The purpose of this research was to empirically examine the impacts that the presence of a state trading enterprise (STE) has in the international wheat market. There are numerous types of STEs that function in different ways to achieve many different types of policy objectives which are often unique to a particular STE. Although the existence of a STE is justified by the countries involved using numerous policy rationales, the fear that they are used as a front for trade protectionism is a prevalent concern. One specific aspect of a STE that often brings this concern to the forefront is whether or not the STE has the exclusive privilege of monopoly status.<p>The empirical objective of this thesis was to determine specifically if the use of a STE exporter has had a positive impact on world wheat trade over the 1970 2005 period and if the use of a STE importer has had a negative impact. In addition, the marginal impact of the STE having monopoly status was tested. In all cases, the designation of STEs and their monopoly status is based on WTO notification documentations. To secure econometrically robust results, a modified conventional gravity model was chosen. This model was estimated using pooled OLS and fixed effects, the latter consisting of both time and country pair fixed effects. The data that was constructed was a large panel data set of bilateral wheat trade spanning from 1970 to 2005. The model was also tested on a number of subsamples representing countries at different stages of development and in different income categories to isolate potential differences in STEs objectives and impacts.<p>In virtually all models, the presence of a STE exporter had a strongly significant and positive effect on the value and volume of wheat exports from the country with the STE exporter. The fact that a STE had monopoly status did not have any additional impact on wheat trade. The impact of STE importers was insignificant.

The purpose of this research was to empirically examine the impacts that the presence of a state trading enterprise (STE) has in the international wheat market. There are numerous types of STEs that function in different ways to achieve many different types of policy objectives which are often unique to a particular STE. Although the existence of a STE is justified by the countries involved using numerous policy rationales, the fear that they are used as a front for trade protectionism is a prevalent concern. One specific aspect of a STE that often brings this concern to the forefront is whether or not the STE has the exclusive privilege of monopoly status.<p>The empirical objective of this thesis was to determine specifically if the use of a STE exporter has had a positive impact on world wheat trade over the 1970 2005 period and if the use of a STE importer has had a negative impact. In addition, the marginal impact of the STE having monopoly status was tested. In all cases, the designation of STEs and their monopoly status is based on WTO notification documentations. To secure econometrically robust results, a modified conventional gravity model was chosen. This model was estimated using pooled OLS and fixed effects, the latter consisting of both time and country pair fixed effects. The data that was constructed was a large panel data set of bilateral wheat trade spanning from 1970 to 2005. The model was also tested on a number of subsamples representing countries at different stages of development and in different income categories to isolate potential differences in STEs objectives and impacts.<p>In virtually all models, the presence of a STE exporter had a strongly significant and positive effect on the value and volume of wheat exports from the country with the STE exporter. The fact that a STE had monopoly status did not have any additional impact on wheat trade. The impact of STE importers was insignificant.

"Mémoire présenté à la Faculté des études supérieures en vue de l'obtention du grade de Maîtrise en Droit (LL.M.)" / Ce mémoire analyse l'impact du droit commercial international sur les politiques et pratiques commerciales en matière de boissons alcooliques au Québec. Plus spécifiquement, il examine leur conformité aux obligations contenues au GATT et aux autres accords commerciaux. Le premier chapitre présente le régime juridique applicable au commerce de l'alcool, dans le contexte particulier du partage constitutionnel canadien et de la délégation du pouvoir provincial à la Société des alcools du Québec (« SAQ »). Le second chapitre retrace l'évolution historique du marché québécois de l'alcool et étudie sa structure actuelle, divisée entre un monopole d'État (vins, spiritueux et bières importées) et l'industrie privée (bières domestiques). Le troisième chapitre traite des pratiques de la SAQ jugées incompatibles avec le GATT, soit les majorations de prix discriminatoires, les procédures d'inscription et de radiation des produits au catalogue et les restrictions d'accès aux points de vente. Cette partie aborde les accords bilatéraux subséquemment négociés par le gouvernement fédéral et acceptés par les monopoles provinciaux pour résoudre ces conflits. Le dernier chapitre discute de la compatibilité des pratiques actuelles de la SAQ, en particulier sa méthode de fixation de prix par rapport à l'article II:4 du GATT (monopoles d'importation) et son nouveau concept de gestion par catégorie en regard de l'article XVII (entreprises commerciales d'État) et de l'article XI (restrictions quantitatives). / This thesis analyses the impact of international trade law on Quebec's commercial policies and practices relating to alcoholic beverages. More specifically, it examines their conformity with GATT's obligations and other bilateral agreements. The first chapter presents the legal framework pertaining to alcohol trade in the context of the constitutional powers prevailing in Canada and the delegation of Quebec's authority to its liquor board, Société des alcools du Québec. The second chapter reviews the historical evolution of Quebec's a1cohol market and studies its actual structure, which is divided between a state monopoly on one side (wine, spirits and imported beer) and the private sector on the other side (domestic beer). The third chapter outlines how SAQ's practices were declared inconsistent with GATT, namely discriminatory mark-ups, listing and delisting procedures and restrictions on access to points of sale. This section also covers the bilateral agreements subsequently negotiated by the federal govemment and accepted by the provincial monopolies to resolve these conflicts. The final chapter examines the compliance of today's SAQ's policies with GATT's requirements. Particularly, it looks at its practice ofpricing method with respect to Article II:4 (import monopoly) and at its new concept of category management in relation with Article XVII (state trading) and Article XI (quantitative restrictions).

