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Supachai: Negotiations Behind Schedule for July, Hong Kong
WTO Director-General Supachai Panitchpakdi warned Members at a 28 April meeting that the ongoing Doha Round trade negotiations were well behind the pace they had set out to achieve earlier this year, potentially threatening the chances of an agreement at the December Ministerial Conference in Hong Kong. Speaking to the WTO Trade Negotiations Committee (TNC), which…
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Agriculture: Ministers Meet In Paris To Remove AVE Stumbling Block
The so called "five interested parties" (FIPs) — Australia, Brazil, EU, India and US — failed to make a breakthrough on agriculture technicalities during a 2-3 May meeting in Paris. The meeting was held in advance of a 4 May ‘mini-ministerial’ gathering of representatives from influential WTO Member countries on the sidelines of the annual…
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DG Race Down To Lamy And Perez Del Castillo
Mauritian Foreign Affairs and Trade Minister Jaya Krishna Cuttaree has withdrawn his candidacy to succeed Supachai Panitchpakdi as the next Director-General of the WTO. The race is now down to two candidates: former EU Trade Commissioner Pascal Lamy of France and former Uruguayan WTO Ambassador Carlos Perez del Castillo. WTO General Council Chair Ambassador Amina Chawahir…
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NAMA: Divisions Among Members Endanger July 'Approximations'
At the close of a week of WTO negotiations on non-agricultural market access (NAMA) from 25-29 April, NAMA Negotiating Group Chair Ambassador Stefan Johannesson of Iceland warned that Members were in danger of being unable to agree on even "an outline of a formula" for reducing tariffs on industrial goods by the end of July. Members…
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EU Sugar Dispute: WTO Appellate Body Confirms Brazil's Win
On 28 April, the WTO Appellate Body released to the public its report on an appeal brought by Brazil, Thailand and Australia with regard to their challenge against the EU’s sugar regime. Following closely on the heels of Brazil’s recent win in the "cotton appeal" (see BRIDGES Weekly, 9 March 2005), the Appellate Body upheld…
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On The Move
The US Senate confirmed Rob Portman as the US Trade Representative on 29 April. The Bush Administration had announced his nomination on 17 March (see BRIDGES Weekly, 23 March 2005). China’s Ministry of Commerce has named Vice Minister of Commerce Gao Hucheng to lead a special office for international trade negotiations. The 30 April announcement makes…
- In Brief
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WIPO Development Agenda Debate Continues At Seminar
KEMAL DERVIS NOMINATED TO HEAD UNDP UN Secretary-General Kofi Annan has nominated Kemal Dervis, a former Finance Minister of Turkey, to lead the UN Development Programme (UNDP). If the UN General Assembly confirms the 26 April nomination, it will be the first time the administrator of the UN’s largest independently-funded agency has been chosen from outside…
- WTO in Brief
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WTO In Brief
AFRICAN GROUP SUBMITS PROPOSAL IN COTTON SUB-COMMITTEE The WTO Sub-Committee on cotton held its third meeting on 29 April (see BRIDGES Weekly, 24 November 2004). The group of African WTO Members submitted a proposal (TN/AG/SCC/GEN/2) at this meeting calling for radical reforms in the trade of cotton and "cotton by-products" including textiles. The African Group wants…
- Events
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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 us. Coming Up: 5 May - 11 May 4-7 May, Turkey, MARINE TURTLES CONFERENCE. This conference is organised by the Council of Europe. For further information contact Mr. Eladio…
- Resources
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Resources
FOOD AID OR HIDDEN DUMPING? SEPARATING WHEAT FROM CHAFF. Oxfam International, April 2005. In a world prone to natural and human disasters, where 850 million people still suffer from hunger, food aid can sometimes be a crucial lifeline. However, food aid has also been used for less noble aims, including to dump surplus production and…