World Trade Organization

Ten Years Later; Was NAFTA Oversold?

Grand Forks Herald | By Mikkel Pates | April 6, 2004 The North American Free Trade Agreement is 10 years old. That's something for agriculture to note - even celebrate - but the free trade agreement and others like it have been oversold, said Gene Hugoson, Minnesota commissioner of agriculture.

Counterfeiting Swoop Highlights China""s Thriving Forgery Trade

CNN.com | April 5, 2004 Growth in global trade could reach 7.5 percent this year, assuming the U.S. and European economies continue to expand and oil prices stay near 2003 levels, the World Trade Organization (WTO) says. The WTO said Monday that a 2.5 percent increase in global output in 2003 had lifted world trade by 4.5 percent.

Rice Restrictions Likely To Prove A Tough Sell At WTO

BusinessWorld | April 6, 2004 Convincing World Trade Organization (WTO) member-countries that the Philippines needs to retain quantitative restrictions (QRs) on rice may not be easy. The head of the Philippine negotiating team on QR retention, deputy administrator of the National Food Authority (NFA) Gregorio Tan, said negotiations may take time and may prove to be arduous.

Trade Experts To Gather In Kenya On WTO Talks

Xinhua | March 30, 2004 NAIROBI, March 29 (Xinhua) -- Trade representatives from 12 African countries will meet in the Kenyan capital Nairobi Tuesday to chart ways of reviving the collapsed World Trade Organizations (WTO) talks, organizers said here on Monday.

UN Rights Expert Slams WTO-Led Push For Free Farm Trade

Agence France Presse | March 30, 2004 A UN human rights expert on Tuesday slammed the World Trade Organisation's handling of agricultural trade, saying countries should be allowed to opt out of liberalisation to ensure their populations are fed adequately.

WTO Nonfarm Trade Talks Begin In Geneva

Japan Economic Newswire | March 29, 2004 Member countries of the World Trade Organization (WTO) began a three-day meeting of trade liberalization talks Monday in an attempt to narrow differences over tariffs and other key issues in nonagricultural areas.

Poor Nations May Soon Get AIDS Medicine

Associated Press Online | By BARBARA BORST | March 29, 2004 Efforts to get AIDS medications to millions of HIV-infected people in poor countries may be on the verge of a breakthrough, some experts say. Disagreements abound over drug safety, trade rules, funding and the sincerity of U.S. government efforts, but there are signs of progress.

U.S. Online Gambling Policy Violates Law, W.T.O. Rules

New York Times | By MATT RICHTEL | March 26, 2004 The World Trade Organization, in its first decision on an Internet-related dispute, has ignited a political, cultural and legal tinderbox by ruling that the United States policy prohibiting online gambling violates international trade law.

Trade In Services: Movement Of Persons A Key Issue

The Hindu | March 25, 2004 Movement of persons across borders has become a key dimension of trade in services even as it is increasingly becoming of great importance to developing countries. The freer flow of labour from one country to another is also expected to lead to substantial welfare gains on account of remittances.

Why China Is Making the Valley Fret

Business Week | By Cliff Edwards, Jim Kerstetter, Bruce Einhorn and Paul Magnusson | March 29, 2004