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Tensions over EU Emissions Levy Reach New Heights as China Tells Airlines Not to Comply
The Chinese government has barred the country’s airlines from participating in Brussels’ controversial plan to place a levy on foreign airlines for the emissions they use on incoming and outgoing flights. With China also set to meet with other opponents of the aviation emissions levy - including India, Russia, and the US - later this…
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US Agrees to Quit Zeroing, Avoids EU and Japan Retaliation
The United States, on 6 February, signed roadmap agreements with the European Union and Japan on ending its controversial “zeroing” method to calculate anti-dumping duties. The deal was announced only days before WTO arbitrators were scheduled to examine the EU’s and Japan’s request on retaliating against Washington for its failure to comply with WTO rulings…
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China to Boost Farm Subsidies for Science and Technology
In its first major policy announcement of the new year, China has revealed plans to boost spending on agricultural science and technology - continuing a trend towards rapidly-growing farm support in recent years. The document, which was released last week by China’s State Council, says that subsidies will be redirected towards the most productive areas, with…
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Goods Council Approves EU Trade Concessions for Pakistan
Pakistan is set to receive a package of trade concessions from the EU, over a year after Brussels initially tabled its request for a WTO waiver. The flood-battered Asian country will receive preferential treatment for 75 tariff lines, though not all of those will receive full liberalisation. The granting of the WTO waiver follows a…
- In Brief
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Retroactive Duties Could be Imposed on Chinese Imports, US Solar Manufacturer Says
The US division of German photovoltaic manufacturer SolarWorld has announced that Washington will indeed impose retroactive duties on Chinese-made solar panels, should the US Commerce Department ultimately decide that such fees are warranted. The company had strongly argued in favour of retroactive duties, claiming that the announced expiration of a US subsidy programme triggered a…
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Mercosur Members Wary of New Argentina Import Controls
Argentina’s new import controls entered into effect last week, sparking questions from its regional trading partners - particularly fellow Mercosur members Brazil, Uruguay, and Paraguay - and from business and industry groups. Buenos Aires’ new trade measures, which were launched on 1 February, require Argentine companies to file online affidavits - known as the Advanced Sworn…
- WTO in Brief
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Dominican Republic Loses on Plastic Bag Safeguards
In a dispute that pitted the Dominican Republic against four of its developing country trading partners, a WTO panel last week ruled that Santo Domingo’s safeguard duties on plastic bags and tubular fabric imported from Central America do indeed violate WTO rules (DS415,416,417,418). Costa Rica, El Salvador, Guatemala, and Honduras had challenged the value-added tax at…
- Vacancies
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Vacancy
The Association for Plant Breeding for the Benefit of Society (APBREBES) is seeking candidates to fill a part-time position of Executive Officer. The position will work on issues relating to plant variety protection. Interested candidates must have experience in the area of intellectual property, biodiversity law, farmers’ rights, or other related areas. The position requires…
- Events
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Events
Coming soon 23 January-17 February, online. SUSTAINABLITY ASSESSMENT OF FOOD AND AGRICULTURAL SYSTEMS (SAFA) E-FORUM. As part of its preparations for the UN Conference on Sustainable Development in June (also known as UNCSD, or Rio+20), the UN Food and Agricultural Organization (FAO) is hosting this e-forum on the sustainability assessment of food and agricultural systems (SAFA).…
- Resources
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Resources
BRIDGING THE GAP ON INTELLECTUAL PROPERTY AND GENETIC RESOURCES IN WIPO’S INTERGOVERNMENTAL COMMITTEE (IGC). By David Vivas-Eugui for ICTSD. Discussions on how to address concerns about the misappropriation of genetic resources and traditional knowledge have been high on the agenda of various multilateral forums, such as the Convention on Biological Diversity (CBD) the World Trade…