A number of WTO members support Azevêdo’s efforts to broker a successful outcome on the Bali Package
WTO News, 29 November, 2013
WTO Director General Roberto Azevêdo has welcomed a message of support issued Friday by a large number of developing and developed WTO members for a successful outcome to the 9th Ministerial Conference in Bali 3-6 December. More…
LDCs announce breakthrough on key section of Bali package
WTO News, 28 November, 2013
The Least-Developed Countries (LDCs) and key stakeholders have reached an agreement which largely stabilises section two of the Trade Facilitation text. The LDC Group says that this resolves all of their outstanding issues and that the Bali package is important for the credibility of multilateral trading system. The LDC Group calls on all WTO Members to take the necessary steps to ensure success in Bali. The coordinators of the Africa Group and the Africa, Caribbean and Pacific Group join these calls. More…
Bumps ahead for WTO trade deal: Member countries harden stance
The Economic Times, 28 November, 2013
A global trade deal at World Trade Organization’s ministerial meeting in Bali next week faces fresh roadblocks as member countries, including India, have hardened their positions on key issues of trade facilitation and farm subsidies. The Cabinet is likely to take a call on Thursday on India’s stand at the meet. More…
“We cannot tell the world that we have delivered” Azevêdo warns last pre-Bali meeting
WTO News, 26 November, 2013
The most intensive negotiations since July 2008 have allowed WTO members to come very close to fully agreed texts but final agreement remains elusive and over the last few days, we stopped making the tough political calls, WTO Director-General Roberto Azevêdo told the last General Council meeting before the Bali Ministerial Conference, on 26 November 2013. More…
WTO ‘peace clause’ puts India’s food policies under scrutiny of rich nations
The Economic Times, 22 November, 2013
India faces stiff disclosure norms under the new compromise formula that it has agreed to on food security in global trade under the World Trade Organisation (WTO), exposing its commitment on food security law to the scrutiny of the developed world. More…
India softens stand on food subsidies at WTO, Bali meet prospects rise
Economic Times, 20 November, 2013
India has softened its stand at the World Trade Organisation (WTO) on the issue of food subsidies, brightening the prospects of some progress in the global trade talks, which had been stuck for over a decade, at the Bali ministerial next month. More…
WTO closes in on landmark trade reform
Reuters, 20 November, 2013
The World Trade Organization is close to the first worldwide trade reform since it was formed 18 years ago, diplomats and trade officials said on Wednesday, as marathon negotiations defused some of the most complex disputes. More…
Azevêdo continues intensive consultations as members head for the final stretch to Bali
WTO News, 18 November, 2013
Director-General Roberto Azevêdo, on 18 November 2013, continued without a pause his intensive consultations over the weekend and the previous weeks on a Bali package consisting of agreements on trade facilitation, agriculture and development issues as members head for the final stretch to the WTO’s 9th Ministerial Conference on 3-6 December 2013. More…
Last-ditch effort for deal at WTO’s Bali meet
The Times of India, 11 November, 2013
The World Trade Organization’s Bali ministerial meeting is still three weeks away but several observers and countries are already writing its obituary, given the inability of members to agree to even a watered-down agenda. More…
Beware the peace clause
The Financial Express, 11 November, 2013
The WTO proposal on agriculture is biased in favour of countries who have notified high farm subsidies. More…