March 2013

Members start negotiating proposal on poor countries’ food stockholding

WTO News , 27 March, 2013

The WTO agriculture talks are now ready to discuss the substance of a proposal to loosen price support disciplines for developing countries’ public stocks and domestic food aid, chairperson John Adank said on 27 March 2013. More…

Concerns remain about farm trade commitment breaches for rice

WTO News , 26 March, 2013

Costa Rica’s and Thailand’s domestic support policies for rice continued to raise concerns in the WTO Agriculture Committee on 26 March 2013 when members also considered ways to improve the committee’s work. More…

Indonesia objects to a dispute settlement panel on US agricultural exports

WTO News , 26 March, 2013

Following Indonesia’s objection, on 26 March 2013 the Dispute Settlement Body, which comprises all WTO members, deferred the establishment of a panel requested by the United States – to examine a dispute on importation of horticultural products, animals and animal products. More…

WTO faults Argentina on trade policy, data transparency

Economic Times, 20 March, 2013

The World Trade Organization added its voice on Wednesday to criticism of the quality of Argentina’s inflation data, and said the country’s restrictive trade policies could fuel price pressures. More…

‘Reconsider decision to drag India to WTO on solar energy’

Economic Times, 20 March, 2013

A dozen odd eminent American and international organisations have asked the US to reconsider its decision to drag India to WTO over solar energy policy. More…

Antigua and US Return to Negotiating Table in WTO Dispute

Pokerfuse , 11 March, 2013

The tiny Caribbean island nation of Antigua and Barbuda’s ongoing World Trade Organization dispute with the United States over online gambling may see the two parties make one more attempt to return to the bargaining table. More…

EU supports WTO trade facilitation agreement

New Europe, 08 March, 2013

The WTO trade facilitation agreement is a significant part of global efforts to increase trade’s contribution to development, according to the European Commission. More…

U.S. unlikely to comply with WTO COOL ruling by deadline

Grain news, 08 March, 2013

The U.S. government is not expected to comply with the World Trade Organization (WTO) ruling requiring changes to its mandatory country-of-origin labelling (COOL) law on meats and certain other foods by a May 23 deadline. More…

Poorest countries’ extended intellectual property transition: time-limited or indefinite?

WTO News, 05-06 March, 2013

WTO members, meeting on 5-6 March 2013, accepted that the deadline for least developed countries to protect intellectual property generally could be extended beyond the current 1 July 2013 date. But they were still undecided on whether to set a new deadline or leave it until each country “graduates”. More…