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China Fights to Keep Markets Open
China launched WTO dispute cases against two major world economies on Friday, flexing its muscles on the world stage in an effort to gain greater access to developed country markets amid the economic downturn. In a two-part move on 31 July, Beijing challenged EU anti-dumping tariffs on Chinese steel fasteners as well as a US…
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Africa Pushes for Trade Reforms at AGOA Forum
African leaders are urging reform of the African Growth and Opportunity Act (AGOA) - a trade agreement between 39 sub-Saharan African countries and the United States - at this week’s eighth annual AGOA forum. The meeting, which began on Tuesday and will conclude on Thursday, provides a regular opportunity for leaders from the member states…
- In Brief
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Colombia and Peru – Minus Ecuador – Forge ahead in EU Trade Talks
Negotiators from Colombia and Peru completed a fifth round of negotiations toward a free trade deal with the EU last month, despite the marked absence of Ecuador from the discussions. Although an estimated 30 to 50 percent of the tabled issues have yet to be resolved, officials said the talks achieved significant progress in several…
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Switzerland – Japan FTA to Take Effect 1 Sept
A deal between Switzerland and Japan to slash tariffs on bilateral trade will take effect on 1 September, officials from the two countries announced last week. The agreement, which was signed in Tokyo in February, will be Switzerland’s biggest free trade deal since the 1972 accord that it signed with the European Community. Officials from the…
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EU, Papua New Guinea Ink Trade Pact
The European Union and Papua New Guinea signed a deal on 30 July that will immediately allow the Pacific country to export all of its goods duty free to the European market. In return, PNG will remove tariffs on 88 percent of imports from the EU over the next 15 years. The EU and Papua New…
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US Weighs Consultations with Guatemala on Labour Rights
The US Department of Labor (DOL) is considering formal consultations with Guatemala in response to complaints about the country’s record on labour rights. Labour standards are protected under the Dominican Republic - Central America Free Trade Agreement (DR-CAFTA), to which both countries are parties. The AFL-CIO - the largest federation of US labour unions - and…
- WTO in Brief
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EU Takes Legal Action on Philippine Liquor Tax
The EU issued a request for consultations with the Philippines at the WTO Dispute Settlement Body (DSB) last week, citing Manila’s differential tax rates for domestic and imported liquor. The EU considers the taxes to be ‘discriminatory’ and in violation of international trade rules. The Philippine excise tax regime, introduced in 1997 and revised in 2004,…
- Events
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Events
Coming up: 6 - 12 August 10-12 August, New Delhi, India. THIRD RENEWABLE ENERGY INDIA 2009 EXPO. The Third Renewable Energy India 2009 Expo is India’s largest event on Clean ‘n’ Green Energy featuring Bio, Hydro, Solar, Wind, Cogeneration, Geothermal and Energy efficiency sectors. Organised by Exhibitions India Private Limited, the expo will to provide information…
- Resources
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Resources
INTELLECTUAL PROPERTY RIGHTS AND THE LIFE SCIENCE INDUSTRIES: PAST, PRESENT AND FUTURE, SECOND EDITION. Graham Dutfield, August 2009. This book is an account of the co-evolution of the patent system and the life science industries since the mid-19th century. The pharmaceutical industries have their origins in advances in synthetic chemistry and in natural products research.…