December 2012

Candidates from nine countries vie to become WTO head

Economic Times, 31 December, 2013

Nine countries have presented candidates to succeed Pascal Lamy as head of the World Trade Organisation ahead of the deadline Monday, 31st December 2012. The last candidate was Roberto Azevedo, Brazil’s envoy to the WTO, whose name was put forth on Friday. He has been with the world’s trade oversight body since 2008.” More…

Lamy says members’ negotiating outlook for 2013 “encouraging”

WTO News, 11 December, 2012

Director-General Pascal Lamy, in his report to the General Council on 11 December 2012, said that the Trade Negotiations Committee meeting on 7 December “showed that members are fully aware of their responsibility and the importance of what is at stake here”. He added: “We had a pragmatic discussion about what is feasible for next year and I was pleased to note that the tone was one of caution, but also of realism and determination. I saw that members remain committed to achieving a credible outcome at MC9 [Ninth Ministerial Conference]. In one word, the discussion was encouraging, as I said in closing the meeting.” More…

WTO Arbitrator determines

WTO News, 04 December, 2012

A WTO Arbitrator, on 4 December 2012, issued his award regarding the “reasonable period of time” for the implementation of Dispute Settlement Body recommendations and rulings in the dispute “United States – Certain Country of Origin Labelling (COOL) Requirements” (WT/DS384, WT/DS386). More…

U.S. must comply with WTO meat-labeling ruling by May

Reuters, 04 December, 2012

The United States must bring its country-of-origin meat labeling rules into compliance with a earlier World Trade Organization ruling by May 23, 2013, according to a WTO decision on Tuesday, the Canadian government said. More…