Globalization

 

http://www.wto.org/english/news_e/sppl_e/sppl138_e.htm

http://www.wto.org/english/news_e/sppl_e/sppl137_e.htm

http://www.wto.org/english/news_e/pres09_e/pr574_e.htm

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The Doha legacy to reduce the agricultural Trade Taxes to zero seems to stand before desperate Choices. Many western Countries insist on Farm Subsidies and catch at their traditional Barriers, claiming that developing Countries keep Taxing western Technology, and they are somehow right. Even those who blame the WTO for it offers no easy Access (like my Country Syria) demand high Taxes on Technology, so that a very old Volkswagen or ford cost much more than a modern one sell in the Country of Origin. This economic Drama reflect a political Threat, for it encourage the release of latent international political Fractions, attracting Kings and threatened authoritarian Regimes.

The World Bank Considers Barriers as an inhuman Treatment, handicapping the international development and anti-poverty initiatives

The IMF expects  recovery by the year 2009

DAYS 7–8: REVISED TEXTS ON THE WAY
WTO Director-General Pascal Lamy told WTO members on 28 July 2008 that talks over the past few days have produced “a very high level of convergence on many issues” and these would be included in revised agriculture and industrial products texts to be circulated later in the day. 
> News item: http://www.wto.org/english/news_e/news08_e/meet08_summary_28july_e.htm
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PANEL REPORTS ISSUED ON AUTO PARTS DISPUTES
The WTO, on 18 July 2008, issued the reports of the panel that had examined, respectively, complaints by the European Communities, the United States and Canada regarding “China — Measures Affecting Imports Of Automobile Parts� (DS339, DS340 and DS342).
> Just the conclusions and recommendations: http://www.wto.org/english/tratop_e/dispu_e/339_340_342r_conc_e.pdf
> Full panel report: http://www.wto.org/english/news_e/news08_e/339_340_342r_e.htm

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CHAIR HEARS REACTION TO HIS REVISION OF NON-AGRICULTURE TEXT FROM WTO MEMBERS
Don Stephenson, the Chair of the Negotiating Group on Non-Agricultural Market Access (NAMA), heard reactions to his third revision of the NAMA modalities text at a meeting with members on 16 July. He said his document is still ready for changes if members reach convergence in the forthcoming days before final submission to ministers.
> Audio: Chairperson Don Stephenson�s opening statement: http://www.wto.org/audio/stephenson_2008_07_16_opening.mp3
> Audio: Chairperson Don Stephenson�s concluding comments: http://www.wto.org/audio/stephenson_2008_07_16_closing.mp3

REGISTRATION BEGINS FOR PUBLIC OBSERVATION OF THE APPELLATE BODY ORAL HEARING
At the request of the participants the Appellate Body has decided to open its oral hearing to public observation by WTO Members and the general public via simultaneous closed-circuit broadcast to a separate viewing room.
> Find out more at: http://www.wto.org/english/tratop_e/dispu_e/public_hearing_july08_e.htm

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NEW BLUEPRINTS ON FARM AND NON-FARM TRADE ISSUED FOR �CRUCIAL� TALKS
The latest revisions of two papers including what could become the formulas for cutting tariffs and trade-distorting agricultural subsidies in a final deal were issued on 10 July 2008. They are the outcome of the latest discussions in negotiation groups and will be a focus of crucial talks combining these and some other subjects when a representative group of ministers meet in Geneva from 21 July.
> Details: http://www.wto.org/english/news_e/news08_e/ag_nama_july08_e.htm
> Statement from Lamy on the release of the texts: http://www.wto.org/english/news_e/pres08_e/pr536_e.htm
> Agriculture text: http://www.wto.org/english/tratop_e/agric_e/chair_texts08_e.htm
> NAMA text: http://www.wto.org/english/tratop_e/agric_e/chair_texts08_e.htm

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FARMS TALKS CHAIR REPORTS ON 'WALKS IN WOOD' AND PREPARES NEW DRAFT
Farm talks chairperson Crawford Falconer told WTO members on 7 July 2008 that his consultations have been constructive and will enable him to circulate a streamlined revised text about 9 or 10 July. On a number of issues, the text will be able to present simpler choices for political decisions when a group of ministers come to Geneva for talks starting on 21 July, he said.
> News item: http://www.wto.org/english/news_e/news08_e/agric_7july08_e.htm

