Thema

English documents

INTELLECTUAL PROPERTY NEGOTIATORS PICK NEW CHAIRPERSON
Ambassador Trevor Clarke of Barbados has been elected as the new chairperson for the negotiations on a multilateral register for geographical indications for wines and spirits. In the first meeting he chaired, on 29 October 2008, members discussed how to move forward in the talks, and some took the opportunity to argue for their proposal to include two other intellectual property issues, a proposal that some others opposed. http://www.wto.org/english/news_e/news08_e/trips_29oct08_e.htm

Streit nach dem Scheitern der Gespräche

Die Teilnehmer der WTO-Gespräche werfen sich gegenseitig Egoismus und mangelnde Weitsicht vor. China droht den USA und Europa, die USA kritisieren Indien und die Europäer sind sich uneins.
Tages-Anzeiger, 30.7.08

DAY 9: TALKS COLLAPSE DESPITE PROGRESS ON A LIST OF ISSUES
WTO Director-General Pascal Lamy announced after long hours of hard talking that ministers have failed in their effort to agree on blueprint agreements in agriculture and industrial products. He told a press conference after speaking to members that out of a to-do list of 20 topics, 18 had seen positions converge but the gaps could not narrow on the 19th � the special safeguard mechanism for developing countries.

More to follow: http://www.wto.org/english/news_e/news_e.htm
> Audio: Statement by Pascal Lamy at the informal Trade Negotiations Committee meeting: http://www.wto.org/audio/2008_07_29_tnc_dgstat.mp3
> Audio: Press conference: http://www.wto.org/audio/2008_07_29_pc_lamy.mp3

LAMY SAYS TIME FOR ACTION IS NOW AMID ECONOMIC THREATS
Director-General Pascal Lamy, in opening an informal meeting of the Trade Negotiations Committee on 21 July 2008, said that members are "within reach of a major step in our drive to conclude the Round this year". He could think of "no stronger spur for our action than the threats facing the world economy across several fronts, including rises in food prices and energy prices and financial market turbulences".
- Talking points for the Director-General: http://www.wto.org/english/news_e/news08_e/meet08_chair_21july08_e.htm
> Audio: Opening remarks by Chair: http://www.wto.org/audio/2008_07_21_tnc_opening.mp3
> Audio: Closing remarks by Chair: http://www.wto.org/audio/2008_07_21_tnc_closing.mp3
> Statements by delegations: http://www.wto.org/english/tratop_e/dda_e/meet08_statements_e.htm

NEW BLUEPRINTS ON FARM AND NON-FARM TRADE ISSUED FOR CRUCIAL TALKS
The latest revisions of two papers including what could become the formulas for cutting tariffs and trade-distorting agricultural subsidies in a final deal were issued on 10 July 2008. They are the outcome of the latest discussions in negotiation groups and will be a focus of crucial talks combining these and some other subjects when a representative group of ministers meet in Geneva from 21 July 08.
http://www.wto.org/english/news_e/news08_e/ag_nama_july08_e.htm
> Statement from Lamy on the release of the texts: http://www.wto.org/english/news_e/pres08_e/pr536_e.htm
> Agriculture text: http://www.wto.org/english/tratop_e/agric_e/chair_texts08_e.htm
> NAMA text: http://www.wto.org/english/tratop_e/agric_e/chair_texts08_e.htm

LAMY SAYS FOOD CRISIS ADDS URGENCY TO CONCLUDING THE ROUND
Director-General Pascal Lamy, in his report to the General Council on 7 May 2008, said the reasons why we must conclude the Round this year are visible to all of us and they are becoming more critical by the day. He said the WTO can provide part of the solution to the current food crisis, which is why it can, and must, play its full part in this vital effort.
Report by TNC Chairman Pascal Lamy: http://www.wto.org/english/news_e/news08_e/gc_chair_tnc_7may08_e.htm
Audio: Statement by Pascal Lamy: http://www.wto.org/audio/gc_tnc_chair_2008_05_07.mp3
Proposed agenda: http://www.wto.org/english/thewto_e/gcounc_e/meet_may08_e.htm
More on the General Council: http://www.wto.org/english/thewto_e/gcounc_e/gcounc_e.htm

CHAIR CIRCULATES DRAFT TEXT ON RULES
The chair of the Negotiating Group on Rules, Amb. Guillermo Valles Galmés of Uruguay, today (30 November 2007) circulated to members his draft consolidated texts on anti-dumping and subsidies and countervailing measures, including fisheries subsidies. Director-General Pascal Lamy said the texts are ambitious and balanced in all three areas they cover and they will enable negotiators to work in a more intensive manner in the coming weeks.
> News item: http://www.wto.org/english/news_e/news07_e/rules_draft_text_nov07_e.htm
> Download the text: http://www.wto.org/english/news_e/news07_e/rules_nov07_e.doc

