21.12.01 |
Uganda's
reforms attract foreign investments
Significant
economic reform in Uganda over the last decade and a half has
attracted foreign direct investment, mainly in manufacturing, and
contributed to continued economic growth. This was one of the
conclusions of a WTO Secretariat report that served as a basis for the
members' review of
Uganda's trade policies and practices held on 19 and 21 December
2001.
> Chairperson's concluding
remarks
> Press release
|
21.12.01 |
Panel
report out on automobile dispute
The
WTO, on 21 December 2001, released the report of a panel (DS146/R —
DS175/R) that examined complaints by the US and the EU over India's
measures affecting the automotive sector.
> Download the Panel report
in Word format (191 pages;
992KB) — in pdf
format (191 pages; 592KB).
> All
documents on case DS146
> All
documents on case DS175
> Report
only DS146
> Report
only DS175
> More on Dispute
Settlement
|
21.12.01 |
Second
examination of the “dairy” case implementation
The
Dispute Settlement Body, on 18 December 2001, referred for the second
time to the original panel complaints by the US and New Zealand
regarding Canada's implementation of DSB recommendations in the
“dairy” case.
> Summary of the meeting
|
20.12.01 |
Moore
outlines successes of 2001, roadmap for 2002
Director-General
Mike Moore, in his end-of-year message to Member Governments on 20
December 2001, said collective efforts toward the success of the 4th
Ministerial and the immediate launching of preparations for the Doha
Development Agenda, including the approval of an increased budget,
have made 2001 “a most rewarding year”.
> Press release
>
Background: WTO's 2-year
strategy comes to fruition (Download in MS Word format
9 pages; 51 KB).
|
20.12.01 |
Germany
contributes DM 1 million to WTO technical assistance
The
German government is donating DM 1 million to the WTO Technical
Assistance Fund. To this effect, Ambassador Walter Lewalter of Germany and
WTO Director-General Mike Moore signed, on 19 December 2001, an
arrangement.
> Press release
|
19.12.01 |
New
Appellate Body members sworn in
Three
new members of the WTO Appellate Body — Messrs. Luiz Olavo Baptista
(Brazil), John S. Lockhart (Australia) and Giorgio Sacerdoti (Italy)
— were sworn in on 19 December 2001. Director-General Mike Moore
said their appointments are “a testament to the ongoing success and
vibrancy of the WTO dispute settlement system”.
> Press release
|
18.12.01 |
First
WTO course for Commonwealth countries ends
The
first WTO course for trade officials from Commonwealth countries
without permanent representation in Geneva ended on 14 December
2001.
> Press release
|
14.12.01 |
Moore
offers condolences to people of India
Director-General
Mike Moore, on 14 December 2001, offered his condolences to the people
of India following the attack yesterday on Parliament House in which
terrorists killed seven people.
> Press release
|
14.12.01 |
WTO
Secretariat reorganizes for Development Round
Director-General
Mike Moore, in a speech on 14
December 2001 said, “WTO has been given an important new negotiating
mandate by Ministers”
|
11.12.01 |
China
becomes 143rd WTO member
China
became the 143rd member of the WTO on 11 December 2001, 30 days after
it had notified the Director-General that it had completed domestic
ratification of its accession package.
> Press release
|
06.12.01 |
Panel
to examine lumber dispute
The
Dispute Settlement Body, on 5 December 2001, established a panel on
“US' preliminary determinations with respect to certain softwood
lumber from Canada”.
> Summary of the meeting |
05.12.01 |
WTO
impressed with Malaysia's rapid growth
WTO
members, at the conclusion of their review
of Malaysia's trade policies and practices on 5 December 2001,
welcomed Malaysia's rapid growth and its remarkably quick recovery
from the 1997 Asian financial crisis. They encouraged the country to
further liberalize and diversify its economy.
> Chairperson's
concluding remarks
> Press release |
03.12.01 |
Appellate
Body report out on dairy products dispute
The
WTO, on 3 December 2001, issued the Appellate Body report regarding
compliance in “Canada — Measures affecting the importation of milk
and the exportation of dairy products” (DS103/AB/RW — DS113/AB/RW),
complaint by New Zealand and the United States.
> Download the Appellate
Body report:
in Word format
(39 pages; 168KB) — in pdf
format (39 pages; 104KB)
> All
documents on case DS103
> All
documents on case DS113
> Reports
only
> More on Dispute
Settlement |
03.12.01 |
18th
WTO trade policy course concludes
Thirty
trade officials from developing countries completed on 30 November
2001 the 18th WTO trade policy course. Deputy Director-General
Paul-Henri Ravier underlined the unique opportunity to be trained at a
critical moment of the Organization's life - during the intense
preparation leading to the adoption of the Doha Development Agenda.
> Press release |
30.11.01 |
Mexico
offers to host next Ministerial Conference
The
WTO General Council’s deliberations on when and where to hold the
Fifth Ministerial Conference has kicked off with a formal offer from
Mexico, circulated on 28 November 2001.
> News item
|
28.11.01 |
Doha
success marks a turning-point for the world trading system — Moore
Director-General
Mike Moore, in a speech before
the Pacific Economic Cooperation Council in Hong Kong, China on 28
November 2001, said the Doha Ministerial was “an extraordinarily
successful meeting ... that will be remembered as a turning point in
the history of the WTO and the trading system and in relations between
developed and developing countries within that system”.
|
27.11.01 |
WTO
Members report on anti-dumping activity
The
WTO Secretariat reported that in the period 1 January — 30 June
2001, 18 Members initiated 134 anti-dumping investigations against
exports from a total of 41 different countries or customs territories.
> Press release
|
23.11.01 |
Moore
meets with agencies on technical assistance
Director-General
Mike Moore, on 23 November 2001, convened a meeting of representatives
of the IMF, the International Trade Centre, UNCTAD and the World Bank
to discuss inter-agency cooperation in the light of commitments on
technical assistance and capacity-building emerging from the Doha
Ministerial Conference.
> Press release
|
23.11.01 |
WTO
commends Slovakia's “impressive progress”
WTO
members, at the conclusion of their review
of the Slovak Republic's trade policies and practices on 23
November 2001, commended the country's “impressive progress in
transforming to a market economy with trade and investment
liberalization as major features of this process”.
> Chairperson's concluding
remarks >
Press release
|
23.11.01 |
DSB
adopts Appellate Body reports on shrimp and corn syrup
The
Dispute Settlement Body, on 21 November 2001, adopted Appellate Body
reports regarding, respectively, United States' import prohibition of
certain shrimp and shrimp products, and Mexico's anti-dumping
investigation of high fructose corn syrup from the US.
> Summary of meeting
|
23.11.01 |
Sweden
gives CHF 1.2m to help least-developed countries
Sweden
has donated 8 million Swedish Krona (1.2 million Swiss francs) to help developing
countries — and the least developed in particular — improve their
ability to negotiate in the WTO and to implement WTO agreements.
> Press release
|
21.11.01 |
WTO
launches Joint Consultative Board for training activities
Director-General
Mike Moore, at the inaugural session of the Joint Consultative Board
for WTO-related training on 21 November 2001, said that by improving
training for developing countries in cooperation with other agencies
“we are already implementing the Doha decisions on building capacity
in a coherent manner”.
> Press release
|
14.11.01 |
Conference
ends with agreement on new programme
Ministers
from WTO member governments approved a work programme — which they
called “broad and balanced” — that includes negotiations on a
range of subjects and other tasks for the coming years.
> Summary
of 14 November meetings
>
Press release
|
13.11.01 |
Ministers
head for long night of negotiations
As
the end of the Fourth Ministerial Conference approached, ministers
embarked on a final evening of consultations on the latest versions of
the draft declarations and decisions, on 13 November.
> Summary of 13 November meetings
|
12.11.01 |
Chinese
Taipei signs, ministers make progress on intellectual property
Chinese
Taipei signed its membership package on 12 November, while in informal
meetings, ministers made considerable progress on the draft
declaration on intellectual property and health problems.
> Summary
of 12 November meetings
|
11.11.01 |
China
to join on 11 December, Chinese Taipei's membership also approved
China
has notified the WTO that it has ratified its membership and will now
become a full member, the WTO's 143rd, on 11 December 2001. Ministers
also approved Chinese Taipei's membership package, which will be
signed 12 November.
