Uganda's reforms attract foreign investments
Significant economic reform in Uganda over the last decade and a half has attracted foreign direct investment, mainly in manufacturing, and contributed to continued economic growth. This was one of the conclusions of a WTO Secretariat report that served as a basis for the members' review of Uganda's trade policies and practices held on 19 and 21 December 2001.
> Chairperson's concluding remarks
> Press release

Panel report out on automobile dispute
The WTO, on 21 December 2001, released the report of a panel (DS146/R — DS175/R) that examined complaints by the US and the EU over India's measures affecting the automotive sector.
> Download the Panel report in Word format (191 pages; 992KB) — in pdf format (191 pages; 592KB).
> All documents on case DS146    > All documents on case DS175
> Report only DS146        > Report only DS175
> More on Dispute Settlement

Second examination of the “dairy” case implementation
The Dispute Settlement Body, on 18 December 2001, referred for the second time to the original panel complaints by the US and New Zealand regarding Canada's implementation of DSB recommendations in the “dairy” case.
> Summary of the meeting

Moore outlines successes of 2001, roadmap for 2002
Director-General Mike Moore, in his end-of-year message to Member Governments on 20 December 2001, said collective efforts toward the success of the 4th Ministerial and the immediate launching of preparations for the Doha Development Agenda, including the approval of an increased budget, have made 2001 “a most rewarding year”.
> Press release
> Background: WTO's 2-year strategy comes to fruition (Download in MS Word format 9 pages; 51 KB).

WTO Secretariat reorganizes for Development Round
Director-General Mike Moore, in a speech on 14 December 2001 said, “WTO has been given an important new negotiating mandate by Ministers”

China becomes 143rd WTO member
China became the 143rd member of the WTO on 11 December 2001, 30 days after it had notified the Director-General that it had completed domestic ratification of its accession package.
> Press release

Mexico offers to host next Ministerial Conference
The WTO General Council’s deliberations on when and where to hold the Fifth Ministerial Conference has kicked off with a formal offer from Mexico, circulated on 28 November 2001.
> News item

Doha success marks a turning-point for the world trading system — Moore
Director-General Mike Moore, in a speech before the Pacific Economic Cooperation Council in Hong Kong, China on 28 November 2001, said the Doha Ministerial was “an extraordinarily successful meeting ... that will be remembered as a turning point in the history of the WTO and the trading system and in relations between developed and developing countries within that system”.

WTO Members report on anti-dumping activity
The WTO Secretariat reported that in the period 1 January — 30 June 2001, 18 Members initiated 134 anti-dumping investigations against exports from a total of 41 different countries or customs territories.
> Press release

Sweden gives CHF 1.2m to help least-developed countries
Sweden has donated 8 million Swedish Krona (1.2 million Swiss francs) to help developing countries — and the least developed in particular — improve their ability to negotiate in the WTO and to implement WTO agreements.
> Press release

Conference ends with agreement on new programme
Ministers from WTO member governments approved a work programme — which they called “broad and balanced” — that includes negotiations on a range of subjects and other tasks for the coming years.
> Summary of 14 November meetings       > Press release

Chinese Taipei signs, ministers make progress on intellectual property
Chinese Taipei signed its membership package on 12 November, while in informal meetings, ministers made considerable progress on the draft declaration on intellectual property and health problems.
> Summary of 12 November meetings

China to join on 11 December, Chinese Taipei's membership also approved
China has notified the WTO that it has ratified its membership and will now become a full member, the WTO's 143rd, on 11 December 2001. Ministers also approved Chinese Taipei's membership package, which will be signed 12 November.
> Summary of 11 November meetings

WTO Ministerial Conference approves accession of Chinese Taipei
The WTO's Ministerial Conference approved today, 11 November, by consensus the text of the agreement for Chinese Taipei's entry into the WTO.
> Press release

Ministers start on Doha Declaration, China approved
Ministers, on 10 November, began negotiating in earnest various sections of the Doha Ministerial Declaration. They also formally approved China's membership.
> Summary of 10 November meetings

WTO Ministerial Conference approves China's accession
The WTO's Ministerial Conference approved today (10 November) by consensus the text of the agreement for China's entry into the WTO.
> Press release

Award of the abritrator on U.S. — Section 110(5) of the US Copyright Act
The WTO, on 9 November 2001, issued an award of the abritrator on U.S. — Section 110(5) Of the US Copyright Act, (Dispute Settlement DS160/ARB25/1).

