The strictly ‘multilateral’ dimension of the World Trade Organization seems to be in a rut, with the postponement of the 12th ministerial conference having thrown negotiations on issues such as fish subsidies or agriculture into further uncertainty. But, postponement or not, WTO crisis or not, a large subset of members …
E-commerce & services
“Historic” services deal, Laos, investment: plurilaterals fill MC12 space
You don’t need a ministerial conference to take important decisions at the World Trade Organization. Despite the 12th ministerial conference not happening this week as planned there has been movement in quite a few areas this week.
WTO Corner: TESSD, e-commerce moratorium, Section 232 disputes, DSB delays
An update on recent WTO developments by Rob Francis and Iana Dreyer.
Perspectives: WTO plurilateral agreements should be welcomed
News of agreement on the Joint Statement Initiative on Services Domestic Regulation were a highlight of last week’s World Trade Organization’s Public Forum. Given that full-blown multilateral deals look unlikely in the immediate future in the global trade institution, deepening the trade rulebook among selected countries is better than the …
WTO e-commerce negotiations: status report
Negotiations towards a plurilateral agreement on e-commerce at the World Trade Organization moved another small step forward on Monday (13 September). Parties found a definitive settlement on two more sub-chapters in the area of ‘open government data’ and ‘online consumer protection’. It remains unclear what type of deliverable negotiators will …
WTO Corner : E-commerce progress, Tai @ Ottawa Group meeting, NZ fossil fuel fight
One things needs to be said : it is busy in around the World Trade Organization again. Discussions are generally now over substance and the destructive dynamics at play in the Trump era are much less visible – although it is not the US alone in wielding the zero-sum veto game. …
WTO Corner: US joins ‘services domestic regulation’ talks
The United States have announced they would join the ongoing Services Domestic Regulations plurilateral negotiations at the World Trade Organization.
WTO e-commerce: Nigeria brings developing country exceptions for data flows into picture
Nigeria has tabled language in ongoing WTO e-commerce agreement talks that seeks to exempt poor countries from free data flow obligations.
WTO Corner: US ‘forced labour in fish deal’ surprise, e-commerce, Ottawa group on health
An overview of notable recent developments at the World Trade Organization focusing on fish subsidy talks, e-commerce negotiations and trade and health.
WTO: E-commerce negotiators take talks to next stage
Plurilateral e-commerce negotiations at the World Trade Organization are progressing, bit by bit. After a plenary session of the close to 90 participating countries on Tuesday (20 April), the conveners Japan, Australia and Singapore were able to announce that two small paragraphs of legal language were closed.