Archive - Apr 2006

The process of reform of the operational activities of the United Nations and possibly of the structures and mandates of its many organizations is proceeding at an increasingly fast pace, with the developed countries taking a leading role in pushing for the reforms.

The Chairman of the G77 in New York has written to the Prime Ministers of Pakistan, Mozambique and Norway who co-chair the panel on UN system-wide coherence to stress that the coherence exercise must strengthen the role of the UN so that it becomes the premier international organization dealing with economic, social and development issues.

Developed countries are actively advocating major structural and operational changes to the United Nations system, including the closure or merger of several UN organisations, and the creation of a few.

Keen to fizzle out the logjam in WTO talks, director general Pascal Lamy will be on a two-day visit to India - an influential member of the world body - beginning on April 5.

There has been no substantial progress in agriculture trade negotiations in Geneva. The April 30 deadline set by the WTO director-general, Pascal Lamy seems unlikely to be met.

Many developing countries and their groupings have voiced their concerns on the current status of the WTO Doha negotiations during a meeting on Tuesday 28 March of the WTO's Trade Negotiations Committee, which oversees the negotiations of the Doha work programme.

Top trading powers say they are creeping closer to a WTO deal, but admit a battle against the clock to fulfill their promise to better the lives of the world's poorest citizens.

Thailand is preparing to file a complaint with the World Trade Organisation against the United States over its requirement for bonds levied on Thai shrimp exports.

Thailand has filed a case against the United States with the World Trade Organisation accusing Washington of employing unfair trade practices and targeting Thai shrimp exports, the Foreign Trade Department said yesterday.