World economy needs signal of confidence from Doha — Moore
Director-General Mike Moore, at the opening of the WTO Fourth Ministerial Conference on 9 November 2001 in Doha, Qatar, said “the world economy needs the signal of confidence in open markets and commitment to international cooperation which agreements here will deliver”.
> Text of Mr. Moore's speech

Broad negotiations agenda needed for weak world economy — Moore
WTO Director-General Mike Moore, in his latest annual report on developments in the international trading environment released on 9 November 2001, says Ministers attending the 4th WTO Ministerial Conference in Doha, 9-13 November 2001 urgently need to initiate a broad agenda of negotiations.
> Press release

Moore says draft texts form solid basis for Ministerial negotiations
Director-General Mike Moore, on 28 October 2001, said that draft texts released this weekend form the basis for constructive negotiations by Ministers when they meet for the WTO's 4th Ministerial Conference in Doha, Qatar, 9-13 November.
> Press release

Food safety and health implementation: ‘equivalence’ decision OK'd
WTO members have settled one “implementation” issue by approving a decision on recognizing the equivalence of different food safety and animal and plant health measures. The decision was approved by the WTO’s Committee on Sanitary and Phytosanitary Measures (SPS) on 24 October 2001.
> More

“We're going ahead with the Doha Ministerial” — Moore
After two days of meeting with Qatari officials in Doha, Director-General Mike Moore, on 22 October 2001, issued the following statement regarding plans for holding the WTO's 4th Ministerial Conference in Doha from 9-13 November: “We are going ahead. I am confident with the planning and preparations here in Doha. If something seismic or catastrophic happens we will reconsider. But we're planning to come here to Doha in just over two weeks time”.

WTO applauds Czech success story
WTO members, at the conclusion of their review of the Czech Republic's trade policies and practices on 19 October 2001, congratulated the country for the successful transformation of the economy and encouraged it to continue liberalization efforts. Questions were raised about the tariff structure. 
> Chairperson's concluding remarks 
> Press release

World economy needs a boost from Doha — Moore
Director-General Mike Moore, in a speech on 9 October 2001 before the Foreign Affairs Commission of the French National Assembly in Paris, stressed that “the state of the world economy demands that we use the Ministerial Conference as an opportunity to boost global confidence”.

Members discuss drafts for ministerial declaration on patents and health
Two drafts for a ministerial declaration on intellectual property and publich health issues — now available unrestricted — were discussed in the second TRIPS Council meeting on access to medicines.
> Story

Moore lauds opening of legal aid centre for developing WTO members
WTO Director-General Mike Moore, in a speech at the opening of the Advisory Centre for WTO Law on 5 October 2001, said it marked “the first time a true legal aid centre has been established within the international legal system, with a view to combating the unequal possibilities of access to international justice as between States”.

Agriculture Committee settles three implementation issues
The Agriculture Committee on 27 September 2001 agreed on three “implementation” issues that are part of the preparation for the Doha Ministerial Conference: export credits and insurance; the decision on net food-importing developing countries; and tariff quotas.
> Story

Moore and Qatar's Min. Kamal reaffirm commitment to a successful Doha outcome
Mr. Yousef Hussain Kamal, Minister of Finance, Economy and Commerce of Qatar, and WTO Director-General Mike Moore reaffirmed, on 26 September 2001, their commitment to move ahead with the preparations for the 4th Ministerial Conference in Doha, Qatar, from 9 to 13 November.
> Press release

Moore urges African support for new Round
WTO Director-General Mike Moore, in a speech at the 4th Ordinary Session of the OAU/AEC Conference of African Ministers of Trade on 22 September 2001 in Abuja, Nigeria, urged support for the launching of a new Round in Doha with “development” at its core. He cited a study estimating a $155 billion gain for developing countries from further trade liberalization, which is over three times what they get annually in aid.

WTO publishes Guide to the General Agreement on Trade in Services (GATS)
This Guide prepared by specialists of the WTO Secretariat provides an assessment of recent developments in major sectors of services trade and examines issues governments will confront as they pursue liberalization of services trade.
> News item

WTO to consider first draft of Doha Declaration soon
Chairman Stuart Harbinson told an informal meeting of the WTO General Council on 20 September 2001 that based on his and Director-General Mike Moore's intensive meetings with members he intended “to circulate a draft text of a Ministerial Declaration for your consideration by the end of next week”. In extending their sympathies to the US delegation, the Chairman and the Director-General expressed “shock, sadness and outrage” at the 11 September attacks in the United States.
> Director-General's remarks     > Chairman's speaking points

Chinese Taipei's membership deal struck
Chinese Taipei has reached agreement with WTO members on its membership application on 18 September, paving the way for formal adoption at the WTO Ministerial Conference in Doha in November and full membership 30 days after the deal has been ratified in the customs territory.
> Press release

