..::Centre for Trade and Development::..

Trade News

Announcements

Focus

Event Reports

Publications

South Asia Country Profiles

UNCTAD warns developing countries about free trade deals
North-South bilateral and regional trade agreements could reduce the scope for national policies that support development and structural change in developing countries, says a recent report by the UN Conference on Trade and Development (UNCTAD).

Labour productivity up but deficit in ‘decent work’: ILO report
A recent report by the International Labour Organisation says that while the share of working poverty in South Asia has decreased significantly, one-third of the working population is “potentially underutilised” and there is a deficit in productive or “decent work”.

US cuts antidumping duty on shrimps
The US commerce department’s decision to slash import duties on shrimps had raised hopes among shrimp exporters, including India, of a total withdrawal of the duty.

APEC summit amidst protests; India not admitted
The 21-member APEC summit in Sydney, being held amidst heavy security, has not opened its membership, and has been criticised by civil society groups for not addressing the critical problems of poverty.

Britain's new campaign to lure select migrants
A new strategy paper from the British home and foreign office seeks to ensure that the “right” kind of migrants come to Britain.

Push to conclude Doha Round resumes
Trade diplomats returned to the negotiating table on September 3, 2007, to find a solution to the key issues of agriculture and industrial goods that have bogged down the Doha round of the WTO.

India-ASEAN FTA makes slow progress
Some movement is expected on the long-pending India-ASEAN FTA negotiations in time for the November summit.

SAARC finalises paper on regional transport corridor
The multi-nodal transport corridor linking the eight-member SAARC nations, agreed upon at the SAARC summit in April, has been finalised at the secretary level and will be presented to ministers meeting on August 31, 2007.

APEC countries to consider APEC-wide FTA
The 21-member Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation forum may consider combining existing bilateral and free trade agreements in the region into an over-arching Free Trade Area of the Asia-Pacific at a summit next month.

Floods in Bangladesh could send food prices soaring: WB
In a preliminary impact assessment report of the impact of the floods in Bangladesh, the World Bank says inflation rates will go up and food may become more costly.

India, Japan to triple bilateral trade
The Japanese prime minister’s visit to India resulted in a currency swap agreement and promises to triple bilateral trade in three years.

India, Pak open border to trade
At a meeting on August 20, 2007, India and Pakistan agreed to allow trucks to carry cargo across the Attari-Wagah border, in order to facilitate trade.

Japan for more business ties with India
With 200 businessmen in his entourage, the Japanese prime minister’s visit to India on August 21-23, 2007, has greater implications for business than for politics.

US calls for DSP in IPR protection complaint against China
The United States has asked for a Dispute Settlement Panel (DSP) to be set up on its complaint against China’s Intellectual Property Rights (IPR) protection.

Entry of Wal-Mart sparks protests in India
There are growing protests in India against US retail giant Wal-Mart’s advent into the Indian retail sector, hitherto dominated by small grocers and shop-owners.

India changes sugar export subsidy structure
Complaints that the subsidy announced for sugar exporters in March 2007 was not WTO-complaint has impelled the Indian government to modify the subsidy.

Indian court rejects Novartis’ patent challenge
The Madras High Court, on August 6, 2007, rejected a challenge by Swiss pharmaceutical giant Novartis of a provision in the Indian Patents Act that denies patents for minor innovations in known drugs, thereby allowing cheaper generic drugs to be available.

Pakistan pushes for US legislation on duty-free zones
Pakistan wants the United States to pass legislation on “reconstruction opportunity zones” that would allow it and Afghanistan to export textiles, clothing and other goods without paying US duties.

Increasing informal labour in Sri Lanka: ILO survey
A recent study on labour flexibility in Sri Lanka shows that the job market is ‘informalising’ and trade unions are losing their clout.

ASEAN meet strengthens rights of migrant workers
ASEAN foreign ministers meeting in Manila on July 30-31, 2007, signed two documents that will protect and promote the rights of migrant workers of member states.

NAMA draft comes under fire from developing countries
Many developing countries have been severely critical of the NAMA draft text circulated on July 17, 2007, calling it flawed and biased against them.

India-Pak agree to improve cement, tea trade
The two-day secretarial-level talks between India and Pakistan agreed to facilitate trade between the two countries in a number of areas, and expressed the hope of boosting bilateral trade to US$ 10 billion by 2010.

Pakistan, Mauritius sign PTA
An agreement allowing Pakistan and Mauritius to mutually export products on a preferential basis was signed between the two countries on July 31, 2007.

Lamy calls for intensive negotiations in September
WTO Director General Pascal Lamy urged members to examine the draft negotiating texts on agriculture and NAMA and return to “intensive negotiations” in September.

No major cuts in subsidies, in US farm bill
Legislators from farm-rich American states have ensured that the farm bill that goes before the US Congress does not cut farm subsidies.

Rwanda notifies WTO of import of generic drug
Rwanda becomes the first country to use the WTO procedure called the ‘30 August Decision’ to import patented HIV/AIDS drugs.

India cuts customs duty on palm oil
India, the world’s biggest importer of edible oil, cut its import duty on edible oil in a bid to contain high domestic prices.

India may allow FDI from Bangladesh
India’s minister of state for commerce told the India-Bangladesh Chamber of Commerce that a blanket ban on Foreign Direct Investment (FDI) from Bangladesh to India “made no sense”.

