Dr. Sarita Jackson and Racquel Smith

Letter from the Editors

Trade liberalization, in various fits and starts, strains and nuances, and in all of its controversial glory, continues. Many countries prioritize trade pacts, typically guided by a faith that such deals will result in increased trade and investment flows, in turn, economic growth, and in time, wholesale poverty reduction. But the persistence of poverty, against the backdrop of trade wheeling and dealing, challenges orthodox views of how this process really works. The ensuing, current debate about what else is required is complex and often polarized. What is the starting point for diagnosing, prescribing and articulating the nexus of trade and poverty? Read more...

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Featured Articles :

Trade and Poverty: The Doha Dilemma
by Andrea Ewart
"International trade can play a major role in the promotion of economic development and the alleviation of poverty," reads the second paragraph of the Ministerial Declaration that launched the Doha Development Round of the World Trade Organization (WTO) in 2001. Accordingly, writes Tomer Broude in his article short-titled, "The Rule(s) of Trade and the Rhetos of Development," over the last few years, discussions on any one of the diverse aspects of the law and practice of the WTO often contain at least token reference to its "development dimension." In the 2005 Hong Kong Ministerial Declaration, for example, the central importance of the development dimension of the Doha Round was again emphasized. The result has been changed and raised expectations among poor countries that are slowing the progress of the Round and possibly even straining the fabric of the WTO itself. Read more ...

A Tale of Two Cotton-Pickin' Farmers
by Gillian Virata
Terry Pepper and Hamidou Coulibaly have never met, and since they live 6,060 miles apart, they are not likely to. Yet something, over which neither of them has any control, distresses them both-the low price of cotton. Read more ...

U.S. Foreign Trade Policy and Poverty Reduction: Can U.S. Trade Policy Help the World's Poorest Women?
by Shamarukh Mohiuddin
While trade policy remains a controversial subject in the United States and in many other countries, trade has already shown an enormous potential to spur economic development and reduce poverty. Trade has also provided undisputable benefits for low income women around the world. This is especially true of trade in light manufactures and agriculture, where women dominate the workforce. Read more...

Special Feature: OWIT-Nairobi
OWIT - Nairobi was launched in April 2001. It was the first chapter of OWIT in Africa, and is a leading forum for networking, education, information dissemination, professional growth and leadership. Members include: women entrepreneurs, women in import/export trade, manufacturing, graphic design, tour and travel, sales and marketing, public relations, logistics, transportation, freight forwarding, accountancy, law, consultancy, banking and finance and information technology. Despite challenges such as the lack of consistent sources of funding, the chapter takes pride in the achievements of a core group of committed women take pride. Read more...

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Events:

WIIT Professional Development Event: Getting Published
On January 19, the WIIT Professional Development speaker series held the panel discussion "Getting Published". Read more...

WIIT 2007 Winter Social with His Excellency, the Ambassador of Jordan
On Wednesday February 7, 2007, WIIT held its annual Winter Social. The Embassy of the Hashemite Kingdom of Jordan hosted by the.reception. Read more...

WIIT Event: International Trade and Emerging Biofuels Market
On February 27, 2007, the Agriculture section hosted a brown bag lunch on international trade and biofuels. Read more...

Professional Development Event: International Careers Panel
On March 6, 2007, WIIT co-sponsored "Panel on International Careers for Graduate Students and Professionals" with the George Washington University Center for International Business Education and Research (GW-CIBER). Read more...

WIIT Professional Development Event: Giving Successful Presentations
On March 14, the second event of this year's Professional Development series featured Don Swenholt, an executive trainer with more than 25 years of experience. Read more...

WIIT Professional Development Event: International Protocol and International Assignments
On April 20, Sandy Moore of the McGinn Group discussed a host of issues encountered when working in international environments. Read more...

Technology and Export Controls Section Event: China Rule
The Technology and Export Controls Section hosted a brown bag lunch on April 26, 2007. The luncheon focused on industry's view of the controversial proposed Commerce Department rule that would tighten export controls on certain products exported to China. Read more...

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Announcements:

CALL TO ALL WIIT PARENTS--YOUR HELP IS NEEDED!
If you are a WIIT Parent, please have a close look at the WIIT Trust's Trade Education Project. We want your children to learn about trade as early as middle or high school!
We ask you to become a pro-active part of WIIT's effort to teach our children early on about international trade. Talk to your children's Social Studies/Economics/Business teachers and/or Principals/Head of School and brief them on the WIIT Trust International Trade Education Program. Your encouragement will inspire them to use the lesson plans in their classroom!

A brochure describing the project can be found by clicking here. All the lesson plans are also available on the WIIT Charitable Trust website. Click here for the Trade Education.

Please contact - either Michaela Platzer or Monique Roske - so we can tell you more about our wonderful lesson plans!

Upcoming Events
Find details and new additions at http://www.wiit.org/events/events.htm.