Officials start new trade policy course
Government officials from 30 countries and customs territories began, on 17 September 2001 the 18th WTO trade policy course. By 30th November, they will have become more acquainted with the WTO through lectures, round-table discussions and simulated negotiations.
> Press release

WTO successfully concludes negotiations on China's entry
The WTO, on 17 September 2001, successfully concluded negotiations on China's terms of membership, paving the way for the text of the agreement to be adopted formally at the WTO Ministerial Conference in Doha, Qatar, in November. “With China's membership, the WTO will take a major step towards becoming a truly world organization,” Director-General Mike Moore said.
> Press release       > China's statement

WTO reviews US trade policies
The Chairperson, at the conclusion of the sixth review of US' trade policies and practices on 17 September 2001, said that world trade cooperation as condition for the well-being of, and peaceful relations among nations is an “important consideration at a time when global economic difficulties and the recent terrorist attacks loom large in our minds”.
> Chairman's concluding remarks (download in Word format, 2 pages; 34 KB)
> Press release

Director General Moore hails China breakthrough
“This evening, Friday 14 September 2001, the Working Party on China's accession has concluded its work apart from some technical details on which rapid progress is also underway. I fully expect the Working Party on Monday to make its formal recommendation to ministers, setting the stage for their approval at our Ministerial Conference in Doha this November. Negotiators from the Member Governments have worked around the clock and the results speak for themselves. We are very close to bringing China into the multilateral trading system.”

“Geneva Week” focuses on preparations for Doha
Director-General Mike Moore, at the conclusion of the 3rd “Geneva Week” for non-resident WTO members and observers on 14 september 2001, called on delegates to participate actively in the final preparations for the WTO Ministerial Conference in Doha, Qatar.
> Press release

Moore urges completion of work on China and Chinese Taipei accessions
Director-General Mike Moore, on 10 September 2001, urged WTO member governments involved in Working Parties on the accession of China and Chinese Taipei to resolve this week all outstanding issues on the accessions so that both can join the organization at the earliest possible date.
> Press release

WTO arbitrator issues award in leather dispute 
A WTO arbitrator, in an award issued on 31 August 2001, has determined that the reasonable period of time for Argentina to comply with the recommendations and rulings of the Dispute Settlement Body regarding its “hides and leather” dispute with the European Communities is 12 months and 12 days.

DSB establishes panel on “Byrd Amendment”
The WTO Dispute Settlement Body (DSB), on 23 August 2001, considered six panel requests, two of which were agreed, including one on the US Continued Dumping and Subsidy Offset Act of 2000 (“Byrd Amendment”). 
> Summary of the meeting

Panel report out on US' compliance in Foreign Sales Corporation case
The WTO, on 20 August 2001, issued a panel report on the United States' implementation measures in the case “US Tax Treatment for Foreign Sales Corporations” (DS108). The European Communities had requested this review of implementation. 

647 non-governmental organizations eligible to attend the Doha Ministerial
The Director-General of the World Trade Organization, Mr. Mike Moore, today sent letters to 647 non-governmental organizations confirming their eligibility to attend the 4th WTO Ministerial Conference in Doha, Qatar, in November. The NGOs have until 17 September to complete and return their registration forms to the WTO Secretariat.  
> Press release

Moore hails implementation breakthrough
Director-General Mike Moore, on 1 August 2001, hailed agreement to approve long-standing requests from eight developing countries to extend the grace period for complying with the WTO Agreement on Trade-Related Investment Measures.
> Press release

WTO's future as negotiating forum at stake in Doha — Moore
Director-General Mike Moore, in a statement on 30 July 2001 at the WTO General Council's informal meeting on preparations for the Doha Ministerial, warned that failure by members to reach agreement on a forward work programme “would lead many to question the value of the WTO as a forum for negotiation”. He urged that “long-held positions must be reviewed and reconciled so we can make a start on a negotiating agenda that will benefit all our peoples”.
> Director-General's statement

WTO expands to 142 members
Moldova officially became the 142nd member of the WTO on 26 July 2001--30 days after it notified the organization that it had completed domestic ratification procedures. The WTO General Council approved the country's accession package last May.

Moore hails G-8 pledges on development and poverty alleviation
WTO Director-General Mike Moore, on 23 July 2001, praised leaders from the Group of Eight nations for stepping up their efforts towards the alleviation of poverty and the promotion of economic growth in developing countries.
> Press release

WTO set to wrap up China talks in September
The Chairman of the WTO Working Party on China, Amb. Pierre-Louis Girard (Switzerland), on 20 July 2001 said the latest meeting had “allowed us to virtually complete our consideration and approval of all aspects of China's accession package”. The final session of the Working Party was set for the week of 10 September 2001.
> Chairman's summing-up       > China's statement

General Council holds special session on implementation
The Chairman, Mr. Stuart Harbinson (Hong Kong, China), gave a report on 20 July 2001, on consultations he and Director-General Mike Moore had been conducting on outstanding implementation-related issues and concerns.

