Welcome back to our WTO Corner column! WTO members have begun follow-up work on some of the commitments set out in the so-called ‘Geneva package’ agreed at MC12 back in June. By Chris Horseman and Iana Dreyer.
E-commerce & services
The WTO’s new ‘Geneva Package’: What’s been agreed?
WTO trade ministers have brought the institution’s 12th ministerial to a successful conclusion with a compromise deal on a package of measures on a TRIPS waiver, agriculture, fisheries and WTO reform. The deal, which has been christened the ‘Geneva Package’ by diplomats, also includes a 2-year extension of the existing …
OPINION: WTO e-commerce moratorium : act before it’s too late
The Global Services Coalition calls on World Trade Organization members to prolong the institution’s moratorium on duties on cross-border digital transmissions – and explains why.
WTO e-commerce negotiators seek to enlist more developing countries, accelerate talks
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 …
“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.
