International Trade Forum articles from July 2004

International Trade Forum archives from July 2004

From the executive director.(foreword)
July 1, 2004... Expanding trade is an effective way for countries to develop their economies and reduce poverty. Today's globalizing world offers new market opportunities, but at the same time much greater competition. With new challenges, some find it...

Sharpening your competitive edge.
July 1, 2004... CHALLENGES Traditional approaches to competitiveness do not fully address today's business realities. In the globalizing world of today, export constraints are diminishing: falling trade barriers; declining transport costs; new...

Trade talks: getting business on board.
July 1, 2004... CHALLENGES Businesses in developing countries can't afford to ignore global trade talks. International trade agreements are reshaping national laws on where and how companies can trade. Whether we speak of agriculture, services,...

Trade law: new practices improve business confidence.
July 1, 2004... CHALLENGES Today's legal approaches aren't keeping pace with the huge rise in international business. While trade barriers are falling, legal barriers are not. The number of countries has more than tripled in the past 50 years....

South-South trade: tapping the potential.
July 1, 2004... CHALLENGES Developing countries don't fully exploit good business matches among their firms. Exporters still tend to focus on traditional markets in industrialized countries. These markets are highly competitive and difficult to...

Putting "e" to work.
July 1, 2004... CHALLENGES A fundamental question for firms today is, How can 'e' help me compete? From agriculture to industrial products, consumer goods and professional services, information and communications technologies (ICTs) matter. Firms can...

Greening your business.
July 1, 2004... CHALLENGES Clearing up grey areas in countries' "green" economies will heighten export opportunities. Environmental products, services and technologies make up a US$ 475 billion market. By 2010, it's expected to reach US$ 640 billion,...

Women in the global economy.
July 1, 2004... CHALLENGES Women entrepreneurs can be invisible to trade and development policy-makers. Many women entrepreneurs--whether they manage large, small or micro businesses--don't participate in the business circles that decisionmakers know...

Reducing poverty through trade.
July 1, 2004... CHALLENGES Trade does provide economic benefits, but they may not reach the poorest people. Trade can work at three basic levels to boost a country's growth and reduce poverty. First, the right policies encourage trade expansion in...

Jumpstarting trade in LDCs.
July 1, 2004... CHALLENGES LDC businesses need help overcoming supply constraints to spur export growth. Over a period when the world economy has generally been growing and diversifying, the share of least developed countries (LDCs) in world trade...

Building the essential partnerships.
July 1, 2004... CHALLENGES New business realities demand new partnerships for effective trade strategies. Export strategies are the key to helping a critical mass of firms succeed, not just the individual companies that make it despite the odds. The...

ITC at a glance.(International Trade Centre)
July 1, 2004... Since 1964, the International Trade Centre (ITC) has helped the business sectors of developing and transition economies to develop exports. Our ultimate goal is to help these countries to achieve sustainable human development through export...