WTO commends Cameroon's continuing reform efforts
WTO members, at their second review of Cameroon's trade policies on 18 and 20 July 2001, congratulated the government for its continuing efforts to liberalize and further develop the economy. They recognized the country's need for technical assistance to enable it to fulfill its WTO obligations.
> Chairman's concluding remarks (download in Word format, 2 pages; 33 KB)
> Press release

New Round can deal with barriers to African exports — Moore
Director-General Mike Moore, in a speech on 16 July 2001 at the ECOSOC's High-Level Policy Dialogue in Geneva, said that “a new Round with development at its core” can deal with current barriers to Africa's exports.

17th WTO trade policy course concludes
Twenty-seven trade officials, mostly from least-developed countries, on 13 July 2001 completed the 17th WTO trade policy course. Deputy Director-General Paul-Henri Ravier underlined the unique learning experience the WTO course gives to participants.
> Press release

SPS Committee discusses foot and mouth disease, BSE and equivalence
With its foot and mouth disease crisis now easing, the EU pressed fellow WTO members to tailor their trade measures more closely to science and international standards, in the 10-11 July 2001 meeting of the Sanitary and Phytosanitary Measures Committee. Also discussed were other specific issues such as “mad cow disease” (BSE), and “equivalence” of sanitary and phytosanitary measures, part of the General Council’s discussion on implementing the current WTO agreements.
> News story

Agriculture Committee discusses ‘Peace Clause’ data, a proposed food safety-net fund, and 69 notifications
The EU and US provided the regular meeting of the Agriculture Committee, 28-29 June 2001, with some data — related to the so-called Peace Clause — on their domestic support in 1992, in response to a question from Argentina. Also discussed were a proposed $1.4 billion fund to act as a food security safety net for poorer countries, agricultural export credit disciplines, and 69 notifications.
> News item

Panel rules on Canada's compliance in the “dairy” case
The panel set up to consider whether Canada had correctly implemented an earlier ruling in the dispute concerning Canada's measures affecting the importation of milk and the exportation of dairy products (DS103/113) issued, on 11 July 2001, its report in response to a complaint from the United States and New Zealand.

WTO body holds information session with environmental agencies
The Committee on Trade and Environment, on 27-28 June 2001, held an information session with UNEP and multilateral environmental agreements (MEAs) on compliance and dispute settlement in the WTO and MEAs.
> Trade and environment bulletin No. 36

Moore calls for “civilized discourse” with NGOs
Director-General Mike Moore, in a speech on 6 July 2001 opening the first WTO Symposium on Issues Confronting the World Trading System said “civilized discourse” with NGOs will help the WTO do a better job. He said such gatherings with NGOs and civil society should become a regular feature of WTO activities.

Moore appoints advisory panel on WTO affairs
WTO Director-General Mike Moore announced, on 5 July 2001, the appointment of a panel of experts which will advise him on the challenges and opportunities confronting the organization and the global trading system.
> Press release

Development argument for new Round “compelling” — Moore
Director-General Mike Moore, in a speech on 5 July 2001 at Winconference 2001 in Interlaken, Switzerland, stressed that “poor countries need to grow their way out of poverty” and that broad negotiations could deal with many obstacles facing their products in rich countries, including high tariffs in agriculture, textiles, clothing and leather.

Moore welcomes progress on China accession to the WTO
Director-General Mike Moore, on 4 July 2001, said the progress made by the Working Party on China's accession during the week has improved the prospects for a decision on China's entry this November at the 4th Ministerial Conference in Doha, Qatar.
> Press release   > Chairman's summing up   > China's statement

Korea announces contribution to WTO technical assistance
Korea's Minister of Foreign Affairs and Trade, Dr. Seung-soo Han, and Director-General Mike Moore, on 4 July 2001, signed a Memorandum of Understanding concerning Korea's voluntary contribution of 385 million Korean Won (about 500,000 Swiss Francs) to WTO's technical cooperation activities in favour of least-developed countries.
> Press release

Panel ruling related to lumber issue released
The panel report on US' measures treating export restraints as subsidies (DS194) (relating to lumber issue), regarding a complaint by Canada, was released on 29 June 2001.

