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Breakthrough On WIPO Development Agenda
Delegates from 105 governments have made a breakthrough in negotiations on integrating development concerns into the functioning of the World Intellectual Property Organisation, by agreeing on a set of initial recommendations for reforms. Both government officials and civil society groups praised the deal, which was reached after a week of discussions in the WIPO committee responsible…
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AG Negotiators Twiddle Thumbs As Trading Powers Say No Progress Made In London
A series of bilateral talks between five major trading powers last week in London made no significant progress in the deadlocked Doha Round negotiations and were simply ‘exploratory’, according to officials from the participating countries. Negotiators from other countries appear to be growing impatient with the lack of movement. Sources indicate that the meetings in the…
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NAMA Talks Blocked Due To Standstill On Agriculture: Chair
The Doha Round negotiations on industrial tariffs are likely to remain at a standstill until there is progress on agriculture, the chair of the negotiating group told WTO Members on 26 February. Speaking to a meeting of all delegations that kicked off a week of non-agricultural market access (NAMA) negotiations, Chair Ambassador Don Stephenson (Canada) said…
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Push For Progress In Doha Talks Proceeding Sluggishly
Informal talks among key players in the Doha Round trade negotiations appear to be progressing at a glacial pace, calling into question whether WTO Members will be able to reach a deadlock-breaking compromise in the first half of this year. A series of bilateral meetings in London last week among top officials from the EU, US,…
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US And South Korea Make Progress In FTA Talks Amid Protests
Prospects for the US and Korea to conclude free trade agreement negotiations in time for a US-determined deadline look somewhat better after negotiators wrapped up the seventh round of talks on 15 February. Although crucial differences remain unresolved, US lead negotiator Wendy Cutler called the discussions "the most successful negotiating round so far," adding that she…
- WTO in Brief
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Ecuador Asks For WTO Dispute Panel To Examine EU's Banana Import Regime
The EU’s banana import policies will once again face legal scrutiny at the WTO, after Ecuador formally requested the creation of a dispute panel to examine its claim that Brussels is failing to comply with past rulings. Ecuador took the first step in WTO dispute settlement procedures last November, when it requested consultations with the EU…
- 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. Coming Up: 1-7 March 1-2 March, Geneva, Switzerland: DISCIPLINING FISHERIES SUBSIDIES - INCORPORATION SUSTAINABILITY AT THE WTO AND BEYOND. Organised by WWF and the…
- Resources
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Resources
GLOBAL BIOPIRACY- PATENTS, PLANTS, AND INDIGENOUS KNOWLEDGE. By Ikechi Mgbeoji. University of British Columbia Press, 2006. The appropriation of plants and traditional knowledge by corporations and other entities is often called biopiracy, and it raises serious issues about conservation of biological diversity and genetic resources. This book rethinks the role of international law, global patent…