LAMY INVITES PUBLIC TO ON-LINE CHAT ON AID FOR TRADE AND OTHER WTO ISSUES
Director-General Pascal Lamy is hosting a live on-line chat from 11:00 to 12:00 Geneva time on 16 November 2007.   Director-General's invitation: http://www.wto.org/english/forums_e/chat_e/dg_chat_nov07_e.htm

Ideas for Development, an international blog designed to stimulate debate on economic development issues, was launched in Washington on 21 October 2007at the World Bank-IMF annual meetings. Created by seven prominent personalities, including Director-General Pascal Lamy, this blog provides web users with a new forum to advance the cause of development.

> Ideas for Development blog: http://www.ideas4development.org/en/
> More on Aid for Trade: http://www.wto.org/english/tratop_e/devel_e/a4t_e/aid4trade_e.htm

WTO PUBLIC FORUM 2007: AUDIO FILES, PRESENTATIONS AND E-FORUM NOW AVAILABLE
The audio files for each session of the recent WTO Public Forum are now available on the WTO website. A page has been created for each forum session containing links to its audio file, any available documentation for the session and an e-forum in which you are encouraged to share your opinions. Further documentation will be included as and when it is available. You can access the page for each session by clicking on the link for the session in the programme.   http://www.wto.org

WTO öffentliches Forum 2007 - Wie kann die WTO helfen, die Globalisation nutzbar zu machen? Das WTO öffentliches Forum findet am 4.-5. Oktober 2007 statt. Die Anmeldung, um am Forum teilzunehmen ist nun möglich und man kann die Programme der vorgesehenen Sitzungen mit Zusammenfassungen auf der Webseite des Forums sehen.
> Public forum home page: http://www.wto.org/english/forums_e/
public_forum2007_e/public_forum07_e.htm
> Public forum registration: https://meetings.wto.
org/forums/
egistrant/symposiumregistration.aspx?Language=E
> Public forum programme: http://www.wto.org/english/forums_
e/public_forum2007_e/programme_e.htm

WTO PUBLIC FORUM 2007 - HOW CAN THE WTO HELP HARNESS GLOBALIZATION?
The WTO Public Forum will take place 4-5 October 2007. Registration to
attend the forum is now open and you can see the programme of the proposed
sessions with summaries of the sessions where available on the public
forum website.
> Public forum home page: http://www.wto.org/english/forums_e/
public_forum2007_e/public_forum07_e.htm
> Public forum registration: https://meetings.wto.org/forums/
egistrant/symposiumregistration.aspx?Language=E
> Public forum programme: http://www.wto.org/english/forums_
e/public_forum2007_e/programme_e.htm
 

BOOK ON 2006 WTO PUBLIC FORUM OUT
The WTO Secretariat has published a book providing a summary of the many
views and concerns raised at the 2006 WTO Public Forum, organized under
the overall theme "What WTO for the XXIst Century?".

Video overview: http://wto.streamlogics.com/2006_public_forum.wmv

Forum homepage: http://www.wto.org/english/forums_e/public_forum_e/forum06_e.htm

Buy paper version online: http://onlinebookshop.wto.org/shop/article_
details.asp?Id_Article=725&lang=EN

Download free e-version: http://www.wto.org/english/res_e/booksp_e/public_forum06_e.pdf

Am Freitag, 27.4.07 , 9.30 - 11.30, Zimmer F, WTO

Thema: Die Entwicklungs-Komponente der DDA.

Kommentar: Hier könnte der verheerende Einfluss der Alkoholindustrie auf die Entwicklungsbemühungen eingebracht werden.

Anmeldung von interessierten Repräsentanten vor dem 25 April an: Susan.Barbier@wto.org, unter Angabe von Name und vertretener Organisation.

NON GOVERNMENTAL ORGANIZATIONS (NGOS): DIALOGUE

First series of Issue-specific dialogues with Civil Society organized by the WTO Secretariat

The Development Component of the DDA

Friday 27 April 2007, 9:30 -11:30, Room F, WTO

• The first of a series of issue-specific dialogues with civil society will address “The Development Component of the DDA,” from different perspectives, including that of a developing country Member of the WTO, an NGO representative and the WTO Secretariat. The following questions, among others, will be discussed: How are trade and development linked? How can this linkage be further strengthened? To what extent has Special and Differential Treatment (S&D) helped development? What is the way forward on S&D? What kind of issues are key to civil society as the debate on trade and development progresses?

