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New WTO Director-General Confirmed; Supports WTO-NGO Dialogue on Sustainable Development
At a meeting of the WTO General Council on 22 July, Members confirmed Tuesday’s agreement to appoint Mike Moore of New Zealand, and Supachai Panitchpakdi of Thailand to successive three-year terms as WTO Director-General (DG). Under the agreed succession plan, Mr. Moore will take over the DG post commencing 1 September. Mr. Supachai will then…
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Japan to Take Food Security Stance in WTO AG Talks
Japan’s Diet on 12 July approved a new basic law for food, agriculture and rural areas, replacing its 38-year-old Agricultural Basic Law. The new legislation addresses issues including securing a stable food supply, fulfilling agriculture’s multifunctional roles (the multiple roles that agriculture plays e.g. with respect to the environment), sustainable agricultural development and the…
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U.S. Beef Retaliation List Targets Pork
The WTO’s Dispute Settlement Body is expected on 26 July to authorise the U.S. and Canada’s list of retaliatory tariffs against EU goods in response to the EU’s failure to comply with a WTO ruling against its ban on hormone-treated beef imports. (See BRIDGES Weekly Trade News Digest Vol. 3, No. 28, 19 July 1999,…
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ASEAN Calls on Developed Countries to Expand Market Access
Foreign ministers from the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) were expected to meet 25-28 July with their counterparts from North America, Asia and Europe. Meeting in advance of that gathering, ASEAN ministers agreed to press the U.S., Japan, EU and other developed countries to boost imports from ASEAN nations so to facilitate a more…
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World Bank Proposes Sustainable Energy Lending Strategy
The World Bank is reportedly overhauling its lending policy for energy-related projects - moving away from oil and gas energy development toward projects focused on cleaner, more sustainable energy technologies (e.g. wind, solar and geothermal power). The new strategy is designed to help address how the energy needs of people in developing nations without contributing…
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EU, U.S. Sign Veterinary Agreement
The EU and U.S. on 19 July signed the “veterinary equivalency” agreement - establishing that each other’s sanitation and processing procedures provide equivalent levels of food safety. Talks for the agreement concluded in April 1997: signing the agreement had been delayed by an EU-U.S. disagreement over the principle of regional health status. The agreement signed…
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In Brief
Vietnam and the U.S. concluded a bilateral trade agreement this past weekend after three years of talks. The agreement is expected to help double Vietnamese exports to the U.S. to over US$1 billion annually. The agreement is also expected to help Vietnam move closer to gaining admission to the WTO. “Un accord commercial entre Hanoi…
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WTO In Brief
The European Commission earlier this month said the Millenium Round of global trade talks should be used to clarify and agree on the appropriate use of the precautionary principle; e.g. with respect to food, health and environmental safety. “Bruxelles pour le principe de précaution,” AGRA PRESSE HEBDO, 19 July 1999. Kenya, Tanzania and Uganda, under the…
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On the Move
The U.S. Grains Council last week announced it has enlisted former U.S. Trade Representative Carla Hills to lobby world leaders in support of genetically modified crops. Meanwhile, the North Dakota Wheat Commission and a coalition of state wheat commissions has hired former U.S. Trade Representative Mickey Kantor to represent their interests in the upcoming round…
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Events & Resources
EVENTS For a more complete list of events, please refer to ICTSD’s web calendar at http://www.ictsd.org/html/calendar.htm WTO Meetings An updated list of forthcoming WTO meetings is posted at http://www.wto.org/wto/about/meets.htm. Please bear in mind that dates and times of WTO meetings are often changed, and that the WTO does not always announce the important informal meetings of different…