WTO lauds Gabon's trade integration efforts
WTO members, after reviewing Gabon's trade policies on 26 and 28 June 2001, lauded the country's efforts to integrate itself more fully into the multilateral trading system and the progress achieved in economic diversification, privatization and investments.
> Chairman's concluding remarks (download in Word format, 2 pages; 32 KB,)
> Press release

WTO members to press on, following ‘rich debate’ on medicines
WTO member governments have agreed to examine in greater detail the issues raised in their first special discussion on Intellectual Property and Access to Medicines on 20 June 2001, a meeting that the chairperson, Ambassador Boniface Chidyausiku of Zimbabwe described as “rich”.
> 22 June 2001 press release       > More on the meeting

DSB establishes two panels
The WTO Dispute Settlement Body (DSB), on 20 June 2001, agreed to establish two panels: on anti-dumping measures by Egypt on steel coming from Turkey, and on taxes imposed by Peru on Chilean cigarettes.
> Go to summary of the meeting

Governments share interpretations on TRIPS and public health
Unusually frank and detailed interpretations of the WTO’s intellectual property agreement characterized the 20 June 2001 discussion on “Intellectual Property and Access to medicines” in WTO’s Council on Trade-related Aspects of Intellectual Property Rights (TRIPS).
> Summary of discussion

Moore welcomes China-EU agreement on Chinese accession to WTO
Director-General Mike Moore, on 21 June 2001, praised Chinese and EU negotiators for reaching agreement on unresolved bilateral issues concerning China's accession to the WTO.
> Press release

Moore: countries must feel secure that they can use TRIPS’ flexibility
WTO Director-General Mike Moore says the special discussion on “Intellectual Property and Access to Medicines” should reinforce countries’ confidence in their right to use the flexibility written into the WTO Agreement on Trade-Related Aspects of Intellectual Property Rights. He was commenting on the 20 June 2001 session of the WTO’s TRIPS Council.
> Statement          > More on the discussion

WTO chief announces Arab region strategy ahead of Doha conference
The WTO is preparing a strategy for the Arab region, to raise awareness, improve information flows, help Arab delegations in Geneva, and prepare Arab countries for a new trade round that could potentially be launched at the forthcoming Ministerial Conference in Doha, Director-General Mike Moore announced on 20 June 2001.
> Speech

Dispute: compliance panel rules on whether US has implemented “shrimp-turtle” decision
The panel set up to consider whether the US has correctly implemented an earlier ruling in the “shrimp-turtle” dispute (DS58) has issued its report in response to a complaint from Malaysia.
> Download compliance panel report (DS58/RW), Appellate Body (DS58/AB/R) and panel reports (DS58/R)
> Read background explanation of the “shrimp-turtle” case

TRIPS: new WIPO-WTO initiative to help world’s poorest countries
The heads of the World Intellectual Property Organization and WTO launched, on 14 June 2001, a new initiative to help least-developed countries in intellectual property issues, including their obligation to comply with the WTO’s TRIPS Agreement by 2006.
> Press release

Moore welcomes China-US agreement on Chinese accession
World Trade Organization Director-General Mike Moore has welcomed the announcement in Shanghai that China and the US have agreed on the Chinese accession to the WTO.
> Press release

Moore calls on Parliamentarians to support new Round
WTO Director-General Mike Moore, in a speech at Inter-Parliamentary Union's first meeting on international trade on 8 June 2001 in Geneva, warned that failure to launch a new Round this year “could jeopardize the multilateral trading system itself” and that “the biggest losers would be the poor and the weak”.
> Press release

East Caribbean states praised for openness despite resource constraints
Countries in the Organization of Eastern Caribbean States have accomplished much through openness and well-functioning institutions, fellow-WTO members say, but more can be done to liberalize trade in goods and services, and they need more technical assistance to help them participate in the trading system.
> Chairperson’s remarks at the end of the review of the group’s trade policies
> Press release

WTO membership rises to 141
Lithuania, on 31 May 2001, officially joined the WTO, raising the organization's membership to 141. The country became a member 30 days after it had notified the WTO that it had completed domestic procedures on its accession.

Report out on US’ safeguard measure on cotton yarn
The panel report on cotton yarn (DS192), regarding a complaint by Pakistan against the United States, was released on 31 May 2001.

