Fighting for cheap heart, cancer drugs
Malaysia Star, March 31, 2008

Malaysia started the trend of compulsory licensing that enables the supply of cheaper generic medicines. Then Thailand extended its use, to AIDS and heart ailments, but will the new Thai government continue this policy?</< h2> FIRST, it was Malaysia that issued a “compulsory licence” to allow three cheaper generic medicines to be imported from India to treat AIDS patients. <<More>>

WTO rejects EU beef hormone ban but also raps US, Canada
AFP, March 31, 2008

The World Trade Organisation on Monday ruled that the European Union, United States and Canada all failed to respect global trade rules in a long-running row over beef treated with growth hormones. The EU was at fault because its present justifications for an import ban -- which were revised after a previous WTO ruling -- were not backed up by scientific evidence, the WTO said. The US and Canada meanwhile did not follow WTO procedures strictly by maintaining retaliatory measures against Brussels, the global trade body found in a report. <<More>>

WTO rejects EU beef hormone ban but also raps US, Canada
AFP, March 31, 2008

The World Trade Organisation on Monday ruled that the European Union, United States and Canada all failed to respect global trade rules in a long-running row over beef treated with growth hormones. The EU was at fault because its present justifications for an import ban -- which were revised after a previous WTO ruling -- were not backed up by scientific evidence, the WTO said. The US and Canada meanwhile did not follow WTO procedures strictly by maintaining retaliatory measures against Brussels, the global trade body found in a report. <<More>>

Doha is not dead
Globe and Mail-Canada, March 30, 2008

Many commentators assume that the Doha round of World Trade Organization negotiations have already failed, and that failure would not matter for Canadians. Wrong on both counts. After more than six years of hard work, technical negotiators are closing the gaps and it will soon be up to ministers to make the final difficult decisions. Canadian politicians need to consider the importance of a deal for the future of the world trading system, the growth prospects for developing countries, the benefits for consumers and the opportunities created for Canadian exporters of goods and services. <<More>>

Dhaka needs to seek WTO support to offset impact of food subsidy ...
The Daily Star, March 30, 2008

Bangladesh should demand emergency support from the World Trade Organisation (WTO) to offset the negative impact of gradual elimination of subsidies, especially on foods, independent think tank CPD said yesterday. The net food importing countries like Bangladesh will be hit hard if the subsidies on farm products are withdrawn, said CPD (Centre for Policy Dialogue). <<More>>

WTO rules against US, Canada in beef row with EU
AFP, March 29, 2008

The World Trade Organisation has ruled against the United States and Canada in a row with the European Union over an EU ban on beef treated with growth hormones, a European official told AFP on Friday. The WTO has found that penalities imposed by the US and Canada on some EU products in retaliation for the EU ban are illegal, said the official, who asked not to be named. <<More>>

Democrats urge Bush bring more trade cases at WTO
Reuters, March 28, 2008 

Democratic lawmakers urged President George W. Bush on Friday to file new trade complaints against China, the European Union, Japan, Canada, Mexico and others at the World Trade Organization. "Unfortunately, during the last seven years, this administration has mismanaged America's trade policy. We urge you to take important steps to remedy this situation," House of Representatives Ways and Means Committee Chairman Charles Rangel and other panel members said in a letter to Bush. <<More>>

WTO hopes to clear key farming hurdle next week
Guardian, March 28, 2008

Major countries in the World Trade Organisation (WTO) hope to resolve a key technical issue in agriculture next week that is holding up progress towards a new global trade deal, diplomats and officials said on Friday. Leading food importers such as the European Union and Japan, and exporters such as Australia and Brazil, will get together on Monday to show whether they have agreed on a scheme to allow countries to shield politically sensitive products from the full force of tariff cuts. <<More>>

US ready for serious WTO farm concessions: Bush
Capitol Hill Blue, March 28, 2008

The United States is willing to make agricultural concessions to reach a new world trade deal if other countries open their markets to more U.S. exports, President George W. Bush said on Friday. <<More>>

ICC steps up support to Doha trade deal in meeting with WTO head
The FINANCIAL, March 28, 2008

In a meeting on March 27 with Pascal Lamy, Director General of the World Trade Organization (WTO), ICC Secretary General Guy Sebban lent the strong and unswerving support of world business behind a final push to conclude the Doha Round of multilateral trade negotiations by the end of the year. According to ICC, as negotiations intensify on striking an agreement on cuts in farm and non-farm tariffs, Mr Lamy told ICC he was hopeful that the terms of the agricultural and non-agricultural market access (NAMA) portions of the Doha Development Agenda could be agreed in a matter of weeks. <<More>>

China regrets Australian investigations into Chinese toilet paper
Xinhua, March 27, 2008

