On WTO’s Agenda:
The Effect of Trade on Greenhouse Gas Emissions
Although the WTO is not the place to establish global climate policy and how such goals would be reached, it nevertheless plays an important role in combating environmental concerns, because its rules govern taxes, tariffs, subsidies, regulatory measures, and other instruments that are relevant for implementing climate policies. The Report made by the World Trade Organisation and United Nations Environment Programme provides an overview of the key linkages between trade and climate change based on a review of available literature and a survey of relevant national policies. It mentions that free trade is likely to increase CO2 emissions as a result of increased economic activity (the scale effect); and on the other hand, trade opening could facilitate both, the adoption of technologies that reduce the emission-intensity of goods, and their production process (technique effect). As such, it is vital for discussions regarding trade and its overall influence on the environment to establish a low-carbon economy. Especially with the sudden rise of production and trade in a post-COVID-19 world, after pandemic-related regulations have been lifted, the change in the mix of a country’s production from energy-intensive sectors towards less energy-intensive sectors to allow a comparative advantage should be regulated and worked towards before it is too late.
Delegates may discuss taking the opportunity of the buffer stage before intensifying trade and how appropriate solutions are in regards to each nation’s capabilities and the global concern of climate.
On WTO’s Agenda:
Revitalising International Trade Recovery in a Post-COVID-19 World
Ever since the COVID-19 Pandemic hit, it has made a great downfall towards international trade with both exporting and importing countries were unable to operate normally. Under this topic, the discussion should take into account the concerns coming from both exporting and importing countries as they are the main actors in achieving sustainability in the international trade. For the importing countries, as a lot of people lost their job due to the COVID-19 Pandemic Situation, the overall state budget was declining as well, as a result, there was a tremendous reduction on the demand side which made the importer find a hard time to make a living. In the other hand, the exporting countries find challenges where commodity prices get so unstable and the value of each commodity kept on decreasing which leaves the exporting countries with no choice but to reduce the scale of production in order to survive. The question that therefore delegates must answer is not limited to how we can make a sustainable recovery for international trade, but also on how we can make the recovery itself even for countries, especially the developing ones concerning their economic condition. Next issue that should be addressed is whether or not there is any alternative for international trade to shift from the current mechanism that exists?
READ WTO BACKGROUND PAPER 2Meet Your Chair:
Francesco Ramozzi
Ciao! My name is Francesco. I study the marvellous discipline of law. Law is all around us. Every step we take in society, everything we do and everything we see can be captured by this astonishing discipline. Law teaches us how to compare, evaluate and comprehend the concepts of good and bad. Law is when the debate turns into art of words aimed at one and sole objective: seeking the truth. And that, I believe, is something worth pursuing.
This will be my 6th MUN and the fact that it is going to be so close to many well-known international institution makes me more than thrilled. Among the most noteworthy locations these conferences have brought me is the UN Headquarter in New York, but I am 100% sure that this MUN will have as much prestige as the previous ones. As a delegate, I have experienced the magic of raising your placard, standing for your points and (most of all) socialising with your peers.
I come from Italy and besides my passion for diplomacy, I enjoy art. I admire acting, opera and rock music. Anything that implies video-making or plays catches my attention – I seriously cannot resist it. I am excited to meet you all and I have no doubt that we are going to have a lot of fun in TEIMUN 2022!
Fun Fact: I was born in Narnia.
Meet Your Chair:
Črt Samo Grošelj
Hey guys!
My name is Črt (yes, there are actually no vowels in it, it’s not a typo) and I’m co-chairing the WTO Council at TEIMUN this year. I’m a third year International and European Law student at the University of Groningen. I find the interplay between politics and how the law works fascinating and I hope to see some of that reflect in the WTO Council this year.
I went to my first MUN when I was 16 and have been going to them ever since. I find debating politics one of the best ways to spend free time, especially with people of my age. Hopefully, we’ll get to see some fruitful debates at TEIMUN this year.
Aside from the obvious interest in MUN, I spend a lot of time on my degree. Apart from the university related stuff, I have been playing rugby for the past 6 years. I come from Slovenia, but grew up in Brussels so I have been around the politics of the EU for most of my life.
Fun Fact: I have never been able to figure out how to snap my fingers. It baffles me.