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Agriculture: Harbinson Circulates First Modalities Draft
On 12 February, Stuart Harbinson, Chair of the special (negotiating) session of Committee on Agriculture (CoA), submitted his first proposal for the establishment of modalities for the ongoing agriculture negotiations. The text, which has been drafted by Stuart Harbinson in his personal capacity, will be discussed during the forthcoming…
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Last-Minute Attempt To Save Trips & Health Discussions
A General Council meeting on 11 February was suspended following a request by the Chair of the Council for Trade-related Aspects of Intellectual Property Rights (TRIPs), Ambassador Eduardo Perez Motta (Mexico), for more time. Chair Perez Motta said he wished to continue his consultations to take advantage of "a certain momentum towards finding a solution"…
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S&D Review in Limbo as General Council Fails to Adopt Report
The 10 February meeting of the General Council failed to adopt a report on special and differential treatment (S&D) for developing countries, thus missing a third deadline for strengthening S&D provisions. The General Council meeting took place after a string of consultations in January and February on the review of S&D provisions, which had ended…
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WTO General Council Elects Chairs, Decides on NGO Access to Cancun
The WTO General Council met for one day (10 February) instead of the scheduled two, electing officers for 2003, and agreeing on procedural issues for the Fifth Ministerial meeting in Cancún in September. Chair Ambassador Sergio Marchi (Canada) then suspended the meeting to allow for further discussion of the Trade-related Aspects of Intellectual Property Rights…
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Rules Negotiating Group Tackles Anti-Dumping, Fisheries Subsidies
During its meetings on 3, 6 and 7 February, the WTO Negotiating Group on Rules discussed anti-dumping and subsidies, including fisheries subsidies, and regional trade agreements. A group of countries called "Friends of Anti-Dumping" — including Brazil, Chile, Colombia, Costa Rica, Hong Kong, China, Israel, Japan, Korea, Mexico, Norway, Chinese Taipei, Singapore, Switzerland, Thailand…
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Last-Minute Attempt To Save TRIPS & Health Discussions
A General Council meeting on 11 February was suspended following a request by the Chair of the Council for Trade-related Aspects of Intellectual Property Rights (TRIPs), Ambassador Eduardo Perez Motta (Mexico), for more time. Chair Perez Motta said he wished to continue his consultations to take advantage of "a certain momentum towards finding a solution"…
- In Brief
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In Brief
MEXICAN FARMERS, GOVERNMENT DISCUSS NEW DOMESTIC FARM POLICY On 6 February, Mexican government officials and farm activists initiated talks focusing on ways to alleviate pressures on Mexico’s agricultural sector resulting from trade obligations. The parties will seek measures to help Mexican farmers compete with US farm producers. Mexico removed most agricultural tariffs under the North American…
- WTO in Brief
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WTO In Brief
TOKYO MINI-MINISTERIAL TO ADDRESS AGRICULTURE, ACCESS TO MEDICINES Trade ministers are scheduled to meet from 14-16 February in Tokyo, Japan, to accelerate trade talks agreed on at the fourth WTO Ministerial in Doha, Qatar in November 2001. Japan’s WTO ambassador, Shotaro Oshima said, in advance of the meeting, that "We don’t expect any agreement in the…
- 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. If you would like to submit an event, please email events@ictsd.ch. Coming Up This Week: 13-19 February 13 February, Geneva, Switzerland: ECOSYSTEMS AND HUMAN WELL-BEING. At this roundtable at the International Environment House, hosted by…
- 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 resources@ictsd.ch. Submissions of publications to ICTSD’s documentation centre would also be welcomed (see mailing address below). BLANK SPOT ON THE MAP: HOW TRADE POLICY IS WORKING…