GENEVA--Canada will host a meeting of senior trade officials in Geneva April 18-19 as part of preparations for the next World Trade Organization 'mini-ministerial' gathering in early May, trade diplomats told BNA March 17.
TWN Info Service on WTO and Trade Issues (Mar05/4)
A proposal that applications for patents relating to genetic resources and traditional knowledge should be accompanied by evidence of benefit sharing with the countries of origin.
TWN Info Service on WTO and Trade Issues (Mar05/4)
One of the highlights was a proposal by 8 developing countries that applications for patents relating to genetic resources and traditional knowledge should be accompanied by evidence of benefit sharing with the countries of origin
The officials said that the chairman of the WTO's negotiating group on agriculture, New Zealand's Tim Groser, gave no indication when the talks would be reconvened.
Trade officials following the talks said it appeared to be the first time that the United States has advocated such an approach and identified specific products.
The Agricultural negotiations aren't faring much better. Underpinning the WTO is the ideology that all food should be produced for international export rather than local consumption.
Brazil and India gave thumbs down March 16 to proposals from the United States and the European Union aimed at meeting developing country demands for flexibility in a formula for reducing tariffs on industrial and consumer goods.
Brazil and India gave thumbs down March 16 to proposals from the United States and the European Union aimed at meeting developing country demands for flexibility.