• Issue-specific dialogues provide an opportunity for representatives of Civil Society, WTO Members and Observers and Secretariat staff to exchange information and views on matters related to the multilateral trading system of particular relevance to them. Dialogues take place at the WTO in an informal setting and are off the record.

• The panellists will be H.E. Ambassador Ronald Saborio (Costa Rica), Mrs. Celine Charveriat, Head of Advocacy Office in Geneva, OXFAM International, and Mr. Shishir Priyadarshi, Counsellor, WTO Secretariat. The dialogue will be moderated by Mr. Warren Giles, Journalist from Bloomberg News, Geneva.

Please note:

• Interested Civil Society representatives that want to participate in this dialogue should send an email to the following address before Wednesday, 25 April: Susan.Barbier@wto.org, indicating your name and the organization you represent.

Press release: http://www.wto.org/english/tratop_e/tpr_e/tp278_e.htm

> More on the European Communities:

http://www.wto.org/english/thewto_e/countries_e/european_communities_
e.htm

> More on trade policy reviews:

http://www.wto.org/english/tratop_e/tpr_e/tpr_e.htm

Auf 24 Seiten wird berichtet und mit Statistiken und Grafiken gezeigt welche Antworten eingegangen sind.

Lamy fordert die norwegischen Industrien auf, zu helfen, dass die Doha Runde rasch zu einem Ergebnis führt. Er sprach an der Jahresversammlung der norwegischen Föderation der Industrien in Oslo, am 4.1.07. Lamy betonte, dass die Doha Runde für Norwegen ein Gewinn war. Der vorhandene Spielraum würden eine echte Reform der Landwirtschaft ermöglichen.
Kommentar: Er erwähnt u.a. die Schweiz, die ähnliche Probleme habe.

WTO NEWS: SPEECHES — DG PASCAL LAMY - 4 January 2007

Lamy urges Norwegian industries to help achieve rapid conclusion of Doha Round.
Speaking at the Annual Conference of the Norwegian Confederation of Industries in Oslo, 4 January 2007, WTO Director-General Pascal Lamy stressed that the Doha Round was a win-win deal for Norway given the country's substantial interests in the negotiations and the flexibilities available in the Doha agenda to accompany a genuine reform in agriculture.

One of the main articles:

WTO/GATS negotiations and alcohol policy (by Dag Endal)

Mehr Details:
http://www.wto.org/english/forums_e/chat_e/dg_chat_
dec06_e.htm

In July the five year Doha Development Round negotiations were suspended following the collapse of Ministerial level negotiations in Geneva. Calls to resume the negotiations as soon as possible have come from various forums around the world but the future of the negotiations remains highly uncertain. What are the prospects for 2007?

On 18 December from 17:00-18:00 Geneva time WTO Director-General Pascal Lamy will host an on-line chat to discuss this suspension, the prospects for relaunching the talks and the future of the WTO and the global trading system. Mr. Lamy would welcome the opportunity to hear YOUR views and take YOUR questions during this chat.> Find out more at:
http://www.wto.org/english/forums_e/chat_e/dg_chat_dec06_e.htm

LAMY FIELDS 150 QUESTIONS FROM AROUND THE WORLD IN ONLINE CHAT
Nearly a hundred participants from around the world posed some 150
questions in on online chat hosted by Director-General Lamy on 18 October
2006. Questions touched on the prospects for the resumption of the Doha
Round, the possible impact of failure, and the future of the WTO
News item: http://www.wto.org/english/news_e/news06_e/dgchat_
18oct06_e.htm
transcript:http://www.wto.org/english/forums_e/chat_e/chat_transcript_
oct06_e.doc
(multilingual document � translations will follow shortly)

Director-General Pascal Lamy will host an on-line chat on 18 October 2006
to discuss prospects for the resumption of the trade talks, and the future
of the WTO and the global trading system.
Details: http://www.wto.org/english/forums_e/chat_e/dg_chat_oct06_e.htm

RESEARCH AND ANALYSIS: WORKING PAPERS
Services liberalization in the new generation of Preferential Trade Agreements (PTAs): How much further than the GATS?
This paper attempts to fill a gap in the trade literature by providing a comprehensive overview of services liberalization commitments in the new generation of preferential trade agreements (PTAs) as compared to prevailing GATS commitments and Doha Round offers. By developing a new database, the paper reviews the commitments undertaken by 29 WTO Members (counting the EC as one) under mode 1 (cross-border supply) and mode 3 (commercial presence) in 28 PTAs negotiated since 2000. The paper presents a general analysis from both a cross-country and cross-sector perspectives, and also examines in more detail the GATS+ commitments undertaken in a number of key sectors (audiovisual, distribution, education, financial, professional, and telecommunication services).