> Summary
of 11 November meetings
|
11.11.01 |
Agencies
to boost developing countries' participation in setting food safety
and related norms
At
the WTO Ministerial Conference in Doha, Qatar, five international
organizations have issued a joint statement committing themselves to
help developing countries participate more fully in setting
international norms for sanitary and phytosanitary (SPS) measures —
food safety and animal and plant health.
> Press release
|
11.11.01 |
WTO
Ministerial Conference approves accession of Chinese Taipei
The
WTO's Ministerial Conference approved today, 11 November, by consensus
the text of the agreement for Chinese Taipei's entry into the WTO.
> Press release
|
10.11.01 |
Ministers
start on Doha Declaration, China approved
Ministers,
on 10 November, began negotiating in earnest various sections of the
Doha Ministerial Declaration. They also formally approved China's
membership.
> Summary
of 10 November meetings
|
10.11.01 |
WTO
Ministerial Conference approves China's accession
The
WTO's Ministerial Conference approved today (10 November) by consensus
the text of the agreement for China's entry into the WTO.
> Press release
|
09.11.01 |
Award
of the abritrator on U.S. — Section 110(5) of the US Copyright Act
The
WTO, on 9 November 2001, issued an award of the abritrator on U.S.
— Section 110(5) Of the US Copyright Act, (Dispute Settlement DS160/ARB25/1).
|
09.11.01 |
World
economy needs signal of confidence from Doha — Moore
Director-General Mike Moore, at the opening of the WTO
Fourth Ministerial Conference on 9 November 2001 in Doha, Qatar, said
“the world economy needs the signal of confidence in open markets
and commitment to international cooperation which agreements here will
deliver”.
> Text of Mr.
Moore's speech
|
09.11.01 |
Broad
negotiations agenda needed for weak world economy — Moore
WTO
Director-General Mike Moore, in his latest annual report on
developments in the international trading environment released on 9
November 2001, says Ministers attending the 4th WTO Ministerial
Conference in Doha, 9-13 November 2001 urgently need to initiate a
broad agenda of negotiations.
> Press release
|
07.11.01 |
DSB
adopts reports on Pakistan-US textile dispute
The
WTO Dispute Settlement Body, on 5 November 2001, adopted the report of
the Appellate Body on the dispute “United States — Transitional
safeguard measure on combed cotton yarn from Pakistan” and the
report of the panel.
> Summary of the meeting
|
06.11.01 |
Mauritius'
sustained growth impresses WTO
WTO
members, at the conclusion of their review
of Mauritius' trade policies and practices on 5 November 2001,
commended the country's sustained economic growth over the past two
decades. They encouraged the country to continue to further liberalize
and diversify its economy.
> Chairperson's
concluding remarks
> Press release
|
02.11.01 |
SPS
Committee looks at equivalence, transparency, diseases and GMOs
The
SPS Committee, meeting 31 October and 1 November, embarked on work
under its new decision on equivalence and discussed transparency.
Among the specific issues also raised were foot and mouth disease, BSE
and genetically modified organisms.
> More
|
29.10.01 |
Panel
issues report on line pipe dispute
The
WTO, on 29 October 2001, issued the report of a panel that had
examined Korea's complaint against US'
definitive safeguard measures on imports of circular welded carbon
quality line pipe from Korea (DS202/R).
|
28.10.01 |
Moore
says draft texts form solid basis for Ministerial negotiations
Director-General
Mike Moore, on 28 October 2001, said that draft texts released this
weekend form the basis for constructive negotiations by Ministers when
they meet for the WTO's 4th Ministerial Conference in Doha, Qatar,
9-13 November.
> Press release
|
25.10.01 |
Food
safety and health implementation: ‘equivalence’ decision OK'd
WTO
members have settled one “implementation” issue by approving a
decision on recognizing the equivalence of different food safety and
animal and plant health measures. The decision was approved by the WTO’s
Committee on Sanitary and Phytosanitary Measures (SPS) on 24 October
2001.
> More
|
25.10.01 |
World
trade slows sharply in 2001 — WTO report
Growth
in world merchandise trade is expected to slow in volume terms to only
2% this year as compared with 12% in 2000, according to International
Trade Statistics, 2001 published on 25 October 2001 by the WTO.
The report says developing countries contributed to the vigorous
expansion of world trade and output last year.
> Press release
>
Download tables in pdf or Microsoft Excel format
|
22.10.01 |
Appellate
Body reports out on shrimp and corn syrup disputes
The
WTO, on 22 October 2001, issued Appellate Body reports regarding
compliance in, respectively, “US
— Import Prohibition of Certain Shrimp and Shrimp Products”,
complaint by Malaysia, (DS58/AB/RW) and “Mexico
— Anti-dumping Investigation of High-Fructose Corn Syrup (HFCS) from
the United States”, (DS132/AB/RW).
|
22.10.01 |
“We're
going ahead with the Doha Ministerial” — Moore
After
two days of meeting with Qatari officials in Doha, Director-General
Mike Moore, on 22 October 2001, issued the following statement
regarding plans for holding the WTO's 4th Ministerial Conference in
Doha from 9-13 November: “We are going ahead. I am confident with
the planning and preparations here in Doha. If something seismic or
catastrophic happens we will reconsider. But we're planning to come
here to Doha in just over two weeks time”.
|
19.10.01 |
WTO
applauds Czech success story
WTO members, at the conclusion of their review of the
Czech Republic's trade policies and practices on 19 October 2001,
congratulated the country for the successful transformation of the
economy and encouraged it to continue liberalization efforts.
Questions were raised about the tariff structure.
> Chairperson's
concluding remarks
> Press
release
|
18.10.01 |
Working
Party set to examine ACP-EC Partnership Agreement
The
Council for Trade in Goods, on 17 October 2001, agreed on the terms of
reference and appointed the chair of a Working Party that will examine
a request by the ACP countries and the EC for a WTO waiver on their
new Partnership Agreement.
> Summary of the meeting
|
17.10.01 |
EC
reports on banana case implementation
The
Dispute Settlement Body, on 15 October 2001, heard a status report
from the European Communities on implementation in the banana case.
> Summary of meeting
|
10.10.01 |
World
economy needs a boost from Doha — Moore
Director-General
Mike Moore, in a speech on 9
October 2001 before the Foreign Affairs Commission of the French
National Assembly in Paris, stressed that “the state of the world
economy demands that we use the Ministerial Conference as an
opportunity to boost global confidence”.
|
09.10.01 |
Members
discuss drafts for ministerial declaration on patents and health
Two
drafts for a ministerial declaration on intellectual property and
publich health issues — now available unrestricted — were discussed in the second TRIPS Council meeting on access to
medicines.
> Story
|
08.10.01 |
Report
released on textile dispute
The
WTO Appellate Body, on 8 October 2001, issued its report
on the case “United States — Transitional safeguard measure on
combed cotton yarn from Pakistan”.
|
05.10.01 |
Moore
lauds opening of legal aid centre for developing WTO members
WTO
Director-General Mike Moore, in a speech
at the opening of the Advisory Centre for WTO Law on 5 October 2001,
said it marked “the first time a true legal aid centre has been
established within the international legal system, with a view to
combating the unequal possibilities of access to international justice
as between States”.
|
28.09.01 |
Panel
report out on Argentina's anti-dumping measures on floor tiles
The
WTO, on 28 September 2001, issued a panel
report on the European Communities' complaint against Argentina's
definitive anti-dumping measures on imports of ceramic floor tiles
from Italy (Dispute Settlement DS189).
|
28.09.01 |
Agriculture
Committee settles three implementation issues
The
Agriculture Committee on 27 September 2001 agreed on three “implementation”
issues that are part of the preparation for the Doha Ministerial
Conference: export credits and insurance; the decision on net
food-importing developing countries; and tariff quotas.
> Story
|
27.09.01 |
Moore
praises draft texts, urges WTO governments to move forward
Director-General
Mike Moore, on 27 September 2001, described two draft negotiating
documents produced by General Council Chairman Stuart Harbinson (Hong
Kong, China) and himself as a basis for reaching consensus on an
important future work programme for the 142 WTO Member Governments. He
said these two documents have improved the chances for agreement among
Ministers when they meet at the WTO's 4th Ministerial Conference in
Doha, Qatar from 9-13 November.