China's Ministry of Commerce voiced regret on Thursday over Australia's initiation of investigation into the alleged dumping and subsidizing of toilet paper imported from China. Ministry spokesman Wang Xinpei said the government believed that the investigation was launched without adequate legal and factual support, and it failed to comply with World Trade Organization (WTO) regulations and the Australian criteria for an investigation, said Wang. <<More>>

EU says no breakthrough with Russia in WTO talks
Reuters, March 27, 2008

EU and Russian officials failed on Thursday to reach a breakthrough on Moscow's long-delayed World Trade Organisation (WTO) bid ahead of Moscow's plan to hike timber export duties on April 1. "Talks continue," said Peter Power, a spokesman for EU Trade Commissioner Peter Mandelson. <<More>>

Workshop looks at WTO-related global trade issues
Viet Nam News, March 27, 2008

Viet Nam’s trade commitments as a member of the World Trade Organisation were the focus of a workshop held yesterday by the Multilateral Trade Assistance Project Viet Nam II (MUTRAP II). Trade issues discussed were agreements on anti-dumping, subsidies and countervailing duties, and quota safeguards, Truong Quang Hoai Nam, head of the Ministry of Trade and Industry’s Legislation Department, said. <<More>>

Developed nations veto trips talks
Economic Times, March 27, 2008

Developed countries, including Japan, Korea, the US, Australia and New Zealand, are continuing to oppose India’s attempts to start negotiations on amending the Trips Agreement to make stricter provisions for checking bio-piracy and usurping of traditional knowledge. <<More>>

Russia chooses farmers over WTO
RussiaToday, March 26, 2008

Russian farmers appear to be the big winners after Russia’s Prime Minister Viktor Zubkov stepped in to a dispute over planned $US 9 BLN a year subsidies and export tariffs. Three government ministers had clashed over the plans, which are blocking Russian WTO entry. <<More>>

South Africa: EU and US Offering Special WTO Deal to Lure Country
Inter Press Service, March 25, 2008

The Congress of South African Trade Unions (COSATU) has been an active civil society player in South Africa's decisions during the current World Trade Organisation (WTO) Doha Round of talks on non-agricultural market access (NAMA). <<More>>

WTO may question govt's sweet tooth for subsidies
Economic Times, March 24, 2008

The country’s sugar export subsidies, questioned at the World Trade Organization (WTO) by Australia and Thailand, could come under further scrutiny with the government deciding to extend the subsidy beyond April 2008. <<More>>

Antigua May Legalize Piracy of US Movies, Music
Zeropaid, March 22, 2008

The tiny West Indies nation of Antigua is threatening to take a dispute with the United States to new heights unless it sees its grievances properly addressed and losses compensated for. The case apparently dates back to 2003 when Antigua first claimed that the US unlawfully prevented its online gambling operators from accessing American markets although the US allowed domestic online bets for sporting events like horse racing. Antigua claimed $3.4 billion in losses and took its grievance to the WTO, which agreed, but awarded only $21 million in damages. <<More>>

US urges China to do more to help Doha round
Daily Times, March 21, 2008

The top US trade official on Thursday urged China and other emerging economies to be more bold about opening their markets in order to help get the Doha round of global trade negotiations back on track. <<More>>

WTO members praise Vietnam?s commitment execution
Trading Markets, March 21, 2008

World Trade Organisation (WTO) member countries have praised Vietnam for implementing WTO commitments one year after gaining membership. <<More>>

Doha role urged on China
China Daily, March 21, 2008

A senior US trade official yesterday called on China to play a bigger role in the ongoing Doha Round to conclude the global trade talks within the year. After meeting Chinese Minister of Commerce Chen Deming in Beijing yesterday, US Trade Representative Susan Schwab said she encouraged Chen to "look for opportunities where China can take a greater leadership role in the Doha Round". <<More>>

Brazil and EU optimistic about Doha Round deal
People’s Daily Online, March 20, 2008 

Brazil and the European Union have voiced optimism about an agreement in the Doha round of world trade talks. After meeting European Commission President Jose Manuel Barroso, Brazilian President Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva stated he would not be surprised if an agreement was reached soon. <<More>>

UN Trade Agency Chief Warns Against New Waves of Protectionism
Exchange Morning Post, March 20, 2008

According to the Secretary General of the UN Trade and Development Organization (UNCTAD), Supachai Panitchpakdi, developing countries are playing a greater role in the global economy and they should push for a successful resolution to the six-year-old talks to revise free trade rules, known as the Doha round of negotiations. <<More>>

Implementation of WTO rules to secure market access: TDAP
Daily Times, March 18, 2008

Trade Development Authority of Pakistan (TDAP) has suggested implementation of regional rules of origin within the framework of WTO regime for fair market access to developing countries like Pakistan. <<More>>

