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WTO Agriculture Negotiations Progress On Technical Issues
From 15-19 November, WTO delegates engaged in intense negotiations on agriculture. The talks, comprising the second "agriculture week" following agreement on a July Package for moving the Doha Round forward (WT/L/579), included detailed discussions of technical issues. Wrapping up the week in a formal meeting of the special…
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Progress Underway On Trade Facilitation
The second meeting of the Negotiating Group on Trade Facilitation took place on 22-23 November. The meeting consisted of a "stock-taking" process to establish the base for negotiations, with the WTO Secretariat, the World Customs Organisation (WCO), the UN Conference for Trade and Development (UNCTAD), the World Bank and the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and…
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US-Antigua Gambling Dispute Raises Systemic Issues
The US recently announced its intention to appeal a WTO ruling in favour of Antigua and Barbuda in a case that the island state had brought against certain US measures restricting the cross-border supply of gambling and betting services from foreign operators (see BRIDGES Weekly 17 November 2004). The panel found that gambling restrictions at…
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APEC Leaders Re-Commit Themselves To Doha Round
Pacific Rim leaders recently stated their intent to put regional trade talks on the backburner and instead focus their efforts on bringing the Doha Round negotiations to completion. Heads of state from the 21 members of Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) met in Santiago, Chile on 20-21 November for the 12th APEC Economic Leaders’ Meeting, where…
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Indian Patent Law Changes Face Resistance
On 24 November, officials from the United Progressive Alliance (UPA), the ruling coalition in India, met with left-wing parties to discuss the Patent Amendment Bill, scheduled to be tabled in the Indian parliament next month. The proposed amendments will address the obligation under the WTO Agreement on Trade Related Aspects of Intellectual Property Rights (TRIPS),…
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Vacancies
TRADE POLICY ADVISER, Oxfam GB. Oxfam (Great Britain) is seeking a Trade Policy Adviser to work in its Oxford headquarters. Knowledge of international economics and development and at least five years relevant professional experience required, preferably in public policy work. For further information, apply online at http://www.Oxfam.org.uk/jobs or send your application to Anni Morgan, Policy…
- In Brief
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In Brief
UN PLANS 2005 MILLENNIUM DEVELOPMENT GOAL SUMMIT The UN General Assembly met from 22-23 November to plan for a 14-16 September 2005 Summit on the implementation of the Millennium Development Goals (MDGs). The General Assembly agreed upon a set of proposals presented by the UN Secretary General for the high-level mid-term summit, to be held in…
- WTO in Brief
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WTO In Brief
WORLD BANK, IMF PRESENTATIONS SPARK DEBATE IN AGRICULTURE COMMITTEE In an 18 November regular session of the WTO Committee on Agriculture (CoA), the World Bank and IMF made presentations on the topic of net food-importing countries, which some delegates reacted against in their interventions. The CoA annually reviews the possible negative effects of agriculture reform on…
- 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. If you would like to submit an event, please email us. Coming Up: 25 November to 1 December Ongoing, Online: INTERNATIONAL REGULATIONS WITHIN THE CONTEXT OF A SOLIDARITY SOCIO-ECONOMY IN THE ERA OF NEOLIBERAL GLOBALISATION. This electronic workshop is…
- Resources
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Resources
PREFERENCE-DEPENDENT ECONOMIES AND MULTILATERAL LIBERALISATION: IMPACTS AND OPTIONS. By the Commonwealth Secretariat (August 2004). Many preferential access schemes are being phased out. Commitments both from the previous Uruguay Round and the ongoing Doha Round negotiations threaten to erode the value of preferential access in the short-, medium and long-term. Despite the average positive welfare…