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New WTO Rules Text Brings Old Rifts into Focus
Longstanding differences in some areas of the WTO’s negotiating group on rules appear as entrenched as ever, a draft text released by the chair of the group last month revealed. But some incremental progress has been made in the 13 months since the previous text was released, and the chair has vowed to intensify the…
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Obama Picks Former Mayor Ron Kirk for Top Trade Post
Ron Kirk, a lawyer and former mayor of Dallas, Texas, has been nominated to be Barack Obama’s US Trade Representative, the President-elect announced at a press conference on 19 December. Kirk, a 54-year-old Texan who served as the first African-American mayor of Dallas from 1995 to 2002, has also worked as a private attorney and corporate…
- In Brief
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China Registers Sharp Drop in Trade
China’s imports and exports fell steeply for a second straight month in December, deepening an economic slump that has already led to widespread layoffs and factory closings. The most precipitous drop was in imports, which slumped by 17.9 percent from a year earlier, according to data released by China’s customs agency, the Associated Press reported. The…
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Afghanistan, Pakistan Pledge Cooperation on Trade
In his first visit to Kabul since taking office in September, Pakistan President Asif Ali Zardari met with Afghanistan President Hamid Karzai on 6 January to discuss issues of national security, narcotics trafficking, and international trade. Signing a joint declaration entitled “Directions of Bilateral Cooperation,” Pakistan and Afghanistan agreed to promote bilateral trade on preferential…
- WTO in Brief
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Lamy Emerges as Lone Contender for Next WTO Chief
For the first time in the 14-year history of the WTO, the race for the next leader of the global trade body will be uncontested. As nominations closed 31 December, current WTO Director-General Pascal Lamy emerged as the sole candidate for the four-year position. Lamy, who has headed the organisation since September 2005, confirmed his intentions…
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Mexico, US Challenge Chinese 'Famous Brands' at WTO
Alleging illegal subsidies on a wide range of exported goods, Mexico and the United States have filed requests for WTO consultations with China over the support that Beijing provides domestic exporters under its ‘famous brands’ programme.…
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Brussels Invites WTO Scrutiny of EU Beef Ban
In the latest development in a trans-Atlantic controversy spanning nearly two decades, the European Union on 22 December requested formal consultations with Canada and the United States at the WTO. At issue is the legality of both the EU’s longstanding ban on imported hormone-treated beef as well as Canadian and American sanctions levied against EU…
- 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 at: http://www.ictsd.org/cal/index.htm. If you would like to submit an event, please email events@ictsd.ch. Coming up: 15-21 January 14-18 January, Singapore City, Singapore. CAPACITY-BUILDING WORKSHOP ON IMPLEMENTING NBSAPs AND MAINSTREAMING BIODIVERSITY FOR SOUTH, SOUTHEAST…
- Resources
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Resources
THE POTENTIAL COST OF A FAILED DOHA ROUND. By Antoine Bouët and David Laborde, International Food Policy Research Institute, December 2008. Presenting several scenarios following a failed Doha Round, this study examines the potential cost to global trade if countries rush to employ protectionist policies. In the most extreme circumstance, the authors conclude that losses…