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Little Progress In Doha Preparations
A number of recent trade meetings, including a brief informal session of the WTO General Council (GC) on 4 September, has shown that much ground remains to be covered if WTO Members are to find convergence in views in the leadup to the WTO’s Fourth Ministerial Conference in Doha, Qatar on 9-13 November. Most positions…
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Civil Society in Doha: Few Into The Glass Building, None Outside It
On 10 August, WTO Director General Mike Moore sent a letter to 647 applicants eligible for representing the community of Non-Governmental Organisations (NGOs) at the Forth WTO Ministerial Conference in Doha, Qatar, on 9-13 November. Despite the warm welcoming words of the Director General, many civil society representatives expressed frustration and dissapointment about the limitations…
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UN Human Rights Body Criticises WTO Dispute Settlement Procedures
In a report issues at its 53rd Annual Session (30 July - 17 August), the UN Subcommission on Promotion and Protection of Human Rights concluded that the WTO’s dispute settlement procedure is in flagrant violation of basic legal tenets such as equal access to justice, impartiality and independence. In separate resolutions on globalisation, services liberalisation,…
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Granting of Basmati Patent to US Firm Raises Traditional Knowledge Concerns
In an ongoing dispute at the US Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO) between the Texas-based company RiceTec and the Indian government, India lost its battle against the patenting of the world famous Basmati (flagrant earth) rice when the USPTO granted patents to three hybrid strains developed by the US firm. On 14 August, the USPTO finally…
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GMO Update: Sri Lanka, China, EU-US
Sri Lanka puts GM ban on hold Sri Lanka’s Health Ministry last week announced its decision to indefinitely postponed plans to restrict imports of genetically modified (GM) foods. The ban requiring 21 categories of food imports to be GM free was supposed to enter into force on 1 September after it had been suspended on 1…
- In Brief
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In Brief
AARHUS CONVENTION SET TO COME INTO FORCE. The Aarhus Convention on Access to Information, Public Participation in Decision-making and Access to Justice in Environmental Matters will come into force on 30 October following ratification by Armenia. The UN Economic Commission for Europe Convention aims to strengthen the rights of citizens to be informed on environmental…
- WTO in Brief
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WTO In Brief
FRANCE CAUTIONS ONE-YEAR-DELAY MAY HELP TRADE ROUND. The French State Secretary of Commerce Francois Huwaert warned last week that the decision to launch a new round of trade liberalisation talks might need to be delayed until next year because little had changed since WTO Members failed to reach an agreement on a negotiating agenda at…
- Vacancies
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Position Vacancies
IUCN - The World Conservation Union Regional Director - European Programme. As the Head of the European Regional Office, which includes oversight of IUCN’s Central European and CIS offices (Warsaw and Moscow), the Regional Director is the chief manager for all financial, personnel, and administrative matters and will be responsible for ensuring the financial viability of…
- Events
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Events
EVENTS For a more comprehensive list of events in trade and sustainable development, please refer to ICTSD’s web calendar at: http://www.ictsd.org/html/calendar.htm. Coming Up This Week 10-12 September, Interlaken, Switzerland: LINKING WORK, SKILLS AND KNOWLEDGE: LEARNING FOR SURVIVAL AND GROWTH. Organised by the Swiss Agency for Development and Cooperation. For further information, contact:…
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EVENTS For a more comprehensive list of events in trade and sustainable development, please refer to ICTSD’s web calendar at: http://www.ictsd.org/html/calendar.htm. Coming Up This Week 10-12 September, Interlaken, Switzerland: LINKING WORK, SKILLS AND KNOWLEDGE: LEARNING FOR SURVIVAL AND GROWTH. Organised by the Swiss Agency for Development and Cooperation. For further information, contact:…
- Resources
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Resources
RESOURCES REPORT ON THE TRIPS AGREEMENT AND ACCESS TO MEDICINES IN CONTEMPLATION OF THE WTO DOHA MINISTERIAL CONFERENCE. By Frederick M. Abbott, Quaker United Nations Office, Geneva. This paper aims to assist in formulating recommendations regarding a possible Doha Ministerial Declaration on TRIPS and Public Health, or a near-term formal interpretation of the TRIPS Agreement, and…