Archive

Brazil and India gave thumbs down March 16 to proposals from the United States and the European Union aimed at meeting developing country demands for flexibility.

Testimony of RD Olson of IATP against Dominican Republic-Central American Free Trade Agreement before a congressional field hearing on March 5, 2005.

Tariffs: A part of current rights...tariff negotiations are not about compensation for past gains or losses; they are future-oriented and are based on the perception of future gains and opportunities.

BL Das' paper stresses that the developing countries should take a negotiating position that retains their present flexibilities in determining tariff policy that enables them to undertake industrial development.

Once there is satisfactory movement in agricultural market access - when Brussels agrees to a modest outcome - then the major developing countries will have to come forward with substantial nonagricultural access offers, WTD was told.

Success of even a modest outcome of the market access pillar in the ongoing farm trade negotiations as well as nonagricultural market access will depend largely on the European Union.

'We wanted a much more ambitious framework, but the US has already set the ground by suggesting its dual-coefficient ‘Swiss' formula and the EU and Norway with their credit-based approach, a key member of the 'Friends' group told WTD.

The 'Friends of Ambition' in Doha market access negotiations for industrials converged last week around a 'Swiss' tariff-cutting formula.

DEVELOPING COUNTRIES OBJECT TO WIPO CONSULTATION PROCESS ON PATENT TREATY TALKS

Iraq's fragile food sector, battered by decades of war and sanctions, is open for business.