> Press release
|
27.09.01 |
Solution
found in “apples” case between Japan and US
Japan
and the United States presented to the WTO Dispute Settlement Body on
25 September 2001 their mutually agreed solution in the “Japan —
Measures affecting agricultural products” case.
> Summary of the meeting
|
26.09.01 |
Moore
and Qatar's Min. Kamal reaffirm commitment to a successful Doha
outcome
Mr.
Yousef Hussain Kamal, Minister of Finance, Economy and Commerce of
Qatar, and WTO Director-General Mike Moore reaffirmed, on 26 September
2001, their commitment to move ahead with the preparations for the 4th
Ministerial Conference in Doha, Qatar, from 9 to 13 November.
> Press
release
|
25.09.01 |
WTO
appoints new Appellate Body members
The
WTO's Dispute Settlement Body (DSB), on 25 September 2001, appointed
the following persons to serve in Appellate Body for four years: Mr
Luiz Olavo Baptista of Brazil, Mr John S Lockhart of Australia, and Mr
Giorgio Sacerdoti of the European Communities. > Press
release
|
25.09.01 |
Moore
urges African support for new Round
WTO
Director-General Mike Moore, in a speech
at the 4th Ordinary Session of the OAU/AEC Conference of African
Ministers of Trade on 22 September 2001 in Abuja, Nigeria, urged
support for the launching of a new Round in Doha with “development”
at its core. He cited a study estimating a $155 billion gain for
developing countries from further trade liberalization, which is over
three times what they get annually in aid.
|
24.09.01 |
WTO
publishes Guide to the General Agreement on Trade in Services (GATS)
This
Guide prepared by specialists of the WTO Secretariat provides an
assessment of recent developments in major sectors of services trade
and examines issues governments will confront as they pursue
liberalization of services trade.
> News item
|
20.09.01 |
WTO
to consider first draft of Doha Declaration soon
Chairman
Stuart Harbinson told an informal meeting of the WTO General
Council on 20 September 2001 that based on his and
Director-General Mike Moore's intensive meetings with members he
intended “to circulate a draft text of a Ministerial
Declaration for your consideration by the end of next week”.
In extending their sympathies to the US delegation, the Chairman
and the Director-General expressed “shock, sadness and outrage”
at the 11 September attacks in the United States.
> Director-General's
remarks > Chairman's
speaking points
|
18.09.01 |
Chinese
Taipei's membership deal struck
Chinese
Taipei has reached agreement with WTO members on its membership
application on 18 September, paving the way for formal adoption
at the WTO Ministerial Conference in Doha in November and full
membership 30 days after the deal has been ratified in the
customs territory.
> Press release
|
18.09.01 |
Officials
start new trade policy course
Government
officials from 30 countries and customs territories began, on 17 September
2001 the
18th WTO trade policy course. By 30th November, they will have
become more acquainted with the WTO through lectures,
round-table discussions and simulated negotiations.
> Press release
|
17.09.01 |
WTO
successfully concludes negotiations on China's entry
The
WTO, on 17 September 2001, successfully concluded negotiations
on China's terms of membership, paving the way for the text of
the agreement to be adopted formally at the WTO Ministerial
Conference in Doha, Qatar, in November. “With China's
membership, the WTO will take a major step towards becoming a
truly world organization,” Director-General Mike Moore said.
> Press release >
China's statement
|
17.09.01 |
WTO
reviews US trade policies
The
Chairperson, at the conclusion of the sixth review of US'
trade policies and practices on 17 September 2001, said that
world trade cooperation as condition for the well-being of, and
peaceful relations among nations is an “important
consideration at a time when global economic difficulties and
the recent terrorist attacks loom large in our minds”.
> Chairman's concluding
remarks (download
in Word format, 2 pages; 34 KB)
> Press release
|
14.09.01 |
Director
General Moore hails China breakthrough
“This evening, Friday 14 September 2001, the Working Party on China's accession has
concluded its work apart from some technical details on which
rapid progress is also underway. I fully expect the Working
Party on Monday to make its formal recommendation to ministers,
setting the stage for their approval at our Ministerial
Conference in Doha this November. Negotiators from the Member
Governments have worked around the clock and the results speak
for themselves. We are very close to bringing China into the
multilateral trading system.”
|
14.09.01 |
“Geneva
Week” focuses on preparations for Doha
Director-General
Mike Moore, at the conclusion of the 3rd “Geneva Week” for
non-resident WTO members and observers on 14 september 2001,
called on delegates to participate actively in the final
preparations for the WTO Ministerial Conference in Doha, Qatar.
> Press release
|
13.09.01 |
Moore
opens 3rd Geneva Week for non-resident members
Director-General
Mike Moore in a speech on
10 September 2001 opening the Third Geneva Week for WTO members
and observers without offices in Geneva said that he is
forming an internal secretariat task-force on small economies.
|
11.09.01 |
Four
panels to examine complaints against US measures
The
WTO Dispute Settlement Body, on 10 September 2001, established
four panels to examine complaints against US trade measures.
> Summary of the meeting
|
10.09.01 |
Moore
urges completion of work on China and Chinese Taipei accessions
Director-General
Mike Moore, on 10 September 2001, urged WTO member governments
involved in Working Parties on the accession of China and
Chinese Taipei to resolve this week all outstanding issues on
the accessions so that both can join the organization at the
earliest possible date.
> Press release
|
31.08.01 |
WTO
arbitrator issues award in leather dispute
A WTO arbitrator, in an award
issued on 31 August 2001, has determined that the reasonable period of
time for Argentina to comply with the recommendations and rulings of
the Dispute Settlement Body regarding its “hides and leather”
dispute with the European Communities is 12 months and 12 days.
|
24.08.01 |
DSB
establishes panel on “Byrd Amendment”
The WTO Dispute Settlement Body (DSB), on 23 August 2001, considered
six panel requests, two of which were agreed, including one on the US
Continued Dumping and Subsidy Offset Act of 2000 (“Byrd Amendment”).
> Summary of the meeting
|
20.08.01 |
Panel
report out on US' compliance in Foreign Sales Corporation case
The WTO, on 20 August 2001, issued a panel report on the United
States' implementation measures in the case “US
Tax Treatment for Foreign Sales Corporations” (DS108). The
European Communities had requested this review of
implementation.
|
13.08.01 |
647
non-governmental organizations eligible to attend the Doha Ministerial
The Director-General of the World Trade Organization, Mr. Mike Moore,
today sent letters to 647 non-governmental organizations confirming
their eligibility to attend the 4th WTO Ministerial Conference in
Doha, Qatar, in November. The NGOs have until 17 September to complete
and return their registration forms to the WTO Secretariat.
> Press release
|
06.08.01 |
Panel
ruling related to trademarks, trade names, and commercial names
released
The
panel report on United
States — Section 211 omnibus appropriations Act of 1998 (DS176),
regarding a complaint by the European Communities, was released on 06
August 2001.
|
01.08.01 |
Moore
hails implementation breakthrough
Director-General
Mike Moore, on 1 August 2001, hailed agreement to approve
long-standing requests from eight developing countries to extend the
grace period for complying with the WTO Agreement on Trade-Related
Investment Measures.
> Press release
|
30.07.01 |
WTO's
future as negotiating forum at stake in Doha — Moore
Director-General
Mike Moore, in a statement on 30 July 2001 at the WTO General
Council's informal meeting on preparations for the Doha Ministerial,
warned that failure by members to reach agreement on a forward work
programme “would lead many to question the value of the WTO as a
forum for negotiation”. He urged that “long-held positions must be
reviewed and reconciled so we can make a start on a negotiating agenda
that will benefit all our peoples”.
