"Free Trade" Agreements Contribute to Financial and Other Crises (OWINFS Financial Services Brief 2)

8 June, 2009
SOMO
While the financial crisis and its consequences are spreading around the world and even the most erstwhile ‘free market’ governments are discussing how to re-regulate the financial sector, bilateral and regional ‘free trade’ agreements continue extreme deregulation of the financial industry. The terms of these agreements prohibit countries from reforming their financial sector so as to remedy the financial, economic, environmental, food and social crises now growing, and from ensuring that finance is directed towards the transformation to sustainable societies.

The Financial Crisis Does Not Justify a WTO Deal (OWINFS Financial Services Brief 3)

8 June, 2009
SOMO
Many political leaders have been calling for the conclusion of the ‘Doha Round’ negotiations in the World Trade Organisation (WTO) as a solution to the financial crisis, in order to provide a boost to the world economy and a signal of confidence to multilateralism. They argue that WTO rules prevent “protectionist measures”, closing of borders, and beggar-thy-neighbour policies, which led to the economic depression in the 1930s and the consequent wars.

TRIPS Chair urges "more substantive" talks on GI register

25 May, 2009
SUNS #6705
The Chair of the Special Session of the TRIPS Council on Wednesday urged members to move from "understanding" each others' proposals to focussing on "more substantive" discussions in order to take forward the negotiations on a multilateral register for geographical indications (GI) for wines and spirits.

Lamy re-appointed as WTO head for a second term

4 May, 2009
SUNS #6692
The WTO General Council on Thursday afternoon agreed to re-appoint Pascal Lamy as Director-General of the organization for a second term of four years commencing from 1 September 2009.

Global economic crisis progressively affecting trade

12 May, 2009
TWN Info Service on WTO and Trade Issues: SUNS #6699
It is important to protect the significant progress that developing countries have made in recent decades in producing viable exports and in participating in the world economy so that trade can help them recover from the global economic crisis, participants told the Trade and Development Commission of UNCTAD on Monday

Latest Video from Focus on the Global South: The Gr8 Climate Sale

Submitted by verda.cook on 5 June, 2009 - 20:15

This video talks about what has happened since the Kyoto Protocol came
into force, and how the neo-liberal system has contributed to global
warming. It emphasizes the intimate connection between increasing trade
liberalization and rising greenhouse gas emissions, how trade rules prevent
effective action on reducing greenhouse gas emissions, and how institutions
like the WTO and other trade regimes are trying to control what governments
can and cannot do about global warming. It also talks about the Group of 8

FAIL (the browser should render some flash content, not this).

EPA General Exceptions undermine WTO negotiations on commodities

28 May, 2009
South Centre
The General Exceptions of the EPAs do not preserve the achievements made by African and other developing countries in the WTO on commodities, they contravene the G-77 position, and they serve to undermine the December 2008 modalities. As such, ACP states are advised to demand modification of the EPA General Exceptions in the negotiations towards full EPAs with the European Commission, at the same time as developing countries should bring commodities back to the forefront in the WTO agenda.

Victory for BIOWATCH in Landmark Legal Case

3 June, 2009
Biowatch
Constitutional Court Justice Albie Sachs today handed down judgment in the Biowatch case. Calling the case “a matter of great interest to the legal profession, the general public, and bodies concerned with public interest litigation”, Justice Sachs set aside the costs order awarded against Biowatch in favour of Monsanto and further awarded legal costs in the High Court hearings in favour of Biowatch and against the state. The bench of eleven judges was unanimous in its decision.

Ken Saro-Wiwa: the day of truth?

20 May, 2009
Transnational Institute / The Guardian
It will send shockwaves through boardrooms if the predictions of the executed campaigner are proved right in a US court