| Title | Author(s) | Language | Classification |
Trade Notes 27 - Bioprospecting:Enhancing Biodiversity Use, Through Intellectual Property Rights System For Economic Development
This bulletin examines the linkages between intellectual property and bioprospecting, and the potential that bioprospecting has for achieving development for Kenya through enhanced biodiversity use. It further discusses the policy context of intellectual property and biodiversity management in Kenya by looking at the roles that various government institutions and agencies play in enhancing biodiversity through bioprospecting
| Institute of Economic Affairs | English | Trade Notes |
Trade Notes 26 - Role of Material Transfer Agreements in Intellectual Property Rights Regimes
This bulletin examines the origins of the MTA from the Convention of Biological Diversity (CBD) and states its importance in enhancing biodiversity use that is beneficial to the nations' economies. It identifies the MTA as the first step in enhancing protection of Intellectual Property Rights
| Institute of Economic Affairs | English | Trade Notes |
Trade Notes 24 - Biodiversity and Development
The importance of bioprospecting in biodiversity management and its economic potential in Kenya continues to evade policy makers largely because of the challenge posed by policy inadequacy, incoherence and lack of harmony in implementation of the Acts by the various government agencies and institutions as well as a lack of awareness of Intellectual Property Rights on the part of the public.
| Institute of Economic Affairs | English | Trade Notes |
Trade Notes 25 - Bioprospecting, Intellectual Property and Economic Development
The linkages between bioprospecting and intellectual property have often gone unnoticed. This bulletin attempts to demonstrate the linkages between intellectual property protection and bioprospecting. It goes further to suggest possible interventions that developing nations can make in order to benefit from bioprospecting through an improved intellectual property protection regime
| Institute of Economic Affairs | English | Trade Notes |
Trade Notes 23 - Biodiversity Related International Initiatives And National Policy Coherence For Development And Poverty Reduction in Kenya
This bulletin is based on proceedings of the Traditional Knowledge and Development (TDP) Workshop held in Nairobi, Kenya in June, 2008 and examines the various international initiatives and legislations relating to biological resources and their degree of domestication in Kenya. The bulletin concludes that there is need for coordination of various lead agencies in Kenya in conservation and use of biodiversity for national development and poverty reduction as promised in the vision 2030.
| Institute of Economic Affairs | English | Trade Notes |
Trade Notes 18 - Economic Partnership Agreement (EPA) VS The Generalized System of Preferences (GSP)
The IEA organized a round table meeting on the economic partnership agreement negotiations and development following the 9th Regional Negotiating forum held in Addis Ababa. The Discussions focused on EPAs VS Generalized system of preference GSP scheme and their implications for development
| Institute of Economic Affairs (IEA Kenya) | English | Trade Notes |
Trade Notes 17 - The Gains and Challenges of Trading Under Comesa
The overall objective of comesa (Common Market for Eastern and Southern Africa) is to create an integrated market where there is free movement of goods, services, capital, labour and persons in order to attain sustainable development within the region
| Institute of Economic Affairs (IEA Kenya) | English | Trade Notes |
Trade Notes 16- The Report on Intellectual Property Rights Seminar
The Institute of Economic Affairs together with the Ministry of Trade and Industry through Kenya Industrial Property Institute(KIPI) organized a two day seminar on intelectual property, trade related aspects of intelectual property rights(TRIPS) agreements of the World Trade Organization(WTO) and development, at Brakenhurst International Conference Centre Limuru, on 8th to 9th of May 2006. Read more in the bulletin
| Institute of Economic Affairs (IEA Kenya) | English | Trade Notes |
Trade Note 15 - Trade Facilitation issues for Kenya
Ministers from WTO member countries decided at the 1996 singapore ministerial conference to set up three new working groups on trade and investment, on competition policy and on transparency in government procurement. They also instructed the WTO goods council to look at possible ways of simplifying trade procedures an issue sometimes called - trade facilitation.
| Institute of Economic Affairs (IEA Kenya) | English | Trade Notes |
Trade Notes 22 - Understanding Tariff Binding in International Trade
Tariff binding has been the focus of international trade negotiations under the GATT(General Agreement Trade and Tariffs) to the WTO (World Trade Organization). However, issues under tariff negotiations have been considered complicated to the stakeholders involved in international trade process.
| Institute of Economic Affairs (IEA Kenya) | English | Trade Notes |
Trade Notes 21 - Debate on Patenting of Life forms and Review of Article 23 3B of WTO-TRIPS AGREEMENT
The Trips Agreement defines minimum standards of protection for intelectual property rights (IPRs) in more than 171 WTO member states. Section 5 of the agreement is devoted to patents and states that inventions in all fields of technology should be patentable. This bulletin discusses patenting of life forms and review of Article 27.3B of WTO-TRIPS Agreement
| Institute of Economic Affairs (IEA Kenya) | English | Trade Notes |
Trade notes 20 Linking the General Agreement on Trade in Services (GATS), to National Development Goals and Poverty reduction
The World Trade Organization(WTO) agreement covers goods(The General Agreement in Trade and Tariff, GATT), services(The General Agreement on Trade in Services, GATS) and intelectual property(Trade Related Intelectual Property, TRIPS). These agreements map out the principles of liberalization and the permitted exceptions. This bulletin will discuss Linking the General Agreement on Trade in Services(GATS), to national development goals and poverty reduction.
