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Industrial Market Access Modalities Approval Awaits Agriculture
WTO Members convened on 26-28 May for what was supposed to have been the final date for approving market access modalities for non-agricultural goods. However, as was widely expected, the Negotiating Group on Non-agricultural Market Access deadline passed without agreement on a Chair’s draft paper submitted on 16 May (see BRIDGES Weekly, 21 May 2003). The…
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WTO Limits NGO Access To Cancun Ministerial
At an informational session hosted by the Mexican government in Geneva on 27 May on logistics for the Fifth WTO Ministerial Conference in Cancun (10-14 September), the WTO Secretariat and the Cancun Organising Committee informed attending non-governmental organisations (NGOs) of accreditation and logistical matters for Cancun. Citing the limited capacity of the Cancun Convention Centre (CCC)…
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Environment Secretariats to Attend July WTO CTE Session
At a 22 May informal consultation of the WTO special session of the Committee on Trade and Environment (CTE), delegates agreed to admit secretariats from six multilateral environmental agreements (MEAs) as well as the UN Environment Programme (UNEP) to the body’s next meeting on 8 July. The invited secretariats are…
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Services: WTO Members Review Domestic Regulation Annex, Overall Progress
The WTO Working Party on Domestic Regulation (WPDR) met on 15 May to consider, inter alia, a revised draft proposal by Japan for a General Agreement on Trade in Services (GATS) Annex on domestic regulation (JOB/(03)/45). Further, the special (negotiating) session of the Council for Trade in Services (CTS)…
- In Brief
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In Brief
MORE TO DEVELOPMENT THAN AID: REPORT On 26 May, the Centre for Global Development and Foreign Policy Magazine launched their Commitment to Development Index (CDI) in Geneva, which ranks 21 of the world’s richest nations according to how much their policies in six areas help or hinder the economic and social development of poor countries.…
- WTO in Brief
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Russian Accession Put Off Until 2004
CANADA, US DIVIDED OVER INTERPRETATION OF WTO RULING ON SOFTWOOD LUMBER Canada claimed vindication in the long-running softwood lumber dispute between Canada and the US after the WTO ruled this week in favour of Canada that timber-harvesting (’stumpage’) fees administered by its provincial governments were not subsidies. The US, however, dismissed Canada’s claim of victory as…
- 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 events@ictsd.ch. Coming Up: 29 May - 4 June 26 May - 6 June, Geneva, Switzerland: THIRD SESSION OF THE UNITED NATIONS FORUM ON FORESTS (UNFF-3). Delegates will discuss a…
- Resources
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Resources
WTO REFLECTION PAPER ON TRANSFER OF TECHNOLOGY TO DEVELOPING AND LEAST-DEVELOPED COUNTRIES (2003), Communication from the European Communities and their member States, WT/WGTTT/W/5 and IP/C/W/398, 14 February 2003. THE WORKING GROUP ON TRADE AND TRANSFER OF TECHNOLOGY (2003), Communication from Cuba, India, Indonesia, Kenya, Pakistan, Tanzania and Zimbabwe, WT/WGTTT/W/6, 7 May 2003. CREATING INCENTIVES…