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Doha Round: The 'Time-Out' Is Over, But Will Negotiations Resume?
The troubled Doha Round negotiations are showing signs of life, after a hiatus of three and a half months. WTO Director-General Pascal Lamy has called an informal meeting of the Trade Negotiations Committee (TNC) on the morning of 16 November. The stated purpose of the heads-of-delegation level gathering is…
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WTO AG Talks: Chair Turns On Engine, But Car Not Yet In Gear
Farm trade negotiators in Geneva have held a series of informal meetings to explore the possibilities for restarting the suspended Doha Round talks. Many delegates appear to believe that the negotiations are stirring after a gap of nearly four months, and that preliminary moves must be made in the…
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Democratic Win To Affect US Trade Policy - But How?
The Democratic party won a comprehensive victory in the US midterm Congressional elections on 7 November. This much is beyond dispute. What it might mean for Washington’s trade policy as Democrats prepare for the 2008 presidential election, however, has left observers searching for answers. Most analyses in the press suggest…
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The Doha Declaration On TRIPS And Public Health, Five Years On
Government officials, businesses and civil society groups alike are this week commemorating the fifth anniversary of the adoption of the Doha Declaration on the WTO TRIPS Agreement and Public Health (WT/MIN(01)/DEC/2). Signed by WTO Members on 14 November 2001 at the global trade body’s fourth Ministerial Conference in Doha, Qatar,…
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On The Move
Margaret Chan of Hong Kong is to become the next Director-General of the World Health Organization. On 9 November, the World Health Assembly, the WHO’s top decision making body, formally approved her nomination. She succeeds Lee Jong-wook, who died suddenly last May. A former director of Hong Kong’s department of health, Chan will leave her…
- In Brief
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US Congress Rejects Vietnam Trade Deal, Delays Vote
The US Congress on 13 November unexpectedly rejected a measure to permanently normalise trade relations with Vietnam. The Bush administration had hoped to have the bill passed by 18 November, when President George W. Bush will attend an Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) summit in Hanoi. Republican House leadership brought the bill to a vote under special…
- WTO in Brief
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WTO In Brief
RUSSIA, US TO CONCLUDE WTO ACCESSION DEAL Russia and the US are ready to sign a bilateral agreement on the former’s accession to the WTO, trade officials from both countries indicated on 10 October. After 13 years of negotiations, they will formally sign the accord at the 18-19 November Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) summit in…
- Events
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Events
EVENTS For a more comprehensive list of events in trade and sustainable development, please refer to ICTSD’s web calendar at: http://www.ictsd.org/cal/index.htm. If you would like to submit an event, please email events@ictsd.ch. Upcoming : 16-22 November 16 November, Washington, DC: WTO DISPUTE SETTLEMENT — AN UPDATE BY THE WTO’S LEGAL ADVISOR. Organised…
- Resources
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Resources
BIOFUELS PRODUCTION, TRADE AND SUSTAINABLE DEVELOPMENT: EMERGING ISSUES. By Annie Dufey. International Institute for Environment and Development, November 2006. Concerns about global warming, high oil prices and energy security have all contributed to a renewed global interest in biofuels as an alternative to oil for transport. This interest is reflected in the rapid expansion of…