Here's the new U.S. strategy for reviving global trade talks: threaten to cut off sweetheart trade deals with big developing nations like India and Brazil to make them more willing to compromise.
The United States has given a “non paper” to Pakistan that shows some flexibility for signing the much-delayed Bilateral Investment Treaty (BIT) between the two countries soon.
After being pressured by Thai and international activists for years, GlaxoSmithKline has withdrawn its patent application for a key anti-retroviral drug in Thailand and India.
In the wake of the collapse of the Doha talks in the World Trade Organization (WTO), negotiations for the country to enter into an Asia-Pacific free trade agreement (FTA) have become more urgent for industrialized countries. But independent think-tank IBON Foundation warns that entering into an FTA could be even more dangerous than liberalization under the WTO.
India is in favour of salvaging the suspended Doha development round and was committed to a rule-based multilateral trading system. But, it made clear it would not compromise on the interests of its farmers and infant industries.
By Carin Smaller and Anne-Laure Constantin, TIP/IATP
CONTENTS: Putting trade into perspective: how to deal with the disappointment; Understanding the collapse: hope for the future; The take-over of bilateral and regional trade agreements: myth or reality?; A time for reflection; The WTO goes on; Important dates to remember; Documents