> Director-General's
statement
|
27.07.01 |
Deputy
DG underlines development benefits of new Round
WTO
Deputy Director-General Ablassé Ouedraogo, in a speech
at the Least-Developed Countries' Ministerial Meeting in preparation
for the WTO Ministerial Conference on 24 July 2001 in Zanzibar, said a
new Round “will boost growth and help provide the means to reduce
poverty (and) ... will certainly offer an opportunity to address the
concerns of developing countries about implementing the existing
commitments”.
|
27.07.01 |
Nine
members request panel on US “Continued Dumping and Subsidy Offset
Act”
At
the Dispute Settlement Body meeting on 24 July 2001, nine members
requested together the establishment of a panel to examine the United
States' “Continued Dumping and Subsidy Offset Act of 2000” also
known as the “Byrd Amendment”. The US blocked this first request.
> Summary of the meeting
|
26.07.01 |
WTO
expands to 142 members
Moldova
officially became the 142nd member of the WTO on 26 July 2001--30 days
after it notified the organization that it had completed domestic
ratification procedures. The WTO General Council approved the
country's accession package last
May.
|
26.07.01 |
Second
panel report on Brazil's compliance in aircraft case
The
WTO, on 26 July 2001, issued a panel
report on Brazil's implementation measures in the case “Export
Financing Programme for Aircraft” (DS46). This is the second time
Canada had requested a review of implementation by Brazil.
|
24.07.01 |
Hot-rolled
steel appellate ruling released
The
Appellate Body
report on anti-dumping measures on certain hot-rolled steel
products from Japan (DS184), regarding a complaint by Japan against
the United States, was released on 24 July 2001.
|
23.07.01 |
Moore
hails G-8 pledges on development and poverty alleviation
WTO
Director-General Mike Moore, on 23 July 2001, praised leaders from the
Group of Eight nations for stepping up their efforts towards the
alleviation of poverty and the promotion of economic growth in
developing countries.
> Press release
|
23.07.01 |
WTO
set to wrap up China talks in September
The
Chairman of the WTO Working Party on China, Amb. Pierre-Louis Girard
(Switzerland), on 20 July 2001 said the latest meeting had “allowed
us to virtually complete our consideration and approval of all aspects
of China's accession package”. The final session of the Working
Party was set for the week of 10 September 2001.
> Chairman's summing-up >
China's statement
|
23.07.01 |
General
Council holds special session on implementation
The
Chairman, Mr. Stuart Harbinson (Hong Kong, China), gave a report
on 20 July 2001, on consultations he and Director-General Mike Moore
had been conducting on outstanding implementation-related issues and
concerns.
|
20.07.01 |
WTO
commends Cameroon's continuing reform efforts
WTO
members, at their second review of Cameroon's
trade policies on 18 and 20 July 2001, congratulated the
government for its continuing efforts to liberalize and further
develop the economy. They recognized the country's need for technical
assistance to enable it to fulfill its WTO obligations.
> Chairman's concluding
remarks (download
in Word format, 2 pages; 33 KB)
> Press release
|
17.07.01 |
New
Round can deal with barriers to African exports — Moore
Director-General
Mike Moore, in a speech on 16
July 2001 at the ECOSOC's High-Level Policy Dialogue in Geneva, said
that “a new Round with development at its core” can deal with
current barriers to Africa's exports.
|
16.07.01 |
17th
WTO trade policy course concludes
Twenty-seven
trade officials, mostly from least-developed countries, on 13 July
2001 completed the 17th WTO trade policy course. Deputy
Director-General Paul-Henri Ravier underlined the unique learning
experience the WTO course gives to participants.
> Press release
|
13.07.01 |
SPS
Committee discusses foot and mouth disease, BSE and equivalence
With
its foot and mouth disease crisis now easing, the EU pressed fellow
WTO members to tailor their trade measures more closely to science and
international standards, in the 10-11 July 2001 meeting of the
Sanitary and Phytosanitary Measures Committee. Also discussed were
other specific issues such as “mad cow disease” (BSE), and “equivalence”
of sanitary and phytosanitary measures, part of the General Council’s
discussion on implementing the current WTO agreements.
>
News story
|
12.07.01 |
Agriculture
Committee discusses ‘Peace Clause’ data, a proposed food
safety-net fund, and 69 notifications
The
EU and US provided the regular meeting of the Agriculture Committee,
28-29 June 2001, with some data — related to the so-called Peace
Clause — on their domestic support in 1992, in response to a
question from Argentina. Also discussed were a proposed $1.4 billion
fund to act as a food security safety net for poorer countries,
agricultural export credit disciplines, and 69 notifications.
> News item
|
11.07.01 |
Panel
rules on Canada's compliance in the “dairy” case
The
panel set up to consider whether Canada had correctly implemented an
earlier ruling in the dispute concerning Canada's measures affecting
the importation of milk and the exportation of dairy products
(DS103/113) issued, on 11 July 2001, its report
in response to a complaint from the United States and New Zealand.
|
09.07.01 |
WTO
body holds information session with environmental agencies
The
Committee on Trade and Environment, on 27-28 June 2001, held an
information session with UNEP and multilateral environmental
agreements (MEAs) on compliance and dispute settlement in the WTO and
MEAs.
> Trade and
environment bulletin No. 36
|
06.07.01 |
Moore
calls for “civilized discourse” with NGOs
Director-General
Mike Moore, in a speech on 6 July 2001 opening the first
WTO Symposium on Issues Confronting the World
Trading System
said “civilized
discourse” with NGOs will help the WTO do a better job. He said such
gatherings with NGOs and civil society should become a regular feature
of WTO activities.
|
05.07.01 |
Moore
appoints advisory panel on WTO affairs
WTO
Director-General Mike Moore announced, on 5 July 2001, the appointment
of a panel of experts which will advise him on the challenges and
opportunities confronting the organization and the global trading
system.
> Press release
|
05.07.01 |
Development
argument for new Round “compelling” — Moore
Director-General
Mike Moore, in a speech on 5 July
2001 at Winconference 2001 in Interlaken, Switzerland, stressed that
“poor countries need to grow their way out of poverty” and that
broad negotiations could deal with many obstacles facing their
products in rich countries, including high tariffs in agriculture,
textiles, clothing and leather.
> View webcasting of the speech on the Winconference website
|
04.07.01 |
Moore
welcomes progress on China accession to the WTO
Director-General
Mike Moore, on 4 July 2001, said the progress made by the Working
Party on China's accession during the week has improved the prospects
for a decision on China's entry this November at the 4th Ministerial
Conference in Doha, Qatar.
> Press release >
Chairman's summing up >
China's statement
|
04.07.01 |
Korea
announces contribution to WTO technical assistance
Korea's
Minister of Foreign Affairs and Trade, Dr. Seung-soo Han, and
Director-General Mike Moore, on 4 July 2001, signed a Memorandum of
Understanding concerning Korea's voluntary contribution of 385 million
Korean Won (about 500,000 Swiss Francs) to WTO's technical cooperation
activities in favour of least-developed countries.
> Press release
|
29.06.01 |
Panel
ruling related to lumber issue released
The
panel report on US'
measures treating export restraints as subsidies (DS194) (relating
to lumber issue), regarding a complaint by Canada, was
released on 29 June 2001.
|
29.06.01 |
WTO
lauds Gabon's trade integration efforts
WTO
members, after reviewing Gabon's trade policies on 26 and 28 June
2001, lauded the country's efforts to integrate itself more fully into
the multilateral trading system and the progress achieved in economic
diversification, privatization and investments.
> Chairman's concluding
remarks (download in Word format, 2 pages; 32 KB,)
> Press release
|
25.06.01 |
WTO
members to press on, following ‘rich debate’ on medicines
WTO
member governments have agreed to examine in greater detail the issues
raised in their first special discussion on Intellectual Property and
Access to Medicines on 20 June 2001, a meeting that the chairperson,
Ambassador Boniface Chidyausiku of Zimbabwe described as “rich”.
> 22 June 2001 press release
>
More on the
meeting
|
22.06.01 |
DSB
establishes two panels
The
WTO Dispute Settlement Body (DSB), on 20 June 2001, agreed to
establish two panels: on anti-dumping measures by Egypt on steel
coming from Turkey, and on taxes imposed by Peru on Chilean
cigarettes.
> Go to summary of the meeting
|
22.06.01 |
Governments
share interpretations on TRIPS and public health
Unusually
frank and detailed interpretations of the WTO’s intellectual
property agreement characterized the 20 June 2001 discussion on “Intellectual
Property and Access to medicines” in WTO’s Council on
Trade-related Aspects of Intellectual Property Rights (TRIPS).
