WTO News

Antigua May Use Trade Sanctions Against U.S. Copyrights

The tiny Caribbean nation of Antigua and Barbuda will tell the World Trade Organization on Monday that it intends to use trade sanctions against the United States, which it could enforce by allowing movie downloads without protecting U.S. copyright. Antigua …

Services Trade Talks Begin as WTO Seeks Way out of Stalemate

Countries representing 70 percent of the global economy are set to negotiate lower barriers to trade in services after agreeing the structure of a deal, Australian Trade Minister Craig Emerson said in an interview. The push for a deal on …

WTO Director Lamy Says Doha Round Rescue in US, China’s Hands

World Trade Organization Director General Pascal Lamy on Monday acknowledged the Geneva-based grouping has been a “disappointing” forum for trade liberalization but placed the blame for moribund world trade talks on both China and the United States. Lamy, in a …

ICC Proposes Measures to Stimulate Global Economy

The International Chamber of Commerce has unveiled the initial recommendations of its Business World Trade Agenda initiative, aimed at stimulating the global economy by helping to move the World Trade Organization’s (WTO) multilateral trade negotiations out of an 11-year deadlock. …

China Eases Access to Insurance, Travel industries

China has eased restrictions on foreign companies in parts of its insurance, travel and delivery industries in a possible effort to reverse a slide in investment from abroad, an American business group said Friday. Some of the measures were promised …

WTO Cuts 2012 Global Trade Growth Forecast to 2.5%

World trade will grow by a mere 2.5 percent this year, dragged down by Europe to less than half of the previous 20-year average, the World Trade Organization (WTO) said on Friday. The WTO cut its estimate from a 2012 …

U.S., Trade Allies Push for International Services Talks

A proposed international agreement to reduce barriers to trade in service sectors ranging from banking to telecommunications [including insurance] would give the global economy a much-needed boost, top trade officials said on Wednesday. “This is a huge opportunity to spur …

Willis Exec Comments on Russia Joining WTO

A note from Willis Group Holdings features comments from Ann Longmore, Executive Vice President of Willis’ Executive Risks practice, who analyzes the impact(s) of Russia’s accession to the World Trade Organization as its 156th member earlier this month. “We expect …

U.S. Exports Seen at Risk as Russia Enters WTO

U.S. agricultural, aircraft and other exports to Russia could suffer unless Congress passes legislation soon recognizing the former Cold War enemy is now a fellow member of the World Trade Organization, trade experts and business groups said. After 18 years …

Time Running Out for Russia Trade Bill Says Congressman

Time is running out for Congress to approve a Russia trade bill before Moscow formally enters the World Trade Organization in August, potentially putting U.S. exporters at a huge disadvantage, a senior Republican lawmaker said. Representative Kevin Brady said House …