Articles

Sharp "asymmetries" in levels of ambition emerge in TiSA talks

20 April, 2015
TWN Info Service on WTO and Trade Issues (Apr15/04)
As the technical experts and negotiators engaged in the controversial plurilateral initiative on Trade in Services Agreement (TiSA) prepare a report on their overall progress during the last three years, it has emerged that there will be sharp "asymmetries" in the levels of ambition in different services sectors, according to several members familiar with the negotiations. In this brief D Ravi Kanth provides an overview of levels of ambition in current TISA negotiations,

South faces uphill fight on food security, commitments on Bali decisions

9 April, 2015
TWN Info Service on WTO and Trade Issues (Apr15/03)
Towards 10th WTO Ministerial Conference in Nairobi in December 2015, Chakravarthi Raghavan provides detailed analysis of critical issues faced by developing countries at the WTO to ensure a permanent solution to food security issues and translate into binding commitments the 'best endeavour' decisions of the 2013 Bali Ministerial Conference.

LDCs assess high-level meeting on LDC services waiver

27 March, 2015
TWN Info Service on WTO and Trade Issues (Mar15/05)
According to trade officials, at the regular meeting of the Council for Trade in Services on 18 March, the LDCs, in their presentation, assessed the high-level meeting that was held on 5 February, in which number of developed country members and developing country members in a position to do so had indicated the services sectors and modes of supply where they intend to provide preferential treatment to the LDCs.

TISA: leaked document reveals secret talks to promote health “tourism” and privatisation

3 February, 2015
Public Services International (PSI)
The proposal, reportedly tabled by the government of Turkey, was discussed by EU member states last September at the Geneva TISA negotiations. It suggests an annex on health care services in the TISA that would promote offshoring by facilitating patients’ travel abroad to access health services.

Leaked TISA text exposes US threat to privacy, data security and net neutrality

17 December, 2014
Based on a set of leaked US TISA proposal, Prof. Jane Kelsey argues that '‘the US is demanding that New Zealand and other countries accept sweeping rules that would override privacy protections for digitised personal and other data’'

Farmers and CSOs express concern over WTO conditionalities on India's agricultural subsidy regime

25 November, 2014
Indian farmers organizations and civil society groups expressed serious concern over India - US agreement over public stockholding issue at the WTO negotiation. In a letter to commerce minister they argued that Trade Facilitation Agreement (TFA) needs to be rejected not only as a strategy but on its own lack of merit.

Global civil society letter to WTO members regarding public food stockholding programs

24 November, 2014
In the backdrop of agreement between India and US on public stockholdings for food security purposes this Global civil society letter highlights that the current solution is inadequate and calls upon WTO members to ensure that developing countries’ and LDCs’ interests are not sacrificed in the current negotiations and at the special General Council meeting on 26 November 2014 in order to clear the path for the TFA.

UNCTAD Secretary General Mr M. Kituyi Respond to Global Civil Society Letter on the Role of UNCTAD on Investment Issues

23 October, 2014
Global Civil Society letter to UNCTAD Secretary General
In this response to global civil society groups letter, UNCTAD Secretary General Mr M. Kituyi's share the concerns of global civil society groups on the implications of current investment regime and expressed hope that proposed reforms of international investment agreements and investor state dispute settlement system (ISDS) will help to improve them system.

Presentations: From GATS to TISA - Global Trade in Services Forum, Geneva, 17 October, 2014

18 October, 2014
PSI-OWINFS-FES Global Trade in Services Forum
On 17 October 2014, Our World Is Not For Sale (OWINFS) network organised, "Global Trade in Services Forum - From GATS to TISA", in partnership with the Friedrich-Ebert-Stiftung (FES) and the Public Services International (PSI). Large number of trade unionists from public and private sector, government representatives, global experts and civil society representatives will take part in the vent.

Open TISA to public debate, say experts at first global forum

18 October, 2014
PSI-OWINFS-FES Global Trade in Services Forum
"Open TISA to public debate", was the key demand of the participants at the first Global Trade in Services Forum, in Geneva on 17th October 2014, co-organised by Public Services International (PSI), Friedrich-Ebert-Stiftung (FES) and Our World Is Not For Sale (OWINFS) network.

