Trade in Srilanka

Sri Lanka reported a trade deficit corresponding to 965 Million USD in January of 2012. Historically, from 2003 until 2012, Sri Lanka Balance of Trade averaged -1038.2000 Million USD success an all time high of -239.5000 Million USD in September of 2003 and a record low of -2974.0000 Million USD in December of 2011. Sri Lanka exports mostly textiles and garments (40% of total exports) and tea (17%). Others include: spices, gems, coconut food, rubber and fish. Main export partners are United States, United Kingdom, Germany, Belgium and Italy. Sri Lanka imports petroleum, textile fabrics, foodstuffes and machinery and transportation equipment. Main import partners are India, China, Iran and Singapore. This page includes a chart with chronological data for Sri Lanka Balance of Trade.

The balance of trade is the difference between the monetary value of exports and imports in an country over a certain period of time. A positive sense of balance of trade is known as a trade surplus and consists of exporting more than is imported; a negative balance of trade is known as a trade deficit or, informally, a trade gap. The balance of trade forms part of the current account, which also includes other transactions such as income from the international investment position as well as international aid. If the current description is in surplus, the country's net international asset position increases correspondingly. Equally, a deficit decreases the net international asset position. The Balance of Trade is identical to the divergence between a country's output and its domestic demand - the difference between what goods a country produces and how many goods it buys from abroad; this does not contain money respent on foreign stocks, nor does it factor the concept of importing goods to produce for the domestic market.

Sri Lanka State Trading (General) Corporation Ltd., is a fully government owned , well established organisation functioning under the purview of the Ministry of Co-operatives and internal trade. STC has been in the big business over more than 30 years whilst catering to both public and private sectors.

Today, the company deals with a wide range of products namely, Office Stationery and Equipments, Construction and hardware items, ICT Products, Office Furniture and Interior Decors, FMCG, Automotive Batteries & Tyres, Agricultural Products, Chemical Products etc. In addition, STC has taken steps to market world reputed brands such as 'Double A' photocopy papers, Frostair Airconditioners, Yokohama tyres, HP & Fugitsu Laptops, 'Exide' automotive batteries, 'Orange' Electrical items etc.

STC operates under the guidance of the government with a long term goal of developing Sri Lanka by providing the very best to consumers, and ensuring stability in market price for various goods, and thereby protecting consumer welfare. With this in mind the STC has partnered with Intel, Microsoft, and HP Lanka to make computing affordable and in doing so developing and laying a springboard for IT usage.

Under this scheme, laptops and desktop computers will be offered at very reasonable prices on installment-based payment schemes that can be tailored to suit any budget. HP computers will be powered by Intel processors and Genuine Microsoft operating systems while being maintained under HP’s three-year company warranty, ensuring the security and longevity of the product, and offering the very best experience to the shopper, and in doing so driving the growth of IT in the nation.

"To develop and promote Sri Lanka's foreign trade relations at bilateral, regional and multilateral levels by the effective implementation of rule trade policy, with a view to raising the standards of living and realizing a higher quality of life through the increase of total production, income and employment levels, thereby actively causative to the overall economic growth of Sri Lanka".

P.D Fernando, the new Director General of Department of Commerce was felicitated by the NCE at the Council Meeting held in May at the Taj Samudra.

He was presented with a plaque in recognition of his invaluable military to exporters, during his many years of service at the Department of Commerce to overseas Trade Missions. Fernando was known among many exporters as a person who had always strived to assist Sri Lankan exporters to the best possible extentby effectively engaging the bureaucrats and other relevant persons in overseas markets, who were impediments to Sri Lankan exporters. He requested member exporters of the meeting room to unhesitatingly

Sri Lanka is a South Asian island is situated 29 km off southeastern coast of India. Palk Strait separates Sri Lanka from India. It is 350km (217miles) elongated and it's maximum width is 180km (112miles). Its total land area is about 64.740 sq. km.

Sri Lanka has its own contrasts; its own fortunes and misfortunes. Over thousands of years travellers to this small island were surprised by its physical beauty and the richness of its culture. Many described it as a Paradise Isle and as the Pearl of the Orient. Then for many years it went from beginning to end a difficult period under colonial rule. At present it goes through its most difficult times in its history due to the continuing ethnic conflict.

For Centuries, Sri Lanka has been associated with the international trade in gems & jewellery, and has been referred to as the “Cradle of Treasures” due to its wealth of precious gemstones. The art of jewellery making and Sri Lanka’s gem industry have been widely acclaimed in literary works dating as far back as 250 B.C in the Legends of Arabia, folk-lore of China,India, Indonesia and in the tales of early European travelers to the East, which describe in grate detail the fabulous gems & jewellery of Sri Lanka.

The Earth’s greatest meditation of fine gems could be found within Sri Lanka’s land area of 65,525 square kilometers. Geo-scientific opinion estimates that 90% of the Island’s land mass is potentially gem bearing. Sri Lanka ranks with Burma, Brazil, South Africa and Thailand as one of the five most important gem bearing nations of the world.

A unique feature of Sri Lanka’s gem mines is that an assortment of gems such as Spinels, Corundums (Blue and Star Sapphires, Rubies) Cat’s Eyes, Zircon and many others are found in a single gem pit. Gem mining in Sri Lanka is almost entirely confined to sedimentary deposits. Gems as a resource belongs to the management, however licenses for mining could be obtained for privately owned lands.  Most often gem mining is done in agricultural lands during off-season.

The techniques of mining and processing in Sri Lanka though labour intensive is very efficient compared with gem mining in other developing countries and the recovery of fine gems as small as one millimeter or less is assured.  shield of the environment is ensured by law.

Product

Sri Lanka’s breathtaking natural heritage is blessed with over 150 varieties of gems  including Blue, Pink and Yellow Sapphires, Rubies, Padmaradchas, Star Sapphires, Star Rubies, Alexandrites, Cats’ eyes, Spinels, Aquamarines, Topazes, Zircons, Garnets, Tourmalines, Moonstones, Quartzes and variety of rare gems. Amongst the outstanding gem stones that Sri Lanka has produced in the up to date era is the Blue Giant of the Orient (466 cts), Logan Blue Sapphire (423 cts), Blue Belle of Asia (400 cts), Rossar Reeves Star Ruby (138.7 cts), Star of Lanka (393 cts. Star Sapphire) and Ray of Treasure (105 cts. Cat’s Eye). The first three gems are on display at the Smithsonian Institute in Washington DC, USA.  The Blue Sapphire is Sri Lanka’s gem supreme and can be considered, the highly prized of all gems. It is second only to the equilateral in hardness. The Blue sapphire is the National Stone of Sri Lanka.

Skilled labour at competitive rates combined with a global reputation as a country with a friendly and forward looking investment climate has created an beautiful base for cutting and polishing diamonds in Sri Lanka.
The country’s highly literate and trainable work force is the locomotive of its success as a cutting centre. Adaptability to new technology has helped the industry produce polished diamonds with high quality makes it is increasingly recognized internationally.
Sri Lanka ’s specialty is small diamonds of extraordinarily high quality, which are imported sawn or cleaved rough. In addition to the traditional brilliant cut, many cutting companies handle other specialized shapes and cuts, particularly tapers, baguettes and princes etc.
The industry in Sri Lanka is highly organized and the factories are equipped with modern bruting machines and polished wheels mainly from Belgium, Israel, Thailand, India and China.