LAOS�S WTO MEMBERSHIP TALKS GAIN MOMENTUM
Laos has been making steady progress in its talks on joining the WTO, including reaching agreement with the EU on opening its market to goods, the working party of WTO members negotiating with Laos heard in their fourth meeting, on 4 July 2008. But more work is still needed before commitments on applying WTO rules are included in a draft text.
> News item: http://www.wto.org/english/news_e/news08_e/acc_laos_4july08_e.htm

MEMBERS TURN ATTENTION TO IMPROVING SPS MEDIATION
The WTO committee dealing with food safety and animal and plant health has started work aimed at encouraging members to make use of mediation by the chairperson to resolve some of their differences. Their efforts are focusing on drafting procedures for mediation, which some see as a sort of user�s guide.
> News item: http://www.wto.org/english/news_e/news08_e/sps_24june08_e.htm

DSB EXTENDS DEADLINE IN EC-US BANANA DISPUTE
On 24 June 2008, following a joint request from the US and the EC, the Dispute Settlement Body (DSB) agreed to extend the deadline for the adoption of the compliance report until 29 August 2008 in the banana case between the EC and the US (WT/DS27).
> Summary of the meeting: http://www.wto.org/english/news_e/news08_e/dsb_24june08_e.htm

TRADE POLICY REVIEW: OMAN
Continued reform would help sustain Oman's impressive performance, according to a report on the country's trade policies and practices published by the WTO Secretariat.
> Press release: http://www.wto.org/english/tratop_e/tpr_e/tp301_e.htm
> More on Oman: http://www.wto.org/english/thewto_e/countries_e/oman_e.htm

CAPE VERDE TO JOIN WTO ON 23 JULY 2008
On 23 June 2008, Cape Verde informed the WTO it had accepted its membership package.
> News item: http://www.wto.org/english/news_e/news08_e/acc_capverde_june08_e.htm

DECISION ON SPS TRANSPARENCY CONFIRMED
Revised recommendations agreed by WTO members in April on improving the information they share with each other on food safety and animal and plant health have been confirmed because no objections were raised within the 30 May 2008 deadline.
> News item: http://www.wto.org/english/news_e/news08_e/sps_30may08_e.htm

LAMY: �WE ARE GETTING TO THE MOMENT OF TRUTH�
Director-General Pascal Lamy, in his intervention during the OECD Ministerial Council Meeting in Paris on 5 June 2008, announced the start of �intensive engagement by senior officials� in Geneva next week. He said the severe worsening of the economic climate, high commodity prices, and the �technical maturity� of the Doha negotiations seem to be moving WTO members to the �moment of truth�.
> Speech: http://www.wto.org/english/news_e/sppl_e/sppl93_e.htm

CHAIR ISSUES WORKING DOCUMENT ON RULES
The Chair of the Negotiating Group on Rules on 28 May 2008 issued a working document regarding negotiations on rules. The document, which takes the form of a cover note and three annexes relating to anti-dumping, horizontal subsidies and fisheries subsidies, seeks to convey in detail the full spectrum and intensity of the reactions to the Chair's first draft texts and, to the extent possible, to identify the many suggested changes put forward by delegations.
> News item: http://www.wto.org/english/news_e/news08_e/rules_28may08_e.htm

CHAIR ENCOURAGES NON-AGRICULTURE GROUP TO GET A TEXT READY FOR MINISTERS' DISCUSSION
Don Stephenson, the Chair of the Negotiating Group on Non-Agricultural Market Access (NAMA), said at a meeting of WTO members on 27 May that members should try to reach preliminary agreement on some parts of his revised modalities text to get it ready for ministers to negotiate.
> News item: http://www.wto.org/english/news_e/news08_e/nama_27may08_e.htm

FARM TALKS CONTINUE AFTER LATEST TEXT CIRCULATED
WTO agriculture negotiations resumed on Monday 26 May 2008 with a new round of talks on the latest revised draft �modalities� circulated a week earlier. In this meeting of the full membership, the talks� chairperson, Ambassador Crawford Falconer of New Zealand, said a smaller group of 37 delegations representing all coalitions and major players would continue to negotiate during the week as members try to narrow their differences further.
> News item: http://www.wto.org/english/news_e/news08_e/agric_26may08_e.htm

AGRICULTURE NEGOTIATIONS: UNOFFICIAL GUIDE TO THE 19 MAY 2008 �REVISED DRAFT MODALITIES�
The main purpose of this note is to walk you through the revised draft text circulated by Ambassador Crawford Falconer, chairperson of the agriculture negotiations, on 19 May 2008.
> Find out more at: http://www.wto.org/english/tratop_e/agric_e/ag_modals_may08_e.htm