Rich nations uneasy about globalisation: poll
A Financial Times/Harris poll of six rich European countries shows a popular backlash against globalisation.

Britain’s new PM says WTO talks can be concluded this year
Gordon Brown, Britain’s new prime minister, told a news conference that there was enough common ground between major plays to get a deal on the stalled Doha round of trade talks, although his EU partner France was not as optimistic.

Chinese companies to buy $ 210 mn worth of Pak goods
Twelve Chinese companies signed agreements with their Pakistani counterparts, on July 19, 2007, to buy $ 210 million worth of goods from Pakistan.

LDCs need science and technology boost: UNCTAD
The annual report of the UN Conference on Trade and Development argues that domestic policies as well as foreign investment policies must put more resources into building up the scientific and technological capacities of least developed countries, to lift them out of poverty.

WTO circulates revised blueprints of agriculture, NAMA texts
The Chairs of the agriculture and NAMA negotiations at the WTO circulated revised draft ‘modalities’ for the Doha talks for countries to debate.

No agriculture, NAMA framework deal before August
The Chairs of the agriculture and NAMA groups at the WTO have tacitly acknowledged that draft negotiating texts will not be ready by July-end as originally envisaged, thus making it unlikely that the Doha Round will be completed by the end of this year.

WIPO meeting on genetic resources inconclusive
A meeting of the World Intellectual Property Organisation’s (WIPO’s) Inter-Governmental Committee on Intellectual Property, Genetic Resources, Traditional Knowledge and Folklore was divided between developing countries that wanted a binding agreement, and developed countries that wanted a non-binding agreement to guard against misappropriation of resources.

Brazil challenges US farm subsidies
Brazil has formally challenged, in the WTO, the billions of dollars that the United States pays in farm subsidies.

India to import half its wheat tender quota
A little over a month after it cancelled a tender to import 1 million tonnes of wheat, citing high prices, India is set to import half the amount at much higher rates.

APEC affirms commitment to WTO; moots Asia-Pacific FTA
The 21-member Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) group, meeting in Cairns Australia, July 4-5, 2007, called on WTO countries to conclude the stalled Doha round of talks, and also explored plans for a regional FTA.

China-Pakistan FTA comes into force
The trade pact between the two countries, which came into force on July 1, 2007, is expected to boost bilateral trade to US$ 15 billion by 2011.

India scraps additional duty on foreign liquor
With complaints pending in the WTO against its high import duties on alcohol, India has removed additional customs duty on foreign liquor.

India, Japan to expedite CEPA negotiations
India and Japan want to speed up negotiations on a Comprehensive Economic Partnership Agreement (CEPA), but some glitches remain.

Lanka urges preferential access for garments into US
Sri Lanka’s trade minister urges American apparel associations to use their good offices to obtain preferential access for Sri Lanka’s garment exports to the US.

APEC to try and break Doha deadlock
Trade ministers from the 21 Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) economies meeting in Cairns, Australia, on July 5, 2007, are hoping to break the deadlock in the Doha round of trade talks.

Subsidies are distortions, tariffs are not: India
India’s Commerce Minister Kamal Nath, on a visit to Washington, said the trade-off between tariffs and subsidies in the Doha round of trade negotiations was not a valid one.

US terminates trade benefits for developing countries
The US has terminated trade benefits under its Generalised System of Preferences programme for some developing countries including India and Brazil.

India, Pakistan free trade area suggested
A working group set up to explore ways of improving India-Pakistan relations has mooted the idea of a free trade area between Jammu and Kashmir and Pakistan-controlled Kashmir.

India’s trade with Thailand estimated to reach $ 7 billion
The Indian industries body, FICCI, estimates that India’s trade with Thailand will reach US$ 7 billion by 2010-11, up from US$ 2.2 billion currently.

End of G4, says India
India’s commerce minister says the Group of Four (G4), which has been spearheading WTO negotiations, cannot do any more and it is now up to the rest of the WTO membership to take the Doha Round forward.

Indian grape-growers address EU concerns about pesticide residue and quality
Using software that enables better monitoring of pesticide residue is one of the measures taken by Indian grape-growers to boost exports to the European Union.

G4 Potsdam talks fail
Failure to arrive at a consensus on US farm subsidies and market access by developing countries have torpedoed the G4 talks that began in Potsdam on June 19, 2007.

Indo-Canadian taskforce to study FTA
Trade and industry bodies in Canada and India will set up a taskforce to study the feasibility of a Free Trade Agreement (FTA) between the two countries.

Pakistan urged to make structural changes in its economy
At a conference in Washington on Pakistan’s trade issues, speakers stressed better trade links with neighbours and less protectionist measures as the way to sustain growth.

Satwant Reddy report criticised by public interest groups
Public interest groups working on intellectual property rights in India have criticised the recent report of an inter-ministerial committee headed by Union Chemicals and Petrochemicals Secretary, Satwant Reddy, on the issue of data exclusivity for drugs and agro-chemicals.

All eyes on Potsdam talks for Doha Round success
The June 19, 2007, talks between the G4 in Potsdam, Germany, may be the last opportunity for a breakthrough in the Doha round of WTO talks.

India wants consensus within EU countries on trade issues
The European Union should get a consensus on trade issues from its member states before negotiations start at the end of the month on a proposed India-EU comprehensive trade and investment agreement.

EU initiated the most antidumping probes: report
According to a WTO report, the European Union (EU) initiated the most antidumping investigations in the period July-December 2006, double the number for the same period the previous year.

