Launch of the OECD Report: Governance Frameworks to Counter Illicit Trade

Globalization and free trade are strong drivers of economic growth. They have also opened up new opportunities for illicit trade activities. Criminal networks benefit from these opportunities at the expense of public safety, human rights, legitimate business activity and sustainable environmental resources. Consumers rely on effective institutions and law enforcement to protect them from the risks of illicit goods. Businesses also rely on them to counter and deter illicit markets. Trade in counterfeit goods undermines the legitimate competitive advantage of rights holders, and hampers innovation, employment and long-term economic growth. At a broader level, illicit trade has the potential to weaken good governance, the rule of law and citizens’ trust in government.

So far, the governments’ response to the risk of illicit trade has been largely uncoordinated and left many enforcement gaps that are easily exploited by criminal networks. Governments from all countries need to reassess their institutional capacities to counter illicit trade and identify the areas where action is needed, especially where it would yield the greatest public benefits.

This report look at institutional capacities that are necessary to effectively counter illicit trade. It consists of two parts. Part One assesses three areas where greater institutional capacities needed to counter illicit trade: i) effective penalties and sanctions for countering illicit trade, ii) better screening of the rising volume of small shipments for illicit products, and iii) reducing illicit trade activities that are carried out in and through free trade zones. Part Two of the report discusses governance frameworks for combatting counterfeiting in BRICS economies.

Thursday, March 1, 2018

OECD Washington Center

1776 I Street NW, Suite 450

Washington, DC 20009

Agenda

9.15 – 9.45 a.m. - Morning coffee and registration

9.45 - 10.15 a.m. – Welcome and Opening Remarks

Marcos Bonturi, Director for Public Governance, OECD
Tina W. Gabbrielli, U.S. Department of Homeland Security, Chair of the OECD High Level Risk Forum

10:15 – 10:45 - Key Challenges in Countering Illicit Trade

Christa Brzozowski. Deputy Assistant Secretary, DHS, Co-Chair of the OECD Task Force on Countering Illicit Trade
Chris Martin. Counsellor, Fiscal Crime Liaison, HMRC, United Kingdom, Co-Chair of the OECD Task Force on Countering Illicit Trade (tbc)

10.45 - 11.30 a.m. – Governance Frameworks to Counter Illicit Trade: findings from recent OECD reports

Piotr Stryszowski, Senior Economist, OECD

The floor will be open for comments after the presentation

11.30 – 11.45 a.m. – Keynote: Strengthening Partnerships to Counter Theft of Intellectual Property

Vishal Amin, U.S. Intellectual Property Enforcement Coordinator

11.45 – Closing/Next Steps/Photo Op

For more information, contact michaela.wright@oecd.org.