Dec 8, 2006 | Digest
On December 8, the WTO compliance panel found that Chile remained in violation of Article 4.2 of the WTO Agreement on Agriculture by maintaining its price band system governing import duties on wheat, flour, and vegetable oils. The panel found that the system amounted to a variable import duty or minimum import price levy under the Agreement and recommended that the Dispute Settlement Body request Chile bring its regulations into compliance.
For a summary of the case, DS207, see here: http://www.wto.org/english/tratop_e/dispu_e/cases_e/ds207_e.htm.
For the full panel report, see here:
http://www.wto.org/english/news_e/news06_e/207rw_e.htm
Dec 8, 2006 | Digest
The fifth session of the Assembly of States Parties to the Rome Statute, the legislative body overseeing the administration of the ICC, concluded on December 1. The Assembly adopted four resolutions: (1) to strive for full adoption of the Rome Statute; (2) to approve a budget of €88,871,800 and a 647-person staff; (3) to focus on the Alexanderkazerne site as the permanent premises of the Court; and, (4) to implement the ‘Strategic Plan of the Court’ which concerns matters such as victims’ interests, outreach and communication, and budget.
See http://www.icc-cpi.int/press/pressreleases/214.html
Dec 8, 2006 | Digest
ASEAN officially obtained observer status in the United Nations on Monday by the unanimous vote of the UN General Assembly. The status allows the organization to attend General Assembly sessions and participate in UN work pertaining to its interests. The General Assembly also passed a separate resolution on the same day regarding ASEAN-UN cooperation.
http://www.aseansec.org/18992.htm
Dec 8, 2006 | Digest
The European Union External Trade Commissioner announced this week that stalled negotiations for a free trade agreement between the EU and Mercosur are unlikely to resume before the conclusion of the World Trade Organization’s Doha Round talks, despite optimistic projections made at last month’s meeting between delegates of the two organizations.
For a news report, see:
http://www.falkland-malvinas.com/Detalle.asp?NUM=9399&Palabra=mercosur
Dec 7, 2006 | Digest
Official development assistance from members of the OECD’s Development Assistance Committee, which groups the world’s major donors, reached USD 106.8 billion in 2005, a record high, but failed to fulfill Gleaneagles committments. Excluding aid to Nigeria, aid to sub-Saharan Africa fell by 2.1% in real terms to USD 24.9 billion in 2005. Of the remaining assistance, USD 22.7 billion went to debt relief, mostly for Iraq and Nigeria. Official humanitarian aid also rose (to USD 8.7 billion) in response to the tsunami. Debt relief and humanitarian aid account for all the increase to the region since 2002. For a press release, see http://www.oecd.org/document/54/0,2340,en_2649_201185_37799158_1_1_1_1,00.html
Dec 7, 2006 | Digest
Negotiation between the US and the EU aiming at liberalization of air traffic has been interrupted. The parties intended to move away from existing quotas for U.S. citizens on the corporate boards of air carriers, liberalize fare pricing schemes, and allow airlines from the US and the EU to take off and land at any airport on both sides of the Atlantic. The agreement faced Congressional opposition in the US. For more information see here.
