August 2000

This electronic newsbulletin is an initiative by the Director-General of the WTO to facilitate access of non-governmental organizations to publicly available WTO information. Subscription is open to all interested organizations and/or individuals. For new subscribers, should you wish to receive this newsbulletin, please send an e-mail to the following address: parlbulletin@wto.org. It would be highly appreciated if readers could let us know whether they find this newsletter useful. For any comments, suggestions or questions, please sent them to the above-mentioned e-mail address.

CONTENTS:

WTO and Parliaments:

- Outreach activities

- Links to selected recent official WTO documents

Director-General weekly bulletin

Main WTO News in Brief

Special issues

Selected press releases for July

Selected speeches by DG in July

Upcoming meetings

IMPORTANT NOTICE

Recently, the WTO website ( HYPERLINK "http://www.wto.org/index.htmin" http://www.wto.org/index.htmin ) has been completely re-vamped. Since the website is still under construction, we apologize for any problems caused by the change to the new format. We hope to have these sorted out in the next few weeks. Your comments ( HYPERLINK "http://www.wto.org/english/info_e/site3_e.htm" l "comments" http://www.wto.org/english/info_e/site3_e.htm#comments ) will be much appreciated

WTO AND PARLIAMENTS

Access to the monthly Parliamentary bulletin

Due to the above-mentioned re-vamp, the bulletin may not be immediately available from the Director-General's page of the WTO website.

Next issue

As there are no WTO meetings in August there will be no NGO bulletin in September. The next issue will come out in October.

Selected upcoming WTO meetings

Except for a meeting of the Dispute Settlement Body on 4 August, no meetings are scheduled for August and the beginning of September (until further notice).

For the tentative weekly schedule of meetings, please go to HYPERLINK "http://www.wto.org/english/news_e/news_e.htm#WhatsOn" http://www.wto.org/english/news_e/news_e.htm#WhatsOn For a complete list of WTO meetings, see below.

Outreach activities

The WTO Director-General Mr. Mike Moore will give an address at the Inter-Parliamentary Union (IPU) conference of Speakers of National Parliaments at the United Nations Headquarters in New York on 31 August, as part of the UN Millennium Summit. For further information on this conference HYPERLINK "http://www.ipu.org/" http://www.ipu.org

50th Congress of Liberal International, WTO Director-General Mr. Mike Moore will participate in the 50th Congress of Liberal International, on 26-28 October 2000 in Hull, Ottawa, Canada. HYPERLINK "http://www.worldlib.org/" http://www.worldlib.org

Links to selected recent official WTO documents

Access to SPS documents. All unrestricted documents to the Agreement on the application of Sanitary and Phytosanitary Measures (SPS) are now publicly available through a self-subscribing electronic mailing list. Documents will be sent through e-mail, usually twice a week. To subscribe to the list, send an e-mail message to listproc@list.unicc.org with the following in the body of the message (leave subject line blank): SUBSCRIBE SPS your full name. Your email address will be automatically registered. To unsubscribe, please follow the same procedure but with the following message: UNSUBSCRIBE SPS your full name. Please note that the SPS documents will be sent in the language originally received.

WT/DS166/R UNITED STATES - DEFINITIVE SAFEGUARD MEASURES ON IMPORTS OF WHEAT GLUTEN FROM THE EUROPEAN COMMUNITIES - Report of the Panel 31.07.00: HYPERLINK "http://www.wto.org/wto/ddf/ep/E3/E3012e.doc" http://www.wto.org/wto/ddf/ep/E3/E3012e.doc

WT/CTE/W/158 RECENT DEVELOPMENTS IN THE CONVENTION ON BIOLOGICAL DIVERSITY (CBD) - Note by the Secretariat 28.07.00: HYPERLINK "http://www.wto.org/wto/ddf/ep/E3/E3122e.doc" http://www.wto.org/wto/ddf/ep/E3/E3122e.doc

G/SPS/GEN/197 IMPLEMENTATION OF THE PROVISIONS FOR SPECIAL AND DIFFERENTIAL TREATMENT - Statement by India at the Meeting of 21-22 June 2000 21.07.00: HYPERLINK "http://www.wto.org/wto/ddf/ep/E3/E3018e.doc" http://www.wto.org/wto/ddf/ep/E3/E3018e.doc

WT/CTE/W/156 IP/C/W/198 PROTECTION OF BIODIVERSITY AND TRADITIONAL KNOWLEDGE - THE INDIAN EXPERIENCE - Submission by India 14.07.00: HYPERLINK "http://www.wto.org/wto/ddf/ep/E2/E2889e.doc" http://www.wto.org/wto/ddf/ep/E2/E2889e.doc

WT/CTE/W/157 INTEGRATED ASSESSMENT OF TRADE-RELATED POLICIES - Submission by UNEP 13.07.00: HYPERLINK "http://www.wto.org/wto/ddf/ep/E2/E2877e.doc" http://www.wto.org/wto/ddf/ep/E2/E2877e.doc

