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New Caribbean Formula Stirs Up NAMA Talks
WTO Members are so divided on how to cut tariffs on industrial goods it is unlikely they will be able to agree on the shape of a tariff reduction formula by an end-July target date, according to reports from trade negotiators. Discussions in the Negotiating Group on Non-Agricultural Market Access (NAMA), which had started to…
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US Announces Changes To Illegal Cotton Subsidies, Brazil Reserves Right To Retaliate
On 5 July 2005, the US Department of Agriculture (USDA) announced proposed statutory changes to its ‘Step 2′ cotton subsidy scheme as well as to export credit guarantee programmes that benefit cotton farmers. The USDA described the changes, which will be sent to Congress for approval, as a move to comply with a recent WTO…
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SPS CTTE Considers Private Sector Standards; Struggles Continue With S&D
WTO Members examined for the first time the role of private sector standards in restricting trade during the 29-30 meeting of the Committee on Sanitary and Phytosanitary (SPS) Measures. The discussion, prompted by a complaint by St Vincent and the Grenadines regarding EU supermarkets’ requirements for bananas, centered on the need to clarify SPS Agreement…
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Vacancies
3D -> Trade -> Human Rights -> Equitable Economy is seeking to recruit a Senior Programme Officer to work on trade and human rights with a particular focus on agriculture. The successful candidate will develop and implement activities designed to ensure that international trade policies are consistent with human rights. Starting in September 2005 or…
- In Brief
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In Brief
US SENATE APPROVES CAFTA; HOUSE APPROVAL PENDING On 30 June, the US Senate approved the Central America Free Trade Agreement-Dominican Republic (CAFTA-DR) in a 54 to 45 vote. The vote passed with the lowest margin relative to recent similar agreements with Australia, Morocco, Singapore, and Chile. The accord faces stiff opposition from labour groups as well…
- WTO in Brief
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WTO In Brief
WORLD TRADE REPORT DOWNPLAYS OFFSHORING IMPACT The 2005 World Trade Report (WTR), produced by the WTO Secretariat, argues that the "impact of offshoring services jobs is far stronger in the popular perception than on actual production, employment and trade patterns." Even though some estimates suggest that the US could lose up to 3.5 million jobs…
- 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: 7-13 July 6-10 July, Ravello, Italy: AGRICULTURAL BIOTECHNOLOGY: TEN YEARS AFTER. This meeting is being organised by the International Consortium on Agricultural Biotechnology Research and will…
- Resources
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Resources
2005 WORLD TRADE REPORT. World Trade Organization, June 2005. This report argues that the application of technical standards by national governments can have both constructive and detrimental effects on international trade. The annual study, written by economists at the WTO Secretariat, points out that such norms can deliver important benefits in terms of information for…