Developing country groupings stand firm on market access
Members of the G20, G33 and NAMA-11, meeting in Geneva, say they will not make any compromises on market access unless there are sizeable cuts in developed countries’ offer on subsidies.

India, Russia plan trade pact
India and Russia will set up a joint taskforce to increase bilateral trade and work towards an economic cooperation agreement.

Nepal posts poor foreign trade figures
According to a report by the Nepal Rastra Bank, Nepal has performed poorly in the first nine months of 2006-07 due to the deteriorating security situation and power crisis.

Bangladesh, Myanmar, Thailand to link port cities
To boost maritime trade, the three countries are planning to introduce a cargo vessel liner that will link the port cities of Chittagong, Yangon and Ranong.

Nobel prize-winner calls on US to eliminate duties for LDCs
Muhammad Yunus, the pioneer of microcredit, says elimination of US duties on all products from Bangladesh and other Least Developed Countries (LDCs) would help enormously in reducing poverty.

Indian ministerial committee rules against data exclusivity
A committee set up by the Indian Ministry of Chemicals and Fertilisers has ruled that there is no need to change Indian regulations on data exclusivity in the pharmaceuticals sector.

Indian shrimp exports to US fall, amidst allegations of unfair trade barriers
Indian shrimp exports to the United States have fallen by 30.77% as exporters challenge customs bonds and anti-dumping duties imposed by the US.

India, China reach ‘consensus’ on key trade areas
India and China have reached a “consensus” on key areas such as goods and services, investment, etc, as part of a proposed regional trade agreement.

G8 summit critical for global trade talks: EU commissioner
EU Trade Commissioner Peter Mandelson says the ongoing G8 summit in Heiligendamm, Germany, is important for the Doha round of trade talks, but regretted that countries are hardening their positions rather than being flexible.

India, Brazil set $ 10 billion trade target
Visiting Brazilian President Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva emphasised India-Brazil cooperation in the WTO, and enhanced trade between the two countries.

G8 summit faces dissent within, and protests without
Leaders of the advanced countries meeting for the G8 summit in the German town of Heilingendamm will not find it easy to arrive at a consensus on the contentious issues of climate change and aid to poor countries.

High prices force India to cancel wheat import
India has cancelled a tender to import 1 million tonnes of wheat on account of high international prices.

US requests panel to investigate Indian liquor tariffs
The row over high tariffs imposed by India on imported wine and spirits has led to the US calling for a WTO disputes settlement body to be set up to investigate the taxes.

Second set of ‘challenges’ circulated for farm talks
Chairperson of the agriculture negotiations at the WTO, Ambassador Crawford Falconer released the second instalment of his ‘challenges’ paper covering areas such as SSM and Green Box subsidies.

India pushes for more access in services
In a report to the WTO, India stresses the need to abolish the economic needs test imposed by developed countries, that, it says, hinders the movement of professionals from the services sector.

WTO queries India’s SEZ policy
The WTO Trade Policy Review for India says it is unclear whether Special Economic Zones (SEZs) will generate employment and has called for deeper structural reforms and investment in human capital to sustain high economic growth.

India not complying with WTO labour commitments: ITUC
“Determined measures” are needed to ensure that India complies with the commitments on labour standards it accepted at WTO Ministerial Declarations over 1996-2001, according to a report by the International Trade Union Confederation (ITUC).

OECD, G4 meetings still cautious on Doha Round
The OECD summit in Paris and a meeting of G4 members in Brussels days later saw no breakthrough in the Doha round of trade talks although differences were said to be narrowing.

India, Mexico sign BIPPA
India and Mexico signed a Bilateral Investment Promotion and Protection Agreement on May 21, 2007.

India objects to US work visa queries
Reacting to queries by a US Senate immigration sub-committee on utilisation of special HIB (work) visas by some Indian IT companies, India’s minister of commerce says that temporary movement of skilled professionals is an “essential component of the global services economy” and bears no relation to immigration issues.

India challenges ban on Indian rice imports by Russia
India has decided to oppose the ban declared by Russia on imports of Indian rice.

India to simplify export procedures for agri-commodities
The Indian government is considering simplifying export procedures for agricultural commodities in order to boost agricultural trade.

India-China trade to cross US$ 40 billion by 2009
Bilateral trade between India and China is all set to take off with both countries setting a target of US$ 40 billion by 2009.

Last-ditch attempt to save Doha talks
G4 nations are meeting in Brussels this week in a last-ditch effort to find a solution to barriers in global trade talks.

Nepal needs external assistance
The FAO says Nepal is facing chronic food shortages and needs help.

Wheat from Pakistan may take land route
Traders want wheat from Pakistan to come through the Wagah border. Government clearance could pave the way for more wheat exports from Pakistan.

Bangladesh business unimpressed with India’s duty-free offer
Bangladesh’s business leaders, who spoke recently at a meeting organised by the country’s Metropolitan Chamber of Commerce and Industry (MCCI), argued that duty-free access does not ensure the free flow of goods into Indian markets unless non-tariff and para-tariff barriers are removed.

Environmentalists concerned about India-Japan agreement
Environmental groups in India have voiced their concerns that a forthcoming India-Japan treaty would allow Japan to export old ships and toxic chemicals to India.

India to sign PTA with Mauritius
India and Mauritius are expected to sign a Preferential Trading Agreement (PTA) as a first step towards a Comprehensive Economic Cooperation and Partnership Agreement.

