Issue No. 645, 16-31 July 2017
WTO outcomes on agri subsidies, food stocks up in the air

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No credible outcomes likely at MC11 on domestic support
A report by the chair of the WTO agriculture negotiations suggests a dimming outlook for a meaningful outcome at the WTO’s upcoming Ministerial Conference in terms of curbing domestic subsidies which distort global farm trade.
by D. Ravi Kanth

PSH (with several caveats) a priority for MC11, says agri-chair
Securing a decision at the Buenos Aires ministerial meeting to allow developing countries to hold public food stocks remains a priority, says the WTO agriculture chair in his “state of play” report, but the eventual outcome could come laden with restrictive conditions.
by D. Ravi Kanth

South must join China-India to rectify AoA asymmetries before MC11
While developed countries’ farm support schemes would remain largely untouched under several proposals advanced in the WTO agriculture talks, a joint Chinese-Indian proposal targets those subsidies it considers “the most trade-distorting element” in global agricultural commerce.
by D. Ravi Kanth

South nations insist on reference to DWP in fisheries accord at MC11
The WTO negotiations on regulating fisheries subsidies continue to be dogged by major differences among member states, including over whether to refer to the Doha Work Programme in the outcome text.
by D. Ravi Kanth

Opinion: Quantitative easing for wealth redistribution
The monetary policy of quantitative easing resorted to following the Great Recession has not only failed to revive economic growth, it is also responsible for transferring wealth in favour of the rich.
by Jomo Kwame Sundaram

Opinion: In the quest to meet the SDGs, there’s a danger that some may be left behind
Tom Moultrie points to gaps in efforts to realize the Sustainable Development Goals that may undermine equitable implementation of this global agenda.

Analysis: The attack on Dodd-Frank
Rick Rowden lays out how Trump, Wall Street and the Republicans in Congress are committed to dismantling financial regulation in the US.