Now on the WTO website....
SERVICES CHAIR ISSUES REPORT ON DOHA NEGOTIATIONS
The chair of the services negotiations issued on 26 May 2008 his report on the elements required for the completion of the services negotiations. An annex to the report contains a draft services text that WTO members, after further discussion, could adopt.
> News item: http://www.wto.org/english/news_e/news08_e/serv_may08_e.htm

APPELLATE BODY WELCOMES TWO NEW MEMBERS
Ms Yuejiao Zhang (China) and Mr Shotaro Oshima (Japan) were sworn-in on 20 May 2008 as members of the Appellate Body at a ceremony at the WTO.
> Find out more at: http://www.wto.org/english/news_e/news08_e/ab_may08_e.htm

REVISED BLUEPRINTS ISSUED FOR FINAL DEAL ON AGRICULTURAL AND NON-AGRICULTURAL TRADE
Two revised papers including what could become the formulas for cutting tariffs and trade-distorting agricultural subsidies in a final deal were issued on 19 May 2008. They are the outcome of the latest discussions in negotiation groups and will pave the way for talks combining the subjects before they are agreed by all WTO member governments.
> Find out more at: http://www.wto.org/english/news_e/news08_e/ag_nama_may08_e.htm
 
NEGOTIATING TEXTS MOVE DOHA ROUND CLOSER TO END GAME, SAYS LAMY
Director-General Pascal Lamy said today that the negotiating documents put forward this week on agriculture and industrial goods trade provide a platform for intensified work in the coming weeks. The negotiating texts in agriculture and non-agricultural market access, released respectively by Crawford Falconer, chair of the agriculture negotiating group and Don Stephenson, chair of the NAMA negotiating group, are the second revisions of negotiating documents first produced in July 2007.
> Press release http://www.wto.org/english/news_e/pres08_e/pr526_e.htm

PANEL RULES ON WHETHER EU HAS IMPLEMENTED BANANA DECISION
A WTO compliance panel issued on 19 May 2008 its report on the case �European Communities � Regime for the Importation, Sale and Distribution of Bananas � Recourse to Article 21.5 of the DSU by the United States� (DS27).
> Panel report: http://www.wto.org/english/news_e/news08_e/27rw_e.htm
> Summary of dispute DS27: http://www.wto.org/english/tratop_e/dispu_e/cases_e/ds27_e.htm---------

FARM TALKS� CHAIR TO REVISE DRAFT IN COMING DAYS
Chairperson Crawford Falconer announced on 9 May 2008 that he aims to produce his next revised draft �modalities� text at the end of the week of 12 May or at the beginning of the week after. Speaking in a meeting of the full membership, he said this text�s status will be no different from previous versions � it will represent the latest situation, reflecting progress since the 8 February draft.
> News item: http://www.wto.org/english/news_e/news08_e/agric_9may08_e.htm
> Audio: Chairperson Falconer�s opening statement: http://www.wto.org/audio/falconer_2008_05_09_opening.mp3
> Audio: Chairperson Falconer�s concluding comments: http://www.wto.org/audio/falconer_2008_05_09_closing.mp3

LAMY SAYS FOOD CRISIS ADDS URGENCY TO CONCLUDING THE ROUND
Director-General Pascal Lamy, in his report to the General Council on 7 May 2008, said �the reasons why we must conclude the Round this year are visible to all of us and they are becoming more critical by the day�. He said �the WTO can provide part of the solution� to the current food crisis, �which is why it can, and must, play its full part in this vital effort�.
> Report by TNC Chairman Pascal Lamy: http://www.wto.org/english/news_e/news08_e/gc_chair_tnc_7may08_e.htm
> Audio: Statement by Pascal Lamy: http://www.wto.org/audio/gc_tnc_chair_2008_05_07.mp3
> Proposed agenda: http://www.wto.org/english/thewto_e/gcounc_e/meet_may08_e.htm
> More on the General Council: http://www.wto.org/english/thewto_e/gcounc_e/gcounc_e.htm