Trade policy in Asia ‘dangerously unbalanced’
Trade policy in Asia is “dangerously unbalanced” and rests on a “shaky leg of discriminatory bilateral and regional FTAs,” according to a recent policy brief released by the European Centre for International Political Economy (ECIPE).

Compulsory licensing: Thailand put on watch list
The US Trade Representative’s (USTR) office has placed Thailand on a watch list of countries that have violated intellectual property rights.

ILO report highlights continued gender discrimination
A major theme of the ILO’s ‘Equality at work: Tackling the challenges’ report, which provides a global picture of job-related discrimination, is the persistence of gender gaps in employment and pay.

Local communities oppose Indian Biodiversity Act
Five years after it was enacted, India’s Biodiversity Act 2002 remains ineffective and mired in controversy. Both local communities and civil society groups have found fault with its provisions.

ASEAN ministers call for completion of blueprint for integration by 2015
Ministers at the 13th ASEAN Economic Ministers Retreat expressed the need to accelerate ASEAN integration with the aim of becoming an integrated regional entity.

Differences surface at WTO agriculture talks
Developing countries remain split over key issues at WTO agriculture talks.

EU-ASEAN dialogue completes 30 years
At a EU-ASEAN meeting, various joint programmes between the two blocs were discussed and priorities set for the immediate future.

South Korea-EU conclude first round of free trade talks
South Korea-EU conclude first round of free trade talks.

ASEAN ministers launch multilateral currency swap deal
In a joint statement, ministers of ASEAN countries meeting in Kyoto, Japan, expressed satisfaction at the growth of the regional economy and announced a new initiative to swap foreign exchange reserves to counter speculative moves on their currencies.

Brazil issues compulsory licence for patented drug
In a move that will have wide implications in the health sector in developing countries, the government of Brazil has issued a ‘compulsory licence’ that will allow the import of cheap versions of a patented HIV/AIDS drug.

India to import wheat, export sugar
Despite a bumper wheat crop India will import wheat this year as farmers are holding back stocks, while a glut in sugar production has led to calls for more incentives for sugar exporters.

India ‘disappointed’ with Falconer agri paper
WTO Agriculture Committee Chairman Crawford Falconer’s draft paper on ways to cut subsidies and customs duties on farm commodities does not address the needs of developing countries, says India’s Minister for Commerce and Industry.

Falconer suggests way out of agriculture impasse
A blueprint from WTO Agricultural Committee Chairman Crawford Falconer suggests ways to cut farm subsidies and customs duties and arrive at an agreement on agriculture.

Globalisation “mostly good” finds global survey
An American survey of 18 countries found that while respondents in most countries supported globalisation they also wanted better labour standards and stronger environmental protection.

EC okays trade talks with India, ASEAN, South Korea
European foreign ministers meeting in Luxembourg have given a green signal to free trade pacts that are expected to add more than 40 billion euros to Europe’s annual exports.

WTO dispute panel to hear EU complaint on Indian liquor tariffs
In the absence of a negotiated settlement thus far in the row between the EU and India on the latter’s high liquor tariffs, a WTO dispute panel was created on April 24, 2007, to hear the matter.

EU-India FTA one of the easiest: Indian commerce minister
India’s commerce minister says there will be very few points of disagreement in the proposed India-EU free trade agreement, a draft of which was released by the EU Commission in December 2006.

Extreme poverty drops below a billion: World Bank
The annual World Development Indicators report of the World Bank says that world poverty has declined, but acknowledges that the gap between rich and poor has widened in some countries, particularly in East Asia.

Japan to help India increase energy efficiency
The two countries held ministerial-level talks in Tokyo to discuss ways in which Japan can help India reduce energy consumption.

Cairns Group calls for quick resolution of Doha Round
The meeting in Lahore of 19 leading farm-exporting countries -- the Cairns Group -- warned against delaying the Doha Round into 2008.

ESCAP 2007 survey positive for Asia-Pacific
The United Nations Economic and Social Commission for Asia and the Pacific (ESCAP) 2007 survey says that the region accounted for one-third of global economic growth in 2006 and will continue to do well in 2007, led by China, India and Japan.

EU to tackle ‘hidden’ trade barriers
The European Union’s new trade policy focuses on greater efforts to dismantle ‘hidden’ non-tariff barriers, particularly in markets such as India and China.

G33 criticises Pak paper on special products
An informal paper put out by Pakistan on the controversial subject of special products has been criticised for going against the interests of developing countries.

SAFTA roundtable urges removal of tariff, non-tariff barriers
The two-day South Asian Free Trade Agreement (SAFTA) roundtable in Murree, Pakistan, made all the same noises about removal of trade barriers and ease in travel between SAARC countries.

World trade grew by 8%: WTO report
The World Trade Organisation reports that all countries, including least developed countries in Asia, registered strong trade growth in 2006.

US senators warn Bush about Doha trade-off
More than half the US Senate has written to President George Bush warning him against making any cuts to domestic support in the ongoing Doha Round.

US-India Private Sector Advisory Group formed
During US Trade Representative Susan Schwab’s visit to India, a Private Sector Advisory Group (PSAG) of US and Indian international business and trade experts was formed to provide strategic recommendations and insights.

South Asia least integrated region in the world: World Bank
Closer regional integration in South Asia can be an effective tool for addressing energy shortages, improving connectivity, and promoting peace, argues a report prepared recently by the World Bank.