>
Summary of discussion
|
22.06.01 |
Panel
report out on Mexico corn syrup case
The
original panel, in a report
(DS132/RW) released on 22 June 2001, has concluded that Mexico
had failed to implement its recommendations regarding the
country's anti-dumping investigation of high fructose corn syrup
(HFCS) from the United States.
|
21.06.01 |
Moore
welcomes China-EU agreement on Chinese accession to WTO
Director-General
Mike Moore, on 21 June 2001, praised Chinese and EU negotiators
for reaching agreement on unresolved bilateral issues concerning
China's accession to the WTO.
> Press release
|
20.06.01 |
Moore:
countries must feel secure that they can use TRIPS’
flexibility
WTO
Director-General Mike Moore says the special discussion on “Intellectual
Property and Access to Medicines” should reinforce countries’
confidence in their right to use the flexibility written into
the WTO Agreement on Trade-Related Aspects of Intellectual
Property Rights. He was commenting on the 20 June 2001 session
of the WTO’s TRIPS Council.
> Statement >
More on the
discussion
|
20.06.01 |
WTO
chief announces Arab region strategy ahead of Doha conference
The
WTO is preparing a strategy for the Arab region, to raise
awareness, improve information flows, help Arab delegations in
Geneva, and prepare Arab countries for a new trade round that
could potentially be launched at the forthcoming Ministerial
Conference in Doha, Director-General Mike Moore announced on 20
June 2001.
> Speech
|
15.06.01 |
Dispute:
compliance panel rules on whether US has implemented “shrimp-turtle”
decision
The
panel set up to consider whether the US has correctly
implemented an earlier ruling in the “shrimp-turtle” dispute
(DS58) has issued its report in response to a complaint from
Malaysia.
> Download compliance
panel report (DS58/RW), Appellate Body (DS58/AB/R) and panel
reports (DS58/R)
> Read background
explanation of the “shrimp-turtle” case
|
15.06.01 |
TRIPS:
new WIPO-WTO initiative to help world’s poorest countries
The
heads of the World Intellectual Property Organization and WTO
launched, on 14 June 2001, a new initiative to help
least-developed countries in intellectual property issues,
including their obligation to comply with the WTO’s TRIPS
Agreement by 2006.
> Press release
|
12.06.01 |
Moore
welcomes China-US agreement on Chinese accession
World
Trade Organization Director-General Mike Moore has welcomed the
announcement in Shanghai that China and the US have agreed on
the Chinese accession to the WTO.
> Press release
|
08.06.01 |
Moore
calls on Parliamentarians to support new Round
WTO
Director-General Mike Moore, in a speech
at Inter-Parliamentary Union's first meeting on international
trade on 8 June 2001 in Geneva, warned that failure to launch a
new Round this year “could jeopardize the multilateral trading
system itself” and that “the biggest losers would be the
poor and the weak”.
> Press release
|
07.06.01 |
East
Caribbean states praised for openness despite resource
constraints
Countries
in the Organization of Eastern Caribbean States have
accomplished much through openness and well-functioning
institutions, fellow-WTO members say, but more can be done to
liberalize trade in goods and services, and they need more
technical assistance to help them participate in the trading
system.
> Chairperson’s
remarks at the end of the review
of the group’s trade policies
> Press release
|
31.05.01 |
WTO
membership rises to 141
Lithuania,
on 31 May 2001, officially joined the WTO, raising the
organization's membership
to 141. The country became a member 30 days after it had
notified the WTO that it had completed domestic procedures on
its accession.
|
31.05.01 |
Report
out on US’ safeguard measure on cotton yarn
The
panel report
on cotton yarn (DS192), regarding a complaint by Pakistan
against the United States, was released on 31 May 2001.
|
30.05.01 |
WTO
congratulates Brunei Darussalam on liberal trade regime
WTO
members congratulated Brunei Darussalam on maintaining a
relatively open trade and investment regime during their first review
of the country's trade policies on 28 and 30 May 2001. They
suggested that further trade liberalization could help efforts
to diversify the economy.
> The
Chairperson's concluding remarks
> Press
release
|
30.05.01 |
Final
report released of WHO-WTO Secretariats’ workshop on drug pricing
The
final report of the 8-11 April 2001 joint WTO/WHO/Norwegian Foreign
Ministry/Global Health Council workshop on differential pricing and
essential drugs financing was released on 30 May. While the workshop
was not set up to seek agreed solutions, participants generally felt
that differential pricing could be important while allowing the patent
system to continue to play a role, and that healthcare in poor
countries would still need a major financing effort as well.
> Read news story
> Download
final report
|
29.05.01 |
“Lamb”
reports adopted
The
WTO Dispute Settlement Body, on 16 May 2001, adopted reports about
complaints by New Zealand and Australia on US' safeguard measures on
lamb meat.
> Informal summary of meeting
|
23.05.01 |
WTO
Secretariat releases 2001 Annual report
Global
trade and output growth in 2000 were the strongest in more than a
decade, according to WTO Annual report 2001 published on 23 May 2001.
However, a deceleration of economic growth began in the final quarter
of 2000, clouding trade prospects for 2001.
> Press release
|
18.05.01 |
WTO
symposium to focus on issues confronting the world trading system
The
WTO will be the venue of a symposium on critical issues confronting
the world trading system on 6 and 7 July 2001. Representatives from
governments, non-governmental organizations, the media and members of
the academic community are invited to participate.
> Press release
> Outline and
programme
> Registration form
|
18.05.01 |
Moore
hails spirit of co-operation among ministers for Doha success
Director-General
Mike Moore, on 18 May 2001, praised efforts by ministers meeting
in various forums during the week to narrow their differences
and work toward ensuring a successful outcome to the WTO
Ministerial Conference in Doha, Qatar this November.
> Press release
|
17.05.01 |
New
Round is surest way to prevent further LDC marginalization —
Moore
Director-General
Mike Moore, in a speech on
17 May 2001 in Brussels at the Third UN Conference on Least
Developed Countries, said the WTO is “delivering” on
assistance to the poorest countries, including significant
market-access improvements for their exports. But better than a
piecemeal approach, he said, would be to launch a new Round this
year, which would be “the surest way to prevent further
marginalization of LDCs from the world economy”.
|
15.05.01 |
Summary
report of essential drug pricing workshop released
The
executive summary of the 8-11 April 2001 joint WTO-WHO-Norwegian
Foreign Ministry-Global Health Council workshop on differential
pricing and essential drugs financing was released on 15 May. While
the workshop was not set up to seek agreed solutions, participants
generally felt that differential pricing could be important while
allowing the patent system to continue to play a role, and that
healthcare in poor countries would still need a major financing effort
as well.
> Summary
report
|
14.05.01 |
Wealthy
nations and agencies must step up efforts to help the “poorest of
the poor” — Moore
Director-General
Mike Moore, on 14 May 2001 at the Third UN Conference on
Least-Developed Countries in Brussels, called on wealthy nations and
international organizations to step up their efforts to help the “poorest
of the poor”. He said the LDCs “represent the weakest segment of
the international community and their social and economic development
is a major challenge for all of us”.
> Press release
|
11.05.01 |
Costa
Rica: liberal trade regime underlying positive economic performance
WTO
members, at the conclusion of their trade policy review of Costa Rica
on 11 May 2001, were favourably impressed by Costa Rica's good
economic performance in recent years owing, among other factors, to
its generally liberal trade regime and open investment environment.
> Press release
> The Chairperson's
concluding remarks
|
11.05.01 |
WTO
Secretariat organizes workshop on technical assistance in trade
facilitation
WTO
delegations and experts from international agencies, governments and
the private sector discussed technical assistance and
capacity building in trade facilitation in a workshop
organized
by the WTO Secretariat, 10-11 May 2001 in Geneva.
> Go
to the Director-General's opening speech
> Go
to the programme (Download in Word format 2 pages;39 KB)
>
Guide to downloading files.
|
08.05.01 |
Spain
helps fund WTO course for Latin American officials
Director-General
Mike Moore, on 9 May 2001, welcomed Spain's contribution of 100,000
euros to a WTO trade policy course in September for Latin-American trade
officials as particularly timely as members prepare for the Doha
Ministerial.
