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Ensuring Development-supportive Accession of Least-developed Countries to the WTO: Learning from Nepal (PDF - 306 kb)
Nepal was the first least-developed country (LDC) to become a Member of the WTO through the accession process in April 2004. This paper reviews Nepal's experience during and after accession and examines the country's commitments, including vis-à-vis incumbent WTO Members. The paper identifies some lessons that can help other acceding LDCs and also provides clear recommendations for urgent action.
“TKN's mission is to ensure that social development and environmental goals are equitably addressed in trade and investment policies.”
The Trade Knowledge Network (TKN) is a global collaboration of research institutions across Africa, Asia, Europe and the Americas working on issues of trade, investment and sustainable development. Coordinated by the International Institute for Sustainable Development (IISD), the TKN links network members, strengthens capacity for effective research and generates new understanding on the impacts of trade and investment policies on sustainable development.
The overarching aim of the TKN is to help ensure trade and investment contribute to sustainable development, with developmental and environmental concerns equitably addressed in policy-making. The TKN has four inter-related objectives to achieve this goal:
1. To produce objective, high quality, country and region specific policy and thematic research on issues related to trade and investment policies and practices that present challenges or opportunities for achieving sustainable development in developing countries;
2. To inform and engage policy-makers and promote dialogue among stakeholders to incorporate sustainable development into trade and investment negotiations, policy formulation and trade and investment practice;
3. To build the capacity of TKN partner organizations to integrate sustainable development priorities into trade and investment policy and practice through; demand-driven training, South-South and North-South joint and cooperative research and policy engagement activities, and the exchange and placement of young researchers and interns at TKN Partner organizations; and
4. To facilitate through the TKN, its partners and among broader audiences globally, exchange of information, best policy and practice on trade, investment and sustainable development.
