Archive - Mar 2007

FEDERATION of Malaysian Manufacturers (FMM) president Datuk Yong Poh Kon claims that Malaysia has more to gain than lose from signing a free trade agreement (FTA) with the US (The Star, March 17). While claiming that a balance in views is necessary, it appears that his letter does not appear to be realistic about the possible gains for Malaysia under a USFTA.

A meeting of G33 developing nations should help the chances of success in the Doha trade round, but convergence among all groups is needed by end-April, European Trade Commissioner Peter Mandelson said today.

During Bush

Rich nations must give ground to help global free trade talks make progress, India's trade minister said on Wednesday.

Please find IGJ statement that we addressed today in the dialog session between CSO and G-33 delegation during the lunch session from 13.00 to 14.30. Today is the SOM meeting, and tomorrow is the ministerial meeting where Lamy and Mandelsohn will come.

Today (20/3), hundreds of farmers, youth, and farm workers from Federasi Serikat Petani Indonesia (FSPI) march in front of Grand Melia Hotel, Jakarta to strongly urge the G33 countries to stand by the people.

A second Doha Development Agenda services 'Enchilada' session was held yesterday - where Malaysia and South Korea spelled out what they intend to present in their revised services offers and stated 'must-haves' in the final package, trade diplomats said

Another week (26 Feb to 2 March) of negotiations at the WTO on market access for non-agricultural products (NAMA) ended with no discussions on the key issue of tariff cuts.

Despite an increase in the exposure of farmers to world market signals due to the implementation of the 2003 Common Agricultural Policy (CAP), agriculture remained protected by a complex tariff structure, high tariffs, tariff quotas (with unfilled quotas), and benefited from high levels of domestic support and export subsidies.

Small group consultations on Market Access for Non-Agricultural Products (NAMA) have not produced any breakthrough, and members continue to maintain a cautious stance, insisting that there should be movement first in agriculture, the Chair of the NAMA talks, Ambassador Don Stephenson of Canada, reported on 26 February.