WTO congratulates Brunei Darussalam on liberal trade regime
WTO members congratulated Brunei Darussalam on maintaining a relatively open trade and investment regime during their first review of the country's trade policies on 28 and 30 May 2001. They suggested that further trade liberalization could help efforts to diversify the economy.
> The Chairperson's concluding remarks
> Press release

Final report released of WHO-WTO Secretariats’ workshop on drug pricing
The final report of the 8-11 April 2001 joint WTO/WHO/Norwegian Foreign Ministry/Global Health Council workshop on differential pricing and essential drugs financing was released on 30 May. While the workshop was not set up to seek agreed solutions, participants generally felt that differential pricing could be important while allowing the patent system to continue to play a role, and that healthcare in poor countries would still need a major financing effort as well.
> Read news story
> Download final report

“Lamb” reports adopted
The WTO Dispute Settlement Body, on 16 May 2001, adopted reports about complaints by New Zealand and Australia on US' safeguard measures on lamb meat.
> Informal summary of meeting

WTO Secretariat releases 2001 Annual report
Global trade and output growth in 2000 were the strongest in more than a decade, according to WTO Annual report 2001 published on 23 May 2001. However, a deceleration of economic growth began in the final quarter of 2000, clouding trade prospects for 2001.
> Press release

WTO symposium to focus on issues confronting the world trading system
The WTO will be the venue of a symposium on critical issues confronting the world trading system on 6 and 7 July 2001. Representatives from governments, non-governmental organizations, the media and members of the academic community are invited to participate.
> Press release
> Outline and programme
> Registration form

Moore hails spirit of co-operation among ministers for Doha success
Director-General Mike Moore, on 18 May 2001, praised efforts by ministers meeting in various forums during the week to narrow their differences and work toward ensuring a successful outcome to the WTO Ministerial Conference in Doha, Qatar this November.
> Press release

New Round is surest way to prevent further LDC marginalization — Moore
Director-General Mike Moore, in a speech on 17 May 2001 in Brussels at the Third UN Conference on Least Developed Countries, said the WTO is “delivering” on assistance to the poorest countries, including significant market-access improvements for their exports. But better than a piecemeal approach, he said, would be to launch a new Round this year, which would be “the surest way to prevent further marginalization of LDCs from the world economy”.

Summary report of essential drug pricing workshop released

Wealthy nations and agencies must step up efforts to help the “poorest of the poor” — Moore
Director-General Mike Moore, on 14 May 2001 at the Third UN Conference on Least-Developed Countries in Brussels, called on wealthy nations and international organizations to step up their efforts to help the “poorest of the poor”. He said the LDCs “represent the weakest segment of the international community and their social and economic development is a major challenge for all of us”.
> Press release

Costa Rica: liberal trade regime underlying positive economic performance
WTO members, at the conclusion of their trade policy review of Costa Rica on 11 May 2001, were favourably impressed by Costa Rica's good economic performance in recent years owing, among other factors, to its generally liberal trade regime and open investment environment.
> Press release
> The Chairperson's concluding remarks

WTO Secretariat organizes workshop on technical assistance in trade facilitation
WTO delegations and experts from international agencies, governments and the private sector discussed technical assistance and capacity building in trade facilitation in a workshop organized by the WTO Secretariat, 10-11 May 2001 in Geneva.
> Go to the Director-General's opening speech
> Go to the programme (Download in Word format 2 pages;39 KB)
> Guide to downloading files.

Spain helps fund WTO course for Latin American officials
Director-General Mike Moore, on 9 May 2001, welcomed Spain's contribution of 100,000 euros to a WTO trade policy course in September for Latin-American trade officials as particularly timely as members prepare for the Doha Ministerial.
> Press release

Positive signs for Round launch in Doha — Moore
Director-General Mike Moore, in a speech on 5 May 2001 in Geneva at the conference on the role of the WTO in global governance, said “the building blocks of new round are almost in place”. He said “the missing ingredient is the political will from members to compromise” although he detected “many positive signs” of new flexibility.

General Council approves accession of Moldova
The WTO General Council, on 8 May 2001, approved the accession package of Moldova to the WTO. Director-General Mike Moore said WTO membership “will boost growth and investment and benefit all Moldovans”.
> Press release

WTO Secretariat organizes workshop on technical assistance in trade facilitation
WTO delegations and experts from international agencies, governments and the private sector will be discussing technical assistance and capacity building in trade facilitation in a workshop being organized by the WTO Secretariat for 10-11 May 2001 in Geneva.
> Go to the programme (Download in Word format 2 pages;39 KB)

“Lamb” appellate ruling released
The Appellate Body report on imports of lamb (DS177 & DS178), regarding complaints by Australia and New Zealand against the United States, was released on 1 May 2001.

WTO's development-related projects now open to private contributions
The WTO is now able to accept contributions from non-governmental donors to its development-related projects following a decision by the General Council establishing guidelines for such contributions.
> Go to the story.

