News on Policy Developments

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FAO encourages early withdrawal of highly toxic pesticides, FAO, 20 December 2006
Danish chemicals company Cheminova has submitted plans for phasing out highly toxic forms of pesticides in developing countries to the United Nations Food and Agriculture Organization in line with the International Code of Conduct on the Distribution and Use of Pesticides.

Agencies agree on plan for food safety, animal and plant health assistance, FAO, 18 December 2006
Five international organizations, donors and representatives of beneficiary countries today approved a new medium-term strategy for their joint efforts to help developing countries implement internationally agreed standards for food safety and animal and plant health.

WTO chief buoyant on Doha round. The Economic Times, 18 December 2006
World Trade Organisation (WTO) director general Pascal Lamy has expressed hopes that the on-going the Doha round of multilateral trade talks could successfully conclude next year if all members contribute and stay on track.

DOHA ROUND 'PATIENT' SHOWS "SIGNS OF LIFE," AG CHAIR SAYS, Bridges, 15 December 2006
Comparing the WTO Doha Round to a medical patient, Agriculture Chair Ambassador Crawford Falconer (New Zealand) indicated on 11 December that the negotiations seemed to be showing "signs of life," although it was possible that these amounted to little more than a minor "twitch."

“We can stay on track to successfully conclude the Round next year, WTO, 15 December 2006
Director-General Pascal Lamy reported to the General Council on 14 December 2006 that “an increasing level of engagement” is starting to appear in consultations by the Chairs of the negotiating groups.

Global trade negotiations at a crossroads, and at a standstill, IHT, 13 December 2006
The international trade system is heading for turbulent times unless negotiators from developing and industrial nations can reach an agreement in the coming year to liberalize global trade.

Unstoppable Yet Unsustainable, World Bank, 12 December 2006
For the third year in succession, the economy is on track to grow by more than 10 percent, according to Chinese statistics, a figure that many foreign investment bank economists think understates the true pace of development. … [But] China’s rapid development remains a curious mixture of the unstoppable and the unsustainable.

Relief for sugar sector, The Swaz Observer, 11 December 2006
PREVIOUSLY excluded locally based companies have now been roped in and offered a portion of exportable sugar at a simplified pricing formula.

WTO: Risk of “Total Failure” on the Doha Round, Freshplaza, 7 December 2006
In an interview with the UK’s Sunday Telegraph, Pascal Lamy, General Director of the WTO admitted that if the new U.S. Congress does not take action to save the round of negotiations it would cause a collapse in the whole trade multilateral system.

Negotiators attempting to revive WTO talks, Mantibo Business, 7 December 2006
Negotiators representing about two dozen countries, including Canada, have held "quiet discussions" in the last few weeks to see if the World Trade Organization talks can be revived.  

Parliamentary conference on WTO: call for talks to resume, europal, 5 December 2006
MEPs and the other parliamentarians in Geneva called on the main actors in the Doha round - the European Union, the United States and the members of the G20 - to reach a "balanced" agreement on all the Doha round's main negotiating topics, while ensuring that the developing countries, especially the least developed ones, derive real and sustainable economic benefits from the outcome.

'Over $114 million needed for agricultural relief in 11 emergency situations worldwide, FAO, 4 December 2006
“Agriculture remains the core survival strategy for the rural poor in developing countries.”

WTO talks may resume by Jan, deal possible by March, Business Standard, 4 December 2006
Amid indications that WTO talks could resume by January next year, India has said that there is a possibility of reaching a global trade deal by March 2007.

India is ready for more cuts on industrial tariffs', Economic Times, 28 November 2006
India is ready to further cut import tariffs on industrial goods for using it as a strong bargaining point in WTO negotiations.

Leading Role for India Seen in World Trade Talks Revival, USINFO, 27 November 2006
India must play a leading role in reviving WTO talks by offering more market access agricultural exports of the United States and other countries.

Lamy asks parliamentarians to support relaunch of full negotiations, WTO, 27 November 2006
Director-General Pascal Lamy, in a video address to the 12th Session of the ACP-EU Joint Parliamentary Assembly in Barbados on 23 November 2006, said that moving to full-fledged ministerial negotiations will require “serious thinking and compromises”.

Tough times ahead for trade talks, The POST.IE, 27 November 2006
There are, says Peter Mandelson, just a few months left before the international trading system suffers severe, perhaps irreparable, damage.

US urges India, China to show flexibility at WTO negotiations, IRNA, 27 November 2006
Developing nations like India and China need to show flexibility in important issues like farm subsidy, market access and export competitiveness while carrying forward their trade negotiations at the WTO.

Lamy in Montevideo for Uruguay Round anniversary, Mercosur, 24 November 2006
“For us it’s most important to give our total support to the resumption of the Doha round, to strengthen WTO and advance in the elimination of farm subsidies and farm export grants”, said Uruguayan Foreign Affairs minister Reinaldo Gargano on receiving Mr. Lamy in Montevideo.

United States, Russia Sign WTO Market Access Agreement, Infocus, 22 November 2006
India and the United States have agreed to remove asymmetries and distortions in international agricultural trade as emphasized in the Doha round of WTO negotiations.

US tells India to open up for global trade, The Financial Express, 22 Novembe 2006
The United States on Tuesday reiterated that resolving the issue of market access was important for the Doha round of talks to be successful. It said that India could lift millions of its people out of poverty by further opening up to global trade.

Russia and U.S. Sign WTO Agreement. Kommersant, 21 November 2006
Russian Minister of Economic Development and Trade German Gref met with U.S. Trade Representative Susan Schwab and signed the Russian-American protocol that ends negotiations over Russia's accession to the WTO.

EU asks India to soften stand on agriculture to restart talks, Myiris, 21 November 2006
The European Union (EU) has asked India to show flexibility in granting real market access, both in agriculture and industry so that the stalled WTO Doha round negotiations can be re-started.

Developed nations must compromise, experts say, People's daily on line, 21 November 2006
The joint statement by Asia-Pacific Economic Co-operation (APEC) members will help revive the Doha Round of WTO negotiations, experts say, but developed countries must do more.

EU trade chief to seek nod on bilateral pact with India, The Financial Express, 20 November 2006
European Union trade commissioner Peter Mandelson will soon put proposals before the EU member states for a negotiating mandate to sign an ambitious and broad-based bilateral trade and investment agreement with India.

APEC leaders say 'urgent need' to break trade deadlock, Channelnewsasia. 20 November 2006
Asia Pacific leaders called Saturday for an immediate resumption of stalled talks on tearing down global trade barriers, saying there was an "urgent need" to break the deadlock.

Lamy Pushes APEC Towards Doha Re-Start, LawAndTax-News, 20 November 2006
WTO Director-General Pascal Lamy, in an address to the APEC Business Advisory Council in Hanoi this week, said that all APEC trade ministers have “expressed a sense of urgency and joined in calling for a rapid restart of the negotiating engines in Geneva”.

WTO agrees to resume part of stalled Doha talks, ABC News, 17 November 2006
The World Trade Organisation (WTO) has agreed to a limited resumption of stalled free trade talks, but warns that major powers have not yet shown the flexibility needed for a deal.

WTO AG TALKS: CHAIR TURNS ON ENGINE, BUT CAR NOT YET IN GEAR, Bridges, 17 November 2006
Farm trade negotiators in Geneva have held a series of informal meetings to explore the possibilities for restarting the suspended Doha Round talks.

Johanns to urge India for reconsidering Doha trade talks, fibre2fashion, 17 November 2006
Mike is coming to India amidst dying hopes of restarting the Doha Round of world trade talks cancelled by WTO in a negotiating stalemate regarding subsidies and tariffs for agricultural trade in July.

EU trade chief heads to India for talks on WTO, Reuters, 16 November 2006
Farm trade is a sensitive area for the EU, which has a powerful agricultural lobby, and for India which says it cannot expose its subsistence farmers to fierce competition.

US And Russia Close To Bilateral Market Access Agreement, LaxAnd-Tax news, 15 November 2006
It emerged on Friday that the United States and Russia expect shortly to conclude bilateral negotiations on market access issues related to Russia’s accession to the WTO.

US and Russia Work to Finalize Negotiations On WTO Entry, ThePigSite, 14 November 2006
"It is a clear indication of Russia’s efforts to participate fully in and benefit from the rules-based global trading system. We came close to completing our work in July, but needed more time to conclude a strong commercial agreement that will be of benefit to both our countries.

Putin, Bush may reach WTO agreement soon, RIA Novosti, 14 November 2006
Russia and the United States may reach an agreement on the former's accession to the World Trade Organization during one of the upcoming meetings.

Climate change will affect future food availability, FAO, 7 November 2006
Climate change will directly affect future food availability and compound the difficulties of feeding the world’s rapidly growing population.

WTO outlook still cloudy after Lamy U.S. visit, Reuters, 6 November 2006
U.S. Agriculture Secretary Mike Johanns also said differences in the world trade talks were so great he doubted Lamy could come up with a plan to bring parties together.

