News

The WTO issued on 2 September 2011 the report of the panel that had examined a complaint by Indonesia about a US ban on clove cigarettes (dispute number DS406). Details are available on the WTO website at:http://www.wto.org/english/news_e/news11_e/406r_e.htm

The world still lacks coherent international and domestic agricultural policies to deal with food security and the double-edged sword of higher prices, WTO Director-General Pascal Lamy told a congress of agricultural economists in Zurich on 30 August 2011.The entire speech is available on the WTO…

On 31 August 2011, China notified the Dispute Settlement Body, which consists of all WTO members, of its decision to appeal the panel reports in dispute cases DS394, DS395 and DS398, “China — Measures related to the exportation of various raw materials”. Further information is available on the WTO…

The following is excerpted from a 26 August 2011 news item from the World Trade Organization (WTO). The WTO Secretariat has circulated a meeting notice and list of items proposed for the next meeting, on 2 September 2011, of the Dispute Settlement Body, which consists of all WTO members and oversees…

The following is excerpted from the 24 August 2011 issue of Industry Week.If the ruling stands, it could bolster international efforts to get Beijing to relax controls over rare earths.China, under pressure to relax controls over rare earths, said it will appeal a World Trade Organization ruling…

The following is excerpted from a 19 August 2011 news release by the Association of Southeast Asian Nations.Thirty trade and customs officials from the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) gathered in Singapore this week to discuss streamlining specific import and export processes to…

The following is excerpted from a 17 August 2011 release by the International Chamber of Commerce.After the first two improved quarters of 2011, the global economic upswing is faltering, according to the latest quarterly World Economic Survey (WES) from the International Chamber of Commerce (ICC)…

The WTO, on 15 August 2011, issued the report of the panel that had examined complaints by the European Union and the United States regarding “Philippines — Taxes on distilled spirits” (DS396 and DS403).This report is available on the WTO website at:http://www.wto.org/english/news_e/news11_e/396…

The following is excerpted from a July 2011 release from the World Customs Organization.The WCO Secretariat was invited to share its approach towards Capacity Building at the 1st General Assembly of the African Tax Administration Forum (ATAF). The meeting was held from 24 to 25 July 2011 in…