WTO: WTO members resume agriculture negotiations following COVID-19 pause

WTO members resume agriculture negotiations following COVID-19 pause WTO members resumed negotiations on reform of agricultural trade at a meeting of the Committee on Agriculture in Special Session on 25 September. The new chair of the farm trade talks, Ambassador Gloria Abraham (Costa Rica), said the discussions constituted a restart of the negotiations after six... Lees verder WTO members review four regional trade agreements between developing countries WTO members reviewed on 29 September four regional trade agreements concluded between developing countries at a dedicated session of the Committee on Trade and Development. Lees verder Trade Policy Review: Zimbabwe The third review of the trade policies and practices of Zimbabwe takes place on 30 September and 2 October 2020. The basis for the review is a report by the WTO Secretariat and a report by the Government of Zimbabwe. Lees verder DDG Wolff highlights role of trade policies in addressing plastic pollution Trade policies can help support broader efforts to reduce plastic pollution, Deputy Director-General Alan Wolff said on 30 September. In remarks delivered to a Graduate Institute "Geneva Trade Week" session on plastic pollution, DDG Wolff said trade regulations, import, export or transit... Lees verder DDG Wolff: I am optimistic about improving transparency at the WTO Deputy Director-General Alan Wolff expressed optimism on 1 October that WTO members could agree on steps for improving transparency at the WTO. In remarks delivered to the Graduate Institute's "Geneva Trade Week", DDG Wolff said members' constructive response to the WTO Secretariat's real-time... Lees verder Indonesia launches safeguard investigation on articles of apparel and clothing accessories On 1 October 2020, Indonesia notified the WTO's Committee on Safeguards that it initiated on 1 October 2020 a safeguard investigation on articles of apparel and clothing accessories. Lees verder Timor-Leste formally kick-starts its WTO accession process Members expressed their support for Timor-Leste's bid to become a member of the WTO and commended the work done so far by the authorities in Dili to facilitate a swift accession process. At the first meeting of the Working Party on the Accession of Timor-Leste on 1 October, the Timorese delegation... Lees verder WTO and UNCTAD welcome Pamela Coke-Hamilton as new International Trade Centre Head Pamela Coke-Hamilton has become the new executive director of the International Trade Centre (ITC), effective 1 October. Lees verder DDG Wolff: WTO needs a more robust agricultural rule book The WTO needs a more robust agricultural rule book that can better ensure markets remain open, particularly in challenging times, Deputy Director-General Alan Wolff said on 1 October. Addressing the latest WTO Trade Dialogues on Food event, DDG Wolff said the COVID-19 pandemic was a "wake-up call"... Lees verder DDG Yi: Today's thriving knowledge economy is the result of 25 years of TRIPS Agreement WTO Deputy Director-General Yi Xiaozhun underscored on 5 October the significance of the WTO's Agreement on Trade-related Aspects of Intellectual Property Rights (TRIPS), which has created unprecedented possibilities for creators, innovators and companies across the globe. Speaking at the International Association for the Protection of Intellectual Property (AIPPI) World Congress, DDG Yi highlighted the 25th anniversary of the TRIPS Agreement and warned of the risk of taking for granted the improvements achieved by its implementation around the world. This is what he said: Lees verder