Ce mémoire analyse l'impact du droit commercial international sur les politiques et pratiques commerciales en matière de boissons alcooliques au Québec. Plus spécifiquement, il examine leur conformité aux obligations contenues au GATT et aux autres accords commerciaux. Le premier chapitre présente le régime juridique applicable au commerce de l'alcool, dans le contexte particulier du partage constitutionnel canadien et de la délégation du pouvoir provincial à la Société des alcools du Québec (« SAQ »). Le second chapitre retrace l'évolution historique du marché québécois de l'alcool et étudie sa structure actuelle, divisée entre un monopole d'État (vins, spiritueux et bières importées) et l'industrie privée (bières domestiques). Le troisième chapitre traite des pratiques de la SAQ jugées incompatibles avec le GATT, soit les majorations de prix discriminatoires, les procédures d'inscription et de radiation des produits au catalogue et les restrictions d'accès aux points de vente. Cette partie aborde les accords bilatéraux subséquemment négociés par le gouvernement fédéral et acceptés par les monopoles provinciaux pour résoudre ces conflits. Le dernier chapitre discute de la compatibilité des pratiques actuelles de la SAQ, en particulier sa méthode de fixation de prix par rapport à l'article II:4 du GATT (monopoles d'importation) et son nouveau concept de gestion par catégorie en regard de l'article XVII (entreprises commerciales d'État) et de l'article XI (restrictions quantitatives). / This thesis analyses the impact of international trade law on Quebec's commercial policies and practices relating to alcoholic beverages. More specifically, it examines their conformity with GATT's obligations and other bilateral agreements. The first chapter presents the legal framework pertaining to alcohol trade in the context of the constitutional powers prevailing in Canada and the delegation of Quebec's authority to its liquor board, Société des alcools du Québec. The second chapter reviews the historical evolution of Quebec's a1cohol market and studies its actual structure, which is divided between a state monopoly on one side (wine, spirits and imported beer) and the private sector on the other side (domestic beer). The third chapter outlines how SAQ's practices were declared inconsistent with GATT, namely discriminatory mark-ups, listing and delisting procedures and restrictions on access to points of sale. This section also covers the bilateral agreements subsequently negotiated by the federal govemment and accepted by the provincial monopolies to resolve these conflicts. The final chapter examines the compliance of today's SAQ's policies with GATT's requirements. Particularly, it looks at its practice ofpricing method with respect to Article II:4 (import monopoly) and at its new concept of category management in relation with Article XVII (state trading) and Article XI (quantitative restrictions). / "Mémoire présenté à la Faculté des études supérieures en vue de l'obtention du grade de Maîtrise en Droit (LL.M.)"

La question de l’encadrement juridique de l’Organisation Mondiale du Commerce (OMC) fut déjà soulevée à la suite de la hausse des prix du pétrole en 2008. Certains ont même appelé à de nouvelles négociations dans le cadre de l’OMC pour répondre à ce problème. Cette thèse propose une analyse de l’encadrement juridique de l’OMC du commerce des ressources naturelles au Maghreb. Cet encadrement revêt une importance particulière d’une part en raison de la dépendance économique des pays de l’Union du Maghreb Arabe (UMA) au commerce de ressources naturelles et d’autre part, en raison du problème de la pénurie des ressources naturelles épuisables localisées de manière significative dans la région du Maghreb. Cette thèse propose d’évaluer l’apport des règles de l’OMC à l'amélioration de l’économie des pays du Maghreb. Ainsi, dans la première partie de cette thèse, nous souhaitons mettre en lumière l’apport des dispositions de l’OMC au commerce maghrébin des ressources naturelles. Nous avons cherché à savoir si les règles de l’OMC sont adaptées aux spécificités des pays du Maghreb. Dans la seconde partie de cette thèse, nous nous sommes également intéressés à l’accord de l’UMA qui est formé par l’ensemble des pays du Maghreb. L’UMA est un Accord Commercial Régional au sens de l’article XXIV du GATT. Nous avons ainsi cherché à mettre en exergue l’apport d’un tel accord à l’économie des pays du Maghreb. Cette thèse a ainsi pour but de comparer d’une part l’encadrement du secteur des ressources naturelles par l’OMC dans chacun des pays du Maghreb et d’autre part, l’encadrement juridique apporté par l’accord de l’UMA notamment dans le secteur des ressources naturelles. En nous basant sur la théorie de Singer‑Prebisch, nous avons formulé l’hypothèse selon laquelle l’apport des dispositions de l’OMC sur l’économie des pays de l’UMA serait limité puisque ces derniers sont condamnés à un état perpétuel de sous-développement. Cette constatation suscite une nécessaire remise en question des dispositions de l’OMC. / The question of the legal framework of the World Trade Organization (WTO) was already raised following the rise in oil prices in 2008. Some even called for new WTO negotiations to address the problem. This thesis presents an analysis of the WTO's legal framework for trade in natural resources in the Maghreb. This framework is of particular importance, on the one hand because of the economic dependence of Arab Maghreb Union (AMU) countries on trade in natural resources, and on the other, because of the problem of the scarcity of exhaustible natural resources located significantly in the Maghreb region. This thesis proposes to evaluate the contribution of WTO rules to improving the economies of the Maghreb countries. Thus, in the first part of this thesis, we aim to shed light on the contribution of WTO provisions to Maghreb trade in natural resources. We have investigated whether WTO rules are adapted to the specific characteristics of the Maghreb countries. In the second part of this thesis, we also looked at the AMU, which brings together all the Maghreb countries. The AMU is a Regional Trade Agreement within the meaning of Article XXIV of the GATT. We have thus sought to highlight the contribution of such an agreement to the economies of the Maghreb countries. This thesis aims to compare the WTO framework for the natural resources sector in each Maghreb country with the legal framework provided by the AMU Treaty, particularly in the natural resources sector. Based on the Singer-Prebisch theory, we have formulated the hypothesis that the contribution of WTO provisions to the economies of AMU countries would be limited since the latter are condemned to a perpetual state of underdevelopment. This observation prompts us to question the WTO's provisions.