 Sri Lanka’s jewellery makers have refined their hereditary skills over centuries, to attain the highest standards in exquisite craftsmanship and sophisticated creativity with the modern touch. With the addition of the latest expertise in design and construct, and a new focus on design excellence, Sri Lanka is emerging as a design centre offering high quality jewellery collections of Silver, Gold & Platinum.

Jewellery of Sri Lankan origin is hallmarked by an autonomous Authority, having membership in The Convention on the Control and Marking of Articles of Precious Metals (Hallmarking Convention) and the International connection of Assay Offices.  The Gemological Laboratory certifies the validity of gemstones.

The laws in Sri Lanka guarantees copyright protection of designs. Simplified import-export procedure offers intercontinental buyers peace of mind and ease of operation when dealing with Sri Lanka. Sri Lanka’s membership of the conference on the ATA carnet, facilitates the smooth transportation of jewellery.

An Import Export Gem Office at the Cargo Village at the International Airport in Katunayake expedites the clearance of rough gemstones and export of cut & polished gems, jewellery and diamonds.

A Sri Lanka-Korea Economic Co-operation Committee was set up on 4th November 1982, under the aegis of the Ceylon Chamber of Commerce. The objectives of the committee are to attract Korean investment to Sri Lanka, to promote two-pronged trade between the two countries with weight on the promotion of exports to Korea, to encourage the transfer of expertise from Korea to Sri Lanka and to encourage the growth of tourism from Korea to Sri Lanka. Over all, the economic co-operation board has met nine times, five times in Sri Lanka and four times in Korea.

Trade in Srilanka

 

In relation to coconut fibre and fibre based products, there is significant potential to further expand exports of bristle, twisted fibre, geo textiles, coir fibre pith, various kinds of brushes, door mats, matting as well as rubberised coir based products for the automobile industry. There seems to be a number of areas where upward interest has been observed in new applications for rubberised coir fibre, such as in civil construction weed killer mats. These can also be explored.

The trend for environmentally friendly biodegradable natural products like geo textiles manufactured from coir fibre, has opened opportunities for export to Korea.

There is also a lot of potential to expand exports of activate carbon to Korea since the total imports are in the region of about 12,000 million tons per year.

Other products with enormous potential are floricultural products particularly rooted plants, uprooted cuttings/cane, tissues, cultured plants, cut flowers, cut pretty leaves and flower seeds.

There is also opportunity for exports of calibrated gemstones, diamonds and jewellery, with prospects for collaboration with Korean partners.

Since Korea imports more than US$ one billion worth of garments, in attendance are also enormous prospects for export of Sri Lankan textiles and textile based products, which at the moment is only Rs. 200 to 300 million.

Other potential product areas are limonite, graphite and silica sand, canned and processed fruits and juices, processed gherkins, baby corn, essential oils and spices.

The Sri Lanka Export Development Board (SLEDB commonly known as the EDB) is the premier state organisation dealing with the promotion and development of exports. It was established in 1979 under the Sri Lanka Export enlargement Act No. 40 of 1979, and now functions under the Ministry of Industry & Commerce.

The Chairman is the Chief Executive who is assisted by the Director General and the Additional Director General. Its day-to-day functions are carried out by several divisions each of which is headed by a Director.

The Export Services Division provides assistance and creates opportunities for local professional services companies including ICT,BPO,KPO and Electronic harvest to extend their business worldwide, thereby increasing export sales and employment prospects in the country through integrated programmes such as supply development, quality improvement and training, initiate product development and adaptation of such products / services to export market requirements.  It offers assistance for the ICT/BPO/KPO exporters for market development and consultative services to small and mid-sized businesses and sponsors & co-sponsors educational seminars and training programs for exporters and potential exporters. 

In the Gulf region, the UAE is the largest export market for Sri Lanka, the largest source of imports to Sri Lanka, and the largest investor in Sri Lanka. The UAE is also home for a large number of Sri Lankan expatriate workers among Gulf countries. The number of tourists from the UAE visiting Sri Lanka is also on the increase and the UAE has become the largest tourist supplier among the Gulf countries to Sri Lanka in 2011.

ri Lanka has been trading with the UAE for a significant period of time and it continues to remain one of Sri Lanka's major trading partners ranking 7th position of top export market to Sri Lanka. Sri Lanka exported US$ 246 Mn worth of goods to UAE in 2010. The total trade between the two countries was at US$ 570 Mn in 2010, an increase of US$ 65 Mn compared to the figures registered in 2009. However, the balance of trade has been in favour of the UAE. Interesting to note that the two way trade jumped to US$ 807 Mn during January – September 2011, pushed up by rice and oil imports which accounted for over one third or USD 267 million of imports from UAE.

Tea, natural rubber, coconut oil, desiccated coconut, copra, cashew nuts, essential oil, fruits and vegetables, processed food, sea food, rubber products and toys are the chief export commodities from Sri Lanka to the UAE. However, tea has been the major export commodity (accounting 60%) of Sri Lanka to the UAE.

Among the items imported from the UAE, crude oil, diesel, gas oil and lubricants are the major trade in commodities accounting for 24% of whole imports. Other items include urea, lentils, iron & steel and machinery & parts.

Trade in Srilanka

Trade and industries

FOREIGN TRADE is the official source for U.S. export and import statistics and responsible for issue regulations governing the reporting of all export shipments from the United States. If you're searching for import or export statistics, information on export regulations, commodity classifications, or a host of other trade related topics, this is the place to get the information you need.

A trade secret is a formula, practice, process, design, instrument, pattern, or compilation of information which is not generally known or practically ascertainable, by which a business can obtain an economic advantage over competitors or customers. In some jurisdictions, such secrets are referred to as "top secret information", but should not be referred to as "classified information", due to the nature of the word in the USA.

Trade secrets are by definition not disclosed to the world at large. Instead, owners of trade secrets seek to protect trade secret in sequence from competitors by instituting special procedures for handling it, as well as technological and legal security measures. Legal protections include non-disclosure agreements (NDA) and non-compete clauses. In exchange for an opportunity to be employed by the holder of secrets, an employee may sign an agreement not to reveal his or her likely employer's proprietary information. An employee may also surrender or dole out to his employer the right to his own intellectual work produced during the course (or as a condition) of employment. breach of the agreement generally carries the possibility of heavy financial penalties. These penalties operate as a disincentive to reveal trade secrets. Though proving a breach of a non-disclosure agreement against a former employee who is legally working for a competitor can be very difficult. A holder of a trade secret may also require similar agreements from other parties he deals with, such as vendors or licensees.

