On July 28, 2008, Director-General Pascal Lamy reported that negotiators have registered very important progress...there is now a very high level of convergence on many subjects". He urged negotiators to accelerate movement towards compromises in the coming hours, adding that he aims to issue revised "modality" texts on agriculture and non-agricultural market access later in the day. (WTO notice available at http://www.wto.org/english/news_e/news_e.htm.)
The World Trade Organization provided an update on the Doha Round and posted information on Day 3. WTO Director-General Lamy said that "two days of talks among 30 representative ministers in the "Green Room" have been constructive but discussions in smaller groups are now needed to intensify the negotiations." (WTO press release, dated 07/23/08, available athttp://www.wto.org/english/news_e/news08_e/meet08_summary_23july_e.htm.)
The Office of the U.S. Trade Representative posted USTR Schwab's July 22nd remarks at the Doha Ministerial in Geneva. Schwab's remarks include a new proposal to limit U.S. agricultural subsidies to $15 billion per year. Senator Grassley, ranking member of the Senate Finance Committee and senior member of the Agriculture Committee, commented on the USTR's $15 billion proposal, and the reaction from leading developing countries that it was not enough. (USTR remarks, dated 07/22/08, available at http://www.ustr.gov/assets/Document_Library/Press_Releases/2008/July/asset_upload_file409_15037.pdf; Grassley statement, dated 07/22/08, available at http://finance.senate.gov/press/Gpress/2008/prg072208a.pdf.)
On the opening day of about a week of negotiations in Geneva, ministers said a Doha Round deal is badly needed because of economic uncertainties. They promised to strive to settle their differences on blueprint agreements - "modalities" - in agriculture and industrial products, provided the outcome is balanced. (WTO release, dated 07/21/08, available at http://www.wto.org/english/news_e/news08_e/meet08_summary_21july_e.htm)
On July 18, 2008, the World Trade Organization issued the reports of the dispute settlement panel (DSP) that had examined complaints by the U.S., the European Communities, and Canada regarding China's treatment of imported motor vehicle parts, components, and accessories (auto parts).
The National Institute of Standards and Technology posts drafts and changes to foreign technical regulations for manufactured products which may be considered technical barriers to trade and are therefore required to be reported to the World Trade Organization, which distributes the information to WTO Member countries.
The National Institute of Standards and Technology posts drafts and changes to foreign technical regulations for manufactured products which may be considered technical barriers to trade and are therefore required to be reported to the World Trade Organization, which distributes the information to WTO Member countries.
The Office of the U.S. Trade Representative has announced that on July 16, 2008, USTR Schwab signed the very first Trade, Investment and Development Cooperation Agreement (TIDCA) with the Southern African Customs Union (SACU), as well as a Trade and Investment Framework Agreement (TIFA) with the East African Community (EAC).
On July 17, 2008, House Ways and Means Committee Chairman Rangel and Trade Subcommittee Chairman Levin introduced H.R. 6530, the Trade Enforcement Act of 2008, to amend U.S. trade laws to eliminate foreign barriers to exports of U.S. goods and services, restore rights under trade remedy laws, strengthen enforcement of U.S. intellectual property rights (IPR) and health and safety laws at U.S. borders, and for other purposes.
Democratic leaders of the House Energy and Commerce Committee questioned whether the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) knowingly allowed drugs suspected of being fraudulently approved and manufactured in gross violation of Good Manufacturing Practices (GMP) to continue being sold by Ranbaxy, Inc., in the U.S. (News release, dated 07/17/08, available at http://energycommerce.house.gov/Press_110/110nr318.shtml.)