Issue No. 586, 1-15 Feb 2015
WTO members to accord preferences to LDC services

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High-level meeting on operationalizing LDC services waiver
A high-level meeting was held at the WTO on 5 February in which over 30 member states announced their intent to grant preferential treatment to service suppliers from the least developed countries. Kanaga Raja reports.

The US 2014 Farm Bill and developing-country cotton producers
Under its new agricultural law, the US will provide less support to its domestic cotton sector, thereby opening up greater competitive opportunities for producers and exporters from the developing world, according to a study by a UN development body.
by Kanaga Raja

Post-2015 and FfD3: Debates begin, political lines emerge
Negotiations at the UN are gathering pace in the run-up to two major events in 2015 that could shape development prospects for the international community for years to come. Barbara Adams and Gretchen Luchsinger outline some of the key areas of focus in the ongoing talks on the post-2015 development agenda and financing for development.

2015 touted as milestone year for UN
With a number of major conferences and its 70th anniversary approaching, the UN is proclaiming 2015 to be “the time for global action”. But will the eventual outcomes match the ambitious rhetoric?
by Thalif Deen

Youth unemployment, income inequality keep rising
Youth are disproportionately affected by unemployment in a world of sluggish growth and growing inequality, says the International Labour Organization.
by Josh Butler

A kerfuffle over global wealth stats
Questions raised about a recent analysis of world wealth in no way belie its findings of gaping inequality, writes Sam Pizzigati.