W.T.O.

WTO failure postpones Textile Tariff reductions (News Analysis)  (SAMPLE)

25 July 2006 - The WTO's Doha Round of free trade talks has been indefinitely suspended. Although negotiations could re-start in the future, any immediate possibility of a global reduction in tariffs have ended. Textiles were at the front of such discussions with developed countries resisting any deep cuts. Meanwhile, bilateral deals are set to increase resulting in a complex system of origin rules. Full Report...

Turkey calls for separate textile tariff negotiations  (SAMPLE)

27 March 2006 -Turkey last week firmly and formally called for separate textile negotiations during the current round of WTO trade liberalisation talks. The move proposes an alternative method of calculating tariff reductions and has been welcomed by a host of trade organisations whilst being severely criticised by China as protectionist. Full Report...

WTO reaches agreement over duty-free access for poorest

19 December 2005 - The latest world free-trade talks have closed in Hong Kong with a compromise deal being reached between richer and poorer nations. 97 per cent of exports from least developed countries will be granted duty free access to markets in developed countries although US apparel imports from Asian least developed countries such as Bangladesh and Cambodia look set to be excluded. The US has also agreed to look into eliminating its cotton subsidy programme. Full Report...

US agrees to give duty free access to poorer countries

16 December 2005 - The United States this week agreed to requests from poorer nations to allow duty free access to products on richer markets including apparel and textiles. This is unlikely to include Bangladesh and, possibly, Cambodia after fierce lobbying by the US domestic industry. Nepal, and other countries, could get a much needed boost to diminishing exports. Full Report...

LDC's demand duty-free access to EU/US markets (WTO Special Report - 2)

28 November 2005 - Least Developed Countries have called upon the World Trade Organisation to grant quota-free and duty-free access to its products in richer markets such as the US and EU. The US is therefore being pushed by the EU to match its "everything but arms" duty-free access programme for poorer countries. Full Report...