- Laos: Compensation for lands taken away for railway project uncertain; prostitution on the rise due to influx of Chinese workers"China train project runs roughshod over Laos", 18 August 2018 ...Construction of the Laos-China railway...is now more than 20% complete.... ...More than 4,000 Lao families will be “impacted,” and 3,832 hectares of Lao land will be handed over to the project.... ...An estimated US$250 million is to be spent on compensation for those displaced by […]
- Philippines: "Prosumers" call brands to tackle social issues; companies must take stand to stay relevant"Filipino 'prosumers' want brands to tackle social issues – study", 18 August 2018 Calls to boycott brands engaging in unfair labor practices and the growing popularity of environment-friendly items are just some of the latest trends in business, according to a study, and brands have to adapt and take a stand if they want to […]
- Japan: Fukushima clean-up workers, including homeless, at grave risk of exploitation, say UN expertsJapan must act urgently to protect tens of thousands of workers who are reportedly being exploited and exposed to toxic nuclear radiation in efforts to clean up the damaged Fukushima Daichi Nuclear Power Station, say three UN human rights experts*. “Workers hired to decontaminate Fukushima reportedly include migrant workers, asylum seekers and people who are homeless,” […]
- Honduras: ONG alemanas y austriacas urgen a la corte confirmar sentencia sobre cierre de proyecto hidroeléctrico de Hidrocep“Desde Alemania: Urgen a Corte de Apelaciones confirmar sentencia sobre cierre de proyecto de Hidrocep”, 16 de agosto de 2018 En una carta enviada desde Alemania, a las magistradas de la Corte de Apelaciones de lo Contencioso Administrativo, la Red alemana-austriaca HondurasDelegation solicita que se confirme la sentencia sobre el cierre del proyecto hidroeléctrico de […]
- Honduras: Indígenas y afrodescendientes rechazan proyecto de ley de Consulta, dicen que no fue consultado y es excluyente“Pueblos indígenas de Honduras rechazan anteproyecto “Ley de consulta””, 17 de agosto de 2018 …Por no ser consensuada debidamente con los pueblos indígenas en Honduras y responder a otros intereses el anteproyecto de Ley para la Consulta Previa, Libre e Informada (CPLI) fue rechazada durante la asamblea realizada este jueves 16 por el Observatorio de […]
- Honduras: Familiares de Berta Cáceres, defensora medioambiental, acusan que Ministerio Público oculta evidencias sobre su homicidio“Pretenden borrar historia de Berta manteniendo el caso en secreto”, 13 de agosto de 2018 …El Homicidio contra Berta Cáceres, coordinadora del Consejo Cívico de Organizaciones Populares e Indígenas de Honduras (COPINH), se mantiene en secretividad por parte del Ministerio Publico (MP), bajo la justificación que al “exponerse a personas que no han formado parte […]
- México: Indígenas dicen que gobierno y sector privado posiblemente inciten a la presencia de crimen organizado para desplazarlos“Reprochan "siembra" de delincuencia en comunidades indígenas”, 13 de agosto de 2018 …La Coordinadora Nacional Plan de Ayala-Movimiento Nacional (CNPA-MN) afirmó que el Estado en coordinación con la iniciativa privada está “sembrando” células de delincuencia organizada en comunidades indígenas en diversos estados del país que se oponen a la instalación, en sus tierras, de megaproyectos […]
- México: ONG piden a Suprema Corte que reconozca derecho a participación ciudadana en proyectos que afecten al medio ambiente“ONG piden a la SCJN reconocer derecho ciudadano a participar en proyectos que afecten al ambiente”, 14 de agosto de 2018 …Organizaciones no gubernamentales…consideraron que la Suprema Corte de Justicia de la Nación (SCJN) tiene la oportunidad “histórica” de determinar si se reconoce plenamente la existencia del derecho a participar en asuntos de interés público […]
- China: Lack of regulations on solar panel recycling raises concerns about toxic waste affecting health & environment"The Dark Side of China’s Solar Boom" China is now the world’s biggest solar market in terms of money spent, panels manufactured, and energy produced. But despite the country’s sunny outlook, there are dark clouds looming. PV panels, which convert solar energy into electric energy, have a lifespan of around 30 years. Experts say that millions of aging panels […]
- Commentary: Tech companies can contribute to violations of freedom of expression & privacy by complying with govt. user data requests"The corporations' dilemma: navigating government access to information," 16 Aug 2018 Technology can be instrumental in realizing human rights in conflict and post conflict countries by enabling freedom of expression or helping to prevent violent conflict... [or] facilitat[e] human rights abuses... In conflict situations and in countries under authoritarian rule, government access to data poses […]
World Trade Center
World Trade Center
The new World Trade Center is a sprawling 16 acre mixed-used environment composed of 5 iconic office towers… an 8-acre Memorial Plaza… and over half a million square feet of shopping and dining. The Transportation Hub makes it one of the most convenient places to access in the city.
The site is bounded by Vesey Street to the north, the West Side Highway to the west, Liberty Street to the south, and Church street to the east.
- China initiates dispute complaints against US solar cell duties, renewable energy measuresChina has requested WTO dispute consultations with the United States regarding US safeguard duties imposed on imports of crystalline silicon photovoltaic products. China has also requested WTO dispute consultations with the United States regarding measures at the state and municipal level that provide incentives for the use of domestically sourced renewable energy products and technologies. […]
- Registration opens for screening of “US — Softwood Lumber Pricing Methodology” hearingAt the request of the parties in the dispute “US — Anti-Dumping Measures Applying Differential Pricing Methodology to Softwood Lumber from Canada” (DS534), the panel has decided to open its first substantive meeting to public observation on 12 and 13 September 2018. The live screening will take place at the WTO’s headquarters in Geneva.
