1 National agricultural Policy Center (NAPC) The Operation of Trade and Trade Policy Division (TPD) By: Isam Ismail TPD's Coordinator Damascus, May 11, 2005

2   Mission:   Research on the integration of Syrian agriculture in the world economy   Bilateral and regional agreements (EU, individual Arab countries)   WTO Accession.   Trade policies analysis (International and Domestic).   Proposed approach   Skill building (learning-by-doing).   Focus on the production on new knowledge on the effects and policy options related to trade reforms in Syria   Links with other NAPC Divisions’   Target public (policy makers, private sector, academics).

Workplan  Objectives – –Enhance skills and capacities of the NAPC's staff. – –Establish links with the international research community. – –Support to the Syrian general debate on trade reforms. – –Support the GoS in the technical aspects of international trade negotiations.

4  Activities  Skill development activities Review Papers (RP) Review Papers (RP) Evaluating Information Sources Evaluating Information Sources  Research and institutional activities Periodical Report (SAT 2005 including SI) Periodical Report (SAT 2005 including SI) Policy Support Activities (TPB, CMB, WTO) Policy Support Activities (TPB, CMB, WTO)  Publication of paper on GAFTA  Seminars (Internal seminar and AP forum)

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7 Division Staff/Topics  Mahmoud Babbili –Multilateral trade negotiations and Agricultural policies in the developed economies  Yasser Al Essa –Free trade agreements and regional agreements  Isam Ismail –Trade policy options for developing countries and in the Syrian Arab Republic  Hajar Baghasa –Non-tariff barriers  Basheer Al Hamwi –Public regulations on export marketing

8 Performed Activities  SAT  Start working on SAT 2005 with SI “Syrian-EU Association agreement”.  Review Papers (RP).  Policy Briefs (PB).

9 Special Issue/Syrian-EU Association Agreement Introduction 1 Other Countries Experience 2 Syria and Barcelona Process 2.1. EU-Syria co-operation 2.2. Negotiations for an Association Agreement 3 EU-Syria Trade Relation 3.1. Agricultural Exports 3.2. Agricultural Imports 4 The Syrian-EU Association Agreement 4.1. General provisions 4.2. Provisions affecting the agricultural sector 4.3. Agricultural provisions in detail 5 Expected impacts 6 Policy recommendations

10 Review Paper (RP)  Mahmoud Babbili: Negotiations' Position of the Main trading partners and their Rationale  Isam Ismail: The Impacts of Agricultural Trade Liberalization on Development (Lessons for Syria)  Hajar Baghasa: Non-tariff barriers and Syrian Government Procedures towards Trade Liberalization  Basheer Hamwi: Main Determinant Factors of the Export Success  Yasser Al Essa: Is it possible to classify countries according to the size and forms of agricultural support

11 Policy Briefs  Exporting in Syria: business environment, trade reform and promotion activities (Basheer).  Non-tariff barriers in Great Arab free Trade Area (Hajar).  The WTO negotiations: Will developing countries benefit from a new agreement? (Mahmoud)  The Euro-Mediterranean Association Agreement” Is it worth for Syria?” (Yasser)  Trade policy reform in Syria, what has changed? (Isam)

12 Remarks   More Training especially in technical issues   Internet efficiency   Members number and rearranging the workplan   Trade data from (GDC)   SAT reviewing

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