Issue No. 627, 16-31 October 2016
Member states differ over WTO agenda
*Click on cover to download (PDF)
Key South nations insist on addressing unresolved Doha
issues before new issues
A recent meeting of trade ministers from several prominent WTO member states
saw developing-country participants stress the need to address pending issues
under the Doha Work Programme, amid a push by developed countries to bring new
subjects onto the WTO agenda.
by D. Ravi Kanth
African Group deals body blow on e-commerce talks
African countries at the WTO have opposed moves to steer the
talks on electronic commerce in the trade body away from the agreed upon
mandate.
by D. Ravi Kanth
Industrial overcapacity due to subsidies, claim US, EU,
Japan
A proposal backed by developed countries calls for the issue
of subsidies and overcapacity to be tackled in the WTO – but not in its Doha
Round talks.
by D. Ravi Kanth
Pursuit of profit undermining workers’ rights
The majority of the world’s workers are denied their rights
to freedom of peaceful assembly and of association in the workplace, says a UN
rights expert, “mainly because of an economic world order that relentlessly
pursues ever-increasing growth and profits at all costs”.
by Kanaga Raja
UN must fight tax evasion, says rights expert
A UN rights expert has urged the world body to take action
against the “systematic looting of society” in the form of tax avoidance and
evasion.
by Tharanga Yakupitiyage
Shining a spotlight on the 2030 Agenda
A report by a civil society coalition monitoring
implementation of the global 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development considers
the challenges faced in realizing the objectives of the Agenda.
by Kanaga Raja
Governments and social movements disagree on future of
cities
A newly adopted UN agenda for sustainable cities has drawn
criticism from academics and activists who question whether it can effectively
bring about inclusive urban development.
by Emilio Godoy
Opinion: Poverty reduction hampered by poor policies
Conventional policy approaches to poverty eradication are
clearly insufficient, if not worse, contends Jomo Kwame Sundaram.
