Archive - Jun 2009 - Article

GENEVA (Reuters) - International trade is part of the solution to the global food crisis and not one of its causes, the head of the World Trade Organization said on Sunday.

The 32nd Congress of the International Metalworkers Federation held in Sweden this week resolved to mobilise metalworkers around the world for trade policies aimed at creating good jobs for all, promoting the fundamental workers’ rights and ensuring the right for all countries to development and to decent working and living conditions for their citizens.

Geneva heaves a sigh of relief. With Kamal Nath moved out of the Indian Commerce Ministry, the probability of concluding the contentious Doha Development Round of the WTO appears much brighter. Not that Kamal Nath was un-necessarily throwing spanners but his strong grip over the trade negotiations helped India to resist bullying and arm-twisting by the big boys of international trade.

As a result of increasing parliamentary and public concern, Bill C-23, the implementing legislation for the Canada-Colombia Free Trade Agreement (FTA), has been removed from the Canadian government's current legislative agenda.