AGRICULTURE: LACK OF TRANSPARENCY ATTRIBUTED TO LATE WTO NOTIFICATIONS, Bridges, 3 November 2006
It was noted that the absence of accurate, comparable and up-to-date information exacerbated existing inequalities between Members, and presented particular problems for smaller developing country delegations in the negotiations.

Negotiations questions spill over into regular Agriculture Committee, WTO, 2 November 2006
The WTO farm talks are suspended, and in any case they do not take place in the regular Agriculture Committee, but they still featured in the committee’s meeting on 31 October 2006, in particular members’ failure to supply up-to-date information.

African Union Asks Developed Nations to Restart Doha, Farm Futures, 31 October 2006
"For millions of our citizens, the Doha Development Agenda represents the hope of improving their living standards and freeing themselves from absolute poverty."

World hunger increasing, FAO, 31 October 2006
Ten years after the 1996 World Food Summit (WFS) in Rome, which promised to reduce the number of undernourished people by half by 2015, there were more hungry people in the developing countries today – 820 million – than there were in 1996.

It's time for a new “Geneva consensus” on making trade work for development, WTO, 31 October 2006
Director-General Pascal Lamy, in the Emile Noel Lecture at the New York University Law School on 30 October 2006, stressed that “a fundamental aspect of the current Round is to correct the remaining imbalances in trade rules in favour of developing countries and to improve rules that will provide developing countries with authentic market opportunities”.

Very strong chance Doha Round doomed: WTO, WashingtonPost, 27 October 2006
"I think there's a very strong chance it won't succeed," Crawford Falconer, chair of WTO agriculture negotiations, told a conference on cotton trade in Washington.

Germany donates €300,000 to assist developing countries in meeting sanitary and phytosanitary standards, WTO, 23 October 2006
The German funding, to be disbursed as equal shares of €150,000 this year and next, will be used to enhance the expertise and the capacity of developing countries to analyse and implement international sanitary and phytosanitary (SPS) standards.

EU, INDIA MOVE TOWARDS BILATERAL TRADE TALKS; DENY THREAT TO DOHA, Bridges, 20 October 2006
The EU and India have agreed to step up efforts towards a "broad-based" bilateral trade and investment pact, aiming to conclude a deal by 2009.

Agricultural heritage: legacy from the past, passport for the future, FAO, 19 October 2006
The conservation and sustainable use of this unique legacy will be the central theme of an international forum hosted by FAO from 24 to 26 October. Government officials, farmers and scientists from all over the world will share knowledge and experiences on conservation of traditional agricultural systems.

WTO Chief Calls Bilateral Deals Bad For The Poor, World Bank, 18 October 2006
Lamy told European Union Trade Commissioner Peter Mandelson and European businessmen in Brussels that smaller countries couldn't focus on both the global approach to trade -- such as the WTO's Doha round -- and the bilateral deals that powers such as the EU and the US are pursuing.

Lamy warns Doha failure will seriously weaken the trading system, WTO, 18 October 2006
The failure of the trade talks would “not be a major economic shock that would precipitate any particular market crisis...but rather as a slowly developing disease that would progressively sap the strength of the multilateral trading system built up over the past 50 years, damaging its economic lungs, its political heart, and its systemic bone structure”.

Developing countries help to spur rising global investment, UNCTAD, 17 October 2006
New sources of FDI are emerging among developing and transition economies. This phenomenon has been particularly marked in the past ten years, and a growing number of TNCs from these economies are emerging as major regional - or sometimes even global - players.

India's PM Singh says no progress at WTO until US makes 'pragmatic offer', AFX, 17 October 2006
Prime Minister Manmohan Singh at the weekend ruled out any breakthrough in the stalled World Trade Organisation talks until the United States comes up with a 'pragmatic offer' on farm subsidies.

EU, India summit take first step toward trade deal, The Hindu, 16 October 2006
The European Union and India took the first step on Friday towards an ambitious pact that both sides hope will clear barriers to growing trade and investment between the two economic blocs.

Trade liberalisation unstoppable, Kenya Times, 16 October 2006
The tide of global and regional trade liberalisation is unstoppable. The East and Southern Africa (ESA) region and indeed African countries are faced with a number of challenges that no unilateral or single country efforts can overcome.

World Food Day 2006 targets public and private investment, FAO, 16 October 2006
“The theme for World Food Day this year is investing in agriculture for food security so that the whole world will profit”.

“The Right to Food: A Window on the World”, FAO, 16 October 2006
“The right to food is, in principle, the right to feed oneself, and one’s family, adequately and with dignity.

MANDELSON, US OFFICIALS HOLD "QUIET TALKS" ON DOHA ROUND, Bridges, 6 October 2006
At the end of three days of "quiet exploratory talks" in Washington from 27-29 September, EU Trade Commissioner Peter Mandelson expressed the hope that all players in the frozen Doha Round trade talks would show the "flexibility" needed to bring the negotiations to fruition.

U.S. won't move first to save WTO talks, Reuters, 4 October 2006
The United States is committed to reaching a new world trade deal but won't try to revive the talks by being the first to make a new agricultural offer.

Top leaders, intellectuals for Doha trade talks, Gulf Times, 3 October 2006
Top leaders and intellectuals from developing and developed nations will convene in Qatar next month to revive trade liberalisation talks and to arrive at the best way to support the former countries in their trade expansion to enhance their economic growth and ease poverty.

FAO-CITES agreement promotes sustainable fish trade. FAO, 3 October 2006
CITES therefore teamed up with fisheries experts at FAO and with authorities in exporting countries in an effort to gauge the state of wild conch stocks, assess management practices more effectively, and ensure that only responsibly managed fisheries were participating in international trade.

Opportunities in Euro-Mediterranean agricultural policy, Europa, 2 October 2006
Within the Euro-Mediterranean Partnership, agriculture is a very important ingredient in the policy mix.

Global Agriculture, thechicagocouncil, 2 October 2006
The Chicago Council on Global Affairs released the findings of its independent Task Force on U.S. Agriculture Policy on September 27, 2006.

Doha Round revival possible, ABC Online, 29 September 2006
Frozen talks on reducing barriers to global commerce could be revived and brought to a successful conclusion by the end of 2007, according  WTO chief Pascal Lamy.

Let green energy rescue Doha negotiations, AFP, 26 September 2006
US media mogul and billionaire philanthropist Ted Turner urged negotiators yesterday to use green energy as a means to revive the stalled WTO talks on a deal to reform global commerce.

Ditch obstinate posturing to clinch a Doha deal, Financial Times, 25 September 2006
They need to shift from obstinate posturing to working together as strategic problem-solvers, helped by Pascal Lamy, the able director-general of the World Trade Organisation.

U.S. Still Flexible on Agriculture Trade Proposal, USINFO, 25 September 2006
The United States continues to offer flexibility in modifying its agricultural trade proposal to revive suspended  WTO negotiations, U.S. Trade Representative Susan Schwab says.

Cairns Group Calls For Quick Resumption Of WTO Talks, World Bank, 25 September 2006
The 18-nation grouping, whose members account for 25 percent of global farm exports, said the World Trade Organisation's (WTO) Doha Round of talks, suspended in July due to an EU-US stand-off, should resume in a matter of weeks.

U.S. Offers Deeper Subsidy Cuts, farmfutures, 23 September 2006
According to press reports from that meeting U.S. Secretary of Agriculture Mike Johanns and U.S. Trade Representative Susan Schwab have said the Bush administration is willing to offer even more cuts in crop supports to get talks restarted.

Stallman urges Ag Committee to extend the 2002 farm bill, deltafarmpress, 21 September 2006
Bob Stallman, a rice and cattle producer from Texas when he’s not speaking for Farm Bureau, said that because Congress should know the outcome of the Doha Round of world trade talks before beginning a new farm bill, it should first extend the current legislation.

Developed Countries Pledge $5 Billion In Trade Aid For Poor Nations, World Bank, 20 September 2006
“Finance and development ministers gathered in Singapore for the International Monetary Fund and World Bank annual meetings pledged Monday to assemble over $5 billion a year in aid for trade and resume stalled trade talks by the end of the year.

US may break the logjam in WTO talks, Keralaonline, 20 September 2006
The United States has reportedly indicated it is willing to make fresh concessions to break the logjam in the global trade talks.

Global festivities to celebrate World Food Day, FAO, 19 September 2006
The theme of World Food Day this year is “Investing in agriculture for food security”, recalling that in spite of the importance of agriculture as the driving force in the economies of many developing countries, this vital sector is frequently starved of investment.

World trade chief pushed by churches on needs of poor, ekklesia, 18 September 2006
Mr Lamy called for Christian organisations within Europe and America to pressure their governments to overcome the current freeze in World Trade Organisation negotiations and to work to reach a viable trade agreement.

UK and US in push to save global trade talks, Timesonline, 18 September 2006
GORDON BROWN joined forces with Henry Paulson, the new US Treasury Secretary, at the weekend in a last-ditch effort to revive global free trade negotiations.

