Author Archives: jdingel

FT: "WTO signals backing for border taxes"

Fiona Harvey for the Financial Times:

Countries implementing cap-and-trade systems for greenhouse gases may be able to use border taxes to protect domestic industries, after the World Trade Organisation gave a cautious nod to such measures.

In a report to be published today, written jointly with the United Nations Environment Programme, the WTO said it was possible to implement border measures for environmental reasons under its rules.

“Rules permit, under certain conditions, the use of border tax adjustments on imported and exported products,” said the WTO. “The objective of a border tax adjustment is to level the playing field between taxed domestic industries and untaxed foreign competition by ensuring that internal taxes on products are trade neutral.”

FT: “WTO signals backing for border taxes”

Fiona Harvey for the Financial Times:

Countries implementing cap-and-trade systems for greenhouse gases may be able to use border taxes to protect domestic industries, after the World Trade Organisation gave a cautious nod to such measures.

In a report to be published today, written jointly with the United Nations Environment Programme, the WTO said it was possible to implement border measures for environmental reasons under its rules.

“Rules permit, under certain conditions, the use of border tax adjustments on imported and exported products,” said the WTO. “The objective of a border tax adjustment is to level the playing field between taxed domestic industries and untaxed foreign competition by ensuring that internal taxes on products are trade neutral.”

Obama's upcoming trade speech

Doug Palmer: “Obama is expected to deliver a speech in the coming weeks or months outlining his views on trade. White House officials provide no date for that speech, but analysts hope it will signal the start of a more aggressive administration effort to win approval of the pending trade deals and to reinvigorate the Doha round of world trade talks, now in its eighth year.”

Obama’s upcoming trade speech

Doug Palmer: “Obama is expected to deliver a speech in the coming weeks or months outlining his views on trade. White House officials provide no date for that speech, but analysts hope it will signal the start of a more aggressive administration effort to win approval of the pending trade deals and to reinvigorate the Doha round of world trade talks, now in its eighth year.”

Obama's upcoming trade speech

Doug Palmer: “Obama is expected to deliver a speech in the coming weeks or months outlining his views on trade. White House officials provide no date for that speech, but analysts hope it will signal the start of a more aggressive administration effort to win approval of the pending trade deals and to reinvigorate the Doha round of world trade talks, now in its eighth year.”

Russia ends unilateral WTO bid

Russia keeps its never-ending WTO accession bid interesting:

A week after Russian Prime Minister Vladimir Putin announced Russia, Kazakhstan and Belarus would pursue their World Trade Organization memberships jointly as a customs union and not singly, WTO members remain uncertain how the plan would work and what its motives are.

Negotiators from the three ex-Soviet republics briefed WTO members on the plan this week — and also asked them frankly how it could be made to work.

“Nobody knows — and they don’t know,” said one Latin American diplomat. “We were confused by the replies as well.”

Russia, the biggest country outside the body that umpires world trade, has been pursuing membership for 16 years.

Moscow is clearly frustrated at the lack of progress on the talks, which often turn cool when western powers are unhappy with Russia, as after last August’s war with Georgia. In fact, as an existing member, Georgia has an effective veto over Russia in the WTO, which operates by consensus.