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US Export Subsidies Condemned by Developing Countries, Exporters
The recent reintroduction of export subsidies on US dairy products has prompted a stinging response from developing countries and exporting countries at the WTO. The Cairns Group of agricultural exporters and the G-20 developing country group both issued statements last week condemning the move, which they said could harm producers and traders at a time…
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WIPO Copyright Body Takes up Limitations and Exceptions, with a Focus on the Visually Impaired
The recently concluded meeting of WIPO’s Standing Committee on Copyright and Related Rights (SCCR), 25-29 May, took up issues such as a new treaty for blind and visually impaired persons, in addition to its ongoing work on limitations and exceptions as well as on the protection of audio-visual performances and of broadcasting organisations. Brazil, Ecuador and…
- In Brief
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India Appoints New Trade Minister; Meeting with USTR Set for the Weekend
Anand Sharma has been appointed India’s new trade minister, New Delhi announced last week, making him the country’s point person in the Doha Round of trade talks at the WTO. Kamal Nath, who served as India’s trade minister from May 2004 until last month, will now serve as minister of road transport and highways. The 56-year-old…
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EU Looks to Extend Import Duties on US Biodiesel
The European Commission submitted a proposal on Thursday to extend for up to five years the temporary tariffs that it imposed on imports of US biodiesel in March. A decision on the matter should come later this month. The anti-dumping and anti-subsidy tariffs are meant to counteract the effects of the payments and other forms of…
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EU-South Korea Trade Talks Stumble on ‘Duty Drawback’
Leaders of the European Union and South Korea fell short of finalising a free trade agreement at the parties’ Fourth Summit Meeting on 23 May in Seoul, primarily due to concern among EU member states about the deal’s ramifications for its stressed auto industry. Discussion on that front has centred on a ‘duty drawback’ provision that…
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US, SACU Anticipate Future Cooperation on Trade
Trade negotiations between the United States and the members of the Southern African Customs Union (SACU) have picked up speed in the past few months, contrary to some recent news reports, a USTR source confirmed on Wednesday. Support from the new US and South African Administrations, as well as continued collaboration from the other SACU…
- WTO in Brief
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WTO Confirms Ministerial Meeting for 30 Nov – 2 Dec
The WTO will hold its seventh ministerial conference at the organisation’s headquarters in Geneva later this year, the organisation’s General Council agreed last week. The summit will focus on the organisation’s regular work, not the Doha Round trade talks, WTO officials have stressed. The theme of this year’s meeting will be “the WTO, the Multilateral Trading…
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Ramírez, Van den Bossche Set to Become Next Appellate Body Judges
Ricardo Ramírez Hernández of Mexico and Peter Van den Bossche of Belgium will likely fill two vacancies on the WTO’s Appellate Body, the organisation’s highest court, trade sources confirmed this week. The WTO’s 153 Member states are expected to finalise the selection of the two new judges at the next meeting of the Dispute Settlement…
- Events
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Events
5 June, Paris, France. 9TH ANNUAL INTERNATIONAL ECONOMIC FORUM ON AFRICA. At this event, politicians will engage with more than 500 journalists, business people, development cooperation professionals, researchers, civil society representatives and students to debate the findings of the latest edition of the African Economic Outlook (AEO). At the 9th Forum, OECD Secretary General Angel…
- Resources
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Resources
ASSESSING THE IMPACT OF THE CURRENT FINANCIAL AND ECONOMIC CRISIS ON GLOBAL FDI FLOWS. United Nations Conference on Trade and Development, April 2009. This new study from UNCTAD shows that gloomy market prospects, reduced financial resources and aversion to risk already had a negative impact on foreign direct investment (FDI) flows in 2008 and that…