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NAMA Chair Suspends Talks Citing Utter Lack of Progress
The chair of the deadlocked WTO talks on manufacturing tariffs on 2 June suspended meetings of the negotiating group, telling delegates that further gatherings would be pointless following a week of discussions in which they did not seriously attempt to move towards a compromise. If anything, divisions had actually seemed to worsen, said Canadian Ambassador Don…
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Few Changes as WTO Farm Talks Continue
Delegates reportedly began “digging in” to negotiations on a deal to reduce subsidies and tariffs on agricultural products at a 3 June meeting that was open to the entire WTO Membership. At that meeting, as well as in a series of ‘Room E’ consultations held last week with some three dozen countries representing a cross-section of…
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Disagreement on Content of Service Chair's Report
Potential WTO guidelines for the extent of future services trade liberalisation under a Doha Round agreement remained the subject of disagreement during a meeting of the negotiating committee this week. The informal gathering of the Council for Trade in Services (Special Session) was held to discuss a report issued on 26 May by services chair Ambassador…
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High Cost Of Cargo Shipping Could “Reverse Globalisation,” Report Says
Rising international shipping costs driven by high oil prices could effectively wipe out decades’ worth of trade liberalisation, according to new research from CIBC World Markets. By making it substantially more expensive to ship cargo over long distances, higher freight costs are likely to change global trade and production patterns, said the Canadian investment bank. They…
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Rules Chair Issues Negotiations Update; Differences Persist
The chair of the WTO’s rules committee released a report last week outlining the state of play in the group’s negotiations on dumping, fisheries support, and subsidies and countervailing measures. The paper does not aim to resolve ongoing differences of opinion; rather, it simply consolidates and summarises proposals that have been tabled to date. In…
- In Brief
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APEC Trade Ministers Push for Doha Deal
Trade ministers gathering at a meeting of the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) forum issued a strongly worded statement on 31 May calling for an “urgent” conclusion to the Doha round of global trade talks, and appealing to delegates “to show strong leadership and willingness to compromise” in the negotiations. “The current food-price escalation has increased…
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Peru Signs Free Trade Agreements with Singapore and Canada
Peru, one of the world’s fastest-growing economies, has signed free trade agreements with Canada and Singapore, in a move expected to bring the South American country, which chiefly exports metal and specialty agricultural products, cheaper prices for manufactured goods such as cars and electronics. Trade officials from Peru and Singapore signed a bilateral deal in Lima…
- WTO in Brief
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US and Japan File WTO Complaint over EU Tech Tariffs
The US and Japan filed a joint complaint at the WTO on 28 May against EU tariffs on certain high-tech products, claiming that the EU unfairly imposes import duties on a handful of goods that should be tariff free. The official complaint centres on three products: cable or satellite boxes with internet capability; flat panel…
- Events
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Events
Coming up: 5-11 June 5 June, worldwide: WORLD ENVIRONMENT DAY 2008. Recognising that climate change is becoming the defining issue of our era, UNEP is asking countries, companies and communities to focus on greenhouse gas emissions and how to reduce them. The World Environment Day will highlight resources and initiatives that promote low carbon economies and…
- Resources
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Resources
ENERGY TECHNOLOGY PERSPECTIVES 2008: SCENARIOS AND STRATEGIES TO 2050. International Energy Agency, 6 June 2008. The world needs ever increasing energy supplies to sustain economic growth and development. But energy resources are under pressure and CO2 emissions from today’s energy use already threaten our climate. What options do we have for switching to a cleaner…