A report from the Global Organic Market Access (GOMA) project, a joint FAO, IFOAM and UNCTAD
Initiative examined the process of creating equivalence agreements in Bilateral Equivalence Arrangements on Trade of Organic Products: a review of processes leading to arrangements between Canada and United States, Canada and European Union and European Union and United States. Based on interviews with key members of the equivalence delegations, the report includes factors contributing to the resulting agreements. One pre-condition for successful arrangements was a high level of political will. Other factors include:
• orientation toward learning and understanding process or outcome;
• positive relationships among delegation members based on open and honest
communication and trust;
• high technical expertise and historical perspective in the delegations;
• a degree of common history and shared culture between the countries;
• avoidance of the overall trade balance agenda.
Thursday, March 28, 2013
