Trade Committee (TC) Mr. Colin Bird
1.
What is the mission and mandate of your Committee?
My inner lawyer would have me just read from our agreed text, but let me put it in my own words. Our mission is really to ensure that the rules-based trading system is grounded in solid analysis and evidence and that OECD members can be leaders in identifying the path forward for trade policies that advance global prosperity in a sustainable way. We have a far-reaching mandate to champion trade liberalization, promote coherence between domestic and trade policies, advance work at the WTO and support a growth agenda, including through support to bilateral and regional free trade initiatives. To a growing extent, we are looking at “trade and” issues to ensure that under-represented groups can benefit from trade and that trade supports social and environmental objectives. We are also increasingly looking to see how we can better ensure a level playing field for trade globally. Finally, we have responsibility for guiding our efforts on export credits, which is also a level playing field issue. 2. You have been designated Committee Chair. What is your background and what has convinced you to take up this post? How do you consider your background and experience contribute to such a role and function? I have worked in the non-profit sector addressing the impact of trade on development, which gives me some perspective on the views of stakeholders who are more challenging of the benefits of trade. I have worked as a trade lawyer at the WTO and in NAFTA dispute settlement, which gives me insights into how important it is to have rules that are well grounded in economic realities. In my current position in the Government of Canada, I am our senior trade official for the G7, G20 and APEC as well as heading up our headquarter’s team for engagement at the WTO. This gives me a valuable opportunity to see how the work of the OECD is central to advancing work in these other fora. Immediately before taking up my current position, I led Canada’s trade policy team at our Embassy in Washington. My five years in Washington were valuable not only for understanding U.S. trade policy. It was also an opportunity to collaborate with diplomats from many other OECD members as well as to benefit from the deep trade policy expertise in DC-based think tanks and policy circles. This background, as well as a couple of years experience on the Bureau of the Trade Committee, are what made me want to take on this challenge. 3.
What is your main priority as Chair?
My core priority is to see the work of the OECD on trade continue to reflect the priorities of its members and that the members maintain a strong role in guiding the direction of the work. I also hope to use my time in the chair role to engage more with other committees of the OECD, since our work on trade is increasingly connected to issues under consideration elsewhere in the house. Social policy, environmental policy, and competition policy are all highly relevant to our work in the trade committee, to name just a few of the key linkages.
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