This first work in the new Oxford Monographs in International Law Series to be edited by Ian Brownlie, QC, FBA, is a study of juridical bays. In 1958, against a backdrop of increasing international tensions regarding rights to and control of waters enclosed by coastal indentations, the world community, in a historic compromise reached under United Nations auspices, adopted Article 7 of the Geneva Convention "On the Territorial Sea and the Contiguous Zone." Recognizing the need to balance the self-protective interests of coastal states and the international interests of a harmonious world community, the signatories to Article 7 decided, in effect, that once the water enclosed within a coastal indentation met the requirements set out under Article 7, an irrebutable presumption had been raised that the claimant state owned these waters as a matter of right against all other states. Well-drafted and remarkably unambiguous, Article 7 should have resolved the issue of unreasonably expansive bay claims forever, but, in fact, it did not. Disputes continued to arise. In the twenty years since its adoption, despite continuing national and international disputes, Article 7 has not received the analysis necessary to help it become a more reliable basis for conflict resolution in cases involving complex coastal configurations. This study, the first major examination of Article 7, interprets both its text and context and more importantly, offers solutions to some of the problems that continue to make the question of coastal bay-type waters sources of national and international conflict.

Freight Forwarding and Multimodal Transport Contracts, 2nd Edition, is a comprehensive guide to the law in relation to contract forms and terms created by operators, trade associations or international bodies such as the UN and used as a basis for trading conditions by freight forwarders, logistics suppliers, combined or multimodal transport operators and container operators. This second edition examines the latest editions of contract forms and terms, both where their object is the supply or procurement of multimodal carriage, as well as where they are directed to the use of combined transport equipment (ie containers, swap bodies). Of particular prominence will be a detailed examination of the latest versions of conditions used by the principal UK forwarding, logistics, intermodal and container operators such as the British International Freight Association (BIFA) conditions 2005A and the current Freightliner Conditions as well as updates on many of the conditions in use and legal developments relevant to them, eg Road Haulage Association Conditions 2009, Maersk Conditions of Carriage, TT Club Conditions.

This report explores how Asia and the Pacific can capitalize on growing opportunities in digital services through structural reforms and international cooperation. Another year into the coronavirus disease (COVID-19) pandemic, the report describes an Asia and Pacific region that has more experience in tackling pandemic hardships, better data showing positive integration trends, and greater confidence in regional cooperation to address shared concerns. The publication gives an overview of changes in trade and global value chains, cross-border investment, financial integration, and the movement of people since the pandemic began.

This technical study examines the state of e-commerce infrastructure among CAREC countries looking at internet payment systems, delivery, and logistics infrastructure. Digital trade promotion has been a long-standing priority for member countries of the Central Asia Regional Economic Cooperation (CAREC) Program to support their integration into global value chains and economic diversification. The study underscores the importance of enabling legislation, digital literacy, and creation of trust. Comprehensive strategy; adequate data for policy making; and support for e-commerce ecosystems, industry associations, and start-ups could nurture e-commerce markets. In addition, CAREC countries must leverage international and regional initiatives to expand domestic and cross-border e-commerce and promote digital trade.

This report reflects the changes in the South Asia Subregional Economic Cooperation (SASEC) Program's operational plan for the period 2016-2025, in particular on priority projects resulting from a rigorous vetting process. This involves defining SASEC transport and energy networks and identifying priority projects based on preparedness and their roles in filling network gaps. The result is a more reasonable estimate of funding needs to help meet the SASEC Program's goals of multimodal connectivity, energy market development, and increased intraregional and interregional trade.

The ASEAN+3 Bond Market Guide: Exchange Bond Market in the People's Republic of China is an outcome of the strong support and kind contributions of ASEAN+3 Bond Market Forum members and experts, particularly those from the country. It is part of the ASEAN+3 Bond Market Guide series which provides country-specific information on the investment climate, rules, laws, opportunities, and characteristics of local bond markets in Asia and the Pacific. It aims to help bond market issuers, investors, and financial intermediaries understand the local context and encourage greater participation in the region's rapidly developing bond markets.

This report recommends how Indonesia and Timor-Leste can enhance cross-border cooperation and integration to help boost economic growth and reduce poverty. It focuses on opportunities in the tourism and livestock sectors and reviews transport connectivity, trade, and the business and investment climate. The report was undertaken at the request of the governments of Indonesia and Timor-Leste and involved extensive consultations with government, the private sector, and civil society.

This publication outlines key blockchain use cases that demonstrate how digital solutions can be applied to facilitate domestic and cross-border trade in Maldives. The Asian Development Bank is helping Maldives implement a robust domestic and regional trade system under the South Asia Subregional Economic Cooperation program. This integrated trade network facilitates seamless movement of goods and documents, across organizational and national boundaries, and will vastly improve the business environment and overall economic activity. The feasibility study conducted from April to July 2019 established the use cases of blockchain technology that may be ideal in Maldives.

This publication assesses the plant health, animal health, and food safety measures of member countries of the Central Asia Regional Economic Cooperation (CAREC) Program. The assessment covers laws and procedures governing the oversight and application of sanitary and phytosanitary measures, laboratory infrastructure, and border services management. CAREC members include Afghanistan, Azerbaijan, the People's Republic of China, Georgia, Kazakhstan, the Kyrgyz Republic, Mongolia, Pakistan, Tajikistan, Turkmenistan, and Uzbekistan.

This study provides insights into the logistics sector in Mongolia and its relationship to international trade, domestic trade, and freight movement throughout the country. It also looks at case studies and examples of logistics and transport solutions from other countries that are relevant to Mongolia. Recommendations may be used by policy makers, as well as nongovernment organizations and industry associations to delve deeper into some of the key areas of the trade and logistics sector in Mongolia, and take steps to make improvements.

This publication outlines key steps to launching the national single window platform in Maldives. The Asian Development Bank, as part of the South Asia Subregional Economic Cooperation program, is helping Maldives implement a national single window environment for international trade, which will facilitate communication between the public and private sectors, and improve ease of doing business. Maldives is a geographically dispersed island nation with a blue economy. Establishing seamless communication between cross-border regulatory agencies, traders, and government ministries can reduce the time and cost of importing and exporting goods, and strengthen the business environment.

This publication explores how Nepal could boost its exports by addressing nontariff barriers to trade. It focuses on sanitary and phytosanitary measures and technical barriers to trade, and identifies export products that have potential for an increased market share in Bangladesh, Bhutan, India, Maldives, and Sri Lanka. It also examines the regulatory environment and demonstrates the need to upgrade quality standards and laboratory equipment, and strengthen accrediting and assessment bodies. The publication recommends how the public and private sectors can overcome these barriers.

The trade patterns of Maldives within South Asia, particularly with regard to Bangladesh, Bhutan, India, Nepal, and Sri Lanka, were examined and a gap analysis was conducted on relevant legal structures, institutional frameworks, and infrastructure. Specific trade-hindering nontariff measures applied to the potential export products are identified and prioritized recommendations to address them are also proposed.