WTO: Proposals Tabled On Forest Tariff, Non-Tariff Barriers To Trade	Draft negotiating text on accelerated liberalisation of tariffs on forest products and disciplining forest-related non-tariff barriers (NTBs) to trade were presented during the WTO Negotiating Group on Non-agricultural Market Access (NAMA) the week of 17 April. During an informal meeting organised by the proponents of accelerated liberalisation of forest trade during NAMA week, Canada presented a proposal which sketches out the parameters of a so-called "sectoral initiative" on forests. In the proposal, Canada and other proponents of the initiative, which currently includes Hong Kong, New Zealand, Thailand and the US, would reduce their tariffs on imports of forest products more than that required by the general NAMA formula. On NTBs, a Japanese proposal presented during the formal negotiating session calling for increased transparency in export restrictions could affect developing countries' ability to put in place log export bans or quotas to prevent unsustainable and illegal logging or to promote value-added processing of natural resources. more
Little Progress On Risk Analysis Standards At Codex	The Codex Alimentarius Committee on General Principles (CCGP) at its meeting from 10 to 14 April in Paris, France decided to send Proposed Draft Working Principles for Risk Analysis for Food Safety for governments to a newly established working group for examination before considering them again at the next meeting of the CCGP. Although disagreement on the need for the Principles blocked movement on the text, sources suggested that an agreement could be reached if Members avoid detailed descriptions of controversial ideas such as the role of precaution in risk analysis. more

In Brief

WTO Members To Miss April Deadline Thailand Files New Complaint At WTO On US Shrimp Duties UNCTAD Highlights Trade Impact of Environmental Requirements CITES Announces Limits to Trade in Endangered Species in 2006

Events    &   Resources
Events	1-12 May, New York, USA: FOURTEENTH SESSION OF THE UN COMMISSION ON SUSTAINABLE DEVELOPMENT. The fourteenth session of the UN Commission on Sustainable Development (CSD-14) will meet at UN Headquarters in New York from 1-12 May. As the first year of the second implementation cycle, CSD-14 will review progress in the following areas: Energy for Sustainable Development; Industrial Development; Air pollution/ Atmosphere; and Climate Change. For further information contact the Division for Sustainable Development, tel: (+ 1 212) 963-8102; fax: 963-4260; Internet: http://www.un.org/esa/sustdev/csd/review.htm
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Resources	INVASIVE ALIEN SPECIES AND TRADE: INTEGRATING PREVENTION MEASURES AND INTERNATIONAL TRADE RULES. By the Center for International Environmental Law, Defenders of Wildlife and the Nature Conservancy, January 2006. This report provides a general overview of the relationship between trade rules and invasive species. It includes sections on measures for preventing introductions of invasive species; an overview of international trade law including relevant agreements and jurisprudence under the WTO; and principles and recommendations for future work in the area.
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ISSN 1682-0843