Global Civil Society letter to UNCTAD Secretary General on Investment Issues

15 October, 2014
On the occasion of UNCTAD World Investment Forum 2014, on October 13-16, Global Civil Society, in a letter to Mukhisa Kituyi, Secretary General of the UN Conference on Trade and Development (UNCTAD) and Member States of UNCTAD underlined various issues emerge from bilateral investment treaties (BITs) including investor state dispute settlement provisions. It called for a progressive role of UNCTAD to provide support to third world governments in framing alternative policies and remove major impediments to sustainable development created by international investment agreements (IIAs).

Implications of International Investment Agreements: UNCTAD World Investment Forum 2014 Event

15 October, 2014
The number of disputes brought by investors under international investment agreements (IIAs) has been steadily increasing. This event organized by OWINFS, TWN and Public Citizen at the UNCTAD World Investment Forum 2014 looks at the implications of these disputes for sustainable development, and will discuss actual case studies in particular areas.

PSI-OWINFS-FES Global Trade in Services Forum

10 October, 2014
On 17 October 2014, the Our World Is Not For Sale (OWINFS) network will be organising "Global Trade in Services Forum, From GATS to TISA", in partnership with the Friedrich-Ebert-Stiftung (FES) and the Public Services International (PSI). Large number of trade unionists from public and private sector, government representatives, global experts and civil society representatives took part in the event. The global conference to provided a critical perspective on the TISA.

Towards an International Secret Agreement (TISA) on Financial Services?

1 October, 2014
OWINFS Briefing Paper
This OWINFS network's brief on the proposed Trade in Services Agreement (TISA), explains how the proposed TISA push more dangerous deregulatory policies on Financial services and endangers future financial regulatory capacity of governments.

The TISA Threat to Food and Agriculture

1 October, 2014
International Union of Food, Agricultural, Hotel, Restaurant, Catering, Tobacco and Allied Workers' Association (IUF)
The Tisa Threat to Food and Agriculture: The International Union of Food, Agricultural, Hotel, Restaurant, Catering, Tobacco and Allied Workers' Association's (IUF) presentation at the WTO Public Forum 2014 – Uni Global Union/Public Services International Panel How a proposed trade in services agreement (TISA) matters to everyone

Prospects for Trade, Development, and Reducing Inequality: Doha, post-Bali, and the post-2015 Sustainable Development Goals: OWINFS event at WTO Public Forum 2014

1 October, 2014
OWINFS organized an event at WTO Pubic Forum 2014, "Prospects for Trade, Development, and Reducing Inequality: Doha, post-Bali, and the post-2015 Sustainable Development Goals" on 2nd October 2014

Implications for jobs, consumers, and the environment and Africa of including investment in the post-Bali Roadmap: OWINFS event at WTO Public Forum 2014

1 October, 2014
On 3 October 2014 OWINFS organized an event, "Implications for jobs, consumers, and the environment and Africa of including investment in the post-Bali Roadmap" at WTO Public Forum.

How a Proposed Trade in Services Agreement (TISA) Matters to Everyone: OWINFS event at WTO Public Forum 2014

1 October, 2014
OWINFS organized an event on "How a Proposed Trade in Services Agreement (TISA) Matters to Everyone" at the WTO Public Forum on 1 October 2014

Trade and Africa: Achieving Food Security in Sub-Saharan Africa - OWINFS event at WTO Public Forum 2014

1 October, 2014
On 3 October 2014 OWINFS organized an event, "Trade and Africa: Achieving Food Security in Sub-Saharan Africa", at WTO Public Forum 2014

Event at WTO Public Forum 2014: Information Technology Agreement (ITA) and Environmental Goods Agreement (EGA)

1 October, 2014
The OWINFS network organized an event "Information Technology Agreement (ITA) and Environmental Goods Agreement (EGA): Emerging Opportunities and Challenges for Sustainable Development" at the WTO Public Forum 2014 on 1 October 2014.