World trade talks continue quietly: U.S. negotiator, Reuters, 18 September 2006
"Discussions are continuing on a ... quieter, but I would say just as intense, basis," said Dick Crowder, Washington's chief agricultural negotiator, characterizing the talks as "high-level."

India-US can co-operate on agri, services at WTO, Myiris, 18 September 2006
The two sides agreed that there exists a lot of potential of joint collaboration and co-operation. The WTO talks hit an impasse with the key trading nations failing to arrive at a consensus on the important issue of agriculture subsidies and tariffs.

Agriculture accounts for 70 percent of child labour worldwide, FAO, 15 September 2006
Agricultural child labour is rooted in the livelihood systems of rural areas and the economic vulnerability of families.

US BLOCKS BRAZIL REQUEST FOR COMPLIANCE PANEL IN COTTON CASE, Bridges, 15 September 2006
Brazil on 1 September formally requested the establishment of a WTO panel to examine whether the US was in compliance with a series of rulings against its cotton subsidy programmes.

DOHA ROUND STARTING TO THAW?, Bridges, 15 September 2006
Nevertheless, ministers and senior officials from WTO Members including the G-20 developing countries, the US, the EU, Japan, and four West African cotton producing nations pledged to work towards relaunching the stalled talks at a 9-10 September meeting in Rio de Janeiro.

Economist offers views on run-up to new farm bill, Delta Farmpress,  15 September 2006
Field tours weren’t all that was on offer at the Rice Research and Extension Center field day in Stuttgart, Ark. There were also talks on the economics of growing rice and the current economic health of Mid-South producers.

Lamy underlines the importance of developing—country participation in standard-setting, WTO, 15 September 2006
Developing countries in particular in the WTO have expressed concern about their insufficient participation in international standardizing bodies. Whereas it is natural for countries to be “standard-takers”, rather than “standard-setters”, for products that are not of key economic interest to them, it is not natural they be “takers” for the ones that are.

Final Farm Bill 'Theme Paper' Issued by USDA, AgWeb, 14 September 2006
USDA today unveiled its fifth and final farm bill "theme paper," this one titled "Strengthening the Foundation for Future Growth in U.S. Agriculture."

The Future of Farm Policy, American Progress, 14 September 2006
At the same time, the United States has a responsibility to reinvigorate the moribund WTO Doha round of multilateral trade negotiations with a proposal to strengthen U.S. agriculture and salvage what remains of the opportunities to make progress on development and global poverty reduction.

Cairns trade summit doomed, The Australian, 14 September 2006
HOPES of a breakthrough for the world free trade talks in Cairns next week have nosedived, sparking fears the Doha trade round will peter out next year.

WTO Members May Return To Table In October, Kyodo News Agency, 12 September 2006
Japan's Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries Minister Shoichi Nakagawa suggested Tuesday that the stalled Doha Round of global free trade negotiations under the World Trade Organization may resume in the near future.

The loss of biodiversity could undermine the achievement of the MDGs, FAO, 12 September 2006
The 2010 Biodiversity Target calls upon countries “to achieve by 2010 a significant reduction of the current rate of biodiversity loss at the global, regional and national level as a contribution to poverty alleviation and to the benefit of all life on Earth.”

Record rice yields for Egypt, FAO, 5 September 2006
Egypt has achieved record rice yields with varieties that included hybrids developed locally under an FAO-led project.

DEVELOPING COUNTRIES SHOULD ADOPT DYNAMIC INDUSTRIAL POLICIES, UNCTAD, 1 September 2006
The improved global economic environment for many developing countries -- including the current upswing in some nations resulting from high demand for oil and other raw materials, and the expanded manufacturing prowess of others, such as China -- needs to be turned into a dynamic process of economic growth and structural change that creates employment and raises living standards over the long term.

EC publishes food commodity income prospects, EC, 11 August 2006
The publication provides a picture of the likely medium-term developments of agricultural markets, based on a certain number of assumptions and on the statistical information available in the beginning of June 2006.

New focus needed for Doha Round, FAO, 9 August 2006
The negotiations were expected to address trade issues related to the needs of poor countries and small farmers.

GOVERNMENTS EXPLORING HOW TO RESTART DOHA ROUND TALKS,  Bridges, 7 August 2006
A week after the Doha Round trade negotiations were suspended indefinitely due to persistent differences among key trading nations on how to cut farm subsidies and tariffs, senior officials from several countries have started to explore whether and how the talks might be restarted.

DOHA ROUND SUSPENSION RECEIVES SUPPORT OF GENERAL COUNCIL, Bridges, 7 August 2006
WTO Director-General Pascal Lamy's recommendation to suspend the Doha Round trade negotiations because of persistent differences received the support of the General Council at its 27-28 July meeting.

The Doha Development Round, euractiv, 3 August 2006
After five years of troubled negotiations, the Doha Development Round, aimed at freeing global trade and at extending the benefits of globalisation to developing countries, has been suspended following the failure of negotiators to reach a compromise about reducing farming subsidies and lowering import tariffs.

Blair says Britain, US want to save Doha, The Age, 1 August 2006
On his discussions with Mr Bush, he said: "We both agreed we needed to make one final effort to re-energise the negotiation and I hope we can do so within the next few weeks."

Government of Canada Expresses Disappointment at the Suspension of WTO Doha Development Round Negotiations, Government of Canada, 26 July 2006
“Despite enormous efforts by all WTO members and 11th-hour meetings between G6 participants, the gaps in negotiating positions proved to be too large to bridge within the current time frame”.

Talks suspended. ‘Today there are only losers.’, WTO, 25 July 2006
The Doha Development Agenda negotiations are to be suspended because gaps between key players remain too wide. Heads of delegations, speaking in an informal meeting of the Trade Negotiations Committee on 24 July 2006.

Series of concessions from heads of state brings WTO negotiations back from brink, The Guardian, 21 July 2006
Everyone demanded concessions but no one had the flexibility to budge an inch. "It's up to you," Mr Lamy told the G8. "Give your people in Geneva room to negotiate or face the consequences."

 

FOLLOWING G8 SUMMIT, G-6 MINISTERS TO RENEW PUSH FOR DOHA ROUND DEAL , Bridges, 21 July 2006
Ministers from key WTO Member countries agreed on 17 July to meet twice over the next two weeks in a last-ditch attempt to reach an accord in the troubled Doha Round negotiations.

 

Sharp decline forecast for world cereal stocks, FAO, 20 July 2006
World cereal stocks are expected to decline sharply in 2006, due to a slight decrease in global cereal output and significant growth in utilization.

 

G8, Emerging Powers Mobilize To Save Doha, AP, 19 July 2006
“… trade ministers will meet in Geneva at the end of July in a last ditch effort to salvage the deadlocked Doha round of trade liberalization talks.

 

EU hits back at US ‘insults’ over WTO impasse, The Financial Express, 19 July 2006
The European Commission hit back at US criticism of its role in world trade talks on Tuesday, accusing the United States of making a ‘running commentary of insults’ against Brussels.

 

‘The chief responsibility lies here,’ Lamy tells G-8, WTO, 17 July 2006
The round of multilateral trade negotiations that began almost five years ago is drawing to a close. We will soon know its outcome — whether it is to be a success or a failure. And if I am particularly grateful to President Putin for this opportunity to speak to you, it is because I have the feeling that the answer lies with those of you who are seated around this table today.

 

G8 leaders call on WTO head to push for end to Doha talks within months, AP, 17 July 2006
Leaders of the Group of Eight major industrial countries on Sunday recommended a two-week extension for a deadline aimed at breaking the impasse over long-stalled global trade negotiations.

 

India may offer scope on industry, not farm, at WTO, Reuters, 17 July 2006
India, one of the lead negotiators for developing nations in stalled world trade talks, may make concessions on market access on industrial goods but will offer little leeway on farm products.

 

WTO Reminded of the Importance of Liberalisation, NZ Chambers of Commerce and Industry, 16 July 2006
“The Chambers’ view is that for the EU, US and Japan to agree to liberalisation of trade in difficult areas such as agriculture there will need to be some progress in areas where they seek changes, such as trade in services.

 

Serious challenges face cotton industry, Memphis Commercial, 15 July 2006
The Memphis-based cotton industry group heard chairman Allen B. Helms of Clarksdale, Ark., speak of "serious challenges" cotton faces both internationally and on Capitol Hill.

 

CAN ST. PETERSBURG SUMMIT YIELD A BREAKTHROUGH?, Bridges, 13 July 2006
As WTO Director-General Pascal Lamy continues his attempts to promote consensus in the troubled Doha Round negotiations, several trade diplomats are looking to the upcoming G8 summit in St. Petersburg for major trading nations to come up with a way out of the dedeadlock.

