report by Friends of the Earth International (FOEI) examines how multilateral trade negotiations within the World Trade Organization (WTO) could negatively impact the rights of Indigenous Peoples, specifically regarding territorial rights, traditional knowledge, and the management of protected areas and natural resources.

This executive summary examines the domestic import regulations for genetically modified organisms (GMOs) across various global regions and analyzes their compatibility with World Trade Organization (WTO) rules. It highlights the contrast between the stringent regulatory regimes in the European Union and the more flexible approach in the United States, while also detailing the emerging biosafety frameworks in Asia, Latin America, and Africa. The document specifically evaluates potential legal conflicts regarding mandatory labelling, traceability, and the 'precautionary principle' within the context of WTO agreements such as the SPS and TBT Agreements.

The Action List from the Tenth meeting of the Conference of the Parties (CoP) of the Inter-American Institute for Global Change Research (IAI), held from 3-5 June 2003 in Boulder, USA, records the administrative and financial decisions made during the session. Key outcomes include the election of the Bureau, approval of the 2003/2004 Core Budget and Annual Program, and the creation of an Ad Hoc Committee on Relations with Member States.

The document outlines the Annual Program of the Inter-American Institute for Global Change Research (IAI) for the period from July 2003 to June 2004, detailing institutional goals, scientific programs, capacity development, and communication strategies.

This document is a list of actions and decisions from the Tenth Meeting of the Conference of the Parties (CoP) of the Inter-American Institute for Global Change Research (IAI), held in Boulder, United States, from June 3 to 5, 2003.

This briefing paper by the Center for International Environmental Law (CIEL) analyzes the international legal framework for foreign investment, arguing that current treaties and agreements prioritize investor rights and liberalization over environmental protection, social goals, and corporate accountability.

This report from the Inter-American Institute for Global Change Research (IAI) details the activities of its Directorate between December 2002 and May 2003. It outlines progress across six strategic goals, including the expansion of Climate Research Networks (CRNs), capacity-building in member countries, and improving the dissemination of research. The document highlights numerous international diplomatic and scientific engagements, new institutional agreements, fundraising efforts for training courses, and internal administrative reforms, while also addressing a financial and administrative dispute regarding project CRN-038.

This report from the Executive Directorate of the Inter-American Institute for Global Change Research (IAI) details activities and progress between December 2002 and May 2003. It outlines the implementation of six core strategies focused on consolidating research networks, developing a new scientific agenda, enhancing capacity building in scientifically weaker member countries, and increasing the institute's visibility through international partnerships and advisory services.

This report by Friends of the Earth International describes the role of small-scale farmers and indigenous communities in Latin America in protecting and restoring biodiversity. It highlights specific local projects in Costa Rica, Paraguay, and Uruguay while critiquing the impact of industrial monocultures, the 'Green Revolution', and neoliberal trade policies on global biodiversity and rural livelihoods.

The Inter-American Institute for Global Change Research (IAI) Status Report as of April 30, 2003, details the institute's financial standing for the 2002/2003 fiscal year, including core and program budgets, as well as administrative updates regarding staffing and office space.

This report by the Rocky Mountain Institute (RMI) analyzes U.S. energy insecurity, focusing on the risks associated with oil dependence and the potential for energy efficiency to mitigate these threats. Using data primarily from the 2001 EIA Annual Energy Review, the document details the sources and uses of U.S. oil, the economic and security costs of dependence on OPEC and the Persian Gulf, and the technical potential for reducing oil consumption through vehicle efficiency and alternative fuels.

This position paper by Friends of the Earth International argues that current global trade rules, particularly those of the WTO, undermine food sovereignty and sustainability. It advocates for a shift from industrial, export-oriented agriculture toward localized, sustainable food systems that prioritize the rights of small farmers and the environment over corporate interests.

The document contains the approved minutes of the Sixteenth Meeting of the Inter-American Institute for Global Change Research (IAI) Executive Council (EC), held on December 2-3, 2002, in Panama City, Panama. The meeting focused on the transition to a new Director, financial audits, the restructuring of working groups, and strategies to increase member country commitment and scientific capacity building in the Americas.

Minutes from the 16th Meeting of the Executive Council (EC) of the Inter-American Institute for Global Change Research (IAI), held on December 2-3, 2002, in Panama City, Panama. The meeting focused on the appointment of a new Executive Director, financial audits, the restructuring of ad hoc working groups, and strategies to increase member country commitment.

The report documents the 18th meeting of the Inter-American Institute for Global Change Research (IAI) Scientific Advisory Committee (SAC), held on January 29-30, 2003, in Mendoza, Argentina. The meeting focused on reviewing the IAI Science Agenda, evaluating Core Research Network (CRN) projects, planning future funding calls, and discussing collaborations with international bodies like the Asia Pacific Network for Global Change Research (APN) and the International Geosphere-Biosphere Programme (IGBP).