Protection of trade secret can, in standard, extend indefinitely and then may provide an advantage over patent protection, which lasts only for a specific period of time. Coca-Cola, for model, has no patent for its formula and has been very effective in protecting it for many more years than the twenty years of security that a patent would have provided. In fact, Coca-Cola refused to reveal its trade secret under at least two judges' orders.The inconvenience is that there is no protection once information protected as trade secret is uncovered by others through reverse engineering, for example, whereas patent has a guaranteed time of protection in exchange for disclosing the in order to the community.

World trade

To acquire rights in a trademark under U.S. law, one must simply use the mark "in commerce." It is possible to register a trademark in the U.S., both at the federal and state levels. (Registration of trademarks confers some advantages, including stronger protection in certain respects, but it is not required in order to get protection.) Registration may be required in order to file a lawsuit for trademark infringement. Other nations have different trademark policies and this information may not apply to them. Assuming the mark in question meets certain other standards of protectibility, it is protected from infringement on the grounds that other uses might confuse consumers as to the origin or nature of the goods once the mark has been associated with a particular supplier. (Similar considerations apply to service marks and trade dress.) By definition, a trademark enjoys no protection (qua trademark) until and unless it is "disclosed" to consumers, for only then are consumers able to associate it with a supplier or source in the requisite manner. (That a company plans to use a certain trademark might itself be protectible as a trade secret, however, until the mark is actually made public.)

A company can protect its confidential information through non-compete and non-disclosure contracts with its employees (within the constraints of employment law, including only restraint that is reasonable in geographic and time scope). The law of protection of confidential information effectively allows a perpetual monopoly in secret information - it does not expire as would a patent. The lack of formal protection, however, means that a third party is not prevented from independently duplicating and using the secret information once it is discovered.

urveillance of national trade policies is a fundamentally important activity running throughout the work of the WTO. At the centre of this work is the Trade Policy Review Mechanism (TPRM). All WTO members are reviewed, the frequency of each country’s review varying according to its share of world trade. 

The World Trade Organization (WTO) deals with the global rules of trade between nations. Its main function is to ensure that trade flows as smoothly, predictably and freely as possible.

This website is a one-stop national resource to learn about the crime of identity theft. It provides detailed information to help you deter, detect, and defend against identity theft.  

On this site, consumers can learn how to avoid identity theft – and learn what to do if their identity is stolen.  Businesses can learn how to help their customers deal with identity theft, as well as how to prevent problems in the first place.  Law enforcement can get resources and learn how to help victims of identity theft.

Read on to find out more about identity theft and what you can do about it.

Here's an example of a "yen carry trade": a trader borrows 1,000 Japanese yen from a Japanese bank, converts the funds into U.S. dollars and buys a bond for the equivalent amount. Let's assume that the bond pays 4.5% and the Japanese interest rate is set at 0%. The trader stands to make a profit of 4.5% as long as the exchange rate between the countries does not change. Many professional traders use this trade because the gains can become very large when leverage is taken into consideration. If the trader in our example uses a common leverage factor of 10:1, then she can stand to make a profit of 45%. 

World trade organization

The big risk in a carry trade is the uncertainty of exchange rates. Using the example above, if the U.S. dollar were to fall in value relative to the Japanese yen, then the trader would run the risk of losing money. Also, these transactions are generally done with a lot of leverage, so a small movement in exchange rates can result in huge losses unless the position is hedged appropriately.

A strategy in which an investor sells a certain currency with a relatively low interest rate and uses the funds to purchase a different currency yielding a higher interest rate. A trader using this strategy attempts to capture the difference between the rates, which can often be substantial, depending on the amount of leverage used.

The Fair Credit Reporting Act guarantees you access to your credit report for free from each of the three nationwide credit reporting companies — Experian, Equifax, and TransUnion — every 12 months. The Federal Trade Commission has received complaints from consumers who thought they were ordering their free annual credit report, and yet couldn't get it without paying fees or buying other services. TV ads, email offers, or online search results may tout "free" credit reports, but there is only one authorized source for a truly free credit report. 

Many companies claim to offer free credit reports – and some do. But others give you a report only if you buy other products or services. Still others say they’re giving you a “free” report and then bill you for services you have to cancel. If you go to www.AnnualCreditReport.com and follow the prompts for your free credit report, you can be sure the reports you get really are free. 

Looks like the Nets aren’t waiting for Dwight Howard’s situation to get resolved before making moves. According to Nets Daily, they just went ahead and traded for Joe Johnson, whose contract will have Brooklyn unable to re-sign Deron Williams and still make a deal for the Orlando big man this summer. More details: “The Nets have all but completed a trade for Joe Johnson, the six-time all-star, league sources tell NetsDaily. In return, the Hawks get expiring contracts and a first round pick. NOT included in the trade: MarShon Brooks and Gerald Green. The Nets also didn’t have to give up their own first round pick in the trade. The trade will not be finalized until July 11. Johnson, who is still owed $89.3 million over the next three years, was dealt for Anthony Morrow; Jordan Farmar, who will be bought out at Atlanta’s expense; Jordan Williams, Johan Petro, a signed-and-traded DeShawn Stevenson and the Rockets 2013 lottery protected first round pick.”

Trade agreements usually involve a detailed list of rights that nations must provide to authors of new works -- including any original content from books to software. But while the deals often include general provisions, permitting countries to adopt exceptions to those rights, they have never been explicitly required.

Those exceptions are what allow for the existence of everything from libraries to movie reviews. They're also critical for a host of internet operations, which frequently reference or make use of copyrighted material under well-established "fair use" standards and other key exemptions.

We're encouraged that the USTR (United States Trade Representative) has acknowledged that we can have strong and balanced copyright," said Matthew Schruers, vice president of law and policy at the Computer and Communications Industry Association, a tech lobbying organization. "There is still much more to be done, on this issue, other IP issues, as well as issues outside of the IP space. Nevertheless, this is an important first step toward modernizing the trade framework for the twenty-first century."

The USTR -- the White House agency, led by Ron Kirk, that's responsible for negotiating the Trans-Pacific deal -- said this new outline aims to enhance the framework of the Trans-Pacific Partnership.

"The TPP is intended to be a 21st century agreement, covering a number of emerging issue areas, and it’s clear that this is an issue of major importance to many stakeholders," said USTR spokesperson Carol Guthrie in a written statement. "After consulting with them and with our trading partners, we’ve decided to further enhance our framework."

Tech policy and transparency in the Trans-Pacific deal have generated some concern among a few members of Congress, who have said that key staffers were denied access to draft negotiation documents, even though more than 600 corporate officials were able to view the documents through positions on advisory panels. 

Fair trade

Tarde and garments

Cotheeka Trading Agency is one of the leading trading companies in Bangladesh specialized on Export-import, Local Trading and Marketing of various products ranging Computer & Electronic Accessories to Jute Products.

Cotheeka Trading Agency is reputable worldwide for its excellent Quality Control and Fast Turnaround time for delivering all kinds of products or services. Our commitment to customer services and passion for providing the best consumer value have enriched our spectacular growth since 2001. Our experience in management, including a wealth of experience in the areas of finance, strategy and operational management with distribution and direct marketing helped us to be established as one of the best trading companies in Asia. We have extensive experience developing inventive and original marketing campaigns that build our customer relationships in the retail and consumer product industries.
Web site of Cotheeka Trading Agency is updated with new information and fresh product offers on daily basis. So, don't forget to bookmark the site and visit often.