G/SPS/GEN/195 THE DEVELOPMENT CHALLENGE IN TRADE: SANITARY AND PHYTOSANITARY STANDARDS - Submission by the World Bank 12.07.00: HYPERLINK "http://www.wto.org/wto/ddf/ep/E2/E2848e.doc" http://www.wto.org/wto/ddf/ep/E2/E2848e.doc

G/SPS/GEN/193 FOOD SAFETY - Submission by the World Health Organization (WHO) 11.07.00: HYPERLINK "http://www.wto.org/wto/ddf/ep/E2/E2830e.doc" http://www.wto.org/wto/ddf/ep/E2/E2830e.doc

WT/DER/39 DERESTRICTION OF DOCUMENTS - Documents Recently Derestricted - Trilingual Document 10.07.00: HYPERLINK "http://www.wto.org/wto/ddf/ep/E2/E2810e.doc" http://www.wto.org/wto/ddf/ep/E2/E2810e.doc

G/AG/NG/2 SECOND SPECIAL SESSION OF THE COMMITTEE ON AGRICULTURE - Report by the Chairman, Ambassador Jorge Voto-Bernales, to the General Council 04.07.00: HYPERLINK "http://www.wto.org/wto/ddf/ep/E2/E2768e.doc" http://www.wto.org/wto/ddf/ep/E2/E2768e.doc

DIRECTOR-GENERAL's WEEKLY BULLETIN

The weekly bulletin provides highlights of the Director-General's activities over the past weeks (due to website re-vamp, some delay may occur). The bulletin is an initiative of the Director-General and can be found on the WTO website ( HYPERLINK "http://www.wto.org/english/thewto_e/dg_e/bullet_e.htm" http://www.wto.org/english/thewto_e/dg_e/bullet_e.htm )

MAIN WTO NEWS IN BRIEF

Director-General Mike Moore, on 23 July 2000, welcomed the G-8's call for a round of trade negotiations to start this year. He said "it is through a round that our organization can achieve a balanced agreement that enables us to tackle the many problems and concerns affecting the world's citizens". Go to the story: HYPERLINK "http://www.wto.org/english/news_e/news00_e/g82000_e.htm" http://www.wto.org/english/news_e/news00_e/g82000_e.htm

"Concrete progress" in China WTO talks. The Chairman of the WTO Working Party, Ambassador Pierre-Louis Girard of Switzerland, in his summing up ( HYPERLINK "http://www.wto.org/english/news_e/news00_e/chisum_e.docon" http://www.wto.org/english/news_e/news00_e/chisum_e.docon 27 July 2000 said "concrete progress" was made during a full week of meetings on China's membership bid.

WTO issues "Korean beef" and "Wheat gluten" panel reports.A WTO dispute-settlement panel issued today, 31 July 2000, its report on the US complaint against Korean import measures on beef (DS161). You can download the report here HYPERLINK "http://www.wto.org/english/tratop_e/dispu_e/distab_e.htm#ds161" . http://www.wto.org/english/tratop_e/dispu_e/distab_e.htm#ds161

WTO dispute-settlement panel issued today its report on the European Communities complaint against US definitive safeguard measures on imports of wheat gluten (DS166). You can download the report here. HYPERLINK "http://www.wto.org/english/tratop_e/dispu_e/distab_e.htm#ds166" http://www.wto.org/english/tratop_e/dispu_e/distab_e.htm#ds166

Moore welcomes Swedish contribution. Director-General Mike Moore in Stockholm this week welcomed Sweden's contribution of 7 million crowns to WTO's technical assistance fund. Go to the press release. HYPERLINK "http://www.wto.org/english/news_e/pres00_e/pr188_e.htm" http://www.wto.org/english/news_e/pres00_e/pr188_e.htm

Dutch boost to WTO's technical assistance fund. Dutch Director- General for Foreign Economic Relations Dirk Bruinsma, on 17 July 2000, signed a Memorandum of Understanding with Director-General Mike Moore pledging a contribution of 2.6 million guilders to the WTO technical assistance fund. In thanking the Dutch government, Mr. Moore said that with "insufficient" regular budget for this purpose "only through these types of generous contributions can the WTO respond now to an increasing demand for technical assistance". Go to the press release. HYPERLINK "http://www.wto.org/english/news_e/pres00_e/pr186r1_e.htm" http://www.wto.org/english/news_e/pres00_e/pr186r1_e.htm

WTO membership of Albania, Croatia approved. The General Council, on 17 July 2000, approved the entry of Albania and Croatia into the WTO. Director-General Mike Moore expressed the hope that through closer trade, "the WTO can, in a small way, help foster greater peace and stability in south-eastern Europe". > Go to the story and video interviews HYPERLINK "http://www.wto.org/english/news_e/news00_e/gcounc_e.htm" . http://www.wto.org/english/news_e/news00_e/gcounc_e.htm

