Pascal Lamy: “Putting geopolitics back at the trade table”
WTO News, 29 January, 2013
At a speech at the IISS-Oberoi Discussion Forum in Delhi on 29 January 2013, Director-General Pascal Lamy commented that “while the world is mutipolarising at an unprecedented scale and speed, and production and trade value chains are multilateralising, trade governance seems to be bilateralising.” He warned that “we risk scattering the level playing field”. More…
Panels established on Argentina’s disputes
WTO News, 28 January, 2013
The Dispute Settlement Body (DSB), on 28 January 2013, established a single panel to examine complaints by the EU, the US and Japan regarding the dispute “Argentina – Measures affecting the importation of goods”. At the request of Argentina, it established a panel to examine the dispute “US – Measures affecting the importation of animals, meat and other animal products from Argentina”. Pursuant to the request by Antigua and Barbuda, the DSB agreed to grant authorization to suspend the application to the US of concessions or other obligations consistent with the Arbitrator’s decision concerning the dispute “US – Measures affecting the cross border supply of gambling and betting services”. More…
WTO: Antigua To Retaliate Against US By Suspending IP Rights Protection
IP Watch, 28 January, 2013
After years of unsuccessful negotiations between nations, the World Trade Organization Dispute Settlement Body today gave Antigua and Barbuda the right to impose sanctions against the United States for blocking online gambling. The US was found in violation of WTO rules in 2007 and has failed to resolve the issue, so the Caribbean nation was given the right to retaliate in an area that is likely to force a US response – lifting US intellectual property rights. More…
Updated WTO Analytical Index
WTO News, 24 January, 2013
The WTO Analytical Index: Guide to WTO Law and Practice is a comprehensive guide to the interpretation and application of the WTO agreements by the Appellate Body, panels and other WTO bodies. An updated Third Edition (covering the period January 1995 to September 2011) is now available on the WTO website, accompanied by a new companion publication entitled the “Analytical Index Supplement Covering New Developments in WTO Law and Practice” (covering the period October 2011 to January 2013). The Supplement will be updated on an on-going basis to reflect new developments. More…
WTO Business Survey
WTO News, 22 January, 2013
Over 300 businesses around the world responded to a recent WTO survey that asked the business community to tell us their views on the WTO and its work. More…
OECD/WTO trade study slims China’s surplus with U.S
Fox Business News, 16 January, 2013
China’s trade surplus with the United States shrinks by a quarter when calculated according to which countries provide the parts and services that go into its exports and imports. More…
Lamy: “Better statistics today will contribute to better policies tomorrow”
Fox Business News, 16 January, 2013
Director-General Pascal Lamy, during the round table discussion on “New Steps in Measuring Trade in Value Added” at the OECD, Paris on 16 January 2013, said the release by the WTO and OECD of new batches of data to measure trade in value added is a “milestone in this long-term cooperation and endeavour of many players and stakeholders”. More…
Is WTO about to abandon dream of global free trade?
Reuters, 13 January, 2013
As it seeks a new chief to lead it out of a negotiating death-spiral, the World Trade Organization looks doomed to be fatally undermined by new global carve-ups that will leave many of the world’s poorest sidelined. More…
U.S. takes Indonesia to WTO over plant, animal import rules
Fox Business News, 11 January, 2013
The United States has filed a complaint at the World Trade Organization challenging Indonesia’s rules for imports of horticultural products, animal products and animals, the WTO said on Thursday. More…