Brains Trust: Thomas Cottier
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EVIAN QUOTE
Pascal Lamy, WTO Director General, said the failure [of the DDA negotiations] would "send out a strong negative signal for the future of the world economy amidst the danger of a resurgence of protectionism." The suspension has brought one of the darkest days to the WTO since its creation in 1995.

US blamed as trade talks end in acrimony, Financial Times, 24 July 2006

THE EVIAN GROUP AT IMD
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P.O. Box 915
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Switzerland


University of Bern
Professor of Law and Managing Director

Switzerland

Mr. Thomas Cottier, Managing Director of the World Trade Institute, is Professor of European and International Economics Law at the University of Bern and Director of the Institute of European and International Economic Law. He is also a member of the Board of Trustees, IPGRI (International Plant Genetic Resources Institute, Rome). Mr. Cottier was educated at the Universities of Bern, Switzerland, and Michigan, Ann Arbor, USA. Upon his doctorate, Mr. Cottier was a Research Fellow at the Universities of Berne and Cambridge. His research activities mainly relate to the law of WTO, external economic relations of the EU and international intellectual property.

Mr. Cottier has a long-standing involvement in GATT / WTO activities. He served on the Swiss negotiating team of the Uruguay Round from 1986 to 1993, first as Chief negotiator on dispute settlement and subsidies for Switzerland, conceptual work in the fields of services and intellectual property and legal counselling, and subsequently as Chief negotiator on TRIPs. Professor Cottier held several positions in the Swiss External Economic Affairs Department and was the Deputy-Director General of the Swiss Intellectual Property Office.

He has also served as a panellist on several GATT and WTO panels, most recently serving as Chairman of the panels dealing with the US and Canadian complaints on the measures taken by the EC with regard to Meat and Meat Products (hormone cases). Mr. Cottier joined the Baker & McKenzie law firm as Of Counsel in May 1998, advising the Firm on WTO issues.
Publications:
06/07/2010 Towards a Two-tier System in WTO Decision-Making – Garnet Capacilty Building Workshop (Readings)
15/04/2002 Strengthening the WTO: An Agenda for the 21st Century – Evian Group (Policy brief)
15/04/2002 The Future of Intellectual Property Protection in the WTO – Beyond Doha – Evian Group (Policy brief)

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