Third World Network (TWN) prepares an analysis on the Malaysia-US FTA looking at the implications of the agreement on the various economic sectors in Malaysia as well as on the society as a whole.
We, representatives of organizations and social movements of Brasil, Bolivia, Costa Rica, Colombia, Guatemala, and the Dominican Republic, gathered at a forum on the expansion of the sugarcane industry in Latin America, declare that:
Hira Jhamtani and Lutfiyah Hanim, TWN Info Service on WTO and Trade Issues
The Group of 33 (G33) developing countries concluded their Ministerial meeting here Wednesday with a communique outlining their continued commitment to Special Products and Special Safeguard Mechanism (SP/SSM) in the WTO's Doha agriculture negotiations, and agreeing on a revised list of indicators for the selection of Special Products.
Reduction in tariff protection in South Asian agriculture has been the primary cause of import surge, leading to fall in employment in farm activities, lowering of returns to farmers and increased levels of poverty in rural areas.
From the corridors of power in Washington this week it will be possible to look out at a transient moment of simple beauty as 3,700 cherry blossom trees donated to the city by Tokyo flower for a mere seven days.
Over the next two weeks, Korean and U.S. trade negotiators plan to meet behind closed doors with hopes of reaching an agreement on the KorUS FTA before March 31 deadline.
Trade ministers of the Group-of-33 developing-country coalition - which is seeking enhanced flexibilities for 'special products' and a 'special safeguard mechanism' in the Doha Development Agenda farm trade negotiations - repeated yesterday the negotiating mandate on 'special products' does not require developing countries to provide any compensation including through tariff-quota commitments
