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BRIDGES
Weekly Trade News Digest
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11
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Number
24
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4 July 2007
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 Lead
Stories |
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FLURRY
OF PROPOSALS AS AG CHAIR PREPARES DRAFT AGREEMENT, PESSIMISM
NOTWITHSTANDING |
WTO
Members this week produced a spate of new proposals in an attempt
to influence the content of the draft agreement text currently
being prepared by the chair of the agriculture negotiations.
Delegates expect the draft 'modalities' paper, which will set
out figures and formulae for tariff and subsidy cuts and exceptions,
to be circulated in the days leading up to 16 July. This week
is the 'last chance' to communicate their positions before the
text is issued, they said. |
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CLOUDS
LOOM OVER US TRADE POLICY, DESPITE SUCCESSFUL RE-NEGOTIATION
OF FTAs |
The
US presidential administration last week finalised free trade
agreements (FTA) with Peru, Colombia, Panama, and Korea just
ahead of the expiry of its 'trade promotion authority' mandate
on 30 June. Negotiators managed to agree on last-minute changes
to environmental, labour, and intellectual property provisions
aimed at boosting the accords' chances of securing legislative
approval in Washington. Nevertheless, political support for
the Bush administration's trade agenda does not look promising.
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ANTIGUA
GAMBLING DISPUTE: MAJOR ECONOMIES DEMAND COMPENSATION FROM US
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The
Caribbean island nation of Antigua and Barbuda is no longer
alone in its efforts to make it harder for the US to avoid complying
with multiple WTO dispute rulings against Washington's restrictions
on overseas internet gambling.
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DEBATE
ON PRIVATE SECTOR STANDARDS CONTINUES IN SPS COMMITTEE
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Some
Members have suggested that governments should take responsibility
for the WTO-compatibility of voluntary standards set by companies
within their borders. At a meeting of the Committee on Sanitary
and Phytosanitary (SPS) Measures from 27-28 June, Egypt, Argentina
and several other developing countries said that governments
were, in fact, responsible for the standard-setting activities
of private sector entities operating within their territory.
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