Modules

Module 1: Assessment

LegaCarta’s comprehensive database will help policymakers to have an exact and thorough understanding of their country’s situation regarding ratification of the main multilateral trade treaties. This first assessment identifies the country's strengths and weaknesses regarding key trade treaties and analyses the legal obligations and trade benefits deriving from key instruments. Each participating organization is provided with a CD-ROM containing full country analysis of the ratification status of all multilateral trade treaties. Training for optimized use of LegaCarta is available.

Module 2: Workshops on ratification/key treaties’ accession:

 
ITC organizes workshops with local partners and in cooperation with selected international organizations that administer the relevant multilateral agreements, develop a plan for accession to some strategic conventions, according to national priorities and development strategies. The purpose of the workshops is to enable the local partners to set up a priority list of treaties that should be ratified, taking into account the general relevance of these instruments and local/regional conditions. In particular, the advantages and pitfalls arising out of the ratification of the selected instruments are discussed and the practical aspects of the ratification procedures are identified. As a result, national policymakers are enabled to monitor and improve their national legal framework in the field of trade. In particular, officers within the relevant Ministries (Justice, Trade, Foreign Affairs, etc.) are in a position to plan and carry out the procedure to ratify the selected treaties.

Module 3: Assistance in integrating selected key treaties and/or model-laws into national law

This module is implemented with the contribution of selected international organizations that administer the relevant multilateral agreements and/or model laws. It consists of study visits of stakeholders to these organizations to address practical questions regarding accession to specific treaties or incorporation of international trade rules into national law. Workshops on treaty training are available. This module provides a link with relevant international organizations.

Module 4: Commitment from legal stakeholders

This module targets the legal stakeholders such as the Ministries of Trade and Justice, the Bar Associations and the academic community to go through the practical implications as a consequence of accession to trade treaties. It reinforces the national legal network, updates the knowledge of the legal community with new trends and ensures that these trade rules are included in the curriculum of Law Schools. It takes the form of a national roundtable to determine the consequences of accession to key multilateral treaties or to specific model laws. It may include the elaboration of a national curriculum for trade law at universities.

Module 5: Specialized modules according to country’s priorities

We recognize that different countries have different needs regarding the enhancement of their legal framework. Our added value is this versatility, as we offer tailor-made programmes (a two year programme or just one module within a larger project) to fit the context and the particular situation and audience of each country.
Our trade related technical assistance aims at creating with the local partners an environment conducive to business. This environment is only effective when a strong trade-related legal framework backs it.

Main outputs for the country
• Capacity-building of public sector personnel in key Ministries (usually includes Trade, Finance, Environment, Transport, Justice, Foreign Affairs) on trade treaties basics and management, so that the personnel is able to fully capture the country’s current situation and pro-actively monitor the country’s accession process;
• Installation of the treaty management system (LegaCarta) in the Ministries & institutions;
• Comprehensive analysis of the country’s current status regarding all international trade treaties, including ratifications updated on a monthly basis, full text and explanatory notes of all treaties ; the monthly updated country situation analysis is available on a click;
• A planning strategy and cost/benefit analysis on acceding to a number of treaties in the short and long term, taking into account the country’s priorities.
Once this information is at hand and is understood, policymakers have a better grasp on policy issues related to the application or non-application of multilateral trade conventions in their country. With the support of ITC, some countries have already made substantial progress in designing and implementing roadmaps for enhancing their legal environment by planning and prioritizing international trade treaties accession.

Main outcome
Lowering transactional costs on international trade for companies coming into the country or doing business abroad. Enhanced business environment.

Looking ahead
Developing economies in particular are encouraged to participate in the process of drafting international trade rules instead of merely being a passive recipient of them. To this end, the LegaCarta technical assistance programme fosters connections between national authorities and the main international rule-making organizations to ensure that these countries also contribute their share to international trade rule-making.
For more information on Trade Treaties Map and it’s components, please contact us.