Reports out on Brazil's aircraft appeals. The Appellate Body, on 21 July 2000, issued reports HYPERLINK "http://www.wto.org/english/tratop_e/dispu_e/distab_e.htm#abrw46" http://www.wto.org/english/tratop_e/dispu_e/distab_e.htm#abrw46 on Brazil's appeals regarding its aircraft dispute with Canada

Tourism proposed as GATS annexe. Services negotiators, on 13-14 July 2000, discussed guidelines for negotiations and proposals from delegations including one for a new GATS annex on tourism services. > Go to summary of services meetings, 5-14 July 2000: HYPERLINK "http://www.wto.org/english/news_e/news00_e/servju_e.htm" http://www.wto.org/english/news_e/news00_e/servju_e.htm

Panel issues report on EC complaint against US import measures. A WTO dispute-settlement panel issued today, 17 July 2000, its report on the EC complaint against US import measures on certain EC products. The US action was related to the banana dispute. You can download the report here HYPERLINK "http://www.wto.org/english/tratop_e/dispu_e/distab_e.htm#r165" http://www.wto.org/english/tratop_e/dispu_e/distab_e.htm#r165

Members hold wide-ranging discussions on EU trade policies. In reviewing the European Union's trade policy regime on 12 and 14 July 2000, members lauded the region's economic recovery and the generally open EU markets, which are of singular importance to export interests of many countries. Concerns were raised on EU's outstanding implementation of the banana and hormones cases and the import regime for agricultural products. > Go to the press release HYPERLINK "http://www.wto.org/english/tratop_e/tpr_e/tp137_e.htm" http://www.wto.org/english/tratop_e/tpr_e/tp137_e.htm and the chairperson's concluding remarks HYPERLINK "http://www.wto.org/english/news_e/news00_e/eutpr.doc" http://www.wto.org/english/news_e/news00_e/eutpr.doc

Trade officials get WTO diplomas. Deputy Director-General Miguel Rodriguez Mendoza, on 14 July 2000, handed out diplomas to 25 developing-country officials upon their completion of the 14th WTO Trade Policy Course, which was conducted in Spanish. He noted that some 1700 trade officials from developing countries and economies in transition have participated in this programme since its inception in 1955. Go to the press release HYPERLINK "http://www.wto.org/english/news_e/pres00_e/pr187_e.htm" http://www.wto.org/english/news_e/pres00_e/pr187_e.htm

CTE holds information session with secretariats of environment accords. The WTO Committee on Trade and Environment, on 5-6 July 2000, held an information session with secretariats of environmental agreements to facilitate members' understanding of the linkages between the multilateral environment and trade agendas. It also discussed a number of new papers, including a proposal from Switzerland on the relationship between the WTO and MEAs, a submission from Bangladesh on trade in domestically prohibited goods, from India on the protection of biodiversity and traditional knowledge, from the EC on the precautionary principle, and from the US on subsidies in fisheries. Go to the Trade and Environment Bulletin HYPERLINK "http://www.wto.org/english/tratop_e/envir_e/te033_e.htm" http://www.wto.org/english/tratop_e/envir_e/te033_e.htm .

SPECIAL ISSUES

New approach to helping LDC trade agreed. PRIVATE "TYPE=PICT;ALT=Click here to visit the Integrated Framework website" The heads of six international agencies have agreed on a new approach to improve the delivery of trade-related technical assistance to the least-developed countries, including the launching of an Integrated Framework Trust Fund. Director-General Mike Moore, who chaired the meeting of the ITC, IMF, UNCTAD, UNDP, the World Bank and the WTO on 6 July 2000 in New York, stressed that "it is time these countries saw more of the positive side of globalization". Go to the press release HYPERLINK "http://www.wto.org/english/news_e/pres00_e/pr185_e.htm" http://www.wto.org/english/news_e/pres00_e/pr185_e.htm and the joint statement HYPERLINK "http://www.wto.org/english/news_e/news00_e/ifstat_e.htm" http://www.wto.org/english/news_e/news00_e/ifstat_e.htm by the six core agencies.

PRESS RELEASES FOR JULY

Please refer to main WTO news.

SELECTED SPEECHES BY THE DG IN JULY

26.07.00 HYPERLINK "http://www.wto.org/english/news_e/spmm_e/spmm_e.htm" In Praise of the Future Director-General Mike Moore in his speech on 26 July 2000 in Malmo, Sweden, called on young socialists to embrace openness and stressed that there is "no contradiction between being on the Left and supporting free trade and the WTO".

UPCOMING WTO MEETINGS

For the tentative programme of WTO meetings for 2000, click here: HYPERLINK "http://www.wto.org/english/news_e/meets.doc" http://www.wto.org/english/news_e/meets.doc

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