Your search for clothing industry trade fairs, fashion & textile exhibitions, apparel trade shows, garment technology trade fairs, optics & eyewear trade show, clothing accessories tradeshow, kidswear/children expositions and bridalwear tradefairs & expos from across the globe ends on this encompassing section. Here you can get access to the well-ordered data of Apparel & Clothing sector expositions based on knitted cloths & accessories, denims, scarves, lingerie, sportswear, gold/silver/platinum/crystal/metal jewellery, watches and other fashion ornaments & accessories helping you to opt from around 300 related expos.


International Trade Garments has been operating in the casual clothing industry since 2001.
You can have a look at our new updated Spring-Summer and Autumn-Winter collections in our showrooms in Bergamo , where we are located. Our highly qualified staff follows the 

There is a considerable increase in the textile and ready garment import trade in USA. Off late the USA garments importers have been importing huge quantities of garment from the Indian Exporters.

Due to the rising effects of globalization and technology transfer, setting up an international trade deal with the garments importers of any other country is not a big deal anymore. If you are dealing in garment / readymade garment or textile export trade, you might like to consider extending your business to USA. Almost every person exporting textile wants to establish trade links with USA importers of garments. One of the prime reasons that attract a lot of sellers to this place is the fact that they are able to earn dollars. Also, USA garments importers are known for being extremely professional and particular about their payment terms. Though it is easy to set up trade with these traders, but you will need the right sources to reach them. If you don’t have any existing links with these traders, you will have to find out ways to approach those who would be interested in buying your products.

The best help would be taking aid from the services of online export import database companies like Infodrive India. The database companies provide genuine export import data that is collected right from the ports and Customs offices. Whether you want to find US readymade garments importers or US textile and garment importers, you can always depend on their accurate list of active importers / buyers. The database includes all the important fields like US garments importers Name and Address, US Notify Party, Exporters Name and address, and Bill of Landing details. The Bill of Landing column has entries like BL number, Arrival Date, Weight kg, Pieces, Piece Unit, TEU, Measure cm, HS Code, and container number. Besides this information, the data also states Port of Embarkation, Port of Arrival, Product Description, and Marks number. 

 

The data service of the export import database companies enables you to extend your business to new destinations and more prospective clients. With some business intelligence and a proper analysis of the latest database, you can also enhance your product’s demand in international market. development of the collections, from design up to the realization of the item, studying each single article in details always considering the new fashion trends of the market.
Thanks to a wide range of articles always available and a very good relation between quality and price, International Trade Garments is able to satisfy all the customers’ needs, guaranteeing prompt deliveries or programming them in advance time. Our production capacity in the Far East, in particular in China and Bangladesh, is one of our main asset, as we are able to produce not only our collections but also to make customized productions in Private Label. Thanks also to a very efficient logistic we are able to deliver quickly all over Italy and Europe.
International Trade Garments is characterized by a dynamic professional young team and bases its work on important values like competence, seriousness, flexibility, loyalty.

trade industry

LGE is returning this summer for its second year and has joined forces with Fashion Capital’s event PROFILE; bringing you a spectacular three days of trading, networking, catwalks and entertainment!

Held at The Business Design Centre, LGE is the must-see show for young designers, manufacturers and emerging brands. Showcasing the very best of womenswear, menswear, lingerie, swimwear and fabrics, LGE is where you will find buyers from the biggest names in the industry mixed in with new designers and world famous manufacturers.

LGE strives to create a hub of activity and excitement for 2012 by hosting exclusive catwalks, seminars, trend reports and B2B meetings, plus the chance to be a part of the VIP Gala where exhibitors can network with buyers, high profile decision makers and the most prominent apparel associations in the world.

 

Based on our analysis of the latest standards for Fair Trade Certified Apparel & Home Goods products and our knowledge of other initiatives towards high-road apparel production, we worry that the proposed standards for apparel to bear a fair trade label will fall short of today’s best
industry practices. We grant that—if there is a robust enforcement program—workers producing under these fair trade standards will enjoy working conditions better than the industry norm. But going just beyond the norm—sweatshop and, at times, near slave-labor conditions— should not be enough. To be the purveyor of a label that would claim to signify a high mark in terms of labor standards, wages, and working conditions, TransFair must truly push the envelope of reform, and only bestow its blessing on workplaces that provide an environment of dignity and respect, and ensure workers a meaningful voice and a decent standard of living, consistent with
the very best industry practices. There is significant risk in a fair trade label that fails to meet this bar. It can mislead consumers, lower the aspirations of major companies, and, in effect, push down standards from the top. This program does not occur in a vacuum. Other efforts that are attempting to implement good labor standards may face more obstacles if TransFair sets a low bar.
We would be proud to openly support real fair trade standards, and happy to promote the pioneering companies that seek to realize those standards for workers. But the present draft standards are not yet strong enough that we can offer our public endorsement.
 

 

We are manufacturer cum exporter of leather fabric motor bike suits, leather wear, leather garments, sleeping bag,leather
motor bike garment,leather motor bikejackets,leather motorbike pant,leather
fashion suit,leather motor bike jacket,leather socks,leather fashion pant, textile fabric codura
jackets,pant,leather o/all, leather vest,leather motor racing gloves, leather purse, leather bag, leather socks,
we have skilled workmenship and equipped with modern machinery,and we shall provide you
top quality goods and competative prices from any other supplier.
we have many clients in europe,usa, u.k. Australia, russia,middle east, japan and many other
countries.
we hope you shall inform us your own items list and check our permute delivrey and
quality.

• The Court agreed that goods such as those listed above in Nike's application were destined for the general public.  However, Nike could not assert that the level of this public’s attention would be higher than that of the average consumer in that the garments covered by the mark applied for were what were described somewhat coyly as ‘intimate garments’.  Even such garments are everyday consumer goods, in Spain at any rate. In any event, this argument would not wash: the goods covered by Nike’s application included those items of clothing which were not intimate as well as those which were.
• Nike’s submission that the initially average distinctiveness of the word "jump" as a trade mark had become diluted was unconvincing. "Jump’ was not part of the basic vocabulary of the general public in Spain and would thus be perceived as a fanciful term.
• Nike could not both (i) concede that it was likely that the relevant public did not attach a direct and unequivocal meaning to the term ‘jump’ and that, therefore, a conceptual comparison may not be established and (ii) argue that the word ‘jump’ bore for the average Spanish consumer – above all in connection with footwear, a connotation which was associated mentally with the idea of a sudden vertical movement or propulsion from the ground. If the word was not understood in Spain, it could have no meaning for the Spanish.
• If the word ‘jump’ had no meaning to the average Spanish consumer, that word was not made more meaningful through the addition of the word ‘man’. The Board was correct to find that there was a likelihood of confusion, on account of the distinctive character of the word ‘jump’, the identity of the goods concerned and the visual and phonetic similarities between the signs at issue.

