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‘Development’ Still Stuck On Procedure - Substance Slowly Emerging
With ten weeks left before the reporting deadline ascribed to it in Doha, the Committee on Trade and Development’s (CTD) special session on special and differential treatment (S&D) met for the third time on 16 May. Under the weight of a heavy agenda — the floor being open for proposed amendments to S&D language…
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DSU: Members Discuss 'Sequencing' And Selection Of Panellists
At the second special (negotiating) session of the WTO Dispute Settlement Body (DSB) convening on 21 May, Members discussed a new proposal put forward by a group of 14 countries suggesting reforms of the Dispute Settlement Understanding (DSU) to settle the so- called ’sequencing’ issue as well as procedures to effect withdrawal of retaliatory…
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World Summit Heading Towards Acrimony And Minimalism As Last Prep Begins
In lead-up to the World Summit on Sustainable Development, the fourth and final preparatory meeting (PrepCom IV) will take place in Bali, Indonesia on 27 May to 7 June. Also taking in three days of informal discussions prior to the scheduled meeting, delegates will debate the latest proposed draft text, put forward by PrepCom…
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TRIPS Council Sets Agenda For June Meeting
In what was described as a largely procedural meeting, the 17 May informal meeting of the WTO Council on Trade-Related Aspects of Intellectual Property Rights (TRIPs) discussed the agenda for the upcoming TRIPs Council meeting on 25-27 June and the special (negotiating) session on 28 June. During this latter special session, Members will continue…
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Proposed Amendments Make Farce Out Of US Trade Promotion Authority Bill
PROPOSED AMENDMENTS MAKE FARCE OUT OF US TRADE PROMOTION AUTHORITY BILL In a beleaguered effort to give US President George W. Bush Trade Promotion Authority (formerly ‘fast-track’), the Senate backed an amendment that would allow Congress to veto specific provisions of trade pacts if they changed anti-dumping and other laws designed to protect US producers…
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Despite Internal Trade Spats, OECD Members Advocate Free Trade
DESPITE INTERNAL TRADE SPATS, OECD MEMBERS ADVOCATE FREE TRADE Convening for the annual Organisation for Economic Cooperation and Development (OECD) Council at Ministerial Level held in Paris, France, on 15-16 May, member states reiterated their commitment to "reject the use of protectionism" and to "make significant progress on all elements agreed in Doha" where WTO…
- In Brief
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In Brief
EXPIRATION OF ANDEAN-US TRADE AGREEMENT POSES SEVERE CONSEQUENCES FOR EXPORTERS On 16 May, the 11-year-old Andean Trade Preferences Act (ATPA) between the US and the Andean countries (Peru, Colombia, Ecuador and Bolivia) came to an end — spurring strong feelings and bitterness among the Andean countries. Exporters from the region now face duties of up…
- WTO in Brief
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WTO In Brief
CAIRNS GROUP JOINS IN CRITICISM OF US FARM BILL In a joint statement issued on 15 May, the Cairns Group — consisting of eighteen agricultural exporting nations — strongly criticised the new US farm bill, warning that it would "hurt farmers around the world particularly damaging on developing countries — net food exporters and…
- 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. Coming Up This Week: 21-27 May 22-24 May, Victoria, Canada: 4TH UNEP INTERNATIONAL CHILDREN’S CONFERENCE ON THE ENVIRONMENT. 800 children at the age of 10 to 12 from all over the world will learn and discuss the…
- 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. Submissions of publications to ICTSDs documentation centre would also be welcome (contact Matteo Rizzolli). FROM RIO TO JOHANNESBURG AND BEYOND: GLOBALIZING PRECAUTION…