Ei-iE

In early November, negotiators from the United States, Japan, the European Union, Canada and a select handful of other nations huddled together in a closed-door session in Seoul, South Korea.

Trade Ministers from around the world meeting in Geneva ended their discussions on 2 December by reaffirming their political commitment to concluding talks on a new global trade pact in 2010, even as deep differences remain.

The second day of the WTO Ministerial Conference in Geneva has seen trade ministers shift their deliberations about the future of the multilateral trading system to closed working sessions.

At the World Trade Organization’s 7th Ministerial Conference in Geneva, EI is urging trade ministers to keep education and other public services off the table.

Education and other public services are basic human rights, which must not be viewed as commodities or be subjected to commercial trade rules.

Developing countries need to approach current negotiations aimed at liberalizing the trade in services with caution, a high level seminar has concluded.

Backtracking on earlier commitments, the government of India announced last month it will not require foreign educational institutions to meet quotas or adhere to caps on tuition fees.

Following a year-long stalemate, members of the World Intellectual Property Office endorsed a new round of negotiations to develop an international agreement on the protection of traditional knowledge and genetic resources.

Experts are warning that WTO trade rules could affect some measures that countries are taking to combat climate change.

Teacher unions and NGOs, including Education International, have played a critical role in limiting the inclusion of education services in the WTO’s GATS agreement, according to a new book by Antoni Verger of the University of Amsterdam.

Members of the World Trade Organization will hold a “scaled-down, no frills” ministerial conference in Geneva November 30 to December 2, the first formal gathering of trade ministers since 2005.

The European Union and Canada have agreed on the main areas to be negotiated in a possible comprehensive economic agreement.

The global financial crisis and the liberalization of financial services has led to a financing shortfall for developing countries of between $US 250 and $US 750 billion, according to Martin Khor, executive director of the South Centre.

EI has completed a new study into the increasing role and impact of Public-Private Partnerships (PPPs) in education systems across all continents.

WTO negotiations aimed at liberalizing the international trade in services, including education, are set to begin again after nearly a year-long hiatus.

Concerns are being raised that trade agreements like the WTO could hamper the ability of governments to respond effectively to the growing economic crisis.

Criticism is growing over the inclusion of a “Buy American” clause in the U.S. stimulus legislation.

Talks aimed at creating a new Anti-Counterfeiting Trade Agreement, originally scheduled for March in Morocco, have been postponed at the request of the United States.