 

Lamy welcomes WTO agreement on regional trade agreements, WTO, 12 July 2006
“This decision will help break the current logjam in the WTO on regional trade agreements. This is an important step towards ensuring that regional trade agreements become building blocks, not stumbling blocks to world trade.

 

Developing countries shaping future of world agriculture trade, FAO, 5 July 2006
India and China are of increasing importance in shaping the future of world agricultural trade. In developing countries as a whole rising incomes and increasing urbanisation are causing changes to people’s diets.

 

WTO: BJP backs Centre's position, The Hindu, 4 July 2006
The Bharatiya Janata Party backed the Government's stand on agriculture-related issues at the World Trade Organisation (WTO) negotiations but criticised "impulsive reactions" such as the recent walkout by Commerce Minister Kamal Nath.

WTO TALKS IN "CRISIS" AS HIGH-LEVEL MEETING FAILS; LAMY TO TRY TO FACILITATE CONSENSUS. Bridges, 3 July 2006
Trade ministers from key WTO Member countries have failed once again to strike a framework Doha Round deal on cutting farm subsidies as well as tariffs on both industrial and agricultural products.

‘We are now in crisis.’ Director-General to try to break impasse, WTO, 1 July 2006
Ministers have failed to narrow their differences on the “modalities” or template agreements that are needed to compile detailed cuts in tariffs and agricultural subsidies, and members have asked Director-General Pascal Lamy to try to broker a compromise “as soon as possible”.

Time for a ‘plan B’ for the WTO?, ISN, 28 June 2006
Trading economies need to consider what could be done to maintain the impetus for trade liberalization. There are two possible solutions: First, a two-tier WTO system in which the new rules as well as the rights and benefits would apply only to those states that participated in those negotiations. A more far-reaching alternative approach would be a push for greater liberalization by key countries with an interest in maintaining the momentum of multilateral trade negotiations.

Clock ticking as crunch week starts for Doha trade talks, BusinessDay, 26 June 2006
Without a rapid deal in agriculture and manufacturing, which account for about 75% of global commerce, there was no chance that the WTO could conclude its Doha round before the clock finally ran out at the end of the year.

 

2006 modalities, WTO, 22 June 2006
The chairpersons of the negotiating groups on agriculture and on non-agricultural products today (22 June 2006) circulated to members draft texts for their respective negotiating areas. Ministers and heads of delegations will meet in Geneva from 28 June to 2 July for intensive negotiations on these draft texts.

 

END-JUNE MEETING STARTS TO TAKE SHAPE AMIDST LOW EXPECTATIONS, Bridges, 16 June 2006

Ministers and senior trade officials from several WTO Member countries are planning to attend a high-level meeting in Geneva at the end of June in an attempt to rescue the faltering Doha Round trade talks. However, persistent divisions have left many observers pessimistic about their ability to strike a framework deal on modalities for agriculture and industrial tariffs, barring last-minute concessions from major players in the negotiations.

CHAIR'S AG MARKET ACCESS PAPER SPARKS FIERCE DEBATE ON TARIFF CUTS, Bridges, 16 June 2006
The chair, Ambassador Crawford Falconer (New Zealand), made the controversial observation in a 'consolidated reference paper on possible market access modalities' circulated to Members on 9 May.

Strong backing for treaty on plant genetic resources for agriculture, FAO, 15 June 2006
The ministers expressed their conviction that the Treaty is vital to achieving the UN's Millennium Development Goals -- particularly eradicating extreme poverty and hunger and guaranteeing environmental sustainability.

First meeting of treaty on genetic resources for agriculture, FAO, 12 June 2006
Representatives of 100 countries gathered today in the Spanish capital for a ceremony inaugurating the first-ever meeting of the Governing Body of the International Treaty on Plant Genetic Resources for Food and Agriculture, promoted by FAO.

G8 MEETING Ministers call for 'urgent progress' on WTO talks - draft statement, AFX, 12 June 2006
'We agree on the importance for global growth of an ambitious outcome of the Doha Development Round and recognise that urgent progress is needed for its achievement.

WTO farm mediator sees G20 tariff plan as best hope, Reuters, 11 June 2006
Long-standing proposals on farm tariff cuts by the G20 group of developing countries probably offer the best chances for a World Trade Organisation (WTO) deal, according to the chairman of the farm negotiations.

High and volatile food prices in the months to come, FAO, 8 June 2006
FAO is forecasting an increase of over 2 percent in the world food import bill in 2006 compared to 2005. The increase is expected to be strongest for cereals and sugar and smallest for meat.

Genetic resources in agriculture: the key to food security, FAO, 8 June 2006
The signature of the Treaty on Plant Genetic Resources for Food and Agriculture marks a major step towards guaranteeing food security in the world.

WTO MEMBERS FIRE OPENING SALVOES ON MARKET ACCESS AS COUNTDOWN TO END-JUNE BEGINS, Bridges, 7 June 2006
WTO Members kicked off a fresh round of discussions on agricultural market access at the end of last week, with the clock ticking towards an end-June deadline for a framework deal.

Chair's summary of the OECD Council at Ministerial Level, Paris, 23-24 May 2006 - Delivering Prosperity, noticias.info, 26 May 2006
Greece was honoured to chair the 2006 OECD Ministerial Council Meeting, which centred on the theme "Delivering Prosperity".

EU SIGNALS SOME WILLINGNESS TO MOVE ON AG MARKET ACCESS; TALKS STILL BLOCKED, Bridges, 26 May 2006
The chair of the WTO agriculture negotiations concluded on 19 May that Members were making very gradual progress, and that much remained to be done for them to reach a framework deal with specific figures for farm tariff and subsidy cuts.

World Bank Sets Out 5-Year China Development Plan, World Bank, 26 May 2006
“The World Bank on Tuesday set out a new five-year plan for its development projects in China, lending up to $1.5 billion per year and focusing on poverty reduction as well as easing the environmental and social fallout of the country's economic boom.”

FAO unveils new partnership for improved monitoring of world fisheries, FAO, 24 May 2006
FAO unveiled an ambitious new collaborative initiative for improving reporting on the status of world fish stocks.

EU seeks WTO solutions, eupolitix, 24 May 2006
“If confirmed, reports that Europe is ready to offer improved access to its agriculture market and demand less in return from developing countries could indicate a first step in the right direction, but we are far away from a package that would be meaningful for development.”

TALKS NOW IN 'RED ZONE,' MEMBERS NEED TO COMPROMISE, Bridges, 22 May 2006
"We are now in the red zone, and… we are not far from the red part of this red zone," he told the General Council, "the more we move into the year, the more we risk to fail in our endeavour to conclude the round."

EU likely to make deeper tariff cuts, The Economic Times, 20 May 2006
The European Union said on Friday it would consider making deeper cuts to its farm import tariffs as part of a World Trade Organisation deal that risks running out of time soon.

Right agriculture policies can promote healthy diets, FAO, 19 May 2006
Agriculture and the right farm policies can promote healthy diets but Europeans are in some ways eating worse now than 45 years ago, an international meeting.

FAO and China forge strategic alliance to improve food security in developing countries, FAO, 19 May 2006
The Government of China expressed its intent to provide the services of at least 3 000 experts and technicians over a six-year period to help improve the productivity of small-scale farmers and fishers in developing countries.

WTO's future hangs in balance as talks totter, Reuters, 17 May 2006
Failure could encourage the more powerful to turn away from the Geneva-based WTO and seek new business through bilateral and regional deals, rather than taking the multilateral route where all countries can get a share of the action.

Sustainable Trade: observations on trade and protectionism, egovmonitor, 16 May 2006
It has been a long road from the Rio World Summit in 1992 which first signalled sustainable development with its three aspects - economic, social, environmental - as a crucial element in sound policy-making.

Progressive liberalisation in a globalised world, EUROPA, 16 May 2006
Without for a moment diminishing the heavy responsibilities of the developed world in the Doha talks, we must also focus on the opportunities for South-South trade.

Failure is not an option, gulfnews, 15 May 2006
Some governments suggested that as director-general of the WTO, I should call off the ministerial meeting. Such was the danger and expectation of failure.

FALCONER PAPER ON SPECIAL PRODUCTS SPLITS G-33, FARM EXPORTERS,  Bridges, 12 May 2006
The G-33 group of developing countries has criticised the chair of the ongoing WTO agriculture negotiations for his unfavourable assessment of the market access flexibilities they are seeking, particularly his implication that the approach they favour would allow developing countries to shield an inappropriately high proportion of farm imports from the full force of tariff cuts.

39 countries worldwide face food crises, FAO, 5 May 2006
Worldwide, 39 countries are in need of external food assistance -- the majority required for drought-affected and chronically food insecure populations in southern and eastern Africa.

100 countries have ratified the international plant genetic resources treaty, FAO, 5 May 2006
Iran has ratified the International Treaty on Plant Genetic Resources for Food and Agriculture, bringing the number of countries that have deposited their instrument of acceptance to 100.

