Issue No. 648, 1-15 September 2017
Still no consensus on WTO Ministerial outcome

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South countries shoot down proposals for e-commerce negotiations
A large number of developing countries have opposed moves at the WTO to launch negotiations aimed at drawing up new rules on electronic commerce.
by D. Ravi Kanth

US “no” to Cotton-Four, but China-India welcome proposal
A proposal by four cotton-producing West African countries for major cuts in cotton subsidies that are harming their domestic growers has been rebuffed by the US, which undermines prospects of an outcome at the Buenos Aires WTO meet.
by D. Ravi Kanth

New “vertical” text on fisheries subsidies issued
A 12-13 October meeting of the WTO body negotiating disciplines governing fisheries subsidies was presented with an “integrated” compilation of the proposals tabled thus far, and also considered an evaluation by the chair of the state of play in the talks.
by Kanaga Raja

Consensus eludes trade ministers at Marrakesh
Amid persistent divisions on key issues, trade ministers from a select group of countries meeting at Marrakesh in October had failed to reach agreement on what the upcoming WTO Ministerial Conference in Buenos Aires is to deliver.
by D. Ravi Kanth

Diversifying exports, upgrading quality key to less volatility
A UN development agency has underlined the need for structural transformation in commodity-dependent developing countries in order to reduce the adverse effects of commodity market volatility.
by Kanaga Raja

How to eradicate rural poverty, end urban malnutrition
A report by the UN Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) outlines a strategy to leverage the “enormous untapped potential of food systems” to drive sustainable and inclusive rural development.
by Baher Kamal

Opinion: Hunger in Africa, land of plenty
Anis Chowdhury and Jomo Kwame Sundaram examine how food security in Africa has been compromised by decades of wrong-headed economic policy.