> Press release
|
08.05.01 |
Positive
signs for Round launch in Doha — Moore
Director-General
Mike Moore, in a speech on 5 May
2001 in Geneva at the conference on the role of the WTO in global
governance, said “the building blocks of new round are almost in place”.
He said “the missing ingredient is the political will from members to
compromise” although he detected “many positive signs” of new
flexibility.
|
08.05.01 |
General
Council approves accession of Moldova
The
WTO General Council, on 8 May 2001, approved the accession package of
Moldova to the WTO. Director-General Mike Moore said WTO membership “will
boost growth and investment and benefit all Moldovans”.
> Press release
|
02.05.01 |
WTO
Secretariat organizes workshop on technical assistance in trade
facilitation
WTO
delegations and experts from international agencies, governments and the
private sector will be discussing technical assistance and capacity
building in trade facilitation in a workshop being organized by the WTO
Secretariat for 10-11 May 2001 in Geneva.
> Go to the programme
(Download in Word format 2 pages;39 KB)
|
01.05.01 |
“Lamb”
appellate ruling released
The
Appellate Body report on imports
of lamb (DS177 & DS178), regarding complaints by
Australia and New Zealand against the United States, was
released on 1 May 2001.
|
01.05.01 |
WTO's
development-related projects now open to private contributions
The WTO is
now able to accept contributions from non-governmental donors
to its development-related projects following a decision by
the General Council establishing guidelines for such
contributions.
> Go to the story.
|
27.04.01 |
Significant
trade barriers remain after Uruguay Round, says
new WTO Secretariat study
World
trade has been liberalized considerably as a
result of the Uruguay Round but significant trade
barriers remain, including in areas of interest
to developing countries, according to a new WTO
Secretariat study Market
Access: Unfinished Business
published on 27 April 2001. The best way we
can tackle the many remaining trade barriers that
are preventing people and countries from
realizing their full potential is in a wider set
of negotiations, said Director-General Mike
Moore. Press
release
|
25.04.01 |
17th
WTO Trade Policy Course opens in Geneva
Deputy
Director-General Paul-Henri Ravier, in opening
the 17th WTO Trade Policy Course on 22 April
2001, welcomed the strong representation of trade
officials from Africa and least-developed
countries in the three-month course conducted in
French.
> Press
release
|
23.04.01 |
The
world needs a new WTO Round Moore
Director-General
Mike Moore, in two speeches in Berlin on 23 April
2001, underlined the importance of launching a
new Round this year. Before the German
Foundation for International Development,
he said that developing countries with a
positive agenda and strength in numbers can
ensure the next round has a strong focus on
developmental concerns. Before the German
council on foreign relations, Berlin,
he stressed that the economic case for a new
Round is compelling.
|
19.04.01 |
Moore
welcomes news of settlement of South Africa drug
lawsuit
Director-General
Mike Moore, in a statement
on 19 April 2001, welcomed news of the settlement
achieved between the Government of South Africa
and pharmaceutical companies. The
settlement shows that the WTO Agreements, such as
TRIPS, contain the necessary flexibility to meet
the health needs of developing countries,
he said.
|
11.04.01 |
Experts:
affordable medicines for poor countries are
feasible
Høsbjør,
Norway Making life-saving medicines more
affordable for poor countries is vital for
improving public health. More importantly it is
realistic, experts said in a three-day WHO/WTO
workshop that ended today (11 April 2001).
> Press
release >
WTO,
WHO workshop on affordable drugs
|
10.04.01 |
Greater
involvement of parliamentarians in WTO work urged
Director-General
Mike Moore, in a speech
at a European Parliament seminar in Brussels on
10 April 2001, called for greater involvement of
parliamentarians in the work of the WTO. He also
underlined the democratic nature of the
organization, in which all agreements are reached
by consensus of the 140 member governments and
every country has a veto.
|
10.04.01 |
Moore
congratulates WTO trade course graduates
Director-General
Mike Moore, on 5 April 2001, presented diplomas
to 30 developing and transition economy officials
at the conclusion of the 16th WTO Trade Policy
Course. He said: I am convinced that you
have acquired skills that you will take back home
for your respective countries' and people's
interests.
> Press
release
|
10.04.01 |
WTO's
technical assistance gets a boost from Hong Kong,
China
Director-General
Mike Moore, in a press
release
issued on 10 April 2001, welcomed a recent
contribution of 1 million Swiss francs by Hong
Kong, China to WTO's technical assistance
activities. He said that as members
continue to prepare for the 4th Ministerial
Conference, technical assistance for developing
countries is vitally important.
|
02.04.01 |
Services
negotiations enter new bargaining phase
WTO
members agreed, 28-30 March 2001, on guidelines
for negotiations on trade in services, taking the
talks into bargaining sessions on access to each
others markets, based on their negotiating
proposals. The rule-making negotiations that
started a year ago will also continue.
> Press
release
|
30.03.01 |
Moore
and Putin upbeat on Russias membership bid
Joining
the WTO is Russias top priority, President
Vladimir Putin told WTO Director-General Mike
Moore when the two met in Moscow on 30 March
2001. Mr Moore said Moscows membership bid
has been re-energized by new legislation, but
important issues remain.
> Press
release >
Mr
Moores speech
|
27.03.01 |
WTO
agriculture negotiations move swiftly to
phase 2
Director-General
Mike Moore, on 27 March 2001, applauded the
completion of the first phase of agriculture
negotiations and the approval of the work
programme for the next phase. The fact that 125
of the 140 WTO members have tabled negotiating
proposals, he said, is a powerful vote of
confidence in the multilateral trading
system.
> Go
to the press release
|
27.03.01 |
Trade
programme for poorest countries gets $4.5-million
boost
Director-General
Mike Moore and Amb. Henrik Iverson (Denmark), in
a press
release
issued on 23 March 2001, welcomed initial pledges
totaling US$4.5 million to a six-agency pilot
programme to build trade capacity in
least-developed countries.
|
22.03.01 |
Macau,
China: liberal trade regime commended
WTO
members, at the conclusion of their trade
policy review of Macau, China
on 21 March 2001, commended the Territory for the
fact that neither the Asian financial crisis, nor
its reversion to China has affected its liberal
trade policies. However, they called on the
Territory to increase its tariff bindings and
services commitments.
> Press
release
> Chairperson's
concluding remarks
(Download in Word format 2 pages;31 KB)
|
22.03.01 |
WTO
economic seminar papers now available
Papers
presented at in-house economic seminars organized
for WTO delegations and staff members will now be
made available on this site's research and
analysis section, starting with The
Relationship Between International Trade Policy
and Competition Policy given on 14 March
2001.
> Go
to the story
|
20.03.01 |
SPS
body looks at current epidemics,
equivalence and standard-setting
Measures
for dealing with BSE (mad cow disease) and foot
and mouth disease, equivalence
an implementation issue in the
General Council and developing
countries participation in international
standards-setting organizations were among the
issues discussed when the Sanitary and
Phytosanitary Measures Committee met, 14-15 March
2001. Unofficial
summary.
|
19.03.01 |
Poor-country
issues must be at heart of new Round Moore
Director-General
Mike Moore, in a speech
at the Ministerial Roundtable on Trade and
Poverty in Least-Developed Countries in London on
19 March 2001, said that a a new Round (of
trade negotiations) is the surest way to prevent
the further marginalization of LDCs from the
world economy and to deal with problems that they
may have with existing WTO agreements. He
said that the new Round must have
implementation issues at its heart and
encompass other issues that are important to
developing countries.
|
19.03.01 |
WTO
Secretariat answers GATS critics
Since
January 2000, 140 WTO member governments have
been engaged in negotiations aimed at further
liberalization of the global services market. A
number of anti-WTO groups have been portraying
these talks in a manner which is often distorted
or patently untrue. The WTO Secretariat issued,
on 19 March 2001, a booklet GATS
Fact and fiction
that debunks some of the myths and falsehoods
about the General Agreement on Trade in Services
and the new services negotiations. Also, the WTO
spokesman answers
a critic.
|
19.03.01 |
Goods
Council agrees on chairpersons for subsidiary
bodies
The
Council for Trade in Goods, on 14 March 2001,
agreed on a slate of chairpersons of its
subsidiary bodies for 2001.
