Water

Food for Oil Kickbacks a Hot Topic

When Australian Prime Minister John Howard recently came to Washington to lobby for the U.S.-Australian free trade agreement, a key U.S. wheat leader called on Congress not to consider the U.S.-Australian pact until members figure out whether AWB Ltd., Australia's monopoly wheat exporter, engaged in kickbacks to the Saddam Hussein government under the U.N. Oil for Food Program.

Thia PM Due in Brazil for UNCTAD Meeting

Prime Minister Thaksin Shinawatra will travel to Brazil late this week on an official visit and also attend the 11th UN Conference on Trade and Development (Unctad).

Free Trade's Pressure Cooker

Children of NAFTA: Labor Wars on the US/Mexican Border David Bacon's Children of NAFTA: Labor Wars on the US/Mexican Border offers a wide view of labor issues on both sides of the US-Mexican border and a deep view of the plight of involved unions and individuals. It is likely to appeal to multiple audiences, including policymakers, academics, union leaders, and the general public.

BSE Breakthrough As Heartbeat Test Reveals First Symptoms

Scientists have developed a test that can pinpoint a BSE victim from the beat of his or her heart. The technique - which can also diagnose the condition in animals - offers doctors a way to protect blood banks from infected donations and could also provide farmers with a method for eradicating sick animals from their herds long before symptoms of mad cow disease develop.

Global Talks For New Trade Rules At 'Crucial' Stage, Says WTO Chief

Global talks to devise new trade rules are at a "crucial" stage, World Trade Organization (WTO) chief Supachai Panitchpakdi said as he urged Asia-Pacific economies to set the pace for their successful conclusion.

House to Offer Tobacco Farmer Buyout

House Republicans have agreed on a proposal that would provide tobacco growers with a buyout of nearly $10 billion in exchange for farmers giving up a Depression-era federal program that propped up prices through quotas.

Improved Dispute Mechanism Discussed

The Ministry of Commerce is considering an amendment on how it responds when anti-dumping charges are slapped on Chinese products. This is being discussed at a two-day national fair trade conference hosted by the ministry, taking place in the capital of southwestern China's Sichuan Province.

Indian Firebrand Extols Organic Farming, Battles Biotech

The sari-wearing firebrand who for two decades has fiercely fought biotechnology in her native India was complaining yet again about the men in lab coats who say they know best how to manage the world's food supply. And the audience was enthralled.

U.S. Cautiously Welcomes Developing Countries' World Farm Trade Plan

The United States applauded the effort that a group of developing countries was making to ease the deadlock in world farm trade talks. A proposal by the G20 alliance at the World Trade Organization - led by India, South Africa and Brazil - puts the onus on rich countries to cut agricultural tariffs while asking relatively little of poorer countries.

U.S. Decision Would Cut Tariff On Softwood Lumber From Canada

In a preliminary decision hailed by Canada, the Commerce Department has recommended that the United States cut in half steep tariffs on imports of Canadian softwood lumber.