-
ACTA Text, Finally Unveiled, Reflects Differences on Key Provisions
The veil of official secrecy that has shrouded talks on an “Anti-Counterfeiting Trade Agreement” for the past two years was finally lifted last week, with the release of a comprehensive draft negotiating text. Digital rights activists, academics, and sections of the computer industry had long decried the lack of transparency surrounding the negotiations. Participating governments -…
-
China Wins New Influence at the World Bank
In a reflection of its growing economic and political clout, China has scored a significant jump in voting share at the World Bank. The shift, announced on Sunday, will give the country more say in the governance of the Washington-based international financial institution - an objective that the country has long pursued. The realignment of voting…
- In Brief
-
US Continues Push to Open Trade in Environmental Goods
The United States is still working to secure a deal that would slash barriers to trade in environmental goods and services, United States Trade Representative Ron Kirk said on Monday. “We think it only makes sense to make the trade of those goods more open,” Kirk said, according to a report from Bloomberg. He added that…
-
EU Moves Toward New Rules on Animal Welfare
The EU is starting to consider new rules on animal welfare that could have significant impacts on its trading partners. The European Commissioner for health and consumer affairs, John Dalli of Malta, who took up his post in February, told The New York Times in an interview this week that he plans to introduce draft legislation…
-
US Climate Bill Slips as Key Senator Threatens to Withdraw Support
The future of the United States Senate climate change bill - which had been expected to be revealed on 26 April - is now in question after one of its sponsors has threatened to withdraw support. The bill - a multi-party effort by Senators Lindsay Graham (a Republican), John Kerry (a Democrat) and Joe Lieberman (an…
-
Developing Countries Launch New Coalition at WIPO
Nineteen developing countries have created a new coalition to push the World Intellectual Property Organization (WIPO) to make its work more development friendly. The announcement of the new bloc, dubbed the WIPO Development Agenda Group (DAG), came during this week’s meeting of WIPO’s Committee on Development and Intellectual Property (CDIP). The DAG is “an open and…
-
Caribbean Rum Producers Protest EU Decision to Cut Aid
A decision by the European Commission to close in June a programme designed to help Caribbean rum producers adjust to global competition has sparked protest from the industry. The Caribbean rum industry, which faces stiff competition from several Latin American producers, says it needs more time to spend the pre-allocated funds to prevent many rum companies…
- Events
-
Events
28 April, Washington, DC, US. SCALING UP SOLAR: HOW FAR CAN WE GO? This event is the first of a series hosted by the Energy Security Initiative at the Brookings Institution that will examine the prospects for potentially game-changing energy technologies to make the shift from alternative to mainstream. Experts from many sectors will discuss…
- Resources
-
Resources
COMPETITIVENESS AND CLIMATE POLICIES: IS THERE A CASE FOR RESTRICTIVE UNILATERAL TRADE MEASURES? By Ingrid Jegou with Johannes Bernabee, Samantha Derksen, Ana Maria Kleymeyer, Joachim Monchelbaan and Ricardo Meléndez-Ortiz. The International Centre for Trade and Sustainable Development, December 2009. This paper provides a short overview of some of the proposals related to border carbon measures…