World Trade Organization

Australia""s Tasmania to Defy WTO Salmon Ruling

CANBERRA, March 21 (Reuters) - The Australian island state of Tasmania said on Tuesday it would defy the national government and the World Trade Organisation (WTO) by refusing to lift its ban on Canadian salmon imports.

China WTO Entry Hinges on Talks with EU, Vote in Congress

By JOHN ZAROCOSTAS GENEVA, Switzerland, March 21 (UPI) -- China's 13-year bid to join the World Trade Organization inched forward this week but more progress will rest on the outcome of bilateral talks next week with the European Union, and the vote in the U.S. Congress on China's trade status, senior diplomats said.

Clinton Wants to Try Again this Year for New Trade Round

Agence France Presse HONOLULU, Hawaii, March 20 (AFP) - President Bill Clinton wants to make another bid to launch multilateral trade talks this year but there are still no signs that governments can agree on a basic agenda, his top trade negotiator said here Monday.

China Rejects Links Between WTO Entry and Human Rights

Agence France Presse GENEVA, March 21 (AFP) - Any attempt to link the debate on China's human rights record with its accession to the World Trade Organisation (WTO) would not be in members' interests, a Chinese trade official said here Tuesday.

NZ Welcomes Appointment of WTO Panel on US Lamb Dispute

The Wall Street Journal WELLINGTON -- New Zealand Agriculture Minister Jim Sutton Wednesday welcomed the formation of a World Trade Organization panel to hear New Zealand's dispute with the U.S. about lamb tariffs. "(Now) we can get down to the business of challenging the legality of the action taken against our lamb exports," Sutton said in a statement.

WTO Group Takes Up Chinese Admission to Trade Organization

GENEVA, March 20 (AFP) - The panel preparing China's entry into the World Trade Organization (WTO) met Monday to consider queries member states have about proposed rules on trade with China in agriculatural produce.

WTO Chief Warns of Europe""s Inflexible Stance on Farm Policy

Agence France Presse LISBON, March 20 (AFP) - The director-general of the World Trade Organisation (WTO) on Monday accused the European Union of having a "very closed" attitude on farm policy.

US-China Trade Pact Backers Fear Taiwan Flare-Up

By Adam Entous WASHINGTON (Reuters) - U.S. congressional support for a landmark trade agreement with China was hanging in the balance on Monday, as lawmakers scrutinized Beijing's response to the presidential election in Taiwan. So far Beijing's reaction to Saturday's election of Chen Shui-bian, whose party leans toward independence from China, has been restrained.

EU Not Budging on Trade Round Proposals

By Adrian Croft OPORTO, Portugal (Reuters) - The European Union said on Saturday it was sticking to its proposals for a new round of global trade liberalization talks and would only make concessions if other countries were prepared to give ground too.

EU Trade Ministers Plot WTO, China Strategy

By Adrian Croft OPORTO, Portugal (Reuters) - European Union trade ministers met on Saturday to discuss how to push forward stalled global trade negotiations and to plot the bloc's strategy in crucial talks with China on its bid to join the World Trade Organization (WTO).