ARBITRATOR ISSUES REPORT ON KOREA-JAPAN DRAMS DISPUTE
A WTO arbitrator, on 5 May 2008, issued his report regarding the �reasonable period of time� to implement the recommendations and rulings of the Dispute Settlement Body in the case �Japan � Countervailing Duties on Dynamic Random Access Memories from Korea� (DS336).
Download:
> The decision of the Arbitrator in Word: http://www.wto.org/english/tratop_e/dispu_e/336_16_arb_e.doc
> The decision of the Arbitrator in pdf: http://www.wto.org/english/tratop_e/dispu_e/336_16_arb_e.pdf
> Summary of dispute DS336: http://www.wto.org/english/tratop_e/dispu_e/cases_e/ds336_e.htm
> More on the Appellate Body: http://www.wto.org/english/tratop_e/dispu_e/appellate_body_e.htm
> More on Dispute Settlement: http://www.wto.org/english/tratop_e/dispu_e/dispu_e.htm

FARM TALKS・ CHAIR: ・WE NEED TO MEET AGAIN・
Chairperson Crawford Falconer on 30 April 2008 accepted some members・ renewed request for more time before he produces another revision of the draft ・modalities・, the blueprint for the final deal. He scheduled more meetings on Thursday and Friday 8𞧗 May to discuss the latest proposal on ・sensitive products・, assess progress in tropical and preference products, and decide what to do next.
> News item: http://www.wto.org/english/news_e/news08_e/agric_30april08_e.htm
> Audio: Chairperson Falconer・s opening statement: http://www.wto.org/audio/falconer_2008_04_30_opening.mp3
> Audio: Chairperson Falconer・s concluding comments: http://www.wto.org/audio/falconer_2008_04_30_closing.mp3

TRADE POLICY REVIEW: MAURITIUS - TRADE REFORMS HAVE BORN FRUIT BUT NEED TO BE PURSUED
To cope with several challenges to its economic regime, Mauritius has undertaken recently bold reforms aimed at liberalizing its trade regime and boosting competitiveness; the reforms have begun to bear fruit, providing a real GDP growth of 5,1% on average per year since 2003, according to a WTO Secretariat report on the trade policies and practices of Mauritius.
> Press release: http://www.wto.org/english/tratop_e/tpr_e/tp298_e.htm
> More on Mauritius: http://www.wto.org/english/thewto_e/countries_e/mauritius_e.htm
> More on trade policy reviews: http://www.wto.org/english/tratop_e/tpr_e/tpr_e.htm

UKRAINE TO JOIN WTO ON 16 MAY 2008
Ukraine informed the WTO on 16 April 2008 of its acceptance of its membership agreement.
> News item: http://www.wto.org/english/news_e/news08_e/acc_ukraine_apr08_e.htm

FARM TALKS NEGOTIATORS ASK CHAIR FOR MORE TIME
WTO agriculture negotiators have asked their chairperson for at least a week more to build upon the progress they have been making in their recent consultations on sensitive products, tropical products and long-standing preferences. At the end of a meeting that began on Tuesday 15 April 2008 and ended three days later, chairperson Crawford Falconer tentatively proposed 30 April as the date for hearing the results of their consultations.
> News item: http://www.wto.org/english/news_e/news08_e/agric_15april08_e.htm
> Audio: Chairperson Crawford Falconer�s opening statement: http://www.wto.org/audio/falconer_2008_04_15_opening.mp3
> Audio: Chairperson Crawford Falconer�s concluding comments: http://www.wto.org/audio/falconer_2008_04_18_closing.mp3

LAMY SIGNALS START OF �HORIZONTAL PROCESS� IN NEGOTIATIONS
Director-General Pascal Lamy, on 17 April 2008, said at an informal meeting of the Trade Negotiations Committee that �time is coming soon to take our work to a higher level and to begin drawing together the threads both within and across the two modalities issues (agriculture and industrial tariffs) as mandated in Hong Kong�. He said the �horizontal process will start at Senior Official level, in order to prepare properly for the Ministerial involvement which is likely to be needed at a later stage�.
> Director-General's talking points: http://www.wto.org/english/news_e/news08_e/tnc_17apr08_e.htm
> Audio: Opening Remarks by Chair Pascal Lamy: http://www.wto.org/audio/2008_04_17_tnc.mp3
> More on the Trade Negotiations Committee: http://www.wto.org/english/tratop_e/dda_e/tnc_e.htm
> More on the Doha Development Agenda:
http://www.wto.org/english/tratop_e/dda_e/dda_e.htm

