Trade monitoring

The main thrust of the efforts made by the Government of National Reconciliation and Unity (GRUN), as set out in the National Human Development Plan, is to maintain Nicaragua’s macroeconomic stability so that the country can continue to attract investment and maintain the increase in production and trade that will enable its economy to grow considerably in years to come. These efforts require a predictable, stable and ever more equitable multilateral trading system in which trade flows can increase in an environment that is free of unnecessary barriers, particularly non-tariff barriers, and the Nicaraguan people can attain greater well-being. Nicaragua is of the view that trade among nations is a key tool in sustainable development.

Le Forum public 2013, qui avait pour thème « L’expansion du commerce par l’innovation et l’économie numérique », a attiré de nombreuses organisations non gouvernementales (ONG). Les ONG ont également participé à la neuvième Conférence ministérielle de l’OMC, tenue à Bali en décembre. À Genève, l’OMC a organisé des séances d’information sur des questions commerciales à l’intention des ONG, et des représentants d’ONG ont assisté à plusieurs activités publiques de l’OMC ainsi qu’à des auditions de groupes spéciaux.

The Appellate Body had a busy year in 2015, issuing eleven Appellate Body reports in seven distinct matters. As of the end of 2015, the Appellate Body had circulated 138 reports. Three arbitration proceedings concerning the reasonable period of time for implementation of Dispute Settlement Body (DSB) recommendations and rulings were carried out in 2015. The DSB appointed two Appellate Body members, Ujal Singh Bhatia of India and Thomas Graham of the United States, for second four-year terms.

Canada’s 2007 Report to the Trade Policy Review Mechanism, which covered the period 2003 to February 2007, told a story of an expanding and energized economy in a relatively stable global economic environment. In the current period under the review (2007-2010), the global financial and economic crisis of late 2007 to 2009 posed significant challenges to the Canadian economy, although it has generally proven to be robust and has rebounded solidly. This global crisisled to a sharp decline in global trade, reduced Canadian exports and weakened business and consumer confidence, significantly lowering employment and output. Employment in Canada fell by 427,900 during that period, the unemployment rate rose to 8.7 percent, and real gross domestic product (GDP) declined by 3.4 percent before recovery gained a foothold in the second half of 2009. Canada has more than recouped all of the loss in output experienced during the recession – the best performance in the G-7. Furthermore, Canada has more than recovered all of the jobs lost during the recession, with some 467,300 jobs having been created between July 2009 and January 2011.