Full Coverage: Trade

24.05.2006 Interview with Nicaraguan lawyer Vilma Núñez de Escorcia.
Below are extracts from an interview by Noticias Aliadas collaborator Suzanne Timmons, with Nicaraguan lawyer Vilma Núñez de Escorcia, who presided over the hearings in the Permanent Tribunal of the People.

22.05.2006 The adverse effects of unfair rules of global trade have made it imperative for national governments to have enough sovereign rights for policy formulations to deal with the situation. It is unfortunate that this policy space of national governments is gradually shrinking, with unfair trade rules in vogue.

15.05.2006 The Supreme Court of India has issued notice to the Indian government to prevent entry of "SS Norway" in its present condition, until the toxic ship is in compliance with the Supreme Court's October 2003 order regarding ship breaking. This was issued in response to an application filed by Ban Asbestos Network of (BANI), a member of the NGO Platform on ship breaking, that seeks to stop the ship's entry in India.

12.05.2006 The Indian government started importing wheat early this year despite the fact that stocks were over the buffer level and procurement was to begin in April. An investigation by Centre for Science and Environment (CSE) finds that the US is involved in the import of wheat into India - a policy that could spell disaster for the country.

08.05.2006 THE DOHA development round of the World Trade Organization received a setback at the end of last month when trade negotiators failed yet again to reach an agreement on the modalities for cutting agricultural tariff, domestic farm subsidies and tariffs on industrial products (Non-agricultural Market Access — NAMA).

03.05.2006 For over two decades, globalization and open markets have been accepted as the main ingredients in the recipe for serious socioeconomic growth. Governments continue to pepper their documents and press releases with these mouth-watering terms, often tying them to the claim that foreign trade is the main course to continued economic expansion.

03.05.2006 Pakistan’s reported willingness to consider expanding the list of items that can be imported from India comes as a breath of fresh air. For too long has bilateral trade been hostage to political compulsions. And on Pakistan’s side, to fear of MFN, that stands for ‘most favoured nation.’

02.05.2006 The leaders of Cuba, Venezuela and Bolivia signed a "People's Trade Treaty" Saturday to counter a US-led drive to forge a Pan-American free trade area.