Issue No. 551 (16-31 Aug 2013)
WTO discusses Bali outcome, bids Lamy adieu

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TNC considers state of play on Bali deliverables
The last meeting of the WTO’s Trade Negotiations Committee (TNC) before the summer recess saw WTO head Pascal Lamy and member states discuss the potential outcome of the trade body’s Ministerial Conference to be held in Bali this December.
by Kanaga Raja

Officers for MC9 elected, Lamy gives farewell speech
Meeting two days after the TNC, the WTO’s governing General Council addressed preparations for the Bali Ministerial Conference and also heard the farewell statement from outgoing Director-General Pascal Lamy.
by Kanaga Raja

New threat to state’s economic role
The economically successful developing countries are characterized as having a strong “developmental state”.  But this role of the state is coming under attack in new global rules being created.
by Martin Khor

World’s poorest nations slowly mending
The world’s least developed countries look set for a reduction in their ranks and are meanwhile attracting record levels of foreign investment, but does this necessarily herald a brighter development outlook?
by Thalif Deen

US and EU frustrate peasants’ rights declaration
A proposed international declaration on the rights of peasants is facing opposition from the US and European states.
by Gustavo Capdevila