RIFTS DEEPEN ON AG MARKET ACCESS FLEXIBILITIES FOR DEVELOPING COUNTRIES, Bridges, 5 May 2006
WTO farm trade negotiators met in Geneva from 26-28 April to discuss key market access flexibilities for developing countries, as delegations kicked off six weeks of continuous negotiations aiming to result in an agreement on modalities for Doha Round tariff and subsidy cuts.

Concern at vanishing bananas, FAO, 4 May 2006
But overexploitation and the loss of forests as a result of encroachment and logging, slash-and-burn cultivation and urbanization are causing a rapid loss of wild banana species that have existed in India for thousands of years. 

Lamy calls for “shared sense of urgency” in the trade negotiations, WTO, 3 May 2006
Director-General Pascal Lamy, in his introductory statement to the Trade Negotiations Committee on 1 May 2006, said that finding consensus in the negotiations “remains doable, but only if a sense of urgency—which I feel is not always shared by all—starts appearing in each and every delegation”.

Top U.S. Officials Making Attempt To Revive WTO Negotiations, Newsblaze, 1 May 2006
U.S. Trade Representative Rob Portman, serving in his present position a few more weeks, will travel to Geneva to try to get the long-stalled World Trade Organization (WTO) negotiations moving again.

Poorest farmers get no harvest from WTO, The Observer, 1 May 2006
Poorer countries were promised that this time, in the Doha round, levelling the playing field for the poor would be at the heart of the negotiations. Four-and-a-half years on, many fear that they are being sidelined, as Europe and the US spar with each other.

U.S. seeking to break Doha deadlock, World Peace Herald, 27 April 2006
The U.S. trade envoy said despite the absence of the April 30 meeting, talks with trading partners would help to "bridge the differences on market access."

WTO talks may be held in June, The Japan Times, 26 April 2006
Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries Minister Shoichi Nakagawa said Tuesday it should be possible to hold ministerial talks in June to accelerate WTO efforts aimed at determining the size of tariff reductions and other trade liberalization measures in the current round of WTO negotiations.

WTO arrives down on the farm in U.S., IHT, 26 April 2006
More often than not, American farmers consider the WTO an after-thought and resist the notion that its rules will have any influence on their farm bill, which is up for renewal next year.

Lamy calls for continuous negotiations as chairs report modalities deadline will be missed, WTO, 25 April 2006
Director-General Pascal Lamy told journalists on 24 April 2006 that “we may have missed the deadline but we are not in deadlock”. 

As WTO Negotiations Remain Stalled, U.S. Commitment Reiterated, USINFO, 24 April 2006
With long-stalled World Trade Organization (WTO) negotiations poised to miss yet another deadline, a senior U.S. trade official says the United States remains committed to keep working.

Chairperson’s reference papers for 18–21 April 2006, WTO,  23 April 2006
Ambassador Crawford Falconer, chairperson of the agriculture negotiations, circulated a set of reference papers for the last week of agriculture negotiations before the 30 April deadline for “modalities”.

Another WTO Date Looms, sinchew-i.com, 21 April 2006
Robert Zoellick, the US Deputy Secretary of State, suggested this week that WTO chief Pascal Lamy may have to put up his own proposals to prevent the current Doha Round of global trade talks from foundering.

Change of US trade chief triggers new fears for flagging WTO talks, monstersandcritics, 20 April 2006
The fear shared by many in Brussels and Geneva is that Portman's appointment as White House budget director and his replacement by Susan Schwab, one of three deputies at the US Trade Representative (USTR), signals declining US interest in the WTO negotiations.

The next thing: camel milk, FAO, 19 April 2006
Tapping the market for camel milk, however, involves resolving a series of humps in production, manufacturing and marketing.

Russia not ready to lower import duties after entry into WTO, Itar-Tass, 19 April 2006
Russia is not ready for lowering import duties after the accession to the WTO, Director of the Economic Development and Trade Ministry’s trade negotiations department Dmitry Medvedkov said at a Tuesday roundtable on the Ukrainian and Russian entry into the WTO.

WTO talks face crucial week; deadline in danger, Reuters, 18 May 2006
The WTO faces a crucial week in its four-year struggle for a global free trade pact but the signs are that another key deadline will be missed.

The Russian Federation joins FAO, FAO, 13 April 2006
The Russian Federation has taken up membership of FAO more than 60 years after FAO’s foundation.

NGOs Call for Faster Conclusion of Global Trade Negotiations, AllAfrica, 12 April 2006
Over 35 Non-Governmental Organisations working on trade issues in Africa have called for a speedy conclusion of the on-going global trade negotiations.

Japan, U.S. both see WTO accord by end of April as difficult, TMC, 11 April 2006
Japan and the United States share the view that it is difficult for members of the World Trade Organization to strike an accord on details of farm and industrial goods trade liberalization by the April 30 deadline.

The US pledges $1 million to technical assistance, WTO, 11 April 2006
This latest contribution will bring total US contributions to WTO TRTA for the Doha Development Agenda to almost $6 million since the launch of negotiations.

MEMBERS REACT TO "COTTON FOUR" DOMESTIC SUPPORT PROPOSAL, Bridges, 7 April 2006
At the WTO Cotton Sub-Committee meeting held on 27 March, the US expressed opposition to a proposal by Benin, Burkina Faso, Chad, and Mali that would require trade-distorting subsidies for cotton to be cut more deeply and quickly than those for other commodities in the agriculture negotiations.

SPS CTTE DISCUSSES EU NOVEL FOODS REGULATION, Bridges, 7 April 2006
At a meeting of the WTO Committee on Sanitary and Phytosanitary Measures on 29-30 March, several developing countries expressed concerns that the EU's new draft rules on 'novel foods' -- those introduced to the EU market relatively recently -- would hinder their ability to export "small exotic traditional products" based on their rich biodiversity.

NO BREAKTHROUGHS IN RIO; US LAWMAKER URGES BUSH ADMN TO SWITCH FOCUS TO BILATERAL FTAS, Bridges, 7 April 2006
Following an inconclusive summit in Rio de Janeiro with his counterparts from Brazil and the EU, US Trade Representative Rob Portman told the press on 4 April that he was pessimistic about WTO Members' chances of meeting a 30 April deadline for a comprehensive agreement on modalities for subsidy and tariff cuts.

`Trade talks deadlines no ground for compromise`,  Business Standard, 6 April 2006
India has reiterated that it will not compromise on its interests in agriculture or industry in order to keep the mandated timelines for WTO negotiations.

Lamy line’s firm: nibble tariffs & progress, DNAIndia, 6 April 2006
India will need to bite into its applied tariffs if any progress is to be made in the ongoing negotiations relating to the Doha Round of trade talks.

U.S. Must Drop WTO Talks to Save Support for Trade, Bloomberg.com, 5 April 2006
Representative Bill Thomas of California said that with World Trade Organization talks likely to fail anyway, U.S. officials should seek bilateral pacts as a way of damping the rising protectionist sentiment that is dominating the political environment in this year's congressional elections.

Democrat Senators Want U.S. AWB Investigation, Farm Futures, 5 April 2006
In a letter to the U.S. Trade Representative Rob Portman, five Midwest senators urged the USTR to investigate whether the Australian Wheat Board has violated U.S. trade law or World Trade Organization's rules and to take enforcement actions if such violations have occurred.

Differences still plague WTO talks, AFP, 4 April 2006
Joined by WTO chief Pascal Lamy, Portman met with EU Trade Commissioner Peter Mandelson and Brazilian Foreign Minister Celso Amorim over two days in Rio to survey the biggest gaps between the rich blocs and the developing world.

WTO chief says Brazil must drop industry protections, Reuters, 3 April 2006
Brazil must agree to open its industry to foreign competition to break a deadlock in talks on creating a global trade pact.

Forget tariff cuts, the poor need trade facilitation, The Financial Times, 3 April 2006
Yet the unglamorous area of "trade facilitation" - streamlining customs and business regulation to give poor countries better access to the markets of Europe, the US, and Japan - is attracting some attention.

G-33 PROPOSES SPECIFIC NUMBERS FOR SPECIAL SAFEGUARD MECHANISM, Bridges, 31 March 2006
This 'special safeguard mechanism' (SSM) is intended to allow developing countries to quickly put in place high tariffs (beyond bound levels) on farm imports to shield their agricultural sectors from import surges or a collapse in import prices.

“The moment of truth is fast approaching, WTO, 31 March 2006
Director-General Pascal Lamy, in his introductory statement to the Trade Negotiations Committee on 28 March, reminded members of the end-April deadline for establishing modalities in agriculture and industrial products, and stressed that “the moment of truth is therefore fast approaching — we do not have time to waste”.

Mixed reception for ‘Cotton Four’ domestic support proposal, WTO, 30 March 2006
A number of members supported the latest proposal by four African countries on domestic support for cotton, when the sub-committee held its first in-depth discussion on the paper on 27 March 2006, but one — the United States — said it would not put the talks on the path to success.

