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The United States today requested World Trade Organization (WTO) dispute settlement consultations with India over customs duties India imposes on imports of wine and distilled spirits.

African trade envoys are extremely unhappy over what they call 'layers of opaqueness' in the manner which the four key players in the Doha Development Agenda negotiations - the United States, the European Union, Brazil and India - are following, keeping others out of the process.

Bilateral discussions among the trade chiefs of the European Union, India, the United States and Brazil held over the weekend in London and Geneva stepped up movement in the Doha Development Agenda negotiations to finalize the possible elements of a deal in the difficult packages of agriculture and market opening for industrials.

In February this year the WHO Director General, Margaret Chan caused a storm when she was quoted in Thailand saying that the country should negotiate with pharmaceutical companies before issuing a compulsory license.

Ahead of another four-member ministerial effort to reach a 'breakthrough' in the long-stalled Doha Development Agenda negotiations, the NAMA-11 coalition of developing countries yesterday warned that a Swiss formula coefficient of '10' for industrialized countries and '15' for developing countries is 'totally unfair and unbalanced.'

Last February 28, the Kilusang Magbubukid ng Pilipinas (KMP), the Asian Peasant Coalition (APC), PUMALAG and the IBON Foundation organized a Roundtable Discussion on WTO and the SP/ SSM in the UP Hotel in Quezon City. It was a lively discussion attended by around 100 participants from peasant organizations, fisher folk groups, trade unions, peasant women organizations, religious congregations, anti-imperialist organizations, a representative in Congress and the Cuban Ambassador as well as the Charges de Affaires of Venezuela.

US Trade Representative Susan Schwab will hold informal bilateral discussions in London with her three major counterparts in the Doha Development Agenda negotiations this weekend and then travel to Geneva to meet with World Trade Organization Director General Pascal Lamy and others

Letters from two coalitions of chief executives urging completion of the Doha round in today's Financial Times have a familiar ring. Unlike previous broadsides, there might be a sustained follow-up.

Based on the warm reception WTO secretary-general Pascal Lamy received from the country

Last February 28, the Kilusang Magbubukid ng Pilipinas (KMP), the Asian Peasant Coalition (APC), PUMALAG and the IBON Foundation organized a Roundtable Discussion on WTO and the SP/ SSM in the UP Hotel in Quezon City. It was a lively discussion attended by around 100 participants from peasant organizations, fisher folk groups, trade unions, peasant women organizations, religious congregations, anti-imperialist organizations, a representative in Congress and the Cuban Ambassador as well as the Charges de Affaires of Venezuela.