| Institute of Economic Affairs (IEA Kenya) | English | Trade Notes |
Trade notes 19 Policy Reforms Under the Review of Article 27 3B of WTO-TRIPS AGREEMENT
Trips agreement is one of the pillars of global trade regime and requires all WTO members to provide minimum standards for protection for a wide range of intellectual property rights including patents on life forms. This bulletin will discuss policy options under the review of article 27 3B of WTO-TRIPS AGREEMENT
| Institute of Economic Affairs (IEA Kenya) | English | Trade Notes |
Trade Notes 14 - The Proceedings Of The Pre-Hong Kong National Trade Policy Workshop
This is the report on the proceedings of the Pre-Hong-Kong national trade policy workshop, held at the Sun n Sand Beach Resort, Mombasa, on the 11th and 12th of November. The workshop brought together, representatives of a number of civil society organisations, government officers from the ministry of trade, members of
parliament, and Donor agencies. The workshop had two objectives: disseminate three studies commissioned by IEA that would provide background information in developing Kenya’s position towards the 6th ministerial conference in Hong Kong.Develop Kenya's position towards the said conference.
| Institute of Economic Affairs | English | Trade Notes |
Trade Notes 10 - Re-Considering The Case For A Multilateral Competition Agreement
The controversy around multilateral rules on competition may be traced to the 1996 Singapore Ministerial Conference, where member countries decided to set up three new working groups: on trade and investment, on competition policy, and on transparency in government procurement. They also instructed the WTO Goods Council to look at possible ways of reducing bureaucratic red tape in trade, a matter commonly referred to as trade facilitation.Because the singapore conference began in these four subjects,they are referred to as singapore issues and they became part of the Doha Development Agenda.Entrenched and irreconcilable on these issues are commonly believed to be the main factor behind the collapse of the Cancun Ministerial conference on 14th september 2003.Japan and Korea insisted on the immediate Launch of on all topics. The European Union,the main proponent for negotiation disciplines on these issues,finally offered to drop investment and competition policy,which were by far the most controversial.
| Institute of Economic Affairs | English | Trade Notes |
Trade Notes 13 - The General Agreement On Trade In Services (Gats) Rules Vs National Policies
The adoption of the General Agreement on Trade in Services (GATS) in 1995 heralded a marked expansion of the world trade mandate into sectors which had hitherto been outside the scope of global trade rules. The previous rules had dealt with the trade in goods but GATS brings to the fore the service sector and opens up individual countries to a programme of progressive liberalisation under the aegis of the World Trade Organization (WTO).This programme of liberalisation has now begun to hold across a degree of services under GATS.The Institute of Economic Affairs organised a public forum with the aim of eliciting debate as there are concerns that the GATS rules may not augur well with Kenya's national policies,since there is still need to protect certain sectors as well as the welfare of the nation.
| Institute of Economic Affairs | English | Trade Notes |
Trade Notes 12 - What Ails The Sugar Industry In Kenya
The sugar industry is both strategic and political; it ensures food security, improves rural lives and provides sustainable livelihoods for millions of Kenyans but it also has to suffer heavy government intervention. The industry is under constant threat of collapsing due to perennial challenges. The major crises the sub-sector is currently experiencing include liberalisation and increasing competition from cheap sugar imports, poor industry policies and structures that fail to address basic problems that would assist in recovery and continued government intervention that has resulted in mismanagement of the industry.
| Institute of Economic Affairs | English | Trade Notes |
Trade Notes 11 - The East African Community (EAC) Customs Union
The three Heads of State of Kenya, Uganda and Tanzania signed the East African Community (EAC) Customs Union Protocol in Arusha, Tanzania on 2nd March 2004. It is to come into force on 1st January 2005. The Customs Protocol has opened up new areas of concerns for the Kenyan Government in terms of the revenue implications, international trade matters and concerns for the manufacturing sector. To find out if Kenya could benefit from the protocol by carving out niche market for its products,improve her collective bargaining strength in the international arena and build on gains she had already made in the EAC, on 5th may 2004 the IEA-Kenya held a forum to debate the issue.
| Institute of Economic Affairs | English | Trade Notes |
Trade Notes 9 - Towards East African Services
Liberalization of services is normally discussed as a WTO phenomenon. This bulletin is concerned not with multilateral but preferential liberalization of services within the East African Community context. Liberalisation itself is a term that carries various connotations. We use this term to refer to removal of market access and national treatment limitations facing East African services, and not privatisation of government provision of services.
