The Chinese embassy in Ottawa criticized duties slapped by Canada this week on Chinese imported steel, saying on Friday they violated World Trade Organization (WTO) rules and disrupted the global trade order.
Tag Archives WTO
WTO director-general announces plan to seek second term
Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala says a breakthrough in global agriculture negotiations is among her priorities if she is re-appointed
GENEVA, Switzerland (Reuters) — Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala will seek another four-year term as director-general of the World Trade Organization following a broad Africa-led push to start the process early, aiming to complete “unfinished business” from her first mandate. Okonjo-Iweala, 70, a former Nigerian finance minister, made history by becoming the first female and African chief of […] Read more
No end seen for WTO’s dispute settlement woes
The U.S. shut down the appeal process in 2019, and the country is expected to keep standing in the way of reform
SASKATOON — Don’t hold your breath waiting for a fix to the World Trade Organization’s hobbled dispute settlement mechanism, says a trade expert. The WTO has set a December deadline for coming to an agreement on dispute settlement reform. Related stories: “I doubt that will happen,” said Sharon Bomer Lauritsen, an agriculture trade policy consultant […] Read more
Product of USA rule alarms producers
Glacier FarmMedia – Canada’s livestock sector will monitor the effects of a new U.S. voluntary country-of-origin labelling ruling announced March 11. “It is crucial to address any issues that threaten or diminish the cattle and beef trade between Canada and the U.S.,” said Nathan Phinney, president of the Canadian Cattle Association, in a media release. […] Read more
WTO may be close to fixing dispute settlement system
U.S. says negotiations have produced more results in the last year than previous reform efforts achieved in decades
SASKATOON — The World Trade Organization is making big strides on dispute settlement reform. U.S. Trade Representative Katherine Tai praised the WTO following its Thirteenth Ministerial Conference (MC13) held in February. Related stories: “The United States applauds the significant amount of work done on dispute settlement reform and recognizes that additional efforts are needed to […] Read more
WTO slides into a vacuum, while EU slides into nationalism
On March 2, the 13th World Trade Organization ministerial meeting ended like most previous ministerials. After its 164 member ministers discussed the burning need to change two key international trade rules, everyone went home without changing any key international trade rules. This actionless talkfest, however, carried a steeper price than previous gassy gatherings; this one […] Read more
Canada urged to take stronger leadership role in trade
Speakers point to country’s influence around the world due to its exporting of food products to almost 200 countries
It’s time for Canada to step up if it wants to keep the rules-based trading order alive, farmers heard at the Canadian Crops Convention. Without rules-based trade, agricultural exporters will be playing in a game controlled by others. “Canada should play a bigger and stronger role,” said Emily Rees, president of CropLife International, which represents […] Read more
Fixing WTO seen as major benefit for agriculture
A former Canadian agriculture trade negotiator says rebuilding the international body would take time, but is necessary
OTTAWA — A rebuilt World Trade Organization would benefit agriculture, says long-time Canadian trade negotiator Steve Verheul. He, like most, believes the WTO is fundamentally broken and said agriculture is losing out because of that. “Agriculture in particular, probably more than most sectors, has the potential to benefit a lot from the WTO because it’s […] Read more
China calls for overhaul of farm subsidy rules under WTO
REUTERS — China has called for the removal of “enormous” farm subsidies in some developed countries as part of Beijing’s push for reform of the World Trade Organization. “There are very unfair rules in the agriculture sector, and enormous subsidies some developed country members are entitled to, that severely distort international agricultural trade,” said Wang […] Read more
Implications enormous as WTO hits gridlock
May 18, 2015, was a significant day for Canada’s beef and pork producers. On that date, the appellate body of the World Trade Organization issued a final ruling in favour of Canada. The WTO judges said America’s country of origin labelling rules on red meat discriminated against imports from Canada and Mexico. That sort of […] Read more