> Go
to summary of the meeting
|
19.03.01 |
WTO,
WHO convene workshop on affordable drugs
The
WTO and WHO Secretariats, on 18 March 2001,
announced they are convening a workshop on how to
improve poor countries' access to essential
drugs. The workshop to be hosted by the
Norwegian Foreign Ministry at Høsbjør on 8-11
April 2001 will bring together about 50
experts from industrialized and developing
countries.
>
Go to the press release
|
15.03.01 |
WTO
holds 19th dispute settlement course
Forty
trade officials, on 6-9 March 2001, participated
in the 19th Special Course on Dispute Settlement
Rules and Procedures organized by the WTO
Secretariat as part of its technical assistance
programme.
> Go
to the story
|
12.03.01 |
Moore
sees positive signs for Round launch
in Doha
Director-General
Mike Moore, in a speech at the European Business
School London on 12 March 2001, said there are
already many positive signs from
members, including leading traders the US and the
EU, for launching a new Round at the Doha
Ministerial in November. He said developing
countries increasingly understand that the
greatest threat to their economies is not
globalization, but marginalization.
> Go
to Mr. Moore's speech
|
12.03.01 |
Panels
established on measures by Belgium, Canada and
Chile
The
WTO Dispute Settlement Body, on 12 March 2001,
established three new panels to examine,
respectively, Belgium's measures on rice imports,
Canada's new aircraft financing system, and
Chile's price band system.
> Summary
of the meeting
|
12.03.01 |
Two
appellate rulings released
Two
Appellate Body reports were released on 12 March
2001: on the asbestos
dispute between Canada and the European Union
(DS135), and on the steel
products
case between Poland and Thailand (DS122).
|
05.03.01 |
A
new Round can help fight global poverty
Moore
Director-General
Mike Moore, in a video message opening the
WTO/FORSEC Trade Policy Course for Pacific island
countries in Fiji on 5 March 2001, said that the
challenge today for the multilateral trading
system is to join in international efforts to
fight poverty, and that if we are to
redress these imbalances, to give the most
distant and lonely of our members a better go, we
will do a better job negotiating inside a new
Round.
> Go
to Mr. Moore's message
|
01.03.01 |
Dispute
body refers dairy dispute to original panel
The WTO Dispute Settlement Body (DSB), on 1 March
2001, referred to the original panel complaints
lodged by the United States and New Zealand
regarding Canadas implementation of
DSBs recommendations in the case
Canada - Measures affecting the importation
of milk and the exportation of dairy
products.
> Go
to summary of the meeting.
|
01.03.01 |
Report
out on EC's anti-dumping duties on bed linen
The Appellate Body, on 1 March 2001, issued its report
(DS141/AB/R) on the European Communities' appeal
regarding its anti-dumping duties on bed linen
from India.
|
28.02.01 |
Trade
to play central role in Ghana's economic
restructuring
WTO members, in concluding their review
of Ghana's trade policies
on 28 February 2001, recognized the central role
to be played by trade, investment and the private
sector in the restructuring of the economy and
improving international competitiveness. They
urged the country to pursue further
liberalization.
> Go
to the Chairperson's concluding remarks
> Go
to the press release
|
28.02.01 |
Panel
rules on Japan-US steel dispute, 2 arbitration
reports out
A WTO dispute-settlement panel, on 28 February
2001, issued its report
(DS184/R) on Japans complaint against the
US anti-dumping measures on certain
hot-rolled steel products from Japan. On the same
date, two WTO arbitration reports were released:
on US
implementation
(DS136/11 and DS162/14) of recommendations
regarding its 1916 Anti-Dumping Act
dispute with the EC and Japan, and on Canadas
implementation
(DS170/10) of recommendations concerning its
patent dispute with the US.
|
27.02.01 |
Moore
applauds free access for LDC exports by EU
WTO Director-General Mike Moore today welcomed
the decision by European Union Trade Ministers to
give the world's forty-eight least-developed
countries access to EU markets for all products
except arms by the year 2009. He said this would
substantively improve trading conditions for the
world's poorest nations.
> Go
to the press release
|
27.02.01 |
Andean
trade ministers support Doha launch of new Round
Director-General Mike Moore, on 20 February,
thanked the Andean Trade Ministers (Bolivia,
Colombia, Ecuador, Peru and Venezuela) for their Declaration
on 9 February 2001 in Lima supporting efforts to
launch a new Round at the 4th WTO Ministerial
Conference in Doha in November this year. He
stressed that developing countries have
most to gain from further trade
liberalization.
> Go
to Mr. Moore's letter |
27.02.01 |
Developing
countries see growth opportunities in tourism
services
While tourism represent one of the developing
countries' best economic growth opportunities,
the latter face numerous challenges including
high air transport prices and lack of
infrastructure, said participants to the WTO
Symposium on Tourism Services (22-23 February
2001).
> Go
to the press release |
26.02.01 |
Trade
and environment body takes up developing-country
concerns
At the meeting of the WTO Committee on Trade and
Environment on 13-14 February 2001, the outgoing
Chairperson, Ambassador Yolande Biké (Gabon),
emphasized the importance of addressing practical
issues relevant to developing nations such as
exports of banned or unsafe goods to unsuspecting
countries.
>
Go
to Trade and Environment Bulletin |
23.02.01 |
Yes,
drugs for the poor and patents as
well
To
reward research, the WTOs intellectual
property (TRIPS) agreement protects patents for
20 years; to improve access to drugs, it imposes
some conditions and allows certain restrictions
on patent rights, writes WTO Director-General
Mike Moore in an article
in the International Herald Tribune, 22 February
2001. |
22.02.01 |
Moore
welcomes Bush Administration support for new
round
WTO
Director-General Mike Moore, in Washington DC, on
22 February 2001, welcomed the support shown by
senior Bush Administration officials for the
launch of a new round of trade negotiations this
year. Separately, in a speech
at the Agriculture Outlook Forum, he said that
anyone who wants to see the agriculture
negotiations produce the best possible result in
a reasonable timeframe has a strong interest in
seeing a new WTO Round launched soon.
> Go
to the press release |
21.02.01 |
WTO
bullish on Madagascar
WTO
members, in concluding their review
of Madagascar's trade policies
on 21 February 2001, expressed optimism about the
country's economic prospects and encouraged the
government to maintain both the pace and
direction of its reforms.
> Go
to the Chairperson's concluding remarks
>
Go
to the press release |
19.02.01 |
Moldova
concludes membership negotiations
The
Republic of Moldova, on 19 February 2001,
concluded its negotiations for accession to the
WTO with the Working Party's adoption of the
country's package of membership documents.
Director-General Mike Moore congratulated Moldova
for the rapid pace of the negotiations and its
impressive hard work to secure WTO
membership.
> Go
to the press release |
19.02.01 |
WTO
and World Bank release book on
internationalization of financial services
The
WTO Secretariat, on 19 February 2001, announced
the release of a new book by the WTO and the
World Bank The Internationalization of
Financial Services: Issues and Lessons for
Developing Countries. The book offers a
comprehensive review of the benefits and risks of
internationalization of financial services.
> Go
to the press release |
19.02.01 |
Dispute
body adopts Argentina hides ruling, sets up panel
in Brazil-Canada aircraft case
The
WTO Dispute Settlement Body (DSB) on 16 February
2001 adopted the panel report in the case,
Argentina measures affecting the
export of bovine hides and the import of finished
leather. It also created a new panel to
determine whether Brazil is complying with
rulings in its dispute with Canada over aircraft
subsidies.
> News
story |
15.02.01 |
New
proposal for LDC assistance adopted
The
WTO Sub-Committee on Least-Developed Countries
adopted on 12 February 2001 a major proposal,
with key recommendations, to improve the
implementation of the Integrated Framework for
trade-related technical assistance to LDCs.