World Bank Writes Off $37 Billion In Debt For Poor Countries, World Bank, 30 March 2006
"This is a historic agreement, combining increased financing with debt relief, which will help poor countries meet an internationally agreed set of development goals" said Paul Wolfowitz, the Bank's president.

Blair appeals to leading trading nations, Gulf Times, 29 March 2006
British Prime Minister Tony Blair yesterday renewed his appeal to the world’s major trading nations to make the concessions needed to seal the latest round of global trade talks.

"Global South" Split Exacerbates Difficulties of Current WTO Negotiations, CNW Group, 29 March 2006
The Centre for International Governance Innovation (CIGI) has released two working papers focusing on the impact of the emergence of the developing countries for the outcome of the WTO Doha Round of trade negotiations and for economic development in the South more generally.

Doha talks near tipping point, UPI, 28 March 2006
Trade ministers are expected to convene in Geneva at the end of April to formalize tariff schedules that will help eliminate trade barriers in the world's richest agriculture-producing nations and reduce high tariffs in industrial goods from emerging developing countries.

Europe and America must save the Doha round, Financial Times, 27 March 2006
Little more than a month is left before the World Trade Organisation’s April 30 deadline to reach a framework agreement in the Doha development round. Such an agreement is essential if a final trade deal is to be struck by the end of the year.

Time running out for global food trade breakthrough, Nutraingredients.com, 27 March 2006
"We are now faced with a difficult situation," he said. "The Hong Kong Ministerial Declaration has called on countries to complete the 'modalities' for the agricultural and industrial goods negotiations by 30 April.

Lamy calls on EU, US, G-20 to make concessions in WTO talks, The Hindu, 24 March 2006
Lamy called on the EU, the United States and the influential G-20 group of developing countries - led by Brazil and India - to make concessions before the April 30 deadline.

US must maintain open economy, WTO, 23 March 2006
The United States remains a leading driver of the global economy and a key player in talks on liberalizing global commerce, but there are concerns that Washington could get sidetracked by bilateral trade deals, the WTO said.

Why Farm Aid Has its Critics and Supporters, VOA News, 22 March 2006
Aid to farmers has become a major issue in world trade talks. Industrial nations provide farmers with payments to improve farm earnings. But, developing nations say aid to farmers in rich nations suppresses world agricultural prices.

EU trade commissioner still hopeful of a Doha deal, XINHUA, 22 March 2006
EU Trade Commissioner Peter Mandelson said on Tuesday that he still believes a successful WTO outcome is possible if all members of the World Trade Organization make a final push before an April deadline.

Seafood industry vexed with NZ fish proposal to WTO, The National Business Review, 21 March 2006
"The release of our plan at the WTO in Geneva promotes NZ's continuing campaign against unfair trade and promotes sustainability of world fisheries resources," said MFAT in announcing the release.

US, EU have little more to offer to LDCs, The Daily Star, 21 March 2006
With clouds gathering over the future talks, the International Centre for Trade and Sustainable Development (ICTSD) and the German Marshall Fund in association with the European Centre for Development Policy Management (ECDPM) and the Royal Institute of International Affairs have initiated a Track 2 process involving six high-calibre policymakers and experts to sensitise the northern leaders about the "Development Package" of the Doha trade talks' development issues including those pertinent to the LDCs.

Forces driving farm bill debate: budget, WTO, farm conditions and politics, The Farmpress, 21 March 2006
According to the Dana Brooks, the driving forces for the 2007 farm bill will be the budget, the WTO, current farm conditions and politics.

Overfishing alert system: a challenge for electronic communication, FAO,  21 March 2006
Working to bring information closer to the people who really need it is one of the aims of a meeting at FAO headquarters from 20 to 22 March 2006 involving 65 experts in the field of knowledge technology and communications from universities, research institutions and industry partners across Europe.

Save small farmers, like Japan does, The Financial Express,  21 March 2006
The present global trade regime is insensitive to the concerns of small and marginal farmers. It is rather interested in protecting the interests of the farmers having large landholdings and large agri-business corporations.

G-6 MINISTERIAL IN LONDON FAILS TO BREAK DEADLOCK IN DOHA ROUND, Bridges, 16 march 2006
Trade ministers from the EU, the US, Australia, Brazil, India, and Japan -- the so-called G-6 -- proved unable to bridge the gaps that have deadlocked the Doha Round trade negotiations during a gathering in London on 10-11 March.

PROPONENTS OF COTTON PROPOSAL CLARIFY CALL FOR AMBITIOUS CUTS IN COTTON SUBSIDIES, Bridges, 16 March 2006
The so-called 'Cotton Four' countries, the proponents of the WTO work programme on cotton, put forward 31 March as a deadline for a decision on the proposed formula for cutting cotton subsidies.

Mandelson calls London meetings useful, Brownfield, 15 March 2006
This past weekend in London leaders of six  WTO players talked on lowering global trade barriers, but according to European Trade Commissioner Peter Mandelson the discussions lead to no major breakthroughs.

Irish, French concern over new WTO deal, Irish Examiner, 15 March 2006
The Irish minister confirmed that along with 11 other EU colleagues, she and Mr Bussereau last week co-signed a submission to Commissioners Marian Fischer Boel and Peter Mandelson setting out joint concerns on a number of issues.

Doha WTO negotiations speak to farmers, Daily Leader, 15 March 2006
“We head back to WTO negotiations this week and I use that terminology with some reluctance,” Johanns said. The recent WTO negotiations were launched in Doha, Qatar in Nov. 2001. The goals for the negotiations are substantial improvements in market access; the reduction and ultimate elimination of all forms of export and substantial reduction of trade-distorting domestic supports.

Swiss set course to free trade, Swissinfo, 14 March 2006
Around half of Switzerland's wealth is derived from its exports, such as machines, watches and pharmaceuticals – as well as chocolate and cheese.

Blair was right, the striptease summit was embarrassing, The Guardian, 13 March 2006
Blair has never been impressed by this argument and his misgivings will only have been reinforced by the lack of progress at the weekend.

Key WTO members fail to plug gaps in talks to promote Doha Round+, TMCNet, 13 March 2006
Trade and other ministers from six major World Trade Organization economies failed to make tangible progress Saturday as they concluded a two-day meeting in London to promote the current Doha Round of global trade liberation talks.

No More Concessions Until Deal Is Done . . ., Farming Life, 13 March 2006
The answer to that question is that time will tell. Over the coming months the pace of the WTO negotiations will accelerate and Mandelson will remain under intense pressure to give ground on access to the European market.

Blair and Lula call for summit to rescue trade talks, The Guardian, 10 March 2006
Tony Blair and President Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva of Brazil called yesterday for a summit of world leaders to rescue deadlocked global trade talks as they warned that time was fast running out to deliver an ambitious deal to help poor countries.

Time for the Collective 'Strip-Tease', IPS News, 10 March 2006
Representatives from India, Brazil, the European Union, the United States, Japan and Australia will meet in London Mar. 11 and 12 in an attempt to push talks on a global trade agreement from where they got stalled in Hong Kong in December.

France to warn EU: No farm concessions in WTO talks, Reuters, 9 March 2006
France plans a new warning to European Trade Commissioner Peter Mandelson not to offer more farm concessions when global trade talks resume on Friday and it is asking other EU member states for support.

EU, Brazil agree on farm subsidy reform, BusinessWeek Online, 9 March 2006
The European Union and Brazil are on the same page when it comes to pushing for more reforms to farm subsidies.

Compromise on cuts to halt WTO talks, Business Standard, 9 March 2006
India today warned developed countries like the United States and the European Union that any compromise on the issue of “less than full reciprocity” for developing countries for reducing tariffs on industrial goods could bring negotiations at WTO to a halt.

London meeting will bring key WTO negotiators together to prepare for April deadline, Europa, 9 March 2006
EU Agriculture Commissioner Mariann Fischer Boel said: “With the end of April just weeks away, this is a very timely meeting. The conclusions of Hong Kong commit WTO members to achieving a similar level of ambition on industrial products as on agriculture".

Successful completion of Doha Round depends on willingness to open markets, USINFO, 8 March 2006
Developed countries must be more willing to come forward with market opening proposals if the World Trade Organization's Doha Round of trade talks is to succeed.

Japan's trade, farm ministers to join talks of major WTO players+, TMCnet, 8 March 2006
The six key WTO players are the United States, the European Union, Brazil, India, Japan and Australia. WTO members aim to agree on details of trade liberalization measures such as tariff cut formulas by late April, so as to finish the current Doha Round of negotiations by the end of the year.

Lula da Silva on state visit to UK, MercoPress, 8 March 2006
“I’ve been talking about WTO rounds with Blair since December…we must succeed in convincing the European Union to show, in representation of the rich countries, more flexibility in a real reduction of farm subsidies”.

Johanns says no to farm bill extension, The Farmpress, 7 March 2006
Keeping the farm bill in place for another year or two – a move that appears to appeal to many row crop farmers, particularly in the South – would also be a waste of an opportunity to provide new direction to American agriculture.

