-
S&D Review Back Underway
The review of special and differential treatment (S&D) provisions for developing countries recommenced on 21 and 23 May, as General Council (GC) Chair Perez del Castillo (Uruguay) held informal meetings with Heads of Delegations (HOD). Following the 21 May meeting, Members were able to agree on accepting two additional proposals (based on language that differed…
-
WTO Members Miss DSU Negotiating Deadline
The WTO special session of the Dispute Settlement Body (BSD) missed its end-May deadline for reforming the Dispute Settlement Understanding (DSU). Members instead agreed on 28 May to continue negotiations, based on a new draft prepared by Chair Péter Balás (Hungary). However, they did not agree on a new schedule for negotiations, nor on their…
-
Agriculture Update: Special Safeguard Mechanism Discussed, Cap Reform Proceeds
On 27 May, Members of the Committee on Agriculture (CoA) met for technical consultations on a possible new special safeguard mechanism for developing countries. Reportedly, discussions were comprehensive, but only little progress was made on the form and scope of such a new instrument. Interestingly, the US was said to have — in contrast to…
-
G-8 Leaders Pledge To Complete Doha Round
The annual Group of Eight (G-8) Summit took place from 1-3 June in Evian, France to discuss issues related to promoting global economic growth, sustainable development and security. The heads of state of the G-8 countries — Canada, France, Germany, Italy, Japan, Russia, the UK, and the US — met with leaders from Algeria, Brazil,…
- In Brief
-
In Brief
EU AGREES TIERED MEDICINE PRICING FOR POOR COUNTRIES European governments on 26 May adopted a regulation that aims to facilitate the delivery of medicines to combat HIV/AIDS, malaria and tuberculosis at strongly reduced (’tiered’) prices to developing countries. To this end, exporters are invited to put their products — both patented and generic — on a…
- WTO in Brief
-
WTO In Brief
COMPETITION POLICY: WG SEES NO AGREEMENT ON NEGOTIATIONS The WTO Working Group on Interaction between Trade and Competition Policy met from 26-27 May, and discussed, inter alia, whether negotiations should be launched in this area. The EU supports the launch of negotiations on the four so called Singapore issues — competition policy, investment, government procurement and…
- Events
-
Events
EVENTS For a more comprehensive list of events in trade and sustainable development, please refer to ICTSD’s web calendar. If you would like to submit an event, please email events@ictsd.ch. Coming Up: 5 - 11 June 26 May - 6 June, Geneva, Switzerland: THIRD SESSION OF THE UNITED NATIONS FORUM ON FORESTS…
- Resources
-
Resources
GLOBALISATION: KEEPING THE GAINS. By the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) Secretariat (26 May 2003). This report assesses the challenges and the benefits of globalisation, including with regard to the need to foster growth and reduce poverty. It also emphasises the role of the government in the application of efficient policies as well as in the…