> Go
to the story >
Go
to the press release |
14.02.01 |
Moore
cites success of WTO trade policy courses
Director-General
Mike Moore, on 12 February 2001, told close to 70
graduates of WTO trade policy courses for
developing countries and transition economies who
are now posted in Geneva that they are the
living proof that the courses are useful and
deserve to be supported as a core activity of the
WTO Secretariat.
> Go
to the story |
12.02.01 |
WTO
organizes Trade, Technology and
Development seminar
The
WTO is organizing through its Committee on Trade
and Development, on 14 February 2001, a seminar
on Trade, Technology and Development
aimed at identifying opportunities and challenges
faced by developing countries in relation to
technology access in the context of the WTO.
Experts from the WTO and other agencies,
academics, donor and WTO representatives will
help identify policy options and choices, as well
as types of support and assistance available to
developing countries.
> Go
to the programme > Go
to background materials
(download
in MS Word format, 2 pages 45KB). |
09.02.01 |
WTO
elects officers for 2001
The
WTO General Council, on 9 February 2001, noted
the consensus on this year's slate of
chairpersons for WTO bodies, including Mr. Stuart
Harbinson (Hong Kong, China) as its new chairman.
> Go
to the press release |
08.02.01 |
Chairman
reports on implementation issues
At
the General Council meeting on 8 February 2001,
the Chairman, Ambassador Kare Bryn, reported on
progress in the ongoing WTO work on
implementation-related issues and concerns.
> Go
to the Chairman's note |
08.02.01 |
Moore
welcomes start of Yugoslavia membership talks
Director-General
Mike Moore, on 8 February 2001, warmly welcomed
the decision by the WTO General Council to
establish an accession working party for the
Federal Republic of Yugoslavia. Membership
in the WTO will go a very long way toward
assisting Yugoslavia's re-integration in the
global community, he said.
> Go
to the story |
08.02.01 |
WTO
Ministerial to be held 9-13 November 2001
The
General Council, on 8 February 2001, agreed that
the Fourth WTO Ministerial Conference in Doha,
Qatar, will be held on 9-13 November 2001. The
offer of the Government of Qatar to hold the
Fourth WTO Ministerial Conference was accepted by
the General Council on 30 January 2001, when it
also authorized its Chairman, in cooperation with
the Director-General, to start consultations on
both organizational and substantive matters
related to the preparations of the Conference and
to report back to the General Council. |
05.02.01 |
Moore
bats for a new trade round
Director-General
Mike Moore underscored the potential benefits of
a new round for all members in speeches before Australia's
National Press Club (5 February 2001)
and Australia-Israel
Chamber of Commerce (2 February 2001).
He said a new round would facilitate the current
negotiations on agriculture and services, keep
and further open markets in an economic slowdown,
and deal with concerns of developing countries. |
01.02.01 |
Report
on US anti-dumping actions on Korean steel
adopted
The
WTO Dispute Settlement Body, on 1 February 2001,
adopted the panel report on US anti-dumping
measures on Korean steel products and established
a panel to examine a US complaint about Brazil's
measures affecting patent protection.
> Go
to the summary of the meeting |
01.02.01 |
Statement
on the multilateral trading system by three
former GATT/WTO Directors-General
Coinciding
with their recent attendance at the annual
meeting of the World Economic Forum in Davos from
25 to 29 January 2001, three former GATT/WTO
Directors-General released a joint statement
containing observations on the multilateral
trading system.
> Go
to the story |
01.02.01 |
The
WTO is now at your fingertips Moore
The WTO, on 1 February 2001, launched a new
document database on its website.
Director-General Mike Moore said the WTO is
now at your fingertips with over 100,000
official documents, the new on-line database is
part of ongoing efforts to make the Organization
more accessible and to make its work more
transparent for a worldwide public.
> Go
to the press release |
30.01.01 |
Qatar
to host 4th WTO Ministerial
The General Council, on 30 January 2001, accepted
the offer of the Government of Qatar to hold the
Fourth WTO Ministerial Conference in Doha, Qatar.
The date of the Conference will be announced at
the General Council meeting on 8 February 2001.
The General Council also authorized its Chairman,
in cooperation with the Director-General, to
start consultations on both organizational and
substantive matters related to the preparations
of the Fourth Ministerial Conference and to
report back to the General Council. |
29.01.01 |
WTO
Secretariat organizes tourism symposium
The WTO Secretariat is organizing a symposium on
tourism services on 22-23 February 2001 aimed at
evaluating developments in international tourism
that may be of relevance to the ongoing services
negotiations.
> Go
to the programme
(downloadable
in MS Word format, 3 pages 35KB).
> Guide to downloading
files
> Go
to symposium documentation |
26.01.01 |
WTO
lauds Mozambique's reforms
WTO members, in concluding their review
of Mozambique's
trade policies on 26 January 2001, congratulated
the country for its excellent economic
performance in recent years and attributed
this to economic reforms, including
privatization, elimination of most export
restrictions and simplification of customs
tariffs.
> Go
to the Chairperson's concluding remarks
(downloadable
in MS Word format, 2 pages 31KB).
> Go
to the press release |
25.01.01 |
Moore
welcomes new market opening for LDCs
Director-General Mike Moore, on 23 January 2001,
briefed least-developed country members on
concrete market access measures taken recently by
Canada, New Zealand and Norway for LDCs, adding
that the EC, Japan and the US have announced or
proposed significant measures. He promised to
intensify his efforts in further improving trade
opportunities for LDCs.
> Go
to Mr. Moore's statement |
23.01.01 |
EU
threatens action on US goods after safeguard
found to violate rules
The WTO Dispute Settlement Body on 19 January
2001 adopted the
Appellate Body report and the panel report as
modified by the Appellate Body
on the US safeguard measure on wheat gluten
imports from the EU (Case DS166). The EU said it
now has the right to act against US corn gluten
in response but under provisions of the
Safeguards Agreement, not the dispute settlement
procedure. |
19.01.01 |
Moore
underlines trade's development role
Director-General Mike Moore, at an informal
meeting of the WTO General Council on 18 January
2001, reported that the focus of WTO's
cooperation with the IMF and the World Bank is
assisting developing and least-developed
countries take greater advantage from
international trade. He underlined that these
countries need more open markets and technical
assistance.
> Go
to Mr. Moore's statement |
18.01.01 |
China
accession: political decisions needed
Deputy
Director-General Paul-Henri Ravier, acting
chairman of the WTO Working Party on China, said
on 17 January 2001 that that latest round of
talks has produced encouraging
results and has sharply defined the
political decisions needed in surmounting
outstanding problems.
> Go
to Chairman's note >
Go
to China's statement |
17.01.01 |
Core
economic agencies hold seminar on mainstreaming
trade into development
Integrating trade into development plans for
least-developed countries is the focus of a
seminar organized jointly by the WTO, IMF, ITC,
UNCTAD, UNDP and World Bank in Geneva on 29-30
January, 2001. The seminar will also look at how
these countries can better exercise their WTO
rights and make better use of WTO opportunities.
Participants will include experts in trade,
finance and development.
> Go
to the seminar page
|
16.01.01 |
WTO
starts 16th trade policy course
Deputy Director-General Paul-Henri Ravier, on 15
January 2001, launched WTO's 16th Trade Policy
Course for trade officials from developing and
transition economies. Six transition economies
are represented for the first time in these
regular courses.
> Go
to the press release. |
15.01.01 |
US
given 1 year to implement copyright report
A WTO arbitrator, in an award
(WT/DS160/12) issued on 15 January 2001, has
determined that the reasonable period of
time for United States to implement the
recommendations and rulings in the panel report
on US Section 110(5) of the US Copyright
Act (WT/DS160/R) is 12 months from the adoption
of the report. This period will expire on 27 July
2001. |
11.01.01 |
New
round needed to counter threat of protectionism
Moore
WTO Director-General Mike Moore stressed that
further trade negotiations are an insurance
policy against pleas for protection when
economies turn down in a speech
at the Partnership Summit on 11 January 2001 at
Hyderabad, India. |
10.01.01 |
Dispute
body adopts rulings on Korean beef and US
sanctions
The WTO Dispute Settlement Body on 10 January
2001 adopted Appellate
Body reports
on Rep of Koreas measures on imported beef,
(DS161 DS169) and US bond requirements
related to the banana dispute (DS165). |