Genetic Engineering and the World Trade System World Trade Forum [Paperback]

An examination of the challenges to international trade regulation posed by biotechnology.Biotechnology poses various challenges to international trade regulation. This volume examines whether existing international obligations of WTO Members are appropriate to deal with such challenges and whether there is a need for new international legal instruments, including a potential WTO Agreement on Biotechnology.Biotechnology poses various challenges to international trade regulation. This volume examines whether existing international obligations of WTO Members are appropriate to deal with such challenges and whether there is a need for new international legal instruments, including a potential WTO Agreement on Biotechnology.While the WTO agreements do not regulate the use of biotechnology per se, their rules can have a profound impact on the use of the technology for both commercial and non-commercial purposes. This book seeks to identify the challenges to international trade regulation that arise from biotechnology. The contributions examine whether existing international obligations of WTO Members are appropriate to deal with the issues arising for the use of biotechnology and whether there is a need for new international legal instruments, including a potential WTO Agreement on Biotechnology. They combine various perspectives on and topics relating to genetic engineering and trade, including human rights and gender; intellectual property rights; traditional knowledge and access and benefit sharing; food security, trade and agricultural production and food safety; and medical research, cloning and international trade.Part I. Introduction and Systemic Issues: 1. Introduction Daniel W?ger; 2. Genetic engineering, trade and human rights Thomas Cottier; 3. Gender dimensions of biotechnology policy and trade Constance Z. Wagner; Part II. Intellectual Property and Gene Technology - Issues at Stake and Possible Options: 4. Biotechnology and patents: global standards, Europealó¯