Archive

December 9th, 2005

WTO issues new ministerial text for Hong Kong, but without cover note

8 December, 2005
The latest draft is more interesting for what it omits than what it has added. The cover note that was attached to the 1 December draft has been removed.

Indian government's mandate to negotiate at the WTO in question

8 December, 2005
Over 100 groups across India, including social movements and trade unions, have challenged the minority government

If WTO negotiations require hard choices,churches say: choose justice

8 December, 2005
If you only had one choice, what would you choose: Water? Food? Life-saving medicine?

Rushing through a 'permanent solution' for TRIPS and Health

8 December, 2005
Intense and rushed formal and informal consultations have been taking place since last Friday 2 December to find agreement among WTO Members on the content of an amendment to the TRIPS Agreement, which is to constitute a 'permanent solution' for facilitating the supply of medicines to countries with insufficient or no drug manufacturing capacity.

US warning on Hong Kong trade meeting

8 December, 2005
With the Doha global trade talks stalled by US and European discord over agriculture, US lawmakers are warning that domestic political support for the round could be jeopardised if the Hong Kong ministerial meeting next week focuses exclusively on the narrow demands from a few developing countries

WTO General Council approves 'permanent solution' to TRIPS and Health

8 December, 2005
The WTO General Council late Tuesday 6 December approved an amendment to the TRIPS Agreement making permanent a decision originally adopted in 2003 to resolve the problem of supply of generic versions of pharmaceutical products to countries with inadequate manufacturing capacity, due to limitations in the TRIPS Agreement when using compulsory license.

Free trade fails forests

8 December, 2005
The study Trading away our last ancient forests (1)concludes that liberalisation in the forestry sector must be halted immediately in order to avoid destroying the last remaining ancient forests and the indigenous communities dependent on them.

December 8th

Kenya seeks curbs on farm subsidies

7 December, 2005
Kenya has renewed its call for a reduction of domestic subsidies on agriculture in developed countries that have restricted access of exports to their markets. The other area of concern for Kenya is the elimination of subsidies to support exports that compete unfavourably with those from developing countries.

Critics Say Doha Talks Not Likely To Help Developing Nations

7 December, 2005
Two key critics of the World Trade Organization said today they do not believe the Doha round of negotiations is moving toward an agreement that would help most developing countries.

Lamy: dishonest broker in trade talks, disappearance of cover note

7 December, 2005
Lamy has proven himself to be a dishonest broker for developing countries. Members have been given an assurance on the 2nd December General Council meeting that the cover note that was attached to the 1 December draft would be retained on the draft text transmitted to Hong Kong.