PhD confirmation seminar: The implication of agreement on sanitary and phytosanitary measures on developing countries in the context of international trade: a perspective of Indonesia

Topic: PhD confirmation seminar: The implication of agreement on sanitary and phytosanitary measures on developing countries in the context of international trade: a perspective of Indonesia

Presenter: Ms Irna Nurhayati - PhD Candidate, TC Beirne School of Law

In the Agreement on the Application of Sanitary and Phytosanitary Measures (SPS Agreement) of the World Trade Organization (WTO) it has been predicted as that developing countries might have difficulties in implementing the SPS measures, which as a consequence might hamper their global market access. Nowadays, many developing countries including Indonesia continue to face difficulties in complying with the SPS Agreement. They often face difficulties in fulfilling the SPS measures of their importing countries, which constrain their efforts to expand their international trade. They also often face difficulties in formulating their own SPS measures. Consequently, there are several challenges from other countries because of the SPS measures undertaken by Indonesia. Those countries stated that Indonesia's SPS measures did not adapt to scientific basis and restricted their trade. Therefore, this research will analyse potential reasons as to why Indonesia continues to have the difficulties in complying with the SPS Agreement. It will compare the Indonesian experience with the experience of other two selected Southeast Asian developing countries, namely Thailand and the Philippines. It will examine the weaknesses of the SPS Agreement and the difficulties within the developing countries. The research will also provide recommendations to address these problems.

All welcome, no RSVP required.

Contact: Beth Williams, ph: 334 69350, email: events@law.uq.edu.au