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Peter Ungphakorn

@CoppetainPU

30 Oct

@wto

A lot going on this weekend: summits in Rome (G20) and Glasgow (climate change).

Also:

Exactly one month before the @wto Ministerial Conference #MC12 starts in Geneva. The prospects are improving marginally, but still not great.

ICYMI with updates

1/7 tradebetablog.wordpress.com/2021/10/30/wto…

@BobWolfeSPS

@BobWolfeSPS and I remain sceptical that the Ministerial Conference will deliver much of significance out of the broad range of critical problems confronting the @wto

2/7 tradebetablog.wordpress.com/2021/10/30/wto…

More positive: a possible deal on curbing harmful fisheries subsidies—fingers firmly crossed

20 years talking past each other, 2020 deadline missed—until the UN Climate Change summit #COP26 and WTO Ministerial Conference #MC12 loomed

But no details

3/7 wto.org/english/news_e…

Read 7 tweets

Peter Ungphakorn

@CoppetainPU

28 Oct

@wto

Russia’s trade policy review—Day 1, Oct 27. Day 2: today.

These are periodic peer-review sessions (every 5 years for Russia), based on reports from the @wto Secretariat (factual) and the government being reviewed.

See wto.org/english/tratop…

1/15

@wto

From a Geneva trade official:

Comments Day 1: > 40 members + 1 observer (Serbia)

Briefly:
POSITIVE—Russia is constructive in @wto and for the coming Ministerial Conference
NEGATIVE—Import substitution policies, the role of the state in Russian economy

2/15

@wto

US: recognises steps taken in @wto, but concerns about turning inward, contrary to the principles—non-discrimination, predictability, transparency, fair competition, under import substitution and forced localization.

Includes investment, IT, SPS, government procurement

3/15

Read 14 tweets

Peter Ungphakorn

@CoppetainPU

27 Oct

@wto

ANNUAL REPORT: The @wto #Services Council (=full membership overseeing work under the General Agreement on Trade in Services, GATS)

It's 10 pages so just a highlight

#TradeInServices

1/4 docs.wto.org/dol2fe/Pages/S…

Electronic commerce and services:

This now covers 3 areas

1. The moratorium on tax on cross-border electronic commerce (a topic as old as the WTO itself)

2. “Invigorated” discussion on boosting digital capability, from this paper: docs.wto.org/dol2fe/Pages/S…

2/4

3. The on-going friction over negotiations in a sub-group of only part of the membership (“#plurilateral” talks, officially “joint-statement initiatives”, JSIs, seen as a way to progress when the membership is deadlocked) versus objections.

“A couple” = India and SAfrica

3/4

Read 4 tweets

Peter Ungphakorn

@CoppetainPU

23 Oct

Remember that ground-breaking 🇬🇧 UK-Japan 🇯🇵 trade deal?

The one that was so much better than the 🇪🇺 EU-Japan 🇯🇵 deal because the names of 70 British products would now be protected?

🇬🇧 Stornoway Black Pudding, Wensleydale, English sparkling wine, Scotch beef and more?

1/14

@GregHands

Remember—from a year ago today—this ⬇️ with @GregHands and @EvanHD?

The claim: this is better than the EU-Japan deal—because it easier to protect additional British geographical indications.

2/14

https://twitter.com/CoppetainPU/status/1319674252224757762?s=20

@GregHands

Here’s ⬇️ what @GregHands told @EvanHD on @BBCPM:

“Up to 70” UK names to be protected.

“Things like Stornoway Black Pudding, the potential for Wensleydale Cheese, English Sparkling Wine, Scotch Beef etc, etc”

4/14

Read 16 tweets

Peter Ungphakorn

@CoppetainPU

21 Oct

The reaction among trade experts to US Trade Representative Katherine Tai’s speech in Geneva on Oct 14 has been mixed.

Some welcomed the optimistic tone. Others were disappointed at the lack of specifics.

1/5 tradebetablog.wordpress.com/2021/10/21/opt…

The debate between the optimists and pessimists focuses most on this part of Tai’s answer to a question.

The optimists were encouraged by: “If you will listen to us, we will listen to you, and let’s start the reform process from there.”

2/5 tradebetablog.wordpress.com/2021/10/21/opt…

But perhaps this part is more damning: “over the course of those 15 years, not enough members listened.”

3/5 tradebetablog.wordpress.com/2021/10/21/opt…

Read 5 tweets

Peter Ungphakorn

@CoppetainPU

4 Oct

WTO members met again as the intellectual property council today, both formally and informally.

BOTTOM LINE:

One year after it was proposed, NO CHANGE IN POSITIONS on the proposal to waive some intellectual property protection for COVID-19,

#TRIPSWaiver stalemate

1/7

Stalemate should come as no surprise.

FOR—suspending protection will allow countries to copy vaccines and other products

AGAINST—other solutions are effective, protection is needed as incentives for innovation, no evidence that a #TRIPSWaiver will help transfer technology

2/7

More interesting (1)—the US

According to sources: US said

• it appreciated both sides’ efforts
• members should focus only on vaccines to ensure consensus
• seek solutions likely to gain consensus

Does that signal the US’ own position?

3/7 #TRIPSWaiver