Archive - Mar 2005

The spat has outgrown the World Trade Organization, which did not yet exist when the United States and EU first addressed the charges of unfair trade practices in the aerospace industry back in 1992.

'I don't believe we can force American withdrawal, but once every five years we get to vote on it,' said Rep. Peter DeFazio, D-Ore. 'And I think we can have a very vigorous debate.'

The Islamic Development Bank is strengthening its efforts to prepare the OIC member states for membership of the WTO.

The US has informally circulated a draft paper containing its views and proposals for the meeting in WIPO on a Development Agenda.

The paper, titled 'Establishment of a Partnership Program in WIPO' states that WIPO already has a 'robust development agenda' in all its work, and it clearly ignores and sidesteps the demands of the proponents of a 'development agenda' in WIPO.

Civil society needs to increase support for the development calls of the south and increase pressure on the big trading powers.

Members of the WTO formally adopted a work program for the new WTO subcommittee on cotton.

The United States and Uganda have issued a joint proposal calling for a ban on so-called "consularization" transactions and fees.

Larry Mitchell, American Corn Growers Association (ACGA) Chief Executive Officer, today stated his organization's opposition to the U.S. ratification of the CAFTA.

Groser later told the subcommittee meeting that it was 'inconceivable' that a successful outcome in the Doha agriculture talks can be achieved without serious reform in domestic support and cotton, according to officials in attendance.