Archive

Two new reports jointly released today by the ICFTU and Solidar raise alarm bells over the planned further liberalisation of TCF and general manufacturing sectors by the WTO.

The U.S. Congress would probably reject a proposed deal by global trade ministers to give duty-free access to the world's poorest nations if the plan does not also open new markets for American farmers

The Global Union representing workers in the textile and clothing sector has released a new video drawing attention to the plight of workers in the sector following the liberalisation of trade at the start of 2005.

media release: The vegetables Filipinos consume may soon come only from Taiwan, mainland China, or the US rather than the Cordilleras or Ilocos as vegetable imports continue to push out local produce from the domestic market, according to independent think-tank IBON Foundation.

A range of developing countries voiced their concerns over the draftHong Kong Ministerial text at a meeting of the Trade NegotiationsCommittee

while it attempts to capture the main elements of the state of playof agriculture and NAMA in general terms, the revised draft does not alter the first draft, issued on 26 November, in any fundamental manner.

WTO members were engaging in intense informal negotiations anddiscussions on Friday, 2 December focused on how to respondto the revised draft Ministerial text to be transmitted to the WTO'sHong Kong Ministerial Conference starting 13 December.

Papers on arguments by some for commencing sectoral negotiations in the GATS, and the objectives of these negotiations

ASEAN (fve members) alternative proposal to the Services Annex C for the draft ministerial text

a link to an EU non-paper which proposes language for NAMA. The non-paper was floated in the green rooms and widely rejected.