Schools been keeping me busy. I had to research an industry of my choice and come up with a paper and presentation on Trade bariers in the industry. Being involved in the service industry for more than 10 years, naturally picked up services, instead of narrowing down into specifics, aggregated it to abstract comparisons between Developed and developing countries.

For a quick summary
> 1. Gats provides a framework for analysis of service types( pure services)
> 2. The developed and developing countries comparative advantages
> 3. Developed countries typical errect barriers in modes 2 &4 and
> developing countries typically in Modes 1&3
> 4. Each wants the other to take the barriers off and this is happening to some extent but slowly both ways
> 5. Benefits of taking down the barriers Eg: INDIA maturing and growing steadily
> 6. Example Trends in the trade in services (US): Comparitive advantages at work

I had to make sure this was good, so had the professor review my slides and Ideas, she wants specific practical barrier analaysis.

Been thinking all weekend for something, I can use " FOOD" thats what i am gonna do. Here are some of the raw references

http://www.cfsan.fda.gov/%7Ecomm/foodbiz.html
http://www.wto.org/english/forums_e/ngo_e/posp47_nftc_looking_behind_e.pdf
http://www.gmabrands.com/publicpolicy/index.cfm
http://www.affi.com
http://www.usitc.gov/ext_relations/news_release/2000/ER1121X1.HTM

Here is my down and dirty plan

1. Trade barriers are of 2 types, tarrifs and non tariffs. In the food industry, the Non tarif barriers seem to be more significant than tariffs
2. Non tariff measures
a. Export certification and registration
b. Labeling
c. Food standards
d. Intellectual property rights
e. Customs procedures
f. Sanitary and phytosanitory restrictions(SPS)
g. Export subsidies
h. Domestic assistance
i. State trading enterprises.

3. Trends and events Beef industry, Chocolate industry esatblishment
4. Opportunities and threats

Now, that seemed difficult as there are too many things in there and a close friend suggested Textiles. Now that rings a bell, and i got started on it and finally presented it to the class. Expect more details on the paper on here soon after the professor evaluation and comments.

BASIC APPROACH:
1 Frame the context and brief the industry
2. Price trends since the dismantling of MFA
3. Barriers in existence today, Quotas, Self imposed tarrifs, infrastructure and other obstacles
4. Expectations of GATT (ATC)

The presentation was short, didnt go into too many details but wanted to make sure, i covered ground and in depth. I need to do more of them to get comfortable and perform with ease.

Ok! now its time to really study the "Memos to the president" the first read did open my iltellect but i need to get finer and sequence my knowledge. I cant be getting the subject backwards.

Backwards seems to be the way to work towards an innovation but not for understanding.

So long for now.