Signe Ratso
ABOUT THE PRESENTATION
The “Value” of Europe in the World of Global Value Chains
Summary:
• How does Europe compare with its competitors in the World of Global Value Chains?
• What are the main factors in global competitiveness – competitiveness starts with the right policies at home.
• Value added of European goods and services – importance of innovation, R&D, product development, design etc.
• How can Europe remain relevant while economic growth is shifting towards emerging markets – role of trade in creating growth and jobs in Europe.
• Taking forward an ambitious trade agenda for the EU – importance of trade agreements with new centres of growth in Asia, EU-US agreement as a game changer.
ABOUT THE SPEAKER
Signe Ratso has been Director in DG TRADE of the European Commission since 2007. She is currently responsible for Trade Strategy and Analysis as well as Market Access issues. Her Directorate is also in charge of the industrial sector aspects of the EU trade policy, including energy and access to raw materials.
Previously she has held a Director post, being responsible for market access and industry, including tariff and non-tariff negotiations for goods (2011) and before that (2007-2010) covering the following areas: WTO and OECD issues, cooperation with international organisations, legal aspects of trade policy including dispute settlement, export credits and dual use of exports as well as food-related sectors. After joining the Commission at the beginning of 2006, she held the post of Principal Adviser to the Director General in DG TRADE.
Before joining the Commission Signe Ratso worked as Deputy Secretary General (from 1994 to 2005) at the Ministry of Economic Affairs and Communications of the Republic of Estonia. In this position she was responsible for all EU-related issues in the following policy areas: trade and industrial policy, energy, transport, telecommunications, information society, internal market affairs. She was also responsible for co-ordinating Estonian positions for the Competitiveness Council and for the Transport, Energy and Telecommunication Council.
She has been very closely related with quality management matters as part of her managerial job, supporting the development of quality infrastructure in Estonia and being for a few years a Chairperson of the Board of Estonia's Quality Association.
She has been dealing with international trade issues since 1983, being responsible for Estonia's accession to the WTO and negotiating various bi- and multi-lateral trade and economic agreements. She has also been at the lead of Estonia's economic reforms and Estonia's accession to the EU. During Estonia's accession negotiations she was responsible for negotiating 6 economic chapters.
In addition, she has extensive experience of working in the international sphere. For years she has been promoting Estonia's economic reforms, trade and investment possibilities at international fora.
She has two University degrees. In 1983 she graduated from Tartu University in Estonia as an English philologist, in 1993 in International Trade and International Economics.
Signe Ratso is married and has a daughter and a son.