Members mull new details in ‘Cotton Four’ proposal, WTO, 7 March 2006
The Cotton-Four have clarified their proposal for cutting and eventually eliminating trade-distorting domestic support in a new paper discussed in the Cotton Sub-Committee on 2 March 2006.

UN Takes Out First Drought Insurance Policy, World Bank, 6 March 2006
The United Nations' World Food Program has given Axa Re, the French reinsurer, the first UN humanitarian emergency insurance contract.

African states keep up pressure at WTO over cotton, Reuters, 3 March 2006
African cotton producers on Thursday kept up pressure for swingeing subsidy cuts as part of a global trade deal and said a date should be set for their total elimination.

Thirteen Countries Join Forces On Air Ticket Tax For Poor, Worldbank, 3 March 2006
Thirteen countries forged an alliance on Wednesday to adopt a levy on plane tickets to help poor countries fight AIDS and other killer diseases, despite resistance from airlines.

U.S., India agree to work together for WTO deal, Reuters, 2 March 2006
The United States and India agreed on Thursday to work to resolve differences between developing and developed nations at WTO talks and arrive at a trade deal by the end of this year.

End of single desk ruled by trade talks, The Nation, 2 March 2006
The controversial single-desk wheat exporting arrangements could be dismantled by the end of the year if key trade concessions can be gained from international competitors.

 

Full speed ahead: a fresh approach to European agricultural policy,  Europa, 1 March 2006
...it really has been “full speed ahead” for the CAP over the last few years. Ask any experienced farmer in the EU: he or she will probably tell you that this is an era of more rapid policy change than any in memory. However, there are limits. There is a dividing line between healthy speed and damaging haste. It is my job to make sure that we do not cross this line; but I think my job will be much easier when more people understand just how quickly we are already moving.

 

Envoys Of 95 Countries Discuss Proposed Tax To Fight Poverty Disease, WorldBank Press Reviews, 28 February 2006
UN Secretary-General Kofi Annan and dozens of government ministers are meeting Tuesday at a Paris conference to discuss France's once-ridiculed call for an international tax to fight poverty and disease in the developing world.

 

Mandelson says future of farming in the European Union is high-value added, FinFacts Ireland, 27 February 2006
...“my job as Trade Commissioner is to cut the deals that offer Europe a sustainable future as a top-quality, knowledge-intensive, innovation-leading, provider of industrial goods, services and food”. Farmers in the EU stood to gain from the Doha Round exactly because they produce the high quality, value-added goods that currently suffer high tariffs.

 

Wider use of fishing rights needed to safeguard fishery resources, FAO, 27 February 2006
At a major international conference on fisheries management being held this week in Australia, FAO is underscoring the need for governments to establish clear and fair rules for managing access to fishery resources.

 

Midwestern lawmakers at odds with Bush administration over farm bill, Centre Daily Times, 23 February 2006
Midwestern lawmakers say the Bush administration's move to oppose extension of the current farm bill is driven more by what's good for international trade than what's good for American farmers.

 

AG CHAIR TO DRAFT 'REFERENCE PAPERS', Bridges, 22 February 2006
Following a week of discussions, agriculture negotiations Chair Ambassador Crawford Falconer (New Zealand) told Members at an informal meeting on 17 February that he would start producing 'reference papers' on the handful of issues where there had been some convergence, in an effort to keep the talks on track towards the end-April deadline for an agreement on tariff and subsidy cuts set out in the Hong Kong Ministerial Declaration.

 

China, India, Brazil will be the elephants of the 21st century, The Financial Express, 22 February 2006
WTO director general Pascal Lamy decided to go on-line on Tuesday to take up questions shot at him from all parts of the world. FE managed to slip into the chat room to participate and bring you excerpts of the interesting exchange which hovered around the development agenda of the Doha development round.’

 

Onus of WTO pact on India, expressindia, 21 February 2006
As WTO negotiators try to finish talks for a global trade pact, France on Tuesday put the onus of arriving at an agreement on large developing nations such as India, China and Brazil and warned that putting services negotiations on the backburner could ‘jeopardise’ the spirit of Doha round of talks.

 

Johanns: no farm bill extension, DeltaFarmPress, 17 February 2006
Agriculture Secretary Mike Johanns says he strongly opposes any effort to extend the current farm bill beyond 2007, saying it might send a signal to the WTO that “we are waiting for them to write our farm bill.”

 

Bush Administration Seeks To Finish WTO Negotiations with Russia, USTR, 15 February 2006
The Bush administration wants to complete WTO accession negotiations with Russia, Ukraine, Kazakhstan and Vietnam in 2006 and get congressional approval for those agreements, U.S. Trade Representative Rob Portman says.

 

MEMBERS FOCUS ON CHAIR'S 'QUESTIONS' ABOUT WTO AGRICULTURE TALKS, Bridges, 15 February 2006
An 'agriculture week' is underway at the WTO, with Members discussing a set of specific questions about each issue that remains unresolved in the contentious Doha Round farm trade talks. Produced by Chair Ambassador Crawford Falconer (New Zealand), the questions were intended to focus Members' formal and informal discussions on how they might overcome their differences.

 

EU shares India’s concerns on farmers’ livelihood, Mumbai Mirror, 15 February 2006
The European Union on Tuesday saw reason in India’s concerns on livelihood security for farmers in agriculture negotiations at the WTO and agreed with New Delhi’s view that there has to be some kind of protectionism.

 

Bush Advisers View Sugar Program as Hurting U.S. Consumers, USINFO, 13 February 2006

U.S. domestic support for sugar production hurts U.S. consumers who have to pay more, as well as foreign producers that might benefit from exporting to the United States, according to President Bush's Council of Economic Advisers (CEA).

 

G8 Finance Ministers Urge Progress in Doha Trade Negotiations, USINFO, 12 February 2006
The G8 Finance Ministers, meeting in Moscow on February 11-12, endorsed an "ambitious outcome" to the Doha Development Round of WTO negotiations that would encompass comprehensive agreements on agriculture, financial services, intellectual property and the special concerns of developing countries.

 

India won’t accept WTO settlement on rural sector,
The Navhind Times, 12 February 2006
India today said it would not accept a World Trade Organisation settlement that adversely affects its rural sector, even as it made a forceful plea for successful conclusion of the Doha round of the world trade talks.

 

G6 countries to hold WTO March talks in London, Reuters, 9 February 2006
Top officials from the "G6" group of countries including the United States and European Union will meet in London next month to try to advance talks on a global trade pact, U.S. trade chief Rob Portman said on Thursday.

 

Composition of Aid for Trade Task Force announced, WTO, 9 February 2006
The chairman of the Trade Negotiations Committee, Director-General Pascal Lamy, announced today at the meeting of the General Council the composition of the Aid for Trade Task Force that he was asked to set up by the Hong Kong Ministerial Conference.

 

White House to slash farm subsidies, The Australian,  February 8 2006
THE White House plans to slash controversial farm subsidies in next year's US budget, giving some hope to Australia's agricultural sector, which has been pushing the US to end farm payments.

Lamy calls for intense talks on Doha, UPI,  7 February 2006
Head of the WTO Tuesday called on ministers to intensify contacts with trade partners and governments to complete talks in the so-called Doha round.

Taking a Stand for World Trade, The Moscow Times. 7 February 2006
At the end of this week at the historic Hotel National, which stands in the very heart of Moscow, finance ministers of the Group of Eight nations gather to discuss international economic and financial policy issues.

MINISTERS REAFFIRM HONG KONG DEADLINES, AND A BIT MORE, Bridges, 1 February 2006
Trade ministers from 25-odd WTO Member countries steered clear of the most divisive issues in the sluggish Doha Round negotiations during a 'mini-ministerial' meeting in Davos, Switzerland from 27-28 January, choosing instead to focus on the schedule and process that the talks need to follow in order to be concluded by the end of the year.

WTO AGRICULTURE WEEK SEES G-10 PROPOSALS, BUT LITTLE PROGRESS, Bridges, 1 Febrauray 2006
WTO Members made little progress during their first talks on agriculture since the Hong Kong Ministerial Conference in December.

EU, India aim for better trade ties, Doha success, Reuters, 1 February 2006
The European Union and India agreed on Wednesday to work for better bilateral trade ties, but not at the expense of a drive for a new global trade deal at the  WTO.

US, EU talk nuggets amid stalled WTO farm talks, Reuters, 30 January 2006
Chicken nuggets may seem like small fry in the simmering stew of trade talks, but with nations still at loggerheads over how to open their markets for farm goods, U.S. and European officials homed in on the humble nugget this week to illustrate some of their differences.

Mandelson upbeat on trade deal as Brown urges concessions, Scotsman.Com, 29 January 2006
PETER Mandelson, the European Union trade commissioner has said that he is "encouraged" by signs of progress at international economic talks after Chancellor Gordon Brown called on him to offer more EU concessions in a bid to help the deadlocked world trade negotiations.

