South Asia, South East Asia, Africa, Middle East / North Africa, Latin America, Other.

EU Investigates Vietnamese Bike Dumping

European authorities have begun an anti-dumping investigation into bicycles and bicycle spare parts imported from Vietnam following complaints from the local industry.

Health Activists to Say No to Drug Patents in FTA

Health activists are to use the International Aids Conference in Bangkok to drum up opposition to the inclusion of drug patents in a Free Trade Agreement (FTA) between Thailand and the United States (US).

Dumping Ban Holds Up Developers

A ban by Industry Ministry prohibiting the import of computers over three years old, which introduced to protect Thailand from dumping and the associated threat from toxic waste, is posing a problem for several companies that need to import older midrange or larger computer systems that are needed to run or maintain legacy applications.

Asian Experts Target key Regional Trade & Environment Priorities

At a 14-15 January consultation in Sri Lanka, 20 regional experts in trade and environment met to articulate the central issues of concern to South and Southeast Asia on environment in the WTO. They looked not only at the major regional priorities in the ongoing Doha round negotiations, but also envisioned elements of a proactive trade-environment agenda for developing countries in the WTO for the future.

Asian Shrimp Exporters to Fight US Suit

Asian shrimp exporters said a United States (US) antidumping lawsuit is an example of blatant protectionism and vowed to fight to keep overseas shrimp on American dinner plates. The US Southern Shrimp Alliance filed the suit on Wednesday with the US Department of Commerce and the International Trade Commission against Thailand, China, Vietnam, India, Brazil and Ecuador.

Labour Issue Remains Behind Active Liberalization Move of Thailand

The World Trade Organization (WTO) has applauded Thailand for its moves toward liberalizing its economy, but a major union group accused it of permitting child labour and other labour abuses.

Thai Processed Food Face Higher Duties in New EU

Thai rice and processed food being sold in new European Union (EU) member countries are expected to face higher import duties after expansion of the EU next year. Thai rice imports are tariff-free in countries such as Lithuania and Poland, however, it would face a duty of 450 euros per tonne once they become EU members.

Thailand

Thailand has been carrying on negotiations on Free Trade Agreements (FTAs) with two big Asian countries, China and India. The negotiations is have recently begun to bear fruit. FTAs between Thailand and these two potential big markets are expected to have an effect on the other less developed countries in Southeast Asia.

Japan Plans to Raise the Refrigerated Beef Tariff

Japan said it would slap emergency tariffs on beef imports in accordance with a safeguard measure, known as a snapback provision, on 29 July. It is drawing anger from foreign and domestic suppliers and retailers who criticized the move as a misuse of global trade rules, which shows the irresponsibility of the government. Japan had reduced its tariff to 38.5% by itself, however, the government announced that it would raise the duty on chilled beef to 50% from 1 August, 2003 to 31 March, 2004.

The EU and Japan Plan to Cut Dumping Action Costs

The European Union (EU) and Japan came together on 21st of July to present a plan to cut expenses for firms around the globe who are drawn into investigations by foreign governments into whether they are dumping their goods or selling them below production costs on export markets.

LATINOAM

Es imprescindible que Latinoamérica participe activamente en la negociación sobre subsidios. Los programas de apoyo a las actividades productivas suelen ser parte de políticas de crecimiento y atracción de inversiones y, por ello, cobran especial importancia las normas multilaterales sobre subsidios y medidas compensatorias. En la negociación se juega, por un lado, el margen para implementar tales políticas y, por el otro, las reglas de juego para accionar ante los subsidios otorgados por socios comerciales que dañan las industrias nacionales. Las negociaciones en materia de subvenciones en la Organización Mundial del Comercio (OMC) deben finalizar en el año 2005: la agenda está abierta, el debate instalado y los países miembros están presentando propuestas. El panorama se hace más complejo por la simultaneidad con el ALCA, que entraría en vigencia en el año 2005, sumado al hecho de que en los propios bloques subregionales suele ser imprecisa la normativa sobre subvenciones. Este brief presenta el estado de las negociaciones en la OMC y resalta los principales dilemas.