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Efforts Acknowledged, But Implementation Menu Far From Fulfilling
While WTO Members expressed appreciation for the efforts of General Council (GC) Chair Stuart Harbinson in compiling a draft Decision on Implementation-Related Issues and Concerns [JOB(01)/139], the lodging of complaints from all sides has yet to subside nearly two weeks since its release on 26 September 2001 (see BRIDGES Weekly, 2 October 2001). Some developed country…
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Agriculture And Environment Polarise Ministerial Process
WTO Members have experienced an eventful week since a 3 October implementation meeting ended in discord over developing country demands in the leadup to the WTO’s fourth Ministerial Conference scheduled for 9-13 November (see related story, this issue). Major interactions have taken place in particular over agriculture and environment, and the WTO corridors have become…
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GATS: Highlights From WTO Services Week
In the shadow of preparations for the Doha Ministerial Conference, WTO Members are pursuing negotiations on the liberalisation of services trade under the General Agreement on Trade in Services (GATS) during a ’services week’, which also involves talks on the completion of a GATS regulatory framework (see Bridges Weekly, 2 October 2001). Sectoral discussions As BRIDGES Weekly…
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WTO's CTE Work Distracted By Ministerial Preparations
On 4 October, the WTO Committee on Trade and Environment (CTE) held the last of three meetings on its agenda for this year. The meeting was originally scheduled to address items 9 (Services) and 10 (WTO’s relations with other organisations) of the CTE 10-point work programme, but in the end Members did not discuss the…
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Special And Differential Treatment Text Not Yet Ripe For Ministerial Draft
On 8 October, a report entitled "Special and Differential Treatment Provisions in the WTO Agreements" (WT/GC/52, not yet de-restricted) was circulated to WTO Members. The report was submitted by Committee on Trade and Development (CTD) Chair Ambassador Irumba of Uganda to the General Council (GC) on 3 October 2001. The bulk of the report is an…
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Approval Of Cotonou At WTO Ministerial Now In EC's Hands
After a 19-month blockage, the WTO Council for Trade in Goods (CTG) finally agreed at a 5 October meeting to commence the examination of a waiver request for the EC-African, Caribbean and Pacific (ACP) Partnership agreement, also known as the Cotonou Partnership Agreement. The examination will take place through a Working Party, clearing the way…
- In Brief
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In Brief
CONGRESSIONAL FAST TRACK AUTHORITY VOTE DELAYED. A vote on ‘Trade Promotion Authority’ (TPA) expected for 5 October at the influential US Congressional House Ways and Means Committee was deferred to 9 October due to disagreement between Republicans and Democrats over how the bill should address labour and environment concerns in the context of trade. US…
- WTO in Brief
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WTO In Brief
OFFICIAL OPENING OF ADVISORY CENTRE FOR WTO LAW. On 5 October, an advisory centre on WTO law set up in July for developing countries officially opened its doors (see BRIDGES Weekly, 24 July 2001). The project is funded by eight European countries and Canada, with the Netherlands, Norway and Ireland each contributing $US 2.25 million.…
- Events
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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/cal/index.htm. Coming Up This Week 8-10 October, Port of Spain, Trinidad & Tobago: CONFERENCE ON ORGANIC HORTICULTURE. Organised by the UN Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) and partners, this conference intends to find ways for developing countries…
- Resources
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Resources
If you have a relevant resource (books, papers, bulletins, etc.) you would like to see announced in this section, please forward a copy for review by the BRIDGES staff to Hugo Cameron, hcameron@ictsd.ch. Submissions of publications to ICTSD’s documentation centre would also be welcome (contact Marc Galvin, mgalvin@ictsd.ch). ICTSD Resource AFRICA NEGOTIATIONS UPDATE NO.2. Published by ICTSD,…