United Nations

Brazen Brazil Picks Away At Agricultural Subsidies

A lottery, two Americans, and one hard-headed Brazilian farmer were the key backstage protagonists of the historic decision taken, at the end of April, by the World Trade Organization condemning the official US policy of subsidizing its cotton producers.

EU Battle Lines Emerge On Subsidies

GOOD news on the trade front was dominated again this week by a sinking dollar, firming US dollar prices for dairy commodities and more trimming of EU dairy export subsidies.

Standardisation Of Trade Rules Initiated

KARACHI May 11th 2004: The National Trade and Transport Facilitation Committee (NTTFC) of the Ministry of Commerce (MoC) with the technical assistance of the United Nations Conference on Trade and Development (UNCTAD) has initiated standardisation of trade procedures and documentation aimed at developing simplified documents of trade facilitation in Pakistan.

Kerry Says He'll Toughen Trade Deals

Democrat John Kerry said Sunday that President Bush has turned his back on the American worker by allowing other countries to break trade deals negotiated with the United States and that as president he would put in place a "common-sense" effort to strengthen the bargaining and enforcement of such agreements.

NGO Committee Recommends Consultative Status With ECOSOC For 11 Organizations

The 2004 regular session of the Committee on Non-Governmental Organizations (NGOs) today recommended consultative status with the Economic and Social Council for 11 NGOs and deferred a decision on four. It considered reclassification of consultative status for two organizations.

Minnesota Farmers Worry About WTO Subsidy Ruling

Minnesota farmers and agribusinesses already facing potential cuts in the multibillion U.S. farm program have a fresh reason to worry: A World Trade Organization ruling that the nation's cotton subsidies are illegal could be used to challenge subsidies for other crops.

U.N.: Trade Not Enough for Poor Countries

Global treaties to cut barriers to international trade aren't enough to boost the economies of the world's poorest nations, a senior United Nations official said Wednesday.

African aid: It just needs action

Bob Geldof told us not to sneer at the prime minister's Commission for Africa which held its first session in Downing Street today, so let's take its aims totally at face value. It is indeed high time to have a "fundamental" look at the continent's persistent condition of poverty, conflict, lack of education and HIV/Aids.

UN Sustainable Development Commission reviews progress in meeting anti-poverty goals

The Commission's 2003 annual session had agreed on the way forward in that regard.

No massive diversion of foreign direct investment seen on eve of European Union enlargement

Contrary to prevailing perceptions, the 10 countries joining the European Union tomorrow have not been diverting massive foreign direct investment (FDI) flows away from the 15 older members of the Union, the United Nations Conference on Trade and Development (UNCTAD) has found.