Brexit again it will not go away

The WTO Secretariat has circulated a meeting notice and list of items proposed for the next meeting, on 18 December 2019, of the Dispute Settlement Body, which consists of all WTO members and oversees legal disputes among them. The meeting notice is circulated in the form of a document officially called an “airgram”.

Germany is donating EUR 1 million (just over CHF 1 million) to the WTO’s DDA Global Trust Fund in 2019 to help developing and least-developed countries (LDCs) implement WTO agreements and to increase their trade negotiating skills. The contribution was confirmed at a signing ceremony with the Director of the WTO’s Administration and General Services […]

Invited to attend a meeting of the Structured Discussions on Investment Facilitation for Development on 12 December, Director-General Roberto Azevêdo stressed that trade and investment facilitation policies can help promote economic growth, development and job creation. “Everyone would stand to benefit from a shared investment facilitation framework that also leaves space for members to address […]

The Director-General’s annual overview of trade-related developments discussed on 12 December at a meeting of the Trade Policy Review Body shows that trade restrictions by WTO members continue at historically high levels. Between mid-October 2018 and mid-October 2019, the trade coverage of import-restrictive measures implemented by members was estimated at USD 747 billion. This is […]

On 11 December 2019, Ukraine notified the WTO’s Committee on Safeguards that it initiated on 2 December 2019 a safeguard investigation on syringes.

WTO members meeting as the General Council agreed on 10 December to extend two existing moratoriums related to customs duties on electronic transmissions and the initiation of “non-violation” complaints under the Agreement on Trade-Related Aspects of Intellectual Property Rights (TRIPS). They also approved the WTO’s budget for 2020.

On 10 December the Appellate Body issued its report in the case brought by Turkey in “Morocco — Anti-Dumping Measures on Certain Hot Rolled Steel from Turkey” (DS513). On 4 December Morocco notified the Appellate Body that it had withdrawn its appeal in this dispute.

Director-General Roberto Azevêdo told a meeting of the full WTO membership on 9 December that he would launch more intensive, high-level consultations on how to resolve the longstanding impasse over the appointment of Appellate Body members. DG Azevêdo’s intervention came after WTO members were unable to reach consensus on a proposal to address concerns regarding […]

At the 4-6 December meeting of the Negotiating Group on Rules, WTO members agreed on a work programme for intensifying negotiations on fisheries subsidies in January-May 2020, with the aim of coming to an agreement by June at the 12th Ministerial Conference (MC12). Members also received working papers and new proposals to study before the […]

At a meeting of the full WTO membership on 6 December, Director-General Roberto Azevêdo emphasised that for dispute settlement as for rule-making, the choices members make in the coming months would be consequential for the future of the multilateral trading system. He also welcomed a compromise reached in the Committee on Budget, Finance and Administration […]

Open Europe's Dominic Walsh and Stephen Booth consider what today's election outcome means for Brexit.The post What does the Conservative election victory mean for Brexit? appeared first on Open Europe.

Open Europe's Anthony Egan takes a look at what both major parties have said about immigration and the questions that remain.The post Weekly Briefing: Post-Brexit immigration policy remains an open question appeared first on Open Europe.

Open Europe’s Anthony Egan explains how free trade agreements constrain the immigration policies of contracting countries, the unilateral measures governments have at their disposal, and the implications of this for the next UK Government.The post How do trade agreements affect immigration policy? appeared first on Open Europe.

As the general election campaign enters its final two weeks, Open Europe's Dominic Walsh examines the commitments on trade deals in the parties' manifestos.The post Weekly Briefing: Spotlight on trade deals as manifestos published appeared first on Open Europe.

Most of the main UK political parties have now published their manifestos for the general election on 12 December. Open Europe’s Dominic Walsh examines each party’s Brexit policies and the key issues and questions that arise from them.The post What do the parties’ election manifestos say about Brexit? appeared first on Open Europe.

The Government’s Brexit deal leaves open the possibility of ‘No Deal’ after the transition period. Open Europe’s Dominic Walsh explains how this could come about, and points out that this would be a different type of ‘No Deal’ to one with no Withdrawal Agreement in place.The post What would a ‘No Deal’ after the transition […]

Open Europe's David Shiels looks at each party's Brexit policies as the election campaign moves into a new phase.The post Weekly Briefing: Party leaders defend Brexit policies as campaign enters new phase appeared first on Open Europe.

Open Europe's Stephen Booth and Anthony Egan explore how the UK party electoral alliances are starting to take shape.The post Weekly Briefing: Pro- and anti-Brexit electoral alliances start to take shape appeared first on Open Europe.

Open Europe's Dominic Walsh takes a closer look at some of the key Brexit issues that lie beyond the UK's General Election.The post Weekly Briefing: The key Brexit issues in 2020 appeared first on Open Europe.

Open Europe's David Shiels looks at the positions of the main political parties on Brexit as the UK edges towards a General Election.The post Weekly Briefing: This is the Brexit General Election appeared first on Open Europe.