Japan, India start second round of trade talks
India’s commerce minister has said that the proposed Comprehensive Economic Partnership Agreement between India and Japan is likely to be concluded within the next year.

G6 agree on end-2007 deadline for WTO talks
A meeting of G6 trade ministers in New Delhi could only agree on a year-end timeframe for conclusion of the Doha round of WTO talks.

G4 to hold talks on sidelines of US-India Trade Policy Forum
Trade ministers from the US, EU, India and Brazil will meet in New Delhi on April 11-12, 2007, to make another attempt at achieving a breakthrough in WTO negotiations.

Trade in services to be included in SAFTA
A significant outcome of the two-day South Asian Association for Regional Cooperation summit in New Delhi was the declaration that trade in services would be included in the South Asia Free Trade Association (SAFTA) agreement.

SAARC summit opens with calls for greater cooperation
The 14th South Asian Association for Regional Cooperation summit opened in New Delhi with leaders expressing a desire to move the regional grouping onto a higher trajectory.

Terror, trade, transit to dominate SAARC summit
The 14th SAARC summit will be held in New Delhi on April 3-4, 2007. The regional body has made little progress since its formation in 1985, largely because of tensions between India and Pakistan. It is expected to deliver more this time round.

Protests over patents for conventional breeding processes
Farmers from a number of countries have gathered in Munich to protest the decision of the Munich-based European Patent Office to grant patents for seeds developed through conventional breeding processes.

US Democrats unveil new trade policy
The trade policy presented by the Democrats, who control the US Congress, contains new provisions with regard to labour and environment laws that they want incorporated in free trade agreements.

G33 calls for greater transparency in trade talks
At a meeting held in Jakarta, the G33 group of countries, which includes small economies and least developed countries, called for WTO discussions to be more inclusive and transparent.

India should increase market access for agri products: Lamy
WTO Director General Pascal Lamy called on India to allow greater market access for agricultural products as a way of moving trade talks forward.

India to subsidise sugar exports
The Indian government will provide an export subsidy of Rs 1,350-Rs 1,450 for sugar in order to shore up falling domestic prices in the wake of bumper production.

Sri Lanka, India to free up services
Professionals from Sri Lanka and India will find it easier to work in each others’ countries once a new services agreement is signed between the two countries.

India may open up market to Asian LDCs
The Indian government may announce a package of measures that would lower duties for its LDC neighbours, at the SAARC summit in New Delhi in April.

Oxfam report paints grim picture of growing FTAs
The rush to sign Free Trade Agreements (FTAs) will have disastrous consequences for the poor in developing countries, warns a new report by Oxfam.

Novartis tries to win EU support against Indian patents law
The Swiss pharma company, which is legally contesting a provision in the Indian patents law, is trying to dissuade European Union legislators from signing a declaration opposing its actions.

India urged to expedite LDC package
Speakers at an international seminar in Delhi said big developing countries such as India have not yet allowed duty-free quota-free access to least developed countries as they were asked to do in the Hong Kong Declaration, in 2005.

India’s Knowledge Commission wants patent rights for state-funded research
Legislation that would give universities and research organisations ownership and patent rights over state-funded research is one of the recommendations of the high-level advisory body.

CSOs call for safeguards in India-Japan CEPA
Civil society organisations want toxic waste and other banned substances to be excluded from the list of goods seeking preferential tariffs under the trade pact being negotiated by Japan and India.

Sri Lanka bans young mothers from working abroad
The Sri Lankan government’s ban on young mothers working abroad as housemaids has raised a number of questions about rules regarding the movement of people across borders.

Canada for FTA with India, if WTO talks fail
The leader of a Canadian trade delegation said, in a speech in New Delhi, that Canada would like India to consider a Free Trade Agreement (FTA) should WTO talks break down.

India, Trinidad and Tobago sign bilateral trade agreement
The bilateral agreement is aimed at enhancing investment and technology flows between the two countries.

India to negotiate wine, spirits duties with EU, US
With complaints pending against it in the WTO, India’s commerce minister has said that India would negotiate with the EU on lowering its duty on imported wines and spirits.

India-EU set up investment facilitation desks
India and the European Union (EU) have set up an investment facilitation desk to help inbound investment and partnerships between small and medium enterprises from EU and Indian companies.

New, cheap anti-malaria drug seeks no patent
Health activists hope that a new non-patented anti-malaria drug produced in a unique private-public partnership will prove to be a model for other such initiatives.

Bangladesh exporters want India to agree to ‘open source’ of raw material
Bangladesh’s apparel exporters want more liberal sourcing of raw material for the 6 million pieces of apparel the country can export to India at preferential rates under SAFTA.

Bilateral meetings make no headway; India urged to do more
Meetings between the major agricultural trading nations in London yielded little of any value. The US trade representative said in a television interview that India was “less inclined to be a proactive contributor”.

EU not keen on FTA with Pakistan
Pakistan is trying hard to convince the European Union that a bilateral agreement would greatly help reduce poverty and contain terrorism in Pakistan.

India, Australia to remove barriers to agricultural trade
India and Australia have agreed to set up a mechanism to resolve issues coming in the way of trade in agricultural goods.

Indo-Nepal trade treaty renewed
The crucial Indo-Nepal trade treaty, due to expire on March 5, 2007, was renewed for another five years without any amendments.