 

Trade in china

China is the single most imperative challenge for EU trade policy. China has re-emerged as the world's second largest economy and the biggest exporter in the global wealth, but also an increasingly important political power. EU-China trade has augmented dramatically in recent years. China is now the EU's 2nd trading partner behind the USA and the EU's chief source of imports by far. The EU is also China's biggest trading partner.

The EU's open market has been a large contributor to China's export-led growth. The EU has also benefited from the development of the Chinese market and the EU is committed to open trading relations with China. However the EU wants to make certain that China trades fairly, respects intellectual assets rights and meet its WTO obligations.

Agricultural products were distributed in three major ways in China during the 1980s. They were either retained by the household (now the primary production unit) for allocation among its members, procured by the state, or sold in rural or urban free markets.

Approximately 63 percent of the populace was located in rural areas, where the majority of the people worked in agriculture and rural industries. Under the accountability system for agriculture instituted in 1981, the household replaced the production team as the basic production unit. Families contracted with the fiscal collective to farm a plot of land, delivered a set amount of grain or other produce and the farming tax to the state, and paid a fee to the collective. After meeting these obligations, the household was free to retain its surplus produce or sell it in free markets. Restrictions on private plots and household sideline production were lifted, and much of the making from these was also sold on free markets.

Once food was procured and transported to town areas, it was sold to consumers by state-owned stores and restaurants. In the mid-1980s food items were also accessible in free markets, where peasants sold their produce, and in privately owned restaurants. As noted previously, the prices of pigs, aquatic products, and vegetables were resolute by local authorities according to quality and demand; prices of other products floated freely on the market. Except for grain, edible oil, and a few other rationed items, food items were in good supply.

Industrial goods used in agricultural making were sold to agricultural units in the 1980s. Local cooperatives or state supply and marketing bureaus sold most farming producer goods, including chemical fertilizers and insecticides, to households at set prices. The state also offered preferential prices for agricultural inputs to grain farmers to encourage grain production. Households were permitted to purchase agricultural machines and vehicles to transport goods to market. In order to ensure that rural units could cover the costs of the increasing quantities of engineering inputs required for higher yields, the government periodically reduced the prices of the industrial goods sold to farmers, while raising the procurement prices for agricultural products. In the mid-1980s, however, the price gap between agricultural and industrial products was widening to the weakness of farmers.

Distribution of food and other agricultural goods to town consumers, industry, and rural areas deficient in food was carried out primarily by the state and secondarily by producers or cooperatives. The state procured agricultural goods by means of taxes in kind and by purchases by state commercial departments (state trading companies) under the Ministry of Commerce. The agricultural tax was not large, falling from 12 percent of the total value of agricultural output in 1952 to 5 percent in 1979. In 1984 the number of agricultural and sideline foodstuffs subject to state planning and purchasing quotas was reduced from twenty-nine to ten and included cereal grains, edible oil, cured tobacco, jute, hemp, and pigs. In 1985 the system of state purchasing quotas for agricultural products was abolished. Instead, the state purchased grain and cotton under bond at a set price. Once contracted quotas were met, the grain and cotton were sold on the market at floating prices. If market prices fell below the listed state price, the state purchased all available market grain at the state price to protect the welfare of producers. Vegetables, pigs, and aquatic products sold to urban, mining, and industrial areas were traded in local markets according to demand. Local commercial departments set the prices of these goods according to quality to protect the interests of urban patrons. All other agricultural goods were sold on the market to the state, to cooperatives, or to other producers. Restrictions on private business activities were greatly reduced, permitting peasants as well as cooperatives to transport agricultural goods to rural and town markets and allowing a rapid expansion of free markets in the countryside and in cities. The number of wholesale produce markets increased by 450 percent between 1983 and 1986, reaching a total of 1,100 and easing pressure on the state produce distribution network, which had been strained by the burgeoning agricultural production engendered by pastoral reforms. In 1986 free markets, called "commodity fairs," numbered 61,000 nationwide. 

Trade in china

After 1982, reforms moved China's market to a mixed system based on mandatory planning, guidance planning (use of economic levers such as taxes, prices, and credit instead of administrative fiat), and the free market. In late 1984 further reforms of the urban industrial economy and commerce reduced the scope of mandatory development, increased enterprise autonomy and the authority of professional managers, loosened price controls to rationalize prices, and cut subsidies to enterprises. These changes created a "socialist planned commodity economy," essentially a dual economy in which planned allocation and distribution are supplemented by market exchanges based on on the edge or free prices.

As a result of these reforms, the distribution of goods used in trade production was based on mandatory planning with fixed prices, guidance planning with hovering prices, and the free market. Mandatory planning covered sixty industrial products, including coal, crude oil, rolled steel, nonferrous metals, timber, cement, electricity, basic trade chemicals, chemical fertilizers, major machines and electrical equipment, chemical fibers, newsprint, cigarettes, and defense industry products. Once enterprises under compulsory planning had met the state's mandatory plans and supply contracts, they could sell surplus production to commercial departments or other enterprises. Prices of surplus business producer goods floated within restrictions set by the state. The state also had a planned distribution system for imperative materials such as coal, iron and steel, timber, and cement. Enterprise managers who chose to exceed planned production goals purchased additional materials on the market. Major cities well-known wholesale markets for industrial producer goods to supplement the state's allocation organization.

Under guidance planning, enterprises try to meet the state's planned goals but make their own arrangements for production and sales based on the orientation of the state's plans, the availability of raw and unfinished materials and energy supplies, and the demands on the market. Prices of products under guidance planning either are unified prices or floating prices set by the state or prices negotiated between buyers and suppliers. Production and distribution of products not included in the state's plans are in time by market conditions.

Retail sales in China changed dramatically in the late 1970s and early 1980s as economic reforms increased the supply of food items and consumer goods, allowed state retail stores the freedom to purchase goods on their own, and permitted individuals and collectives greater freedom to engage in retail, service, and catering trades in rural and urban areas. Retail sales increased 300 percent from 1977 to 1985, rising at an average yearly rate of 13.9 percent — 10.5 percent when adjusted for rise. In the 1980s retail sales to rural areas increased at an annual rate of 15.6 percent, outpacing the 9.7 percent increase in retail sales to urban areas and reflecting the more rapid rise in rural incomes. In 1977 sales to rural areas comprised 52 percent of total retail sales; in 1984 rural sales accounted for 59.2 percent of the total. Consumer goods comprised approximately 88 percent of retail sales in 1985, the remaining 12 percent consisting of farming materials and equipment.

The number of retail sales enterprises also expanded rapidly in the 1980s. In 1985 there were 10.7 million retail, catering, and service establishments, a rise of 850 percent over 1976. Most remarkable in the expansion of retail sales was the rapid rise of collective and individually owned retail establishments. Individuals engaged in businesses numbered 12.2 million in 1985, more than 40 times the 1976 figure. Furthermore, as state-owned businesses either were leased or turned over to collective rights or were leased to individuals, the share of state-owned commerce in total retail sales dropped from 90.3 percent in 1976 to 40.5 percent in 1985.