SUMMARY OF THE WTO PUBLIC FORUM 2006
A total of 1'396 persons registered to participate in this year's Forum
and 136 additional people were registered manually after the expiry date
of the on-line registration.  Approximately 1'000 participants actually
attended the event.    Breakdown by category of registered participants:
http://www.wto.org/english/forums_e/public_forum_e/participation_e.doc

The audio presentations from each session of the Forum are now available
on the website. You can listen to them, download any documents associated
with the session and participate in the online forum for the session by
going to the programme at
http://www.wto.org/english/forums_e/public_forum_e/programme_e.htm then
clicking on the link for the session in which you are interested.
Public Forum home page:
http://www.wto.org/english/forums_e/public_forum_e/forum06_e.htm

(Click on the links or copy and paste them into your browser.
Alternatively, you can go to the home page http://www.wto.org and follow
the links.)

Gegenwärtige Situation der Zeitpläne der WTO-Mitglieder.

NEW PAGE: CURRENT SITUATION OF SCHEDULES OF WTO MEMBERS
WTO negotiations produce general rules that apply to all Members, and
specific commitments made by individual Member governments. The specific
commitments are listed in documents called "schedules of concessions",
which reflect specific tariff concessions and other commitments that they
have given in the context of trade negotiations, such as the Uruguay
Round. The content of the schedules change over time to take account of
different modifications, such as GATT Article XXVIII negotiations or
rectification procedures. Current Situation of Schedules of WTO Members:
http://www.wto.org/english/tratop_e/schedules_e/goods_schedules_table
_e.htm

Die Informationen der WTO sind auch in Französich und Spanisch verfügbar.

GATT documents
On 15 May 2006 the General Council decided to make public all official documents issued under the General Agreement on Tariffs and Trade (GATT). Many of these documents did not exist electronically, and have been scanned to create a digital archive. This is a work in progress — cataloguing is not completed, and refinements to structure and help files will be added at a later date. Of the roughly 88,000 documents issued under GATT, about 51,000
are here available.

TALKS SUSPENDED. �TODAY THERE ARE ONLY LOSERS.�
The Doha Development Agenda negotiations are to be suspended because gaps
between key players remain too wide. Heads of delegations, speaking in an
informal meeting of the Trade Negotiations Committee on 24 July 2006,
agreed with WTO Director-General Pascal Lamy that this will be a setback
for all members.
     > News  item: http://www.wto.org/english/news_e/news06_e/mod06_summary_24july_
e.htm

> Statement by Pascal Lamy at the informal Trade Negotiations Committee
meeting: http://www.wto.org/english/news_e/news06_e/tnc_dg_stat_24july06_
e.htm

> Audio: Statement by Pascal Lamy at the informal Trade Negotiations
Committee meeting: http://www.wto.org/audio/2006_07_24_tnc_dgreport.mp3

> Audio: Highlights from the press conference:
http://www.wto.org/audio/2006_07_24_tnc_pc.mp3

LAMY OUTLINES SCHEDULE FOR 'MOMENT-OF-TRUTH' MEETINGS
>From Friday 30 June 2006, a series of meetings open to all members,
alternating with hard talking among a representative group of ministers
and other forms of consultations, will aim to produce "vital operational
decisions" over the weekend.
http://www.wto.org/english/news_e/news06_e/mod06_summary_28june_
e.htm
> Highlights from the press conference:
http://www.wto.org/audio/2006_06_28_dg_pc.mp3
> More on the June/July 2006 modalities:
http://www.wto.org/english/tratop_e/dda_e/modalities06_e.htm
LIVE WEBCASTING
WTO will be providing live webcasting of press conferences from 1 - 3 July
at  http://gaia.world-television.com/wto/20060701/
The schedule of press conferences will be added to this page when
available, but is subject to last minute change.
Podcasting (audio files) of press conferences will also be made available
at http://www.wto.org/english/res_e/webcas_e/podcasting_e.htm

FOCUS NO. 71 - MAY 2006: The new edition of Focus, the electronic WTO newsletter is now available on the WTO website
Focus is available: 
> as a standard web page (html) on the WTO website at
http://www.wto.org/english/res_e/focus_e/focus71_e.htm
> as a pdf file on the WTO website to consult or download at
http://www.wto.org/english/res_e/focus_e/focus71_e.pdf

The WTO has decided to make public all official documents issued under the
General Agreement on Tariffs and Trade (GATT) during the period 1947-1995.
http://www.wto.org/english/news_e/pres06_e/pr442_e.htm

Der neue WTO Newsletter ist mit nebenstehenden Links erhältlich.