Significant trade barriers remain after Uruguay Round, says new WTO Secretariat study
World trade has been liberalized considerably as a result of the Uruguay Round but significant trade barriers remain, including in areas of interest to developing countries, according to a new WTO Secretariat study Market Access: Unfinished Business published on 27 April 2001. “The best way we can tackle the many remaining trade barriers that are preventing people and countries from realizing their full potential is in a wider set of negotiations,” said Director-General Mike Moore. Press release

17th WTO Trade Policy Course opens in Geneva
Deputy Director-General Paul-Henri Ravier, in opening the 17th WTO Trade Policy Course on 22 April 2001, welcomed the strong representation of trade officials from Africa and least-developed countries in the three-month course conducted in French.
> Press release

“The world needs a new WTO Round” — Moore
Director-General Mike Moore, in two speeches in Berlin on 23 April 2001, underlined the importance of launching a new Round this year. Before the German Foundation for International Development, he said that developing countries “with a positive agenda and strength in numbers can ensure the next round has a strong focus on developmental concerns”. Before the German council on foreign relations, Berlin, he stressed that the economic case for a new Round is “compelling”.

Moore welcomes news of settlement of South Africa drug lawsuit
Director-General Mike Moore, in a statement on 19 April 2001, welcomed news of the settlement achieved between the Government of South Africa and pharmaceutical companies. “The settlement shows that the WTO Agreements, such as TRIPS, contain the necessary flexibility to meet the health needs of developing countries,” he said.  

Experts: affordable medicines for poor countries are feasible
Høsbjør, Norway — Making life-saving medicines more affordable for poor countries is vital for improving public health. More importantly it is realistic, experts said in a three-day WHO/WTO workshop that ended today (11 April 2001).
> Press release   > WTO, WHO workshop on affordable drugs

Greater involvement of parliamentarians in WTO work urged
Director-General Mike Moore, in a speech at a European Parliament seminar in Brussels on 10 April 2001, called for greater involvement of parliamentarians in the work of the WTO. He also underlined the democratic nature of the organization, in which all agreements are reached by consensus of the 140 member governments and every country has a veto.

Moore congratulates WTO trade course graduates
Director-General Mike Moore, on 5 April 2001, presented diplomas to 30 developing and transition economy officials at the conclusion of the 16th WTO Trade Policy Course. He said: “I am convinced that you have acquired skills that you will take back home for your respective countries' and people's interests”.
> Press release

WTO's technical assistance gets a boost from Hong Kong, China
Director-General Mike Moore, in a press release issued on 10 April 2001, welcomed a recent contribution of 1 million Swiss francs by Hong Kong, China to WTO's technical assistance activities. He said that “as members continue to prepare for the 4th Ministerial Conference, technical assistance for developing countries is vitally important.”

Services negotiations enter new bargaining phase
WTO members agreed, 28-30 March 2001, on guidelines for negotiations on trade in services, taking the talks into bargaining sessions on access to each others’ markets, based on their negotiating proposals. The rule-making negotiations that started a year ago will also continue.
> Press release

Moore and Putin upbeat on Russia’s membership bid
Joining the WTO is Russia’s top priority, President Vladimir Putin told WTO Director-General Mike Moore when the two met in Moscow on 30 March 2001. Mr Moore said Moscow’s membership bid has been re-energized by new legislation, but important issues remain.
> Press release          > Mr Moore’s speech

WTO agriculture negotiations move swiftly to ‘phase 2’
Director-General Mike Moore, on 27 March 2001, applauded the completion of the first phase of agriculture negotiations and the approval of the work programme for the next phase. The fact that 125 of the 140 WTO members have tabled negotiating proposals, he said, is “a powerful vote of confidence in the multilateral trading system”.
> Go to the press release

Trade programme for poorest countries gets $4.5-million boost
Director-General Mike Moore and Amb. Henrik Iverson (Denmark), in a press release issued on 23 March 2001, welcomed initial pledges totaling US$4.5 million to a six-agency pilot programme to build trade capacity in least-developed countries.

Macau, China: liberal trade regime commended
WTO members, at the conclusion of their trade policy review of Macau, China on 21 March 2001, commended the Territory for the fact that neither the Asian financial crisis, nor its reversion to China has affected its liberal trade policies. However, they called on the Territory to increase its tariff bindings and services commitments.
> Press release
> Chairperson's concluding remarks (Download in Word format 2 pages;31 KB)

WTO economic seminar papers now available
Papers presented at in-house economic seminars organized for WTO delegations and staff members will now be made available on this site's research and analysis section, starting with “The Relationship Between International Trade Policy and Competition Policy” given on 14 March 2001.
> Go to the story

SPS body looks at current epidemics, ‘equivalence’ and standard-setting
Measures for dealing with BSE (mad cow disease) and foot and mouth disease, “equivalence” — an “implementation” issue in the General Council — and developing countries’ participation in international standards-setting organizations were among the issues discussed when the Sanitary and Phytosanitary Measures Committee met, 14-15 March 2001. Unofficial summary.

