Committees
The setting in the committees
- Discussion in the committee before fixing the final declaration
Like in the real WTO, the participants of the oikos Model WTO will negotiate in separate committees before finally meeting with all other participants to vote on the final declaration. Because of the complexity of international trade, the delegates of the Model WTO have to specialize in one committee.
When applying for the oikos Model WTO you will as well take a decision on your specialisation as delegate attached to one of this year's committees.
The 2009 committees have not been decided yet. Here is an overview of the topics discussed during the 2008 edition:
- Agriculture: WTO Rules for Biofuel Policies: Tariffs, Tax Exemptions, Subsidies, Production Process Requirements
- TRIPS: Do Intellectual Property (IP) Rights Enforcement Regulations work for poor countries? What should be reformed?
- NAMA: Border Tax Adjustment for Carbon Taxes on "Grey Energy" (Energy content of products)
- Trade & Biotech: Should countries be allowed to have trade-related safeguards on the import of genetically modified (GM) food?
- Trade & Development: What Forms of Special and Differential Treatment (SDT) would advance sustainable development?
Learn more about the negotiations in the committees!
Committee Chairs
The chairs of each committee will guide through the negotiations. Since the Model WTO is a simulation of a WTO Ministerial Conference, the negotiations will follow the WTO rule set. The Chairpersons will declare the opening and closing of each meeting, will direct the discussion, accord the right to speak, submit questions for decision, announce decisions and have complete control of the proceedings.
Chairpapers of the 2008 edition are available here:
- TRIPS
- NAMA