World Trade Organization

UN Conference Has Opportunity to Address Global Commodity Crisis

The United Nations Conference on Trade and Development (UNCTAD) meeting next week in Sao Paulo, Brazil offers an historic opportunity to change the direction of the global trade system to ensure fair prices for farmers and spur rural economic development.

In Mexico, Sugar vs. U.S. Corn Syrup

Along the sooty gangways and rickety catwalks of the Emiliano Zapata sugar mill, sweat-soaked workers operate presses, vats and ovens in a process that has changed little since the mill's first harvest in 1938. From a distance, the mill's chimney sprouts from the cane fields of this verdant part of central Mexico, where sugar has been cultivated since the time of the conquistadors.

Ruling Lets In Mexican Trucks

June 8, 2004 Tuesday The Supreme Court cleared the way Monday for thousands of Mexican trucks and buses to begin delivering goods and passengers throughout the United States, ending a decade-long dispute that pitted environmentalists against NAFTA and became a sore point in U.S.-Mexico relations.

China Tries Hard To Fix Air, Water Problems

China has made enormous strides in upgrading its environmental and social standards despite a lingering reputation as the low-priced, low-quality sweatshop of the world strengthening its rising dominance in Asia's economy.

UNCTAD XI: Challenging the Commodity Crisis

After 50 years of waivers and carefully worded exemptions for agriculture, rich countries may have lost their power to set agricultural policies without regard for the rest of the world.

India To Spearhead Developing Nations' Fight At UNCTAD Meet

India will spearhead developing countries' fight against farm protection in the developed nations which were denying them market access and the negative effects of foreign direct investment (FDI) on domestic industries at the UNCTAD XI meeting at Sao Paulo next week.

WTO May Buck Quota Phaseout

The Istanbul Declaration, an international private sector-led lobby seeking to delay the phaseout of garments quotas by three years, is not likely to get the approval of the World Trade Organization (WTO) given the body's multilateral setup, a government official said last week.

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.

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.

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