Vanaspati row slowed down Sri Lanka’s exports
India’s protectionist measures with regard to vanaspati, pepper and copper caused exports from Sri Lanka to fall from Rs 56.2 billion in 2005 to Rs 50.8 billion in 2006.

India begins registration to protect plant varieties
Fulfilling an obligation under the TRIPS Agreement, India has started registering plant varieties under the Protection of Plant Variety and Farmers’ Rights Act, 2001.

Mashelkar asks Indian govt to withdraw patent law report
The report on patent law, recently submitted by the Mashelkar Committee, has passed off a submission made to the committee as its own recommendation.

EU urges India, US, to be flexible in WTO talks
The European Union’s commissioner for external relations said that countries must give up their entrenched positions and make compromises in agriculture and industrial tariffs.

Malaysia defends generic medicines before UN rights body
Malaysia’s attorney-general told the Committee on the Rights of the Child that his country would not restrict generic drugs, and specified that bilateral free trade agreements were TRIPS-plus.

South Asia trade integration vital for regional growth: SAARC conclave
Business leaders at the SAARC Business Leaders Conclave in Mumbai debated ways of enhancing trade in the region to reach $ 20 billion by 2010.

Agriculture negotiating committee meets
The agriculture negotiating committee of the WTO met to take stock of the current state of affairs and to plan future meetings.

IMF quits Sri Lanka
The Washington-based International Monetary Fund has closed its office in Sri Lanka after warning that high budget deficits and long-standing ethnic conflict were undermining the country’s economy.

US Congress urged to write fair Farm Bill
Reforms in the US Farm Bill that will cut trade-distorting subsidies has been a long-standing demand of the EU and other countries.

US President’s TPA runs into rough weather
With the Democrats controlling Congress, renewal of the US President’s Trade Promotion Authority (TPA) that expires in June hangs in the balance.

Bangladesh’s private sector against liberalising under SAFTA
At a meeting to map out a strategy before the February 26, 2007, SAFTA Ministerial Council meeting, Bangladesh’s private sector sounded cautious about privatisation.

India to beef up trade infrastructure in Nepal
India will spend Rs 119 crore to build up trade infrastructure in Nepal, with work at four border points already started.

Lamy reports resumption of full negotiations in Doha Round
Director General of the World Trade Organisation, Pascal Lamy, reported to the General Council of the WTO that the multilateral trade talks suspended in July 2006 have been fully resumed.

Reform in US Farm Bill crucial for pro-development round: Oxfam
Proposed reforms in the US Farm Bill have been welcomed as a first step towards ending the impasse over subsidies in the Doha Round of negotiations.

India-Japan negotiations on trade pact
India and Japan set up four working groups in February 2007, in a move towards formulating a Comprehensive Economic Partnership Agreement (CEPA).

EU to give Pakistan 200 million euros for northern areas
The European Union will spend 200 million euros for developmental activities in Pakistan’s poor northern areas.

EU-India FTA one of the easiest: Indian commerce minister
India’s commerce minister says there would be very few points of disagreement in the proposed India-EU Free Trade Agreement (FTA), a draft of which was released by the European Commission in December 2006.

Indian govt revises GDP growth figures
India has revised its GDP growth figures for 2005-06 from 8.4% to 9% largely due to better-than-expected farm production.

No firm commitments on WTO at Davos
Leaders meeting for the World Economic Forum in Davos said they were keen to restart stalled World Trade Organisation (WTO) talks, but there was little indication that anyone was willing to grasp the nettle of hard numbers.

Quarter of a million people sign petition against Novartis
The pharmaceutical company Novartis is being urged to withdraw its case against a provision in the Indian patent law that makes medicines affordable for the poor.

US must rethink its farm policy: Carnegie report
A paper by the Trade, Equity, and Development Project of the Carnegie Endowment for International Peace argues that to break the deadlock in the Doha round of talks at the WTO the United States must realise that its position helps neither itself nor developing countries.

Pakistan, Thailand to allow duty-free access for fruits
As a first step towards a free trade agreement, Pakistan and Thailand will lift customs duties on selected fruits.

Sri Lanka, Kuwait to revive Joint Economic Council
With bilateral trade standing at US$ 50 million, trade ministers of Sri Lanka and Kuwait, meeting in Colombo, decided there was potential to boost trade between the two countries.

Britain’s finance minister calls for overhaul of WB, IMF
Speaking in Bangalore, India, on January 18, 2007, Britain’s Chancellor of the Exchequer Gordon Brown said that the emerging new world order required changes in the World Bank and the International Monetary Fund.

Lamy seeks support of Indian business and think tanks
Speaking in Bangalore on January 17, WTO director general Pascal Lamy said he was counting on the support of Indian business community and think tanks to “maintain focus on the multilateral trading system and the Doha round negotiations”.

Trade ministers to discuss Doha Round revival
Around 30 trade ministers will meet in the Swiss ski resort of Davos on January 27 to discuss how to revive the stalled Doha Round talks, the Swiss government announced on January 16.

Asian leaders plan free trade area from India to NZ
An important outcome of the 2007 ASEAN (Association of South East Asian Nations) summit held in Cebu, Philippines, is a plan for a free trade zone stretching from India to New Zealand encompassing Asia’s largest economies.

India committed to FTA with ASEAN: PM
Indian PM Manmohan Singh told an ASEAN meeting in Cebu, Philippines, that his country was keen to engage with others in the region to their mutual benefit.