WTO meeting possible by early May - EU farm chief
Reuters India, March 18, 2008

Ministers from trade powers might meet in late April or early May to seek a breakthrough in long-delayed negotiations for a global trade deal, the European Union's farm chief said on Monday. <<More>>

Ag Committee’s safeguards discussion touches on negotiations
WTO News Item, March 18, 2008

Chinese Taipei's special safeguard, new Canadian rules for cheese and Indian sugar subsidies were among recent measures discussed in the (regular) Agriculture Committee on 18March 2008. <<More>>

Minister builds European alliance as pressure grows over 'seriously damaging' WTO deal
Irish Independent, March 18, 2008

Pressure to avert a damaging WTO deal increased yesterday at the EU council of Ministers meeting in Brussels. Irish Minister for Agriculture, Mary Coughlan, described the world trade talks as "representing a serious threat to EU and Irish agriculture". <<More>>

D Ravi Kanth: Nothing equal about this trade
Business Standard, March 18, 2008

Issuing threatening calls with dire consequences is not something new in international trade diplomacy. Countries often resort to this stratagem to achieve their trade objectives. Of course, it goes without saying that not all of them have the same degree of success. <<More>>

French farm minister questions WTO role in farm sector
EU business, March 17, 2008

French Agriculture Minister Michel Barnier on Monday questioned the worth of the World Trade Organisation in dealing with farming and food issues, as the current Doha round of talks founder. <<More>>

RP ready for simultaneous talks in WTO
ABS CBN News, March 17, 2008

Since the 2005 World Trade Organization (WTO) ministerial conference in Hong Kong, the Philippines—as a key member of the so-called G-20 and Nama 11—has maintained that negotiations for new multilateral trade modalities should be sequential with agriculture going ahead first, followed by industrial goods and services. <<More>>

Kenya: Flurry of Activity As Key Players Rush to Close Talks
AllAfrica.com, March 16, 2008

Contrary to the popular perception that the WTO's Doha talks are dead, there has been a flurry of activity in a last spurt to conclude a deal. <<More>>

Chemical industry needs new technology
The News – International, March 16, 2008

The developing countries, while remaining within the ambit of the World Trade Organisation, should fight for fair treatment of their chemical industries as they need transfer of latest technology to conform to stringent WTO standards for chemical production. <<More>>

Experts Warn of “Failure by Default” in Doha Round
Truth about Trade & Technology, March 16, 2007

At a March 12 meeting, academics, former and present trade negotiators, and private sector representatives agreed that the 8 February draft text released by the chair of the agriculture negotiations at the World Trade Organization (WTO) demonstrates the clear progress that has been made in the talks and forms an excellent basis for reaching agreement. <<More>>

U.S., Costa Rica reach net gambling settlement
PokerListings.com, March 16, 2008

As compensation for not allowing online gambling companies based in Costa Rica access to U.S. customers, the United States has offered Costa Rica greater access to other service markets, including research and development, storage, technical testing and analysis. <<More>>

New U.S. president won't shun WTO deal-Zoellick
Reuters South Africa, March 16, 2008

Whoever wins the U.S. presidency would probably back a global trade pact if a deal can be reached this year, despite Democratic candidates' scepticism over free trade, the head of the World Bank said. <<More>>

Development concerns remain neglected
Sify, March 15, 2008

On February 8, the Chair of the Non-Agricultural Market Access (NAMA) negotiations, Ambassador Don Stephenson of Canada, came up with the latest ‘Draft’ Modalities Text (DMT) on NAMA, which is a revised version of the ‘draft’ circulated by him on July 17 last year. <<More>>

WTO remains divided over Doha talks
Business Standard, March 15, 2008

Key members of the World Trade Organisation yesterday remained sharply polarised on how to conduct negotiations on the difficult issues in the Doha trade talks ahead of the much-talked-about ministerial meeting, trade diplomats said. <<More>>

WTO Agriculture Chair signals major push in farm talks by end of month
WTO News Items, March 14, 2008

Intensive consultations among a group of importing and exporting countries will be allowed to continue for a few more days in an effort to achieve a breakthrough that would also allow progress in the agriculture talks as a whole. By 31 March or earlier New Zealand Ambassador Crawford Falconer, who chairs the talks, will reconvene multilateral talks so that representatives of the full membership can negotiate the outcome and continue with other major issues, leading to a revised draft blueprint of the final deal. That is what he concluded after hearing members' comments on 14 March 2008. <<More>>

TRIPS Council: Half Of WTO Membership Backs Biodiversity Amendment
Intellectual Property Watch, March 14, 2008

The World Trade Organization committee on intellectual property rights concluded its triennial gathering one day early in a meeting several