Der neue WTO Newsletter ist mit nebenstehenden Links erhältlich.

> HTML format: http://www.wto.org/english/res_e/focus_e/focus69_e.htm
> PDF format: http://www.wto.org/english/res_e/focus_e/focus69_e.pdf
> Previous issues of Focus may be consulted at:

    http://www.wto.org/english/res_e/focus_e/focus_e.htm frühere Ausgaben
                                                         former editions

List of NGOs which attended the Sixth WTO Ministerial Conference in Hong
Kong, 13 - 18 Dec. 2005
http://www.wto.org/english/thewto_e/minist_e/min05_e/list_ngo_hk05_e.pdf

WTO WEBCASTING
The WTO provides webcasting (internet broadcasting) of major events and
for training purposes.  Most videos are available in Real Media and
Windows Media format, and can either be viewed online (streaming) or
downloaded to your PC and viewed later.
Find out more at: http://www.wto.org/english/res_e/webcas_e/webcas_e.htm

Priorities for Doha WTO Trade Negotiations
(English only — also available electronically, Word format, 54KB): Fédération Internationale des Vins et Spiritueux (FIVS) — France

Die internationale Wein- und Schnapsföderation verlangt in ihrer Eingabe die völlige Liberalisierung des Wein- und Schnaps- Handels.

In accordance with the Guidelines for Arrangements on Relations With Non-Governmental Organizations (WT/L/162) and as a follow-up to the Director-General's recent initiatives on greater transparency and an enhanced dialogue with NGOs, the list of NGO Position Papers received by the Secretariat is circulated for the information of Members.

Interested delegations that wish to consult these documents in more detail are requested to contact Mrs. Susan Barbier, ext. 5677, in the External Relations Division.

The international Federation for Wine and Spirits (FIVS) has entered its position paper. Therein it demands the complete liberalization of the Wine- and Spiritmarket. (Use the links.)

NGOs wishing to send Position Papers to the WTO Secretariat may do so to the following address:

External Relations Division
World Trade Organization
Centre William Rappard
154 Rue de Lausanne
1211 Geneva 21
Switzerland

WTO Non Governmental Organizations (NGOs) -
NGO position papers received by the WTO Secretariat

Lamy takes 200 questions on many trade issues in his first live chat.
Responding to questions from all over the world about many subjects ranging from sustainable development to generic medicines, Director-General Pascal Lamy held his first live online chat on 21 February 2006, from 12:00 to 1:30 p.m. Geneva time.
http://www.wto.org/english/news_e/news06_e/dgchat_21jan06_e.htm

- Wie viele der Versprechungen können in den Doha Verhandlungen eingelöst werden?
- Welche Resultate würden den Entwicklungsländern am besten dienen?
- Wie wichtig ist Handel als Werkzeug zur Überwindung der Armut?
- Was bedeutet der Aufstieg von grossen Entwicklungsländern für die übrige sich entwickelnde Welt?
- Ist die WTO der richtige Ort, um den Handel im 21. Jh. zu regeln?

WTO Direktor Pascal Lamy will IHRE Meinung hören und wird IHRE Fragen während eines On-Line-Chats beantworten. 
 Details siehe:    WTO DG chat

WTO Trade and Development: myth or reality?

The World Trade Organization launched a new round of world trade talks dubbed the “Doha Development Agenda” in 2001. Now more than four years on with the round winding towards it's conclusion many politicians, commentators and civil society are asking questions:

• How much of the promise of Doha can be met in these negotiations?
• What kind of a result would best suit developing countries?
• How important a tool is trade in contributing to the alleviation of poverty?
• What does the rise of big developing countries mean for the rest of the developing world?
• Is the WTO the right place to regulate trade in the 21st century?

WTO Director-General Pascal Lamy wants to listen to YOUR views and will be answering YOUR questions during an on-line chat.  
                   See details on:          WTO DG chat

Z.B.:                                  

APPELLATE BODY ISSUES ANNUAL REPORT for 2005 on 25 Jan. 2006.
http://www.wto.org/english/tratop_e/dispu_e/wt_ab5_e.doc
E.g.:

CEPS - The European Spirits Organisation THE EU SPIRITS INDUSTRY’S TRADE PRIORITIES FOR THE 6th WTO MINISTERIAL CONFERENCE IN HONG KONG
http://www.europeanspirits.org/documents/hong_kong_Conf.pdf

http://www.policyalternatives.ca/publications/pub1.html