Azevêdo says success of WTO dispute settlement brings urgent challenges
WTO News, 26 September, 2014
WTO Director-General Roberto Azevêdo told the Dispute Settlement Body on 26 September that “there is no question that the WTO’s dispute settlement system has been a success”, noting that in just under 20 years, the system has received 482 requests for consultations, much more than the 300 disputes GATT received in 47 years. He also noted that in the first 16 years of the WTO estimates suggest the system handled disputes covering at least US$1 trillion of trade flows. He said that “while this is welcome, it does create some real challenges”, including the doubling since 2012 of disputes being handled by the Secretariat, and a much higher than expected rate of appeals. More…
Regional trade agreements “cannot substitute” the multilateral trading system
WTO News, 25 September, 2014
WTO Director-General Roberto Azevêdo, in closing the WTO Seminar on Cross-Cutting Issues in Regional Trade Agreements (RTAs) on 25 September 2014, said that RTAs “are important for the multilateral trading system—but they cannot substitute it”. He pointed to “big issues” such as trade facilitation, financial or telecoms regulations or farming and fisheries subsidies that “can only be tackled in an efficient manner in the multilateral context through the WTO”. More…
No consensus on how to take negotiations forward, farm talks’ chair concludes
WTO News, 23 September, 2014
WTO agriculture delegates continued to differ on how to proceed with work on agriculture under the 2013 Bali Ministerial Conference’s decisions and in the Doha Round talks, this time when they met as negotiators on 23 September 2014. More…
WTO lowers forecast after sub-par trade growth in first half of 2014
WTO News, 23 September, 2014
WTO economists have reduced their forecast for world trade growth in 2014 to 3.1% (down from the 4.6% forecast made in April) and cut their estimate for 2015 to 4.0% from 5.3% previously. The downgrade comes in response to weaker-than-expected GDP growth and muted import demand in the first half of 2014, particularly in natural resource exporting regions such as South and Central America. “This is a moment to remind ourselves that trade can play a positive role here. Cutting trade costs and broadening trade opportunities can be a key ingredient to reversing this trend,” Director-General Roberto Azevêdo said. More…
Differences remain on deadlines and forums for post-Bali work on agriculture
WTO News, 22 September, 2014
WTO members remained divided on how to proceed with work on agriculture under the 2013 Bali Ministerial Conference’s decisions, when they met informally as the regular Agriculture Committee on 16 September. More…
Immediate solution seems unlikely as WTO DG Roberto Azevedo sounds words of caution
The Economic Times, 17 September, 2014
India may have a long fight on its hands on the food security issue at the World Trade Organization, going by the statement made by Director-General Roberto Azevedo at a meeting of heads of delegations in Geneva on Monday. More…
Azevêdo launches intensive consultations on taking the Bali package forward
WTO News, 15 September, 2014
Azevêdo told a meeting of ambassadors to the WTO on 15 September that “we must begin a period of intensive and comprehensive consultations, starting now” on taking the Bali package forward. Emphasizing the importance of this coming work, he said that “we are in a very precarious position…and at a present I am not sure that the scale of the risk is fully appreciated by all”. More…
WTO optimistic of a solution as it reviews progress this week
The Economic Times, 14 September, 2014
Amid India’s tough posture over the food security issue, the WTO has expressed optimism of finding a solution as it reviews the progress of talks this week. More…
Russia Threatens Lawsuits With WTO Over New Western Sanctions
Ria Novosti, 12 September, 2014
New Western sanctions against Russia give Moscow additional incentives to appeal them in the World Trade Organization as they contradict the WTO regulations, Economic Development Minister Alexei Ulyukayev said Friday. More…