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PRO- AND ANTI-WHALING CAMPS CLASH AT IWC MEET
PRO- AND ANTI-WHALING CAMPS CLASH AT IWC MEET The 56th annual meeting of the International Whaling Commission (IWC) in Sorrento, Italy, from 19-22 July, again witnessed heated exchanges between supporters and opponents of commercial whale hunting. In a move hailed by conservationists, IWC member states, in the closing hours of the meeting, decided against setting a…
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CONTROVERSIAL EU SUGAR REFORM EVOKES STRONG REACTIONS
CONTROVERSIAL EU SUGAR REFORM EVOKES STRONG REACTIONS On 14 July, the EC released an anticipated outline for reform of the heavily subsidised EU sugar regime. Though the details of the reform had been leaked at the end of June (see BRIDGES Weekly, 30 June 2004), the official release was met by strong reactions. Among other changes,…
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WTO: AGRICULTURE LIBERALISATION HOTLY DEBATED
WTO: AGRICULTURE LIBERALISATION HOTLY DEBATED In Geneva, negotiators are working around the clock to agree, by the end of July, on a framework for negotiations to complete the Doha Round. The end-July deadline represents the WTO’s attempt to put the Doha negotiations back on track following the collapse of talks at last September’s Ministerial Conference. Agriculture…
- In Brief
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EU Plans to Tackle Illegal Logging Criticised
On 20 July, the European Commission adopted a set of measures to address the problem of illegal logging and the related trade in illegally harvested timber, which is estimated to cost developing countries US$ 12.3 to 18.4 billion annually. Specifically, the Commission plans to set up voluntary partnerships with wood-producing countries affected by illegal logging…
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IUCN Calls for Sustainable Rural Development in Eastern Europe
While WTO Members are trying to hash out a new global agriculture deal (see related story, this issue), IUCN - The World Conservation Union on 22 July released a report highlighting the threats posed to the rural and agricultural environment in the new EU member states in Eastern Europe. The report, entitled “Gaps and Limitation…
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New US Tariffs on Shrimp Imports from China and Vietnam
On 6 July, the US Commerce Department proposed new tariffs on shrimp imports from China and Vietnam. The announcement followed a decision by the US International Trade Commission (ITC) that exporters in these countries had been dumping shrimp into the US at artificially low prices. The proposed tariffs, which will go into effect shortly, range…
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EU Approves Another GM Import as WTO Dispute Drags On
On 19 July the European Commission authorised Monsanto’s NK603 corn, genetically modified (GM) to tolerate the herbicide Roundup Ready. This EC move followed the failure of European environment ministers to reach a decision on the corn at their last meeting (see BRIDGES Trade BioRes, 8 July 2004). The approval only applies for the use of…
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Africans to Seek CITES Protection for Diet Cactus
South Africa, Botswana and Namibia have proposed the inclusion of the Hoodia cactus in Annex II of the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Flora and Fauna (CITES) at its next Conference of the Parties in November in Bangkok. If included, only limited trade would be allowed under strict controls. The cactus…
- Events
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Events
For a more comprehensive list of events in trade and sustainable development, please refer to ICTSD’s web calendar. Please bear in mind that dates and times of WTO meetings are often changed, and that the WTO does not always announce the important informal meetings of the different bodies. Coming up in the next two weeks 24 July,…
- Resources
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Resources
If you have a relevant resource (books, papers, bulletins, etc.) you would like to see announced in this section, please forward a copy or review by the BRIDGES staff to Heike Baumüller. LESSONS LEARNED ON TRADE AND SUSTAINABLE DEVELOPMENT. By Aaron Cosbey, 2004. The report distils six years of research carried out as part of the…