WTO: WTO members highlight cotton’s central role in COVID-19 recovery

WTO members highlight cotton's central role in COVID-19 recovery At WTO meetings on cotton on 3-4 November, members underscored the central role that cotton plays in enabling least-developed countries (LDCs) to recover from the COVID-19 pandemic and to further their economic development. Members heard an update on trends in cotton trade and discussed plans for... Lees verder Members agree on recommendation to extend moratorium on IP "non-violation" cases At a meeting of the Council for Trade-Related Aspects of Intellectual Property Rights (TRIPS) on 5 November, WTO members agreed on a draft ministerial decision on so-called non-violation and situation complaints in the area of intellectual property (IP). The decision is expected to be adopted at... Lees verder Scientists urging members to reach MC12 fishing subsidies agreement present letter to DG Okonjo-Iweala Nearly 400 ocean experts from around the world on 5 November presented a letter to Director-General Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala calling on the world's governments to agree on new global rules to curb harmful fisheries subsidies at the WTO's upcoming 12th Ministerial Conference (MC12), which starts at the... Lees verder WIPO-WTO Colloquium for IP Teachers back on track After a year-long hiatus due to the COVID-19 pandemic, the Colloquium for Intellectual Property (IP) Teachers is back with its 17th edition, which is taking place virtually from 1 to 12 November. The colloquium is a two-week skills-building activity on intellectual property and relevant teaching... Lees verder Revised fisheries subsidies text kicks off intensified negotiations ahead of MC12 At a meeting of the Negotiating Group on Rules at the Head of Delegation level, the chair of the fisheries subsidies negotiations, Ambassador Santiago Wills of Colombia, introduced on 8 November a second revision of the draft negotiating text to be used as the basis for clause-by-clause discussions... Lees verder Working group on small business discusses preparations for MC12 At their last meeting before the WTO's 12th Ministerial Conference (MC12), members of the Informal Working Group on Micro, Small and Medium-sized Enterprises (MSMEs) on 8 November reviewed the group's plans for MC12, including the launch of the Trade4MSMEs platform. The aim of the platform is to... Lees verder WTO launches improved quantitative restrictions database The WTO launched on 8 November an improved Quantitative Restrictions (QR) Database, an online platform to search and retrieve information on trade restrictions and prohibitions notified by WTO members. The QR Database provides information on export prohibitions and restrictions introduced by... Lees verder Trade Policy Review: Mauritius The fifth review of the trade policies and practices of Mauritius takes place on 9 and 11 November 2021. The basis for the review is a report by the WTO Secretariat and a report by the Government of Mauritius. Lees verder International organizations, vaccine manufacturers take stock of COVID-19 vaccine roll out, share views for 2022 The heads of the International Monetary Fund, World Bank Group, World Health Organization and World Trade Organization held on 9 November the 2nd High-Level Consultations with the CEOs of leading COVID-19 vaccine manufacturing companies. At the meeting, all participants agreed on the urgency of... Lees verder Japan gives CHF 125,000 to help LDCs participate in fisheries subsidies discussions The government of Japan is contributing CHF 125,000 to the WTO Fisheries Subsidies Fund for least-developed countries (LDCs). The fund was established in May 2019 at the request of LDC members of the WTO to cover travel expenses of their officials travelling to Geneva to take part in the... Lees verder