The East African Intergration process is envisaged to be a progressive one,beginning with a custom union,moving to a free trade area encompassing the free movement of capital,goods,services and labour,and ultimately resulting in a political union.
| Institute of Economic Affairs | English | Trade Notes |
Trade Notes 8 - Industrial Relation Issues For AGOA Investors The Case Of EPZS
Since the signing of The African Growth and Opportunity Act (AGOA) in 2000 Kenya has began to take greater advantage of this new trade arrangement. In 2003 the Institute of Economic affairs (IEA) held a forum entitled ''Industrial relation issues for AGOA investors the case of EPZ’s.'' The essence of the forum was to look at the AGOA agreement since it signed against the backdrop of the strikes that took place in the EPZ which has seen an increased level of investment to take advantage of AGOA. The forum was well attended and attracted a wide variety of participants from the different sectors.The Trade Notes brings the issues that were discussed during this public forum debate.
| Institute of Economic Affairs | English | Trade Notes |
Trade Notes 7 - The East African Community The Way Forward For The Trade Protocol
The East African milieu has been altered positively since the signing of the Treaty for the Establishment of the East African Community on 30th November 1999. The treaty promises to present policy makers, businessmen, foreign investors, civil society and the citizens of East Africa with new and exiting challenges at the political and socio- economic fronts.The fundamental objectives of the treaty it is hoped that it will be achieved through the creation of a single market through a customs union which eventually will become a common market, a monetary union and eventually a political union.It is in this regard that the Institute of Economic Affars organised a public forum with the aim of eliciting debate on the state of play in the EAC and what needs to be done to aid the process of deeper intergration.The Trade Notes highlights the issues raised at the forum.
| Institute of Economic Affairs | English | Trade Notes |
Trade Notes 6 - The Cotonou Agreement Configuration Of The Economic Partnership Agreements
The signing of the Cotonou Agreement’s Economic Partnership Agreements (EPAs) on the 27th September 2002 ushered in a new phase in the relationship between the European Union and the African Caribbean and Pacific Countries. The Institute of Economic Affairs organised a public forum with the aim of eliciting debate in terms of the best trading arrangement Kenya should take with regard to EPAs.
| Institute of Economic Affairs | English | Trade Notes |
Trade Notes 5 - Cotonou Agreements Economic Partnership Agreements
The signing of the Cotonou Agreement’s Economic Partnership Agreements on the 27th September 2002 ushered in a new phase in the relationship between the European Union and the African Caribbean and Pacific Countries. On September 10th 2002 the Institute of Economic Affairs organised a public forum with the aim of eliciting debate in terms of the best trading arrangement Kenya should take with regard to EPAs.The Trade Notes highlights the issues raised at the forum.
| Institute of Economic Affairs | English | Trade Notes |
Trade Notes 4 - Exploring the Cotonou Partnership Agreement Modalities for Non-State Actors Engagement
Its now over one year, since 77 ACP (African, Caribbean and Pacific) countries and the 15 European Union member states signed a comprehensive, twenty-year 'partnership agreement' in Cotonou (Benin). This new partnership was concluded after lengthy discussions and negotiations (1996-2000).On the 26th October,2001, the Institute of Economic Affairs(IEA),in conjuction with the African Peace Forum(APF) and Econews Africa organised a public forum debate on the Cotonou agreement and the modalities for the non-state actors engagement. The objective of the forum was to explore the cotonou package and the non-actors actors participation. The Trade Notes brings out the major issues emerging from this forum.
| Institute of Economic Affairs | English | Trade Notes |
Trade Notes 2 - AGOA One year on What are the Emerging Issues
The signing of the African Growth and Opportunity Act (AGOA) into law, on May 18th 2000, by the president of the United States of America opened a new trading opportunity to the Sub-Saharan African countries (SSA).On the 26th June 2001,the Institute of Economic Affairs(IEA) held a public forum entitled ''AGOA:One year on:What are the emerging issues.''The Objective of this forum was to bring together stakeholders and general public interested in AGOA initiative to discuss the emerging issues;challenges and the way forward,one year on since AGOA was signed into American Law.The forum was overwhelmingly attended and attracted a diverse public at large including farmers,researchers/analysts, and business entreprenuers.The Trade Notes brings the issues discussed during this public forum debate.
| Institute of Economic Affairs | English | Trade Notes |
Trade Notes 1 - Exploring New Trading Arrangement Options For Kenya
The signing of Cotonou agreement on 23rd June, 2000, ushered in a new EU-ACP countries’ trading arrangement, which differs from the previous Lome’ trade arrangements. Formal negotiations for cotonou trading arrangements start in September 2002 and by then ACP countries are expected to have decided on their preferred trading arrangement.On April 25th 2001,the Institute of Economic Affairs(IEA) Organised a public forum with an Objective of Initiating a debate on a desirable Kenya-EU trading arrangement position for Kenya.This Trade Notes brings the issues discussed during this debate forum.
| Institute of Economic Affairs | English | Trade Notes |
