The WTO Committee on Regional Trade Agreements will examine the European Community’s notification that it will include Bulgaria and Romania as part of the EC beginning January 1, 2007. Several countries have expressed concerns relating to compensation issues arising from the previous EC enlargement.
For further information: http://www.wto.org/english/news_e/news06_e/ctg_20nov06_e.htm
WTO Workshop on TRIPS Agreement
From November 27 to 29, 2006, twenty-eight developing country officials are participating in a WTO workshop, held in Geneva, aimed at assisting countries in the use of pharmaceutical patents flexibilities contained in the TRIPS Agreement. The workshop, as part of the WTO technical cooperation and capacity building activities, seeks to provide the participants with the necessary information to ensure proper implementation of the TRIPS Agreement.
For further information: http://www.wto.org/english/news_e/news06_e/trips_wpw1ld_27nov06_e.htm
Joint Declaration on Animal Welfare in Europe
The European Union, Council of Europe, and World Organisation for Animal Health have issued a joint declaration entitled “Animal Welfare in Europe: achievements and future prospectsâ€. The declaration sets out guidelines for raising public awareness, professional training, and the development and implementation of animal welfare legislation throughout Europe.
More information is available here.
NATO’s Riga Summit
On November 28-29, the Heads of State and Government of 26 NATO member countries will meet in Riga, the Latvian capital, to discuss NATO’s operations. Discussions regarding NATO’s role in Afghanistan, Darfur and Iraq are likely to figure prominently in the summit.
For more information, see http://www.nato.int/docu/update/2006/11-november/e1128a.htm
Anti-dumping Investigations Continue to Decline
On November 27, 2006, the WTO Secretariat reported that in the first semester of 2006 the number of new anti-dumping investigations initiated has declined, while the number of new final measures increased relative to the corresponding period of 2005. According to available figures for the January-June 2006 period, 87 new investigations and 71 new final anti-dumping measures were reported, compared to the 105 new investigations and 55 final measures reported in the corresponding period of 2005.
For further information: http://www.wto.org/english/news_e/pres06_e/pr458_e.htm
ECJ to Rule on Interpretation and Application of TRIPS
On November 28, the European Court of Justice (ECJ) will hold hearings in Merck Genéricos Produtos Farmacêuticos addressing the issues of the ECJ’s competence to interpret Article 33 of the Agreement on Trade-Related Aspects of Intellectual Property Rights (TRIPS) and whether its interpretation will have direct effect on litigation pending in the national courts. More information available here.