Pakistan, Bahrain step up trade pact negotiations
Bahrain and Pakistan have agreed to expedite negotiations for a Free Trade Agreement (FTA), which could be signed before the end of 2007.

Patents committee recommendations generate debate
Recommendations made by a committee constituted by the Government of India on limiting drug patents have been questioned by public interest groups concerned about availability of cheap drugs in the country.

Vietnam joins WTO
Viet Nam joined the WTO on January 11, 2007, taking the organisation’s membership to 150.

India lifts ban on sugar exports
India, the world’s second-biggest sugar producer, announced on January 12, 2007, that it would lift a six-month ban on export of the commodity.

ASEAN accepts India’s proposal on negative list
ASEAN trade ministers have accepted India’s pruned negative list, paving the way for a free trade agreement by the middle of 2007.

Indian PM pushes for more open economy
Indian Prime Minister Manmohan Singh told a meeting of Indian business leaders in New Delhi on January 8, 2006, that they must prepare for a regime of lower tariffs to integrate with the global economy and promised a more liberal but equitable tax regime.

Nepal’s trade deficit widens
Nepal’s trade deficit widened in the July-November 2006 period because of higher growth in imports, according to the country’s central bank.

US-EU revive hopes of trade deal
EU and US trade negotiators meeting in Washington have been sounding optimistic about sorting out their differences on agriculture tariffs and subsidies, raising hopes that the stalled Doha Round of trade talks may resume.

Indian govt partially lifts ban on sugar exports
Greater availability of sugar in the domestic markets has prompted the Indian government to partially lift the ban on sugar it imposed in July 2006.

India-US set up working group on legal services
India and the United States have set up the Bilateral Working Group on Legal Services to facilitate trade in legal services between the two countries.

Brazil’s offer of duty-free access for LDCs lauded
Oxfam and other campaigners for fair trade urge developed countries to emulate Brazil’s proposal of duty-free access to Least Developed Countries (LDCs). They are also critical of pressures being put on developing countries to open market access without reciprocal cuts in rich countries’ subsidies.

India cuts duty on refined oils for SAFTA partners
India cuts duties on refined oils from Pakistan and Sri Lanka, to 52.5% from 68.75% under the regional free trade agreement.

Can conclude Doha Round in 2007: Lamy
WTO Director General Pascal Lamy told the General Council of the WTO that if concrete new proposals on the more contentious issues came out of the ongoing informal talks, a successful conclusion of the Doha Round was still within reach.

China criticised for its WTO implementation record
Countries such as the EU, US and Japan feel China must do more to meet its WTO obligations.

Pak-Myanmar for early harvest programme
To further good relations between the two countries, Pakistan’s deputy foreign minister has proposed signing an early harvest programme with Myanmar, leading to a free trade agreement later on.

Patent-holder offers to reduce price of AIDS drug
In a case keenly watched by other countries, Thailand’s issuance of a compulsory licence for the AIDS drug Efavirenz has prompted the patent-holder to offer a reduction in the price of the drug.

India offers ASEAN further cuts in negative list
Keen to make a breakthrough in the free trade agreement it is negotiating with the Association of South East Asian Nations (ASEAN) before the summit in January 2007, India has offered to further cut its negative list of items to 490.

Development dimension of WTO negotiations emphasised at South Asian conference
This may well be the “last opportunity” to put the development dimension centrestage at the WTO negotiations, said Gopal K Pillai, Commerce Secretary, Government of India, while addressing the second South Asian Conference on Trade and Development, titled ‘Multilateralism at Cross-roads: Reaffirming Development Priorities’, organised by Centad in New Delhi on December 19-20, 2006.

Global campaign against Novartis petition
International medical humanitarian organisation Doctors Without Borders (MSF) has launched a global campaign to build pressure on the Swiss pharmaceutical giant Novartis to abandon its attempts to force changes in India’s patent law

Indian PM criticises agri subsidies of rich countries
India’s Prime Minister Manmohan Singh has come down heavily on the agricultural subsidies paid by rich countries, which, he said, distort trade and destroy lives in poor countries.

WTO establishes transparency mechanism for RTAs
The new transparency mechanism for Regional Trade Agreements (RTAs) provides for early announcement of any RTA, and notification to the WTO.

Developing countries will drive future global economic growth: WB report
The World Bank’s Global Economic Prospects Report says developing countries will spearhead global economic growth, but warns that ignoring global environmental issues and unequal development within national boundaries could dampen growth prospects.

Thailand breaks patent for AIDS drug
On November 29, 2006, the government of Thailand issued a compulsory licence for the patented AIDS drug, efavirenz, in a bid to bring down spiralling costs.

India, Israel to boost bilateral trade
India and Israel started negotiations on a Preferential Trade Agreement (PTA) during the Israeli deputy prime minister’s visit to India with a 35-member business delegation.

Doha talks may fail completely, warns Lamy
In an interview to an English newspaper, WTO Director General Pascal Lamy urged countries to take advantage of the small ‘window of opportunity’ between now and the expiration of the trade promotion authority of the US administration, in June 2007.

Agriculture included in proposed India-Japan EPA
Negotiations for a proposed Economic Partnership Agreement (EPA) between Japan and India got a boost with Japan agreeing to include agriculture in the agreement

EU to test basmati rice from South Asia
A team from the European Commission is testing basmati rice from Pakistan, India and Nepal to establish the quality of the rice, which will determine its import policy.

