Transparency in Commodities Trading: Options for Action at the International Level and in Switzerland
20 September 2016 • 11:00AM CEST
Location
Congresscenter Allresto
Effingerstrasse 20
Bern
Switzerland
Background
Commodity trading is currently a intensively discussed topic and the Swiss Academies of Arts and Sciences have joined in the debate, publishing two papers: one with a focus on Switzerland and the other on impacts in producer countries. Two important developments in Switzerland provide the background to this event.
The Swiss Federal Council is expected to provide a dispatch on the revision of its law covering corporate entities by the end of 2016. This will also cover transparency in payments to producer countries. The new rules follow EU-legislation: the extractives companies should be required to make information about payments totalling over CHF 120,000 available to state authorities. Companies involved in commodities trading would not be affected. The Federal Council, however, would gain the authority to require transparency about payments from commodity traders.
The event is meant to provide an overview and stimulate dialogue about potential courses of action and solutions at both international and national level, while also providing different stakeholders with an opportunity to share their views.
Introduction
Laurent Goetschel, president of the KFPE
Moderator
Stefan Barmettler, Schweizerische Handelszeitung
Presentations
Transparency in resource extraction and commodities trading – challenges with regard to sustainability research
Stephan Rist and Elisabeth Bürgi Bonanomi, Center for Development and Environment, University of Bern
Trading oil, gas and minerals – shining a light on payments to governments
Joseph Williams, senior advocacy officer, Natural Resource Governance Institute
Approaches for achieving transparency in trading within the context of EITI
Jonas Moberg, Extractive Industries Transparency Initiative
Transparency policies in a commodity trading company
Andrew Gower, Trafigura
Panel discussion: Switzerland and transparency in the commodities sector
Closing remarks
Thomas Cottier, World Trade Institute, University of Bern
Congresscenter Allresto
Effingerstrasse 20
Bern
Switzerland
Background
Commodity trading is currently a intensively discussed topic and the Swiss Academies of Arts and Sciences have joined in the debate, publishing two papers: one with a focus on Switzerland and the other on impacts in producer countries. Two important developments in Switzerland provide the background to this event.
The Swiss Federal Council is expected to provide a dispatch on the revision of its law covering corporate entities by the end of 2016. This will also cover transparency in payments to producer countries. The new rules follow EU-legislation: the extractives companies should be required to make information about payments totalling over CHF 120,000 available to state authorities. Companies involved in commodities trading would not be affected. The Federal Council, however, would gain the authority to require transparency about payments from commodity traders.
The event is meant to provide an overview and stimulate dialogue about potential courses of action and solutions at both international and national level, while also providing different stakeholders with an opportunity to share their views.
Introduction
Laurent Goetschel, president of the KFPE
Moderator
Stefan Barmettler, Schweizerische Handelszeitung
Presentations
Transparency in resource extraction and commodities trading – challenges with regard to sustainability research
Stephan Rist and Elisabeth Bürgi Bonanomi, Center for Development and Environment, University of Bern
Trading oil, gas and minerals – shining a light on payments to governments
Joseph Williams, senior advocacy officer, Natural Resource Governance Institute
Approaches for achieving transparency in trading within the context of EITI
Jonas Moberg, Extractive Industries Transparency Initiative
Transparency policies in a commodity trading company
Andrew Gower, Trafigura
Panel discussion: Switzerland and transparency in the commodities sector
- Regula Rytz (Green Party), member of the National Council
- Ruedi Noser (Free Democratic Party), member of the Council of States
- Elisabeth Bürgi Bonanomi, Center for Development and Environment, University of Bern
- A. Missbach, Bern Declaration
- M. Fasser, Zug Commodity Association
Closing remarks
Thomas Cottier, World Trade Institute, University of Bern