In 1987 most urban retail and service establishments, including state, collective, and private businesses or vendors, were located either in major downtown commercial districts or in small neighborhood shopping areas. The region shopping areas were numerous and were situated so that at least one was within easy walking distance of almost every household. They were able to supply nearly all the daily needs of their customers. A typical neighborhood shopping area in Beijing would contain a one-story department store, bookstore, hardware store, bicycle repair shop, combined tea shop and bakery, restaurant, theater, laundry, bank, post office, barbershop, photography studio, and electrical appliance repair shop. The division stores had small pharmacies and carried a substantial range of housewares, appliances, bicycles, toys, sporting goods, fabrics, and clothing. Major shopping districts in big cities contained larger versions of the neighborhood stores as well as numerous specialty shops, selling such items as musical instruments, sporting goods, hats, stationery, handicrafts, cameras, and clocks.

Supplementing these retail establishments were free markets in which private and collective businesses provided services, hawked wares, or sold food and drinks. Peasants from surrounding rural areas marketed their spare produce or sideline production in these markets. In the 1980s urban areas also saw a revival of "night markets," free markets that operated in the evening and offered extended service hours that more formal establishments could not match.

Trade in china

In rural areas, supply and promotion cooperatives operated general stores and small shopping complexes near village and township administrative headquarters. These businesses were supplemented by collective and entity businesses and by the free markets that appeared across the countryside in the 1980s as a result of rural reforms. Generally speaking, a smaller variety of consumer goods was available in the countryside than in the cities. But the lack was partially offset by the increased access of some peasants to urban areas where they could purchase consumer goods and market farming items.

A number of important consumer goods, including grain, cotton cloth, meat, eggs, edible oil, sugar, and bicycles, were rationed during the 1960s and 1970s. To purchase these items, workers had to use coupons they received from their work units. By the mid-1980s rationing of over seventy items had been eliminated; production of buyer goods had increased, and most items were in good supply. Grain, edible oil, and a few other items still required coupons. In 1985 pork rationing was reinstated in twenty-one cities as supplies ran low. Pork was available at higher prices in supermarkets and free markets.

he pragmatic modernization drive led by party leaders Zhou Enlai and Deng Xiaoping and China's growing contacts with Western nations resulted in a sharp acceleration of trade in the early 1970s. Imports of modern plants and equipment were mainly emphasized, and after 1973 oil became an increasingly important export. Trade more than doubled between 1970 and 1975, reaching US$13.9 billion. Growth in this period was about 9 percent a year. As a proportion of GNP, trade grew from 1.7 percent in 1970 to 3.9 percent in 1975. In 1976 the feeling of uncertainty resulting from the death of Mao Zedong and pressure from the Gang of Four, whose members opposed reliance on foreign technology, brought another decline in trade.

Beginning in the late 1970s, China reversed the Maoist monetary development strategy and, by the early 1980s, had committed itself to a policy of being more open to the outside world and widening foreign economic relations and trade. The opening up policy led to the reorganization and decentralization of foreign trade institutions, the adoption of a legal framework to facilitate foreign economic relations and trade, direct foreign investment, the creation of special economic zones, the rapid expansion of foreign trade, the importation of foreign technology and management methods, taking part in international financial markets, and participation in international foreign economic organizations. These changes not only benefited the Chinese economy but also integrated China into the world economy. In 1979 Chinese trade totaled US$27.7 billion - 6 percent of China's GNP but only 0.7 percent of total world trade. In 1985 Chinese strange trade rose to US$70.8 billion, representing 20 percent of China's GNP and 2 percent of total world trade and putting China sixteenth in world trade rankings.

 he EU-China High Level Economic and Trade Dialogue was launched in Beijing in April 2008. The HED strengthens the dialogue between the European Commission and the State Council of China, at Vice-Premier level. It deals with issues of strategic importance to EU-China trade and economic relations and provides impetus to progress concretely in sectoral dialogues. This dialogue provides a tool to address issues of mutual concern in the areas of investment, market access and intellectual property rights protection, as well as other issues related to trade. The third meeting of the HED was held in Beijing on 20-21 December 2010.

 The EU was a strong supporter of China's accession to the WTO, arguing that a WTO without China was not truly universal in scope. For China, formal succession to the WTO in December 2001 symbolised an important step of its integration into the universal economic order. The commitments made by China in the context of accession to the WTO secured improved access for EU firms to China's market. Import tariffs and other non-tariff barriers were sharply and permanently reduced. However, while China has made good progress in implementing its WTO commitments, there are still outstanding problems. China's compliance with the commitments it undertook when joining the WTO were periodically reviewed in a process called the Transitional Review Mechanism. This process ended 10 years after accession, in December 2011. The EU also uses the regular bi-annual Trade Policy Review of China in the WTO to raise a number of concerns regarding China's trade policy. These include inadequate protection of academic property rights, the maintenance of industrial policies and non-tariff measures which may discriminate against foreign companies and barriers to market access in a number of services sectors including construction, banking, insurance, telecommunications, and postal services). Export restrictions on raw materials have also been identified as a major trade obstacle.

In 2006 the European Commission adopted a major policy strategy (Partnership and Competition) on China that pledged the EU to accepting tough Chinese competition while pushing China to trade fairly. Part of this strategy is the ongoing conference on a comprehensive Partnership and Cooperation Agreement (PCA) that started in January 2007. These discussions aim to further improve the framework for bilateral trade and outlay relations and also include the upgrading of the 1985 EC-China Trade and Economic Cooperation Agreement. However, positions remain far apart on many important chapters, and the European payment has called upon China to make obvious more ambition.

China reported a buy and sell surplus equivalent to 31.7 Billion USD in June of 2012. Historically, from 1986 until 2012, China Balance of Trade averaged 6.0300 Billion USD reaching an all time high of 40.0900 Billion USD in November of 2008 and a record low of -66.0000 Billion USD in December of 1989. Export growth has continued to be a major component supporting China's rapid economic growth. Exports of goods and services constitute 39.7% of GDP. China major exports are: office machines & data processing equipment, telecommunications equipment, electrical machinery and apparel & clothing. China imports mainly commodities: iron and steel, oil and mineral fuels; machinery and equipment, plastics, optical and medical equipment and organic chemicals. Its main trading partners are: European Union, The United States, Japan, Hong Kong and South Korea. This page includes a chart with historical data for China Balance of Trade.

Retail sales in China changed dramatically in the late 1970s and early 1980s as economic reforms increased the supply of food items and consumer goods, allowed state retail stores the freedom to purchase goods on their own, and permitted individuals and collectives greater freedom to engage in retail, service, and catering trades in rural and urban areas. Retail sales increased 300 percent from 1977 to 1985, rising at an average yearly rate of 13.9 percent — 10.5 percent when adjusted for inflation. In the 1980s retail sales to rural areas increased at an annual rate of 15.6 percent, outpacing the 9.7 percent increase in retail sales to urban areas and reflecting the more rapid rise in rural incomes. In 1977 sales to rural areas comprised 52 percent of total retail sales; in 1984 rural sales accounted for 59.2 percent of the total. Consumer goods comprised approximately 88 percent of retail sales in 1985, the remaining 12 percent consisting of farming materials and equipment.