India wants to settle liquor row with EU through talks
India’s commerce minister told a visiting French business delegation that the issue of high import duties levied by India on wines and spirits from the EU could be sorted out through negotiations.

India-Pakistan trade could reach $ 6.6 bn
A report by the Indian Council for Research on International Economic Relations (ICRIER) says trade barriers between India and Pakistan are hampering the growth of trade.

ASEAN increases negative list for FTA with India
The Association of South East Asian Nations (ASEAN) has doubled its negative list for the proposed Free Trade Agreement (FTA) with India due to be finalised next month.

Anti-FTA protests in South Korea
There is fierce resistance in South Korea from farmers, labour, and civil society groups against a Free Trade Agreement (FTA) being negotiated with the United States.

India challenges US antidumping duties on shrimp
The dispute settlement body of the WTO set up a panel on November 21, 2006, to examine India’s claim that the US’s amended bond directive violates WTO rules.

India, US can solve market access issues bilaterally, says US
US Deputy Trade Representative Karan Bhatia ruled out a free trade agreement between India and the US, but said market access and other issues between the two countries could be addressed bilaterally.

Ban on genetically modified rice demanded in India
The All India Rice Exporters Association (AIREA) has urged the government not to allow any field trials or commercial cultivation of genetically modified (GM) rice in the country.

India tops in new antidumping investigations
India has initiated the most number of antidumping investigations under the disputes settlement body of the WTO, in the period January 1-June 30, 2006, according to figures recently released by the WTO.

Pakistan, China sign FTA
Pakistan and China signed a Free Trade Agreement (FTA) on November 24, 2006, that is expected to increase bilateral trade between the two countries to US$ 15 billion within five years.

Australia keen on FTA with India
Australia is expanding its suite of Free Trade Agreements (FTAs). And that includes one with India, says Australian trade minister Warren Truss.

India-US review agriculture initiative
Secretary in the US Department of Agriculture, Michael Johannes, and India’s agriculture minister Sharad Pawar said they were satisfied with the progress of the Indo-US Agriculture Knowledge Initiative.

WTO chief Lamy signals resumption of informal talks
Though member countries have made no specific new concessions, WTO Director General Pascal Lamy told trade diplomats in Geneva to begin informal talks on all issues in the Doha Round of talks.

India-China sign BIPA, pledge to boost investment and trade ties
China and India have signed a Bilateral Investment Promotion Agreement (BIPA) and pledged to double bilateral trade within the next four years.

EU takes India to WTO over high duties on alcohol
Citing India’s high customs duties on alcohol as a trade barrier, the EU has taken the matter up for consultations at the WTO.

Indian FM moots 'managed migration'
Addressing the G20 meeting in Melbourne on November 18, 2006, Indian Finance Minister P Chidambaram urged developed countries to look at “well-managed migration” of people from developing countries as a “positive contribution to employment and global economic growth”.

China to sign trade agreements with India, Pakistan
A Free Trade Agreement (FTA) with Pakistan and a trade protection agreement with India are on the cards during Chinese President Hu Jintao’s impending visit to both countries.

India, China boosting Africa’s growth: WB
A recent World Bank report says trade between Africa and Asian giants India and China has increased substantially and includes non-traditional sectors.

28 Indian products get GI registration
Darjeeling tea, Orissa ikkat and Mysore sandal soap are among 28 Indian products that have been registered with the geographical indications (GI) registry in Chennai.

Sri Lanka caps vanaspati exports
The Indian government has managed to convince Sri Lanka to cap its exports of vegetable oil at 250,000 tonnes.

Bush’s trade agenda in doubt after Democrat win
With the Democrats capturing the US House of Representatives in the recent mid-term elections, the future course of American trade policy and its impact on global trade talks is a major topic of discussion.

Vietnam to become WTO’s 150th member
On November 7, 2006, the WTO’s General Council approved Vietnam’s entry into the WTO after 11 years of preparation and negotiation.

China considering FTA talks with India
Ahead of Chinese President Hu Jintao’s visit to India on November 20, 2006, China’s assistant commerce minister says his country is thinking about entering into a Free Trade Agreement (FTA) with India.

Global wheat prices set to rise
Shortage of wheat in the international market is expected to send prices soaring and will make it difficult for India to continue importing wheat.

WTO Agricultural Committee calls for greater transparency
The WTO Agricultural Committee has pulled up member states for not furnishing the required information on domestic support, export subsidies, etc.

India resumes cargo shipping to Pakistan
The Indian cabinet has approved a revised shipping protocol that will bolster sea trade with Pakistan.

Political turmoil affects Bangladesh’s textile exports
With factories and the main port in Bangladesh closed for several days due to the violent political situation, the country’s garment exports, which constitute three-fourths of its total exports, is badly hit.

India to fight US shrimp restrictions
India is battling the United States over shrimp exports on grounds that the restrictions are arbitrary and discriminatory, thereby violating the antidumping agreement.

Sri Lankan cinnamon’s future brightens
New measures adopted with regard to sulphur dioxide residues in cinnamon exports from Sri Lanka into the European Union have been amicably resolved, the Sanitary and Phytosanitary (SPS) Measures Committee of the WTO was told.

WTO’s Lamy warns about bilateral deals
WTO Director General Pascal Lamy has warned that it is poor countries that will lose out if they opt for bilateral deals instead of working to revitalise the multilateral trade talks.