- Appellate Body issues report regarding Indonesian metal dutiesOn 15 August the WTO Appellate Body issued its report in the cases brought by Chinese Taipei and Viet Nam in “Indonesia — Safeguard on Certain Iron or Steel Products” (DS490 and DS496)
- WTO members review EU request for second compliance panel in Airbus disputeAt a special meeting of the WTO’s Dispute Settlement Body (DSB) on 15 August, WTO members considered a request from the European Union for a dispute panel to determine whether the EU has complied with the findings in the latest WTO ruling on subsidies to Airbus. The DSB also noted that a request from the […]
- WTO issues panel report regarding EU energy sector measuresOn 10 August the WTO circulated the panel report in the case brought by the Russian Federation in “European Union and its Member States — Certain Measures Relating to the Energy Sector” (DS476).
- WTOI suggests trade momentum softening further in third quarter of 2018Trade expansion will likely slow further in the third quarter of 2018 according to the WTO’s latest World Trade Outlook Indicator (WTOI) released on 9 August. The most recent WTOI reading of 100.3 is below the previous value of 101.8 and just above the baseline value of 100 for the index, signalling an easing of […]
- Advanced training course for developing economies concludes at WTOTwenty-six government officials from across the world took part in an Advanced Course on the Economic Analysis of Trade Policy at the WTO from 26 July to 3 August 2018. The course taught participants ways to carry out trade policy research, collect data and implement quantitative analysis in a more autonomous way.
- Morocco launches safeguard investigation on coated wood boardOn 27 July 2018, Morocco notified the WTO’s Committee on Safeguards that it had decided to initiate on 31 July 2018 a safeguard investigation on coated wood board.
- WTO issues 2018 editions of its flagship statistical publicationsThe WTO issued today (30 July) the latest editions of its annual statistical publications: World Trade Statistical Review, Trade Profiles and World Tariff Profiles.
- WTO issues panel report regarding Russian measures on Ukrainian railway equipmentOn 30 July the WTO circulated the panel report in the case brought by Ukraine in “Russia — Measures affecting the importation of railway equipment and parts thereof” (DS499).
- The Government needs to be clear about Brexit trade-offsOpen Europe's Henry Newman appeared on the BBC's Newsnight programme on July 30, arguing that Theresa May needs to be bolder in explaining the Government's position on Brexit to the public. The post The Government needs to be clear about Brexit trade-offs appeared first on Open Europe.
- Will Chequers increase pressure on the EU to make the next move?Open Europe's Leopold Traugott and Pieter Cleppe look at EU27 reactions to gauge in how far Theresa May's Chequers proposal may increase pressure on EU negotiators to become more flexible.The post Will Chequers increase pressure on the EU to make the next move? appeared first on Open Europe.
- Does the link between goods and services really rule out the UK’s Chequers plan?Michel Barnier recently questioned the feasibility of the UK's Brexit proposals on goods, highlighting that trade in goods and services has become increasingly interrelated. Open Europe's Aarti Shankar looks at the strength of this economic argument.The post Does the link between goods and services really rule out the UK’s Chequers plan? appeared first on Open […]
- What could be the consequences of a no deal Brexit?Open Europe’s Henry Newman was on the BBC 2’s Daily Politics programme on July 20 discussing the possibility of the UK leaving the EU without reaching an agreement, and the impact of a no deal Brexit scenario. He appeared on the programme with former Labour Head of Communications Tom Baldwin and the Guardian’s political correspondent […]
- There is no majority in the Commons for any single Brexit optionFollowing the Government's narrow victory on a crucial amendment to the Trade Bill, Open Europe's Henry Newman was on the BBC News’ Beyond 100 Days programme on 17 July to discuss the divisions over Brexit in Parliament. He appeared alongside the Spectator's political correspondent Katy Balls. The post There is no majority in the Commons […]
- The Brexit White Paper offers a compromise approach for negotiations, but seems to have little support in ParliamentThe government's Brexit White Paper presents a compromise plan that could move negotiations forward. However, the proposal has faced a very rough landing domestically. The post The Brexit White Paper offers a compromise approach for negotiations, but seems to have little support in Parliament appeared first on Open Europe.
- The Chequers Brexit plan has been a profound compromise for the GovernmentOpen Europe’s Director Henry Newman gave evidence to the House of Commons’ Exiting the European Union Committee on July 11. Below is a brief summary of the session.The post The Chequers Brexit plan has been a profound compromise for the Government appeared first on Open Europe.
- The UK’s Brexit proposal needs to be taken seriously on the continentAppearing on the BBC 2’s Daily Politics programme alongside Conservative MP Priti Patel and Labour MP Chuka Umunna, Open Europe’s Henry Newman discussed the Government’s Brexit proposal agreed at Chequers last week and the possible responses from the EU. The post The UK’s Brexit proposal needs to be taken seriously on the continent appeared first […]
- The significance of London’s financial cluster for the EU27Dominic Walsh reviews Open Europe's joint event with Reuters in Brussels, during which the panel discussed the importance of the City of London for the EU27. The post The significance of London’s financial cluster for the EU27 appeared first on Open Europe.
- Migration centre, Brexit side-lined, Eurozone back: What happened at the EU summit.The pressure on EU leaders to find solutions was high at this summit. Open Europe's Leopold Traugott assesses what has been achieved, and where progress has been delayed.The post Migration centre, Brexit side-lined, Eurozone back: What happened at the EU summit. appeared first on Open Europe.