Poor-country issues must be at heart of new Round — Moore
Director-General Mike Moore, in a speech at the Ministerial Roundtable on Trade and Poverty in Least-Developed Countries in London on 19 March 2001, said that a “a new Round (of trade negotiations) is the surest way to prevent the further marginalization of LDCs from the world economy and to deal with problems that they may have with existing WTO agreements”. He said that the new Round “must have implementation issues at its heart” and encompass other issues that are important to developing countries.

WTO Secretariat answers GATS critics
Since January 2000, 140 WTO member governments have been engaged in negotiations aimed at further liberalization of the global services market. A number of anti-WTO groups have been portraying these talks in a manner which is often distorted or patently untrue. The WTO Secretariat issued, on 19 March 2001, a booklet GATS — Fact and fiction that debunks some of the myths and falsehoods about the General Agreement on Trade in Services and the new services negotiations. Also, the WTO spokesman answers a critic.

Goods Council agrees on chairpersons for subsidiary bodies
The Council for Trade in Goods, on 14 March 2001, agreed on a slate of chairpersons of its subsidiary bodies for 2001.
> Go to summary of the meeting

WTO, WHO convene workshop on affordable drugs
The WTO and WHO Secretariats, on 18 March 2001, announced they are convening a workshop on how to improve poor countries' access to essential drugs. The workshop — to be hosted by the Norwegian Foreign Ministry at Høsbjør on 8-11 April 2001 — will bring together about 50 experts from industrialized and developing countries.
> Go to the press release

WTO holds 19th dispute settlement course
Forty trade officials, on 6-9 March 2001, participated in the 19th Special Course on Dispute Settlement Rules and Procedures organized by the WTO Secretariat as part of its technical assistance programme.
> Go to the story

Moore sees “positive signs” for Round launch in Doha
Director-General Mike Moore, in a speech at the European Business School London on 12 March 2001, said there are already “many positive signs” from members, including leading traders the US and the EU, for launching a new Round at the Doha Ministerial in November. He said developing countries increasingly understand that “the greatest threat to their economies is not globalization, but marginalization”.
> Go to Mr. Moore's speech

Panels established on measures by Belgium, Canada and Chile
The WTO Dispute Settlement Body, on 12 March 2001, established three new panels to examine, respectively, Belgium's measures on rice imports, Canada's new aircraft financing system, and Chile's price band system.
> Summary of the meeting

Two appellate rulings released
Two Appellate Body reports were released on 12 March 2001: on the asbestos dispute between Canada and the European Union (DS135), and on the steel products case between Poland and Thailand (DS122).

A new Round can help fight global poverty — Moore
Director-General Mike Moore, in a video message opening the WTO/FORSEC Trade Policy Course for Pacific island countries in Fiji on 5 March 2001, said that the challenge today for the multilateral trading system is to join in international efforts to fight poverty, and that “if we are to redress these imbalances, to give the most distant and lonely of our members a better go, we will do a better job negotiating inside a new Round”.
> Go to Mr. Moore's message

Dispute body refers dairy dispute to original panel
The WTO Dispute Settlement Body (DSB), on 1 March 2001, referred to the original panel complaints lodged by the United States and New Zealand regarding Canada’s implementation of DSB’s recommendations in the case “Canada - Measures affecting the importation of milk and the exportation of dairy products”. 
> Go to summary of the meeting.

Report out on EC's anti-dumping duties on bed linen
The Appellate Body, on 1 March 2001, issued its report (DS141/AB/R) on the European Communities' appeal regarding its anti-dumping duties on bed linen from India.

Trade to play central role in Ghana's economic restructuring
WTO members, in concluding their review of Ghana's trade policies on 28 February 2001, recognized the central role to be played by trade, investment and the private sector in the restructuring of the economy and improving international competitiveness. They urged the country to pursue further liberalization.
> Go to the Chairperson's concluding remarks
> Go to the press release

Panel rules on Japan-US steel dispute, 2 arbitration reports out  A WTO dispute-settlement panel, on 28 February 2001, issued its report (DS184/R) on Japan’s complaint against the US’ anti-dumping measures on certain hot-rolled steel products from Japan. On the same date, two WTO arbitration reports were released: on US’ implementation (DS136/11 and DS162/14) of recommendations regarding its “1916 Anti-Dumping Act” dispute with the EC and Japan, and on Canada’s implementation (DS170/10) of recommendations concerning its patent dispute with the US.

Moore applauds free access for LDC exports by EU
WTO Director-General Mike Moore today welcomed the decision by European Union Trade Ministers to give the world's forty-eight least-developed countries access to EU markets for all products except arms by the year 2009. He said this would substantively improve trading conditions for the world's poorest nations.
> Go to the press release