The WTO Public Forum kicked off today in Geneva with delegates eager to get back into the swing of networking and debating critical trade issues. Rob Francis shares his impressions.
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Facilitator outlines first ideas for a formalised WTO pandemic response
It’s taken former General Council chair David Walker about one month to figure out what members of the world trade institution in Geneva would likely want to negotiate on in the area of trade and health post-pandemic. Among others, Walker hopes that WTO members could agree quickly on a framework …
James Bacchus: The WTO simply must prove that it can do something, not just talk
James Bacchus spoke with Rob Francis about the European Union’s carbon border adjustment mechanism, trade in medicines and medical products, how the Biden Administration is progressing on trade policy – and the World Trade Organization in all this.
WTO Corner: Fish subsidies move to end game, IP waiver negotiations now weekly
Chris Horseman and Robert Francis on the latest developments in the two critical negotiations at the WTO on fisheries subsidies and on intellectual property. Plans for revised compromise text as WTO fish talks enter end-game A fresh revised text of the planned WTO agreement on fisheries subsidies is expected to …
TRIPS waiver: WTO members move to text-based negotiations
World Trade Organization members today agreed to move to text-based negotiations on two proposals to speed up the supply of vaccines and COVID-19-related medical equipment around the world.
WTO: European Commission formalises its views on vaccine production
The European Commission today put forward a Communication for discussion at the World Trade Organization, which aims to facilitate the production and export of vaccines and therapeutics. The EU document stops short of supporting a waiver on intellectual property rights for medical products as is being proposed by a number …
G20 gives WTO “central role” to ensure global vaccine access
G20 countries reiterated their support for the multilateral trading system as a means to ensure global access to vaccines for Covid-19, as well as related medicines and medical equipment.
Week in Brussels: TRIPS, EU-India summit, ISDS reform
Overview of key news items this week in EU trade by Iana Dreyer and Nikos Lavranos.
WTO Corner: Trade and Health, China, MPIA, WTO Secretariat
China joins Trade and Health Initiative It’s gone almost unnoticed, but the Ottawa-Group sponsored ‘trade and healthcare’ initiative is officially expanding, with China joining the group, alongside Hong Kong, Iceland, Moldova, Montenegro, North Macedonia and the United Kingdom. The announcement was made official in a communication circulated on 22 April …
WTO Corner: Bad health situation at General Council
The arrival of Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala at the helm of the World Trade Organization on Monday gave members a cautious sense of optimism about the ability of the institution to deliver new outcomes.
