Issue No. 637, 16-31 March 2017
Proposed investment, e-commerce talks in WTO face opposition

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US opposed to investment facilitation discussions at G20
The US has come out against moves in the G20 major economies forum to draw up guidelines on “investment facilitation” – guidelines which could then presage discussions on the subject at the WTO.
by D. Ravi Kanth

Large majority of South nations opposed to investment facilitation
Proposals for launching investment facilitation talks in the WTO have met with strong resistance from many developing countries.
by D. Ravi Kanth

Friends of E-Commerce lay out roadmap for WTO talks
A group of WTO member states calling themselves the Friends of E-Commerce for Development are pushing for discussions on electronic commerce at the trade body.
by Kanaga Raja

Concerns of developing countries on the issue of e-commerce negotiations
WTO disciplines on e-commerce could hurt the domestic industry and consumers in developing countries, cautions Abhijit Das.

China calls for “balanced” agreement in all rules areas
China has put forward a proposal for reforming the WTO disciplines on anti-dumping and subsidies, placing the issue back on the radar of the WTO’s rules negotiations, which have of late mainly focused on the question of fisheries subsidies instead.
by D. Ravi Kanth

Humanity and social justice a must for the future of work – ILO chief
The International Labour Organization (ILO) recently convened a “global dialogue” to discuss the profound changes sweeping the world of work. Baher Kamal reports.

Workers’ shrinking piece of global pie
Labour’s share of national income in many countries has declined, due in large part to policy decisions that weakened its bargaining power, new IMF research reveals.
by Peter Bakvis

Opinion: Investor-state dispute settlement becomes speculative financial asset
Financing lawsuits brought by investors against host-state governments in international tribunals has become a lucrative venture, notes Jomo Kwame Sundaram.

Opinion: Reclaiming the Bandung spirit for shared prosperity
The Bandung Conference of African and Asian states in April 1955 sowed the seeds of closer developing-country cooperation for more balanced global development. Sixty-two years on, the time has come for the South to collectively address the unfinished business of securing an equitable international economic order.
by Noeleen Heyzer and Anis Chowdhury