Archive - fev 2005

A group of developing countries led by Brazil yesterday sought substantial changes in the General Agreement on Trade in Services architecture on domestic regulation.

There was a clear contrast in basic approach taken by developing and developed countries at a meeting of the Negotiating Group on Trade Facilitation held at the WTO on 7 and 9 February.

Many of the developing countries stressed the importance of technical assistance and capacity building.

A rights group expressed fears Wednesday that security personnel might use excessive force against anti-globalization protesters at a World Trade Organization meeting in Hong Kong.

The Police Tactical Unit has ordered rubber bullets and lead-filled bean bags, Commandant Suen Kwai-leung said. The thumb-sized bean bags are fired from guns and, like rubber bullets, are intended to be non-lethal.

WTO members will be negotiating in the Special Session of the Council of Trade in Services in the week starting 21 February.

The success of all of the membership, the 148 WTO members, will not occur through spontaneous combustion. We have to plan it. -ALLGEIER

An attempt to convince developing countries to open up their financial services sector under GATS.

The developed countries can be expected to continue to strongly advocate this line in the preparations for Hong Kong, whether in Geneva or other fora.

Mr Alan Kyerematen, Minister of Trade and Industry, on Monday called on countries to develop their own trade policies that would give them a better focus when negotiating on the international market.