WTO: DEVELOPING, TRANSITION ECONOMIES CUSHION TRADE SLOWDOWN
World trade growth slid to 5.5% last year from 8.5% in 2006 and may grow even more slowly in 2008 � at about 4.5% � as sharp economic deceleration in key developed countries is only partly offset by continuing strong growth in emerging economies, according to WTO economists.
> Press release: http://www.wto.org/english/news_e/pres08_e/pr520_e.htm
> More on economic research and analysis: http://www.wto.org/english/res_e/reser_e/reser_e.htm
> More on international trade statistics: http://www.wto.org/english/res_e/statis_e/statis_e.htm

CHAIR BELIEVES NON-AGRICULTURE NEGOTIATING GROUP IS NOW READY FOR REAL NEGOTIATION
Don Stephenson, the Chairman of the Negotiating Group on Market Access for Non-Agricultural products (NAMA), said at a meeting of WTO members on 14 April that �people are getting ready for a real negotiation� after months of �positioning�.
> News item: http://www.wto.org/english/news_e/news08_e/nama_14apr08_e.htm
> Audio: Chairperson Don Stephenson�s opening statement: http://www.wto.org/audio/2008_04_14_nama_open.mp3
> Audio: Chairperson Don Stephenson�s concluding comments: http://www.wto.org/audio/2008_04_14_nama_close.mp3

LAMY: DOHA ROUND CONCLUSION WILL REASSURE WORLD FINANCIAL MARKETS
Director-General Pascal Lamy, in his intervention at the International Monetary and Financial Committee meeting on 12 April 2008 in Washington, urged financial leaders to push �now� for the conclusion of the Doha Round. He said: �I am completely convinced that we have it within our means, politically and technically, to finish the Doha Round this year. To do so, the first step we need is for WTO Member governments to agree at Ministerial level by the end of May on the framework for cutting agricultural tariffs, agricultural subsidies and industrial tariffs.�
> The Director-General's intervention: http://www.wto.org/english/news_e/sppl_e/sppl88_e.htm

GOODS COUNCIL AGREES ON CHAIRPERSONS OF SUBSIDIARY BODIES
The Council for Trade in Goods, on 8 April 2008, agreed on a slate of chairpersons of its subsidiary bodies for this year. Earlier, it elected by acclamation Amb. Karen Tan (Singapore) to succeed Amb. Karsten Vagn Nielsen (Denmark) as its new chairman.
> News item: http://www.wto.org/english/news_e/news08_e/chairs_subs_bodies_apr08_e.htm
> More on the Council for Trade in Goods: http://www.wto.org/english/tratop_e/gatt_e/gatt_e.htm
> Current WTO chairpersons: http://www.wto.org/english/thewto_e/secre_e/current_chairs_e.htm

DISPUTE PANEL RULES ON WHETHER EU HAS IMPLEMENTED BANANA DECISION
A WTO dispute panel issued on 7 April 2008 its report on whether the EU has correctly implemented an earlier dispute ruling on the importation, sale and distribution of bananas (dispute DS27).
Download:
> Just the findings and conclusions in pdf format: http://www.wto.org/english/tratop_e/dispu_e/27rw2_conc_e.pdf
> Full panel report in Word format: http://www.wto.org/english/tratop_e/dispu_e/27rw2_a_e.doc
> Full panel report in pdf format: http://www.wto.org/english/tratop_e/dispu_e/27rw2_a_e.pdf
> Annex A in Word format: http://www.wto.org/english/tratop_e/dispu_e/27rw2_b_e.doc
> Annex A in pdf format: http://www.wto.org/english/tratop_e/dispu_e/27rw2_b_e.pdf
> Summary of the case DS27: http://www.wto.org/english/tratop_e/dispu_e/cases_e/ds27_e.htm
> More on Dispute Settlement: http://www.wto.org/english/tratop_e/dispu_e/dispu_e.htm

MEMBERS SET TO AGREE ON REGIONALIZATION, IMPROVED SPS TRANSPARENCY
WTO members have reached an apparent consensus on two sets of procedures aimed at strengthening their work on sanitary and phytosanitary measures (SPS, ie, food safety and animal and plant health). One is on recognizing that regions (within a country or spanning borders) are free from diseases or pests, the other is on improving the information they share with each other, a crucially important part of member governments� work in the WTO. Both were approved conditionally in the WTO SPS Committee�s 2�3 April 2008 meeting, and will be adopted if no one objects within the next few weeks.
> News item: http://www.wto.org/english/news_e/news08_e/sps_apr08_e.htm
> More on sanitary and phytosanitary measures: http://www.wto.org/english/tratop_e/sps_e/sps_e.htm