Virtual Conference:

Culture, Trade and Environment

American University, School of International Service

This virtual conference examines culture, trade and the environment. There are three panels that look at the issue. We will post drafts of the cases and you are invited to comment on them through the author's email that is attached to each case. The virtual conference will be held from June 18 to 30, 1998. Your comments would be appreciated in refining and completing these case studies.

The second TED virtual conference will start a focus on culture which will continue over the next year. Given the inherent focus of TED cases studies on trade and environment issues, a culture focus illuminates another area of non-tariff barriers that can impact trade. It is not only a question of another issue related to trade other than environment, but also an issue of how these issues overlap. The ultimate discussion is how globalization impacts the cultures and environments of peoples around the world. They can be viewed in three perspectives and panels.

We have set up a Web Meeting site for this conference where you can leave Comments on the Papers.

You can send comments on the entire virtual conference to Jim Lee.

Keynote Address

"Cultural Perspectives on the Environment and the Role of Trade", by Jim Lee

Panel 1: Food

Food is an area where trade, environment and culture sometimes come together. The combinations are not only interesting from an academic viewpoint, but perhaps a nightmare from a policy viewpoint. Food and culture are highly related. Food trade issues often have a high cultural component.

493 BASMATI Basmati Rice Dispute

497 TORTILLA Tortilla Trade

500 OLESTRA Olestra Trade

Panel 2: Globalization

Growing economies and growing trade is altering both environments and culture. This panel examines three cases where development may have uncertain impacts on environments and cultures.

494 PACIFICO West Colombia Development

498 CHARCOAL Congo and Charcoal Trade

499 RUSSOIL Russia Oil, Native Peoples

Panel 3: Symbols

The third panel examines trade in symbols. The value of trade differs for the buyer and seller. While the seller may have only pure business in mind, the buyer may purchase a product based on some non-economic belief. These cases often have a a high culture content.

468 MAMMOTH Ancient Mammoth Ivory Trade

495 JAGUAR Jaguar Hunting and Trade

496 PAEKTU Korea Mountain Tourism

Final Remarks

"Final Remarks", by Jim Lee