Archive - Oct 19, 2005

The controversy over proposals to introduce new 'benchmarking' or complementary approaches aimed at getting developing countries to accelerate their liberalisation commitments in services at the WTO is expected to re-ignite in the week starting on 17 October.

On 11 October 2005, the European Parliament's International Trade Committeeheld a public hearing on the WTO in its preparation for the WTO's HongkongMinisterial conference in December. The Third World Network's Director, Martin Khor, was invited to make apresentation as one of six experts at the hearing. He made a statement in thesession on NAMA (non agricultural market access).

European Union Trade Commissioner Peter Mandelson said he was ready to show more flexibility over farm trade when he meets other top-level negotiators from around the world on Wednesday.