The number of retail sales enterprises also expanded rapidly in the 1980s. In 1985 there were 10.7 million retail, catering, and service establishments, a rise of 850 percent over 1976. Most remarkable in the expansion of retail sales was the rapid rise of collective and individually owned retail establishments. Individuals engaged in businesses numbered 12.2 million in 1985, more than 40 times the 1976 figure. Furthermore, as state-owned businesses either were leased or turned over to collective ownership or were leased to individuals, the share of state-owned commerce in total retail sales dropped from 90.3 percent in 1976 to 40.5 percent in 1985.

In 1987 most urban retail and service establishments, including state, collective, and private businesses or vendors, were located either in major downtown commercial districts or in small neighborhood shopping areas. The neighborhood shopping areas were numerous and were situated so that at least one was within easy walking distance of almost every household. They were able to supply nearly all the daily needs of their customers. A typical neighborhood shopping area in Beijing would contain a one-story department store, bookstore, hardware store, bicycle repair shop, combined tea shop and bakery, restaurant, theater, laundry, bank, post office, barbershop, photography studio, and electrical appliance repair shop. The department stores had small pharmacies and carried a substantial range of housewares, appliances, bicycles, toys, sporting goods, fabrics, and clothing. Major shopping districts in big cities contained larger versions of the neighborhood stores as well as numerous specialty shops, selling such items as musical instruments, sporting goods, hats, stationery, handicrafts, cameras, and clocks.

Supplementing these retail establishments were free markets in which private and collective businesses provided services, hawked wares, or sold food and drinks. Peasants from surrounding rural areas marketed their surplus produce or sideline production in these markets. In the 1980s urban areas also saw a revival of "night markets," free markets that operated in the evening and offered extended service hours that more formal establishments could not match.

Trade in china

International treading system

nternational trade is the exchange of capital, goods, and services across international borders or territories. In most countries, such trade represents a significant share of gross domestic product (GDP). While international trade has been present throughout much of history (see Silk Road, Amber Road), its economic, social, and political consequence has been on the rise in recent centuries.

Industrialization, advanced transportation, globalization, multinational corporations, and outsourcing are all having a major impact on the international trade system. Increasing international trade is crucial to the persistence of globalization. Without international trade, nations would be limited to the goods and services produced within their own borders.

International trade is, in principle, not different from domestic trade as the motivation and the behavior of parties involved in a trade do not change fundamentally regardless of whether trade is across a border or not. The main distinction is that international trade is typically more costly than domestic trade. The reason is that a border typically imposes additional costs such as tariffs, time costs due to border delays and costs related with country differences such as language, the legal system or culture.

Another difference between domestic and international trade is that factors of construction such as capital and labor are typically more mobile within a country than across countries. Thus international trade is mostly restricted to trade in goods and services, and only to a lesser extent to trade in capital, labor or other factors of production. Trade in goods and army can serve as a substitute for trade in factors of production.

Instead of importing a factor of production, a country can import goods that make intensive use of that factor of construction and thus embody it. An example is the import of labor-intensive goods by the United States from China. Instead of importing Chinese labor, the United States imports goods that were produced with Chinese labor. One report in 2010 suggested that international trade was enlarged when a country hosted a network of immigrants, but the trade effect was weakened when the immigrants became assimilated into their new country.

International trade is also a branch of economics, which, together with international finance, forms the larger branch of international economics.

n 1953, Wassily Leontief published a study in which he tested the validity of the Heckscher-Ohlin theory^. The schoolwork showed that the U.S was more abundant in capital compared to other countries, therefore the U.S would export capital-intensive goods and import labor-intensive goods. Leontief found out that the U.S's exports were less capital intensive than its imports.

After the appearance of Leontief's paradox, many researchers tried to save the Heckscher-Ohlin theory, either by new methods of measurement, or either by new interpretations. Leamer emphasized that Leontief did not interpret H-O theory as it should be and claimed that with a right interpretation, the paradox did not occur. Brecher and Choudri found that, if Leamer was right, the American workers' burning up per head should be lower than the workers' world average consumption. Many textbook writers, including Krugman and Obstfeld and Bowen, Hollander and Viane, are negative about the validity of H-O model. After examining the long history of empirical research, Bowen, Hollander and Viane concluded: "Recent tests of the factor abundance theory [H-O theory and its developed form into many-commodity and many-factor case] that openly examine the H-O-V equations also indicate the rejection of the theory."

In the early 1900s a theory of international trade was developed by two Swedish economists, Eli Heckscher and Bertil Ohlin. This theory has later been known as the Heckscher-Ohlin model (H-O model). The results of the H-O model are that countries will produce and export goods that require resources (factors) which are relatively abundant and import goods that require resources which are in comparative short supply.

In the Heckscher-Ohlin model the pattern of international trade is determined by differences in factor endowments. It predicts that countries will export those goods that make intensive use of locally abundant factors and will import goods that make intensive use of factors that are locally scarce. Empirical problems with the H-O model, such as the Leontief paradox, were noted in empirical tests by Wassily Leontief who found that the United States tended to export labor-intensive goods despite having an abundance of capital.

The world trading system has undergone massive changes in the last sixteen years. The creation of the WTO and the development of enforceable international rules governing trade in services and intellectual property rights as well as trade in cargo vastly expanded the scope and effectiveness of the system. While bilateral negotiations have stalled, countries around the world have accelerated their involvement in regional trade agreements. This seminar will examine the implications of these developments, providing a careful analysis of the WTO, Uruguay Round Agreements, and of regional trade agreements. The course will also cover the techniques of negotiating trade agreements. The program is designed as a practical course that will assist trade officials in their work and help enterprises to take full advantage of the opportunities provided by multilateral and regional trade agreements. The course motivation be taught by former and present senior government trade officials and negotiators, leading academics, practitioners, and officials from multinational organizations, and will include site visits to U.S. government trade agencies and the United States Congress.

The Millennium Development Goals establish a global partnership to improve the lives of the world’s poor. This includes an open, rule-based, predictable, evenhanded trading and financial system as an important goal. Can trade be a tool for development? In many cases current trade rules do not contribute to sustainable development. In agriculture, most relevant to developing countries, trade is heavily distorted by artificially cheap world prices. Developing countries have few tools to protect themselves from these distortions. besides the current system of trade regulations is far from being a predictable, consistent system. Among the main sources of inconsistency are the many bilateral and regional agreements setting different trade rules for different countries. The number of these agreements has dramatically increased since the start of the World Trade Organisation.

international treading system

 

The major trading partners of the developed world – the United States and the European Union among others - negotiate bilateral trade agreements almost every week, while at the same time pretending to negotiate pro-development multilateral trade rules at the WTO as part of the Doha Development Round. Even for the current round of negotiations at the WTO – in particular in agriculture – but also other areas of negotiations such as services and industrial products - the proposed rules are mainly designed to further open markets, despite the damage this approach has wrought over the last 10 years. What is necessary is more detailed analysis and debate on which rules are needed to improve the lives of people in poor countries.

