World Trade Organization

Group Claims WTO Copyright Victory

By The Associated Press GENEVA (AP) -- World Trade Organization experts have issued a preliminary ruling against U.S. copyright law that allows music to be played in public without the payment of royalties, an Irish music organization said Wednesday.

NZ Lodges Submission in WTO Lamb Case

Press Release New Zealand Government 19/04/00 New Zealand would lodge its first submission with the World Trade Organisation disputes panel hearing the case against the United States tonight, Minister for Trade Negotiations Hon Jim Sutton said. Mr Sutton said lodging the submission was a major step along the road towards resolution of the dispute which began last July.

EU-China Talks on WTO to Resume "Very Shortly": EU Envoy

Agence France Presse / Patrick Baert BEIJING, April 18 (AFP) - China will resume talks shortly with the European Union on joining the World Trade Organization (WTO), the EU ambassador here said Tuesday. EU envoy Endymion Wilkinson added that he hoped the next round of talks would lead to an agreement on China's membership of the trade body.

Leading House Democrat to Oppose China Trade

By ERIC SCHMITT WASHINGTON, April 17 -- In a setback for the Clinton administration, the House Democratic leader, Richard A. Gephardt, intends to oppose granting China permanent normal trading privileges, several people familiar with his decision said today.

Taiwan Expects to Join WTO This Year

Agence France Presse TAIPEI, April 17 (AFP) - Taiwan expected to become a member of the World Trade Organisation (WTO) this year immediately after China, an official said Monday.

WTO Head Praises China, Says New Trade Round Still Far Off

CongressDaily In a speech at the National Press Club Thursday, World Trade Organization Director General Michael Moore praised China for embracing world trade, but he said the trade ministers of WTO members are nowhere near the consensus needed for a meeting to launch a new trade round. He also said he believes the Africa-Caribbean trade bill will pass Congress.

U.S. Leads Trade Boom

Associated Press / Naomi Koppel, Associated Press Writer GENEVA (AP) -- Buoyed by booming U.S. demand, international trade grew strongly at the end of last year, but many countries in Latin America and East Europe saw exports fall, the World Trade Organization said in its annual report released today.

China, Malaysia Sign WTO Deal

BEIJING (AP) -- China and Malaysia have signed an agreement on China's entry into the World Trade Organization, leaving just seven WTO members who have yet to approve China's bid to join the trade group. The agreement was signed Wednesday in Malaysia by China's trade minister, Shi Guangsheng, and his Malaysian counterpart, Rafidah Aziz, the state-run Xinhua News Agency said.

EU Defends Customs Procedures for Fruit, Vegetables as Consistent with Global Rules

April 13, 2000 | By Daniel Pruzin GENEVA--The European Union April 12 defended its practice of applying standard price values to import of fruits and vegetables for customs valuation purposes, arguing that the practice is fully compatible with global trading rules.