Water

Agriculture: Cairns Leaders Launch European Offensive

By Gustavo Capdevila GENEVA, Oct 16 (IPS) - The rural entrepreneurs of the Cairns Group member countries are joining their governments to form an anti-protectionist bloc, fighting for agricultural liberalisation in the talks underway at the World Trade Organisation (WTO).

Agriculture: New Advances in Agriculture Mean More Food for Africans

By Nana Rosine Ngangoue COTONOU, Oct 16 (IPS)- Even with the poor climatic conditions and ineffective agricultural policies that have prevailed in Africa over the past few years, the development and introduction of new, disease-resistant crop varieties have meant larger yields and less famine.

NGOs Start Campaign Against US Africa Growth and Opportunity Act (AGOA)

Geneva, 4 Oct (Chakravarthi Raghavan) -- The Africa Growth and Opportunity Act (AGOA), signed into law by the US President, provides illusory benefits to African countries who in exchange are to provide real concessions to the United States and its firms, African civil society groups have said in launching a campaign to alert their governments and public against taking measures required of them

Patented Genes Like Bonded Labor?

Geneva, 4 Oct (Chakravarthi Raghavan) -- In a paper (Doc IP/C/W/209) submitted to the recent meeting of the Council for TRIPS, the United States has suggested that patenting of life forms does not amount to ownership but only preventing others from taking certain actions.

Worry Remains Whether Tacos Are Made Of Unapproved Biotech Grain

First It Was Kraft, Now Mission's Pulling Food From Shelves Company Will Now Use Only White Corn For Flour Mix WASHINGTON, Oct. 13, 2000

USTR Spotlights National Policies in Bid for WTO Transparency

Inside US Trade

IMF/World Bank: Stupid, Cruel, Brutal

By Russell Mokhiber and Robert Weissman There is no policy of the International Monetary Fund (IMF) and World Bank that is more stupid, cruel and brutal than the insistence that poor countries charge fees for children to attend school and for people to access basic health services.

Opponents of Antidumping Bill FAce Uphill Battle

Inside US Trade

New OECD Draft Nears U.S. Proposal on Agriculture Export Credits

Inside US Trade A new draft agreement on agriculture export credits moves closer to the U.S. proposal limiting the terms of government-backed loans to 18 months for cereals, oilseeds and cotton but cuts back on U.S. demands for extended pay-back periods for the world's poorest countries, according to industry and international government sources.

What Should We Expect From the WTO?

Arlan Suderman / Farm Progress / Thursday, October 12, 2000 The World Trade Organization (WTO) has become both respected and reviled. In 1995, the United States entered into an agreement with other WTO members that will impact agriculture for many years. Now as members enter the second round of WTO negotiations, few understand what we've agreed to, or where we're headed.