Archive - Oct 2005

The European Commission called for the EU to set up a half-billion-euro globalisation 'shock absorber' fund to cushion the impact of painful restructuring efforts in Europe.

Trade ministers of Mali and Chad yesterday warned that time is running out for a much-promised 'cotton' initative

Brazil's external relations minister and chief trade negotiator Celso Amorim yesterday warned against creating a 'smokescreen' in the Doha Development Agenda trade negotiations

European Union Trade Commissioner Peter Mandelson said he was ready to show more flexibility over farm trade when he meets other top-level negotiators from around the world on Wednesday.

On 11 October 2005, the European Parliament's International Trade Committeeheld a public hearing on the WTO in its preparation for the WTO's HongkongMinisterial conference in December. The Third World Network's Director, Martin Khor, was invited to make apresentation as one of six experts at the hearing. He made a statement in thesession on NAMA (non agricultural market access).

The controversy over proposals to introduce new 'benchmarking' or complementary approaches aimed at getting developing countries to accelerate their liberalisation commitments in services at the WTO is expected to re-ignite in the week starting on 17 October.

he Group of 33 developing countries that operates in the WTO's agriculture negotiations has formally submitted a proposal on indicators for the designation of special products.

The Doha negotiations, which only a few months ago was characterized as stalled over many areas of disagreements among Members, are now back in motion.

Link to the G33 proposal on Special Products.