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Obama's Trade Stance Coming into Focus
Barack Obama, who will become the 44th president of the United States in 75 days, will have the opportunity to make drastic changes to the country’s role in international trade at a time of global financial turmoil and deep frustration at the slow progress of multilateral trade talks at the WTO. Indeed, exit polls conducted…
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Coalition Continues to Press for Demands on Biodiversity and Geographical Indications
The EU and many developing countries reaffirmed their support for a requirement to disclose the source of genetic resources in patent applications and for wider protection for geographical indications in WTO meetings on intellectual property held in Geneva last week. But opponents continued to resist such proposals. At the same time, the Council of Trade-Related Aspects…
- In Brief
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Taiwan, China Lower Trade Barriers in Ground-Breaking Pact
In a landmark deal signed on Tuesday, leaders from China and Taiwan agreed to open up their sea ports and dramatically increase air traffic between the two countries.…
- WTO in Brief
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Lamy Seeks Second Term as WTO Chief
WTO Director-General Pascal Lamy confirmed on Tuesday that he will seek a second term as head of the global trade body. “I stand ready to continue to serve the WTO for a second term and to make a contribution to reinforcing multilateralism and development,” Lamy said in a letter to the chair of the WTO’s…
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EU Outlines Ideas for Review of IT Agreement
The EU introduced specific suggestions for a revision of the WTO’s Information Technology Agreement, or ITA at the agreement’s 50th Committee meeting on 30 October. The suggestions build on proposals to update the deal that the EU put forward last month. “The ITA remains a milestone duty-free agreement, but it risks being left behind after…
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WTO Rules on India-US Liquor Dispute
The WTO’s Appellate Body issued a mixed ruling on 30 October that concluded that a WTO dispute panel had erred in rejecting a US complaint against Indian alcohol duties. However, the judgement did not call on New Delhi to withdraw the measures. Both India and the US had appealed the June 2008 ruling that largely favoured…
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NAMA-11 Issues Warning on Sectorals
A group of major developing countries released a statement last week rebuking efforts to create incentives for countries to join sector-specific liberalisation initiatives in the WTO’s industrial goods negotiations. Dated 27 October, the statement (TN/MA/W/108) by the NAMA-11 group of 10 developing countries outlined the group’s concerns that sectoral initiatives are becoming an integral…
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WTO Gives US 6 Months to Reform Steel Tariffs
The US has until the end of April to bring its taxes on imports of Mexican steel in line with international commerce rules, the WTO ruled on Friday. The US imposed tariffs on the lower-priced Mexican goods to protect its domestic market under the WTO’s Anti-Dumping Agreement, but Mexico objected to the method Washington used…
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WTO Members to Pause for Thought on Ag Talks
Members need more time to analyse complex issues, the chair of the WTO agriculture negotiations has said, explaining a decision to call no further meetings of the full membership until the week of 17 November. Slow progress in small group discussions prompted his decision, he indicated. The chair, Ambassador Crawford Falconer (New Zealand), has been holding…
- Events
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Events
Coming up: 6 November - 12 November 6-7 November, Montreal, Canada. CBD EXPERT MEETING ON SOUTH-SOUTH COOPERATION ON BIODIVERSITY FOR DEVELOPMENT. Organized by the CBD Secretariat, this meeting will address a framework for a multi-year plan of action on biodiversity for development, as a complement to the Development Platform for the South launched by the G-77,…
- Resources
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Resources
IMPLICATIONS FOR JAPAN OF THE JULY 2008 DRAFT AGRICULTURAL MODALITIES. By Kazuhito Yamashita. Published by ICTSD, October 2008. To what extent would a successful conclusion of this Round along the lines of the Revised Draft Modalities paper issued by the chair of the agriculture negotiations, Ambassador Falconer, require changes in Japanese agricultural policies? How much…