North America

The U.S. needs a new deal on trade with more opportunities for American exports

Original Publication Date: 
30 November, 2009
Source: 
The Times
FOR weeks before the 1999 World Trade Organization Ministerial meeting in Seattle, state and local authorities had known that peaceful protests were being planned around the Washington State Convention & Trade Center. But as I drove through downtown on the night of Nov. 29 and saw waves of people returning from a rally waving placards, I got a sinking feeling that the anti-trade sentiment was stronger than people had anticipated. Was it ever.

Inside U.S. trade - Finance Fails To Vote On USTR Punke, Siddiqui Nominations

Original Publication Date: 
25 November, 2009
Source: 
Daily News
The Senate Finance Committee did not vote on the nominations of Michael Punke to be Deputy U.S. Trade Representative and Islam Siddiqui to be chief agriculture negotiator at USTR on Saturday, November 21.

Trade Act provides road map to new American trade model

Original Publication Date: 
29 June, 2009
Source: 
Public Citizen's Global Trade Watch
WOW - when's the last time 106 congressional Representatives - 9 full committee chairs and 40 subcommittee chairs included - were original cosponsors of any legislation, much less agreed on a new way forward on the contentious issue of trade?

Biggest emitters fail to show the way forward

Original Publication Date: 
10 June, 2009
Source: 
Financial Times

Kathrin Hille in Beijing and Edward Luce in Washington

China and the US failed to achieve a breakthrough at their latest round of
climate talks on Wednesday, raising the stakes in the global effort to fight
global climate change.

The two countries responsible for almost half of the world¹s greenhouse gas
emissions ended three days of negotiations in Beijing.

While there are still months to go until the December meeting in Copenhagen,
where 181 countries, led by the United Nations, plan to work out a new

US pressure on Indian Cabinet formation?

Original Publication Date: 
16 June, 2009
Source: 
Indian Express
There is a rather odd interview Anand Sharma has given to Reuters. He is off to Washington and the interview comes just before the visit. Part of the interview is about India being keen to break the deadlock in WTO negotiations.

Canadians ask Federal Government to Halt Ratification of Canada-Peru Free Trade Agreement in Light of Peruvian Police Massacre of Indigenous Protesters

Original Publication Date: 
10 June, 2009
Source: 
Council of Canadians
Non-governmental organizations are urgently asking Canadians to write to senators, MPs and the Prime Minister to express their outrage at the police massacre of peaceful Indigenous protesters in Peru, and to demand that the Canadian government halt its implementation of the Canada-Peru Free Trade Agreement (FTA) that is now before the Senate as Bill C-24.

Lamy Cites Need for Two-Track Approach For Concluding Doha Round of Trade Talks

Original Publication Date: 
27 May, 2009
Source: 
Daily Report for Executives
World Trade Organization director-general Pascal Lamy said May 26 that WTO members should consider a two-track approach towards concluding the troubled Doha Round of trade talks, an idea already floated by the United States for breaking the deadlock in the negotiations.

Chamber Fears Climate Talks Could Set the Stage for TRIPS Changes

Original Publication Date: 
15 May, 2009
Source: 
Inside US Trade
Global climate change negotiations could become the battleground to hammer out a second clarification of intellectual property protection rules in the World Trade Organization to strengthen developing countries rights to use patented technology without authorization of rights holders, according to the U.S. Chamber of Commerce.

EU stumbles on Canada's internal barriers: Talk ramp up

Original Publication Date: 
15 May, 2009
Source: 
Financial Post
The historic free-trade negotiations between Canada and the European Union were launched to much fanfare this month, but reaching a deal between the 27-country economic bloc and the provincially dominated federation of Canada will not be a walk in the park.

Obama Administration Delays Trade Negotiations For Now

Original Publication Date: 
25 February, 2009
Source: 
Today In Trade

The Obama administrations message on trade negotiations inherited from its predecessor is emerging and it clearly says: we'll get back to you when we have the necessary cabinet officials in place, such as a U.S. Trade Representative, and have had time to review our trade policy.