India urges US, EU to cut farm subsidies, The Financial Express, 29 January 2006
Indian commerce and industry minister Kamal Nath asked US and EU to cut farm subsidies and resolve other issues on peak tariffs to make the Doha round of WTO a success.

Swiss stick to their guns over trade deal, Swiss Info, 27 January 200t
Switzerland's chief trade negotiator has repeated that progress must be made in all areas – not just agriculture – if a global deal is to be reached by April.

Trade ministers try to break WTO deadlock, AP, 25 January 2006
Ministers from more than 25 of the world's major trading powers will start trying again Wednesday to break a deadlock in global trade talks.

The European Union is showing signs of backpedaling, Dow Jones, 24 January 2006
The European Union is showing signs of backpedaling on commitments made at recent World Trade Organization talks in Hong Kong.

EU Trade Policy after Hong Kong, EUROPA, 23 January 2006
EU Trade Commissioner Peter Mandelson reaffirms his commitment to a EU Trade Policy that reflects global economic change.

Kamal Nath to hold trade talks in UK from Jan 30, HindustanTimes, 24 January 2006
In a determined bid to make the Doha Development round of trade negotiations a success, Commerce Minister Kamal Nath will hold a series of meetings in Britain in the coming days.

EU's Mandelson hints at fresh farm trade offer if WTO partners open markets, AFX, 23 January 2006
EU trade commissioner Peter Mandelson hinted that Europe may make a fresh offer on farm trade access if its WTO partners agree to further liberalisation of their markets.

India gearing up for tough stance on agriculture negotiations in WTO, The Financial Express, 22 January 2006
India is bracing for a tough fight in agriculture as talks on the critical issue resumes in the World Trade Organisation (WTO) headquarters in Geneva this week.

WTO talks now hinge on Davos Mini-Ministerial, Sify News, 22 January 2006
Ministers from 25-30 countries will be attending a WTO Mini-Ministerial at Davos on January 27-28 to take stock of the overall state of negotiations with a view to sustain the momentum gained at Hong Kong.

US says EU action still key to successful WTO round, Reuters, 20 January 2006
U.S. Trade Representative Rob Portman on Friday renewed pressure on the European Union to agree to deep cuts in farm tariffs, saying that was still key to a successful conclusion of world trade talks this year.

Japan revs up farm export drive, Asia Times, 18 January 2006
After years of international pressure over farm trade liberalization, Japan now believes the best defense is a good offense and is avidly promoting agricultural exports as a way to turn the tables.

Govt modifies gameplan for WTO talks, The Times of India, 18 January 2006
Government may lower its expectations from the current round of WTO negotiations to end the stalemate at present, without compromising its stand regarding protecting interests of the country’s farmers.

DOHA NEGOTIATIONS TO START AGAIN NEXT WEEK, Bridges, 18 January 2006
Negotiations at the WTO are set to start up again next week, as trade diplomats return to Geneva a month after the December 2005 Hong Kong Ministerial Conference.

WTO drive for early 2006 deal faces test in Davos, Reuters, 17 January 2006
Hopes for a global free trade deal in early 2006 face a reality check next week in the Swiss mountain resort of Davos where ministers must spell out how they plan to achieve it.

WTO Partners Not Ready For Tough Choices Close,  AP, 16 January 2006
Europe's trading partners were not ready to take the hard decisions needed to make a breakthrough at world trade talks in Hong Kong last month.

Farm Bureau delegates support extension of farm bill, DeltaFarmPress, 11 January 2006
American Farm Bureau Federation delegates are asking Congress to extend the provisions of the 2002 farm bill until a new WTO agreement is reached that “increases foreign market access for U.S. farmers and ranchers.”

The World Trade Organisation Saga: The Hong Kong episode, l'express, 11 January 2006
The scriptwriters in Geneva, the new capital of the global trade serial, have been given the task to write a new scenario for the next episode. Their deadline is April 2006. What would come out of it ?

 

Cotton industry battered, but still in Doha Round fight, DeltaFarmPress, 11 January 2006
National Cotton Council leaders say they weren’t surprised by what happened at the WTO’s Hong Kong Ministerial Conference, but, then, the cotton industry has come to expect the worst with anything involving the WTO.

 

US midterm elections cast a cloud on trade relations,  ShanghaiDaily, 10 January 2006
When we look ahead into 2006, we cannot expect any remarkable easing in trade disputes. On the one hand, it will be difficult for our trade surplus to come down dramatically this year and it will remain mainly with the US and Europe, as it was last year. On the other hand, there are still two uncertainties: one is whether the Doha round of WTO negotiations can be finished in time; the other is what effects the mid-term elections in the United States will have on trade.

 

WTO: Davos to hold emergency talks, The Hindu, 9 January 2006
With little more than three months until the deadline for a deal on cutting protective barriers in agriculture and manufactured products, the exclusive conclave of politicians, business leaders and academics in the Swiss Alps has been earmarked as the forum for a fresh push to the troubled talks.

 

2006 events could shape provisions of next farm bill, Argusleader.com, 9 January 2006
While the next federal farm bill is a long way off, events in the coming year could set the foundation for those negotiations. Congress is not scheduled to take it up before 2007, since the existing Farm Security and Rural Investment Act expires in 2008.

 

How successful was the HK Ministerial?, eKantipur.com, 9 January 2006

The sixth Ministerial of WTO recently concluded in Hong Kong in December 2005, drawing mixed reactions. Some admit that it was a success and some argue that it was a failure.

 

WTO seals EU sugar subsidy phase out, FijiTimes, 7 January 2006
LAST month's World Trade Organisation meeting in Hong Kong made sure there would be no turning back on the phasing out of European Union subsidies for Fiji sugar.

 

Raise the pitch, Hudistantimes, 6 January 2006
WTO ministerial conferences always raise high levels of expectations. Trade experts expect a breakthrough at every ministerial. The Hong Kong ministerial was, however, an exception. The level of ambition was modest. It was at best a way-station en route to a final agreement that may take place at Geneva or at the next ministerial.

 

Cold Peace Descends on WTO Talks, IPS, 5 January 2006
Russia hopes to sign necessary agreements to join the WTO this year despite significant differences with the United States.

 

It’s a shame we aren’t WTO ready, The New Vision, 5 January 2006
Many Ugandans could reap big from the coming opportunities in the world market. Sadly, many Ugandan entrepreneurs and industrialists are not interested in the developments at the WTO.

 

Amorim urges ''political spur'' to advance WTO negotiations, Agência Brasil, 5 January 2006
One possibility would be a January meeting of heads of State - a suggestion already proposed by president Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva to various leaders, including US president George W. Bush, and British prime minister Tony Blair.
 

U.S. cotton could suffer in upcoming WTO talks, official says, Associated Press, 5 January 2006
Cotton could again be singled out for reduction of subsidies paid to U.S. producers when WTO discussions resume in coming weeks, a national cotton organization official said.

 

WTO Agreement Will Not Benefit Developing or Developed World Farmers, The Prairie Star, 5 January 2006
The recent WTO agreement by negotiators in Hong Kong sets a target of eliminating export subsidies by 2013. However, ACGA believes that it is not clear that such a draft agreement, even if fully implemented, will do anything to meaningfully increase world agricultural commodity prices.

 

Hong Kong Hustle, BusinessTodayEgypt, 5 January 2006
Why the latest round of WTO negotiations in Hong Kong just might be a good thing for Egypt
 

Swaminathan moots trade body to protect farmers' rights, newKerala.com, 4 January 2006
Noted agricultural scientist M.S. Swaminathan, who is drafting a national farmers policy, has mooted that India should set up a trade body on the lines of the WTO to safeguard domestic farm interests.
 

Cotton on short end of WTO stick, NCC leaders say, Western FarmPress, 3 January 2006
The negotiations appeared to make a reality of council leaders’ worst nightmare – that cotton might be singled out for “special treatment” rather than being included in a single undertaking for reforming the world’s agricultural trading system.

 

Hypocrisy of Free Trade, allAfrica.com, 3 January 2006
The WTO talks in Hong Kong may seem arid, complicated and technical. But on these talks hang the life chances of millions of poor people around the world.

 

Look back in anger in 2006, The Financial Express, 2 January 2006
As we bid adieu to 2005, it is time to discuss our expectations from the new year. This is important in the context of further global and bilateral trade negotiations and the upcoming Budget.

 

WTO disappointing on market access, corn growers say, Agrinews, 2 January 2006
The National Corn Growers Association, while applauding the tireless efforts of WTO negotiators to move the process forward and being steadfast in advancing U.S. agricultural needs, said that not resolving the market access issue – one very important to corn growers – was disappointing.

 

Hong Kong - a ministerial of vague promises, The Financial Express, 2 January 2006
The Hong Kong WTO ministerial is over, amid strong protest and hard bargain. What did it achieve? What have been its tangible gains? As one probes, one finds no real progress, except that it has managed to keep the Doha development agenda negotiable, not allowing it to meet a natural death.