World Trade Organization

WTO ""Peace Clause"" Protecting U.S., EU Farmers Expiring

Associated Press Worldstream | By NAOMI KOPPEL | December 23, 2003 The "peace clause" that for nine years has protected the US$1 billion in daily subsidies paid to farmers in wealthy nations is about to expire, and some countries are threatening to file their first legal challenges to the payments.

Trade Year A Battle Between Multi And Bilateral Trade Deals

AAP NEWSFEED | By Shane Wright | December 23, 2003 CANBERRA AAP - The running street battles of Seattle may not have been repeated in the sun-drenched hotels of Mexico's Cancun. But the results of a World Trade Organisation (WTO) meeting at Cancun this year were just the same as that in Seattle four years earlier - a failure of world trade talks to get on track.

Sparks Still Flying in Transatlantic Trade Dispute

Christian Science Monitor | By Peter Ford | Dec. 8, 2003 PARIS - European leaders hailed President Bush's retreat from import tariffs on steel Friday, welcoming it as a sign that Washington is ready to abide by international rules despite the US administration's reputation abroad for "America First" policies.

Agricultural Subsidies Targeted

Washington Times | By Jeffrey Sparshott | Dec. 8, 2003 U.S. and European agricultural subsidies, worth billions of dollars to farmers, will be open to attack at the World Trade Organization as soon as next month.

Pressure to Protect Trade Not Easing

Associated Press | By Martin Crutsinger | Dec. 7, 2003 WASHINGTON - There is no sign of a quick easing of pressure on President Bush to provide trade protection for besieged U.S. industries, especially with his re-election race ahead and manufacturing employment still in free-fall.

Little Hope of Progress in Crucial WTO Round Expected at December Meeting

Agence France Presse | Dec. 7, 2003 GENEVA (AFP) - Attempts to get countries back to the negotiating table to relaunch WTO trade talks by a December 15 deadline are in trouble, and diplomats doubt much progress will be made until next year at the earliest.

Bush Decides to Lift Steep Steel Tariffs

Associated Press | By Martin Crutsinger | Dec. 4, 2003 WASHINGTON - Facing the threat of a trade war, President Bush has decided to lift steep tariffs he imposed on foreign steel 20 months ago, Republican and industry officials said Thursday.

Bush Raises Steel Money Before Tariff Decision

Reuters | By Randall Mikkelsen | Dec. 2, 2003 PITTSBURGH (Reuters) - President Bush picked up $850,000 in campaign contributions in America's steel industry heartland on Tuesday even as he prepared to lift tariffs that have been helping steelmakers.

Bush, in ""Steel City,"" Skips the ""T"" Word

Los Angeles Times | By Maura Reynolds and Richard Simon | Dec. 3, 2003 PITTSBURGH - Here in "Steel City," President Bush didn't say a word in public Tuesday about the hot political issue of the day: his expected decision to lift the tariffs he imposed on imported steel last year.

Slouching Toward A Trade War?

BusinessWeek | By Paul Magnusson and Rich Miller in Washington, with Dexter Roberts in Beijing, Michael Arndt in Chicago, and Marcia Vickers in New York | Dec. 1, 2003