Global trade in agricultural produce is a mess. The mix of national policies and multilateral rules has contributed to plunging commodity prices. Farmers around the world – particularly family farmers - have been forced off their land because they can no longer make a living. Trade policy refugees from rural areas flood cities without enough jobs or housing. Every international institution, from the UN and its agencies to the WTO itself, blames the agricultural trade practices of rich countries for devastating rural communities in developing countries. Yet the same policies have damaged rural communities in developed countries too. Food security – people’s ability to feed themselves and their families with adequate and culturally appropriate food – has suffered everywhere.

The WTO is the focus of international efforts to solve this problem. No one thinks it can be the only solution, but efforts to reform agriculture in developed countries are firmly rooted there. The debate at the WTO has centred on three aspects of agricultural policy: domestic support, tariffs and export subsidies. Experts declare all three to be damaging to global agriculture and trade rules place restrictions them. But current WTO talks to tighten the rules are in deadlock. The proposals now on the table reflect the domestic politics of WTO members, especially developed countries, and the export interests of multinational agrifood firms which trade in commodities and processed food. WTO negotiators have ignored the economic and social needs of developing countries and poor people. Even if governments at the WTO were miraculously to eliminate all the trade-distorting elements of agricultural policy, world markets would not magically start to improve the welfare of developing countries. WTO efforts fail to target the biggest factor distorting markets, namely dumping, the export of products at prices below their production cost. Worse, the present WTO agricultural agreement, and proposed changes, fail to incorporate binding commitments to comply with fundamental goals such as upholding the human right to food and establishing a resilient rural sector as a basis for economic development. The WTO Agreement on Agriculture has failed rural communities around the world. It also has enhanced environmental degradation by promoting a more industrialised model of agriculture characterised by monoculture, intensive use of herbicides and pesticides, large units for breeding livestock, and heavy dependence on oil needed to ship and transport goods. The successor of the current Agreement on Agriculture, now under negotiation, is set to perpetuate this failure.

A serious attempt to achieve the MDGs would require a change in the overall direction of policies on agriculture, food and trade. International trade rules must be based on an understanding of the root causes and problems in agriculture and trade. International trade rules must include a ban on dumping and new criteria for subsidies, curtailing all subsidies supporting excess production for export. Inventory management needs to be introduced for key crops that are deliberately traded with the sole aim of increasing the price of commodities. Rules are also required to regulate market concentration and establish the right of countries to protect their agriculture from dumped imports or import surges that would harm their own agricultural production.

To achieve this the negotiation process must become more democratic, it being almost impossible to reach a good agreement through bad process. WTO negotiations go on allowing only a handful of countries to reach an agreement, leaving the full governing body only a short time to consent to a done deal. The Doha Round is typical of this approach.

For the sake of millions of people we cannot allow another bad agreement. It is high time for an objective assessment of whether WTO rules have benefited people, or merely boosted cross-border trade statistics. It is time to frame policies that discipline all sources of market distortion and to measure success against the imperative of meeting internationally agreed development benchmarks. Only such an agreement will help achieve the MDGs and reduce poverty.

The Millennium Development Goals establish a global partnership to improve the lives of the world’s poor. This includes an open, rule-based, predictable, non-discriminatory trading and financial system as an essential goal. Can trade be a tool for development? In many cases current trade rules do not contribute to sustainable development. In agriculture, most relevant to developing countries, trade is heavily distorted by artificially cheap world prices. Developing countries have few tools to protect themselves from these distortions. Furthermore the current system of trade rules is far from being a predictable, consistent system. Among the main sources of inconsistency are the many bilateral and regional agreements setting different trade rules for different countries. The number of these agreements has dramatically increased since the start of the World Trade Organisation.
By Alexandra Strickner and Sophia Murphy, Institute for Agriculture and Trade Policy – Geneva Office

The major trading partners of the developed world – the United States and the European Union among others - negotiate bilateral trade agreements almost every week, while at the same time pretending to negotiate pro-development multilateral trade rules at the WTO as part of the Doha Development Round. Even for the current round of negotiations at the WTO – in particular in agriculture – but also other areas of negotiations such as services and industrial products - the proposed rules are mainly designed to further open markets, despite the damage this approach has wrought over the last 10 years. What is necessary is more detailed analysis and debate on which rules are needed to improve the lives of people in poor countries.

Global trade in agricultural produce is a mess. The mix of national policies and multilateral rules has contributed to plunging commodity prices. Farmers around the world – particularly family farmers - have been forced off their land because they can no longer make a living. Trade policy refugees from rural areas flood cities without enough jobs or housing. Every international institution, from the UN and its agencies to the WTO itself, blames the agricultural trade practices of rich countries for devastating rural communities in developing countries. Yet the same policies have damaged rural communities in developed countries too. Food security – people’s ability to feed themselves and their families with adequate and culturally appropriate food – has suffered everywhere.

international trade

The WTO is the focus of international efforts to solve this problem. No one thinks it can be the only solution, but efforts to reform agriculture in developed countries are firmly rooted there. The debate at the WTO has centred on three aspects of agricultural policy: domestic support, tariffs and export subsidies. Experts declare all three to be damaging to global agriculture and trade rules place restrictions them. But current WTO talks to tighten the rules are in deadlock. The proposals now on the table reflect the domestic politics of WTO members, especially developed countries, and the export interests of multinational agrifood firms which trade in commodities and processed food. WTO negotiators have ignored the economic and social needs of developing countries and poor people. Even if governments at the WTO were miraculously to eliminate all the trade-distorting elements of agricultural policy, world markets would not magically start to improve the welfare of developing countries. WTO efforts fail to target the biggest factor distorting markets, namely dumping, the export of products at prices below their production cost. Worse, the present WTO agricultural agreement, and proposed changes, fail to incorporate binding commitments to comply with fundamental goals such as upholding the human right to food and establishing a resilient rural sector as a basis for economic development. The WTO Agreement on Agriculture has failed rural communities around the world. It also has enhanced environmental degradation by promoting a more industrialised model of agriculture characterised by monoculture, intensive use of herbicides and pesticides, large units for breeding livestock, and heavy dependence on oil needed to ship and transport goods. The successor of the current Agreement on Agriculture, now under negotiation, is set to perpetuate this failure.

A serious attempt to achieve the MDGs would require a change in the overall direction of policies on agriculture, food and trade. International trade rules must be based on an understanding of the root causes and problems in agriculture and trade. International trade rules must include a ban on dumping and new criteria for subsidies, curtailing all subsidies supporting excess production for export. Inventory management needs to be introduced for key crops that are deliberately traded with the sole aim of increasing the price of commodities. Rules are also required to regulate market concentration and establish the right of countries to protect their agriculture from dumped imports or import surges that would harm their own agricultural

The Doha Round is the latest round of trade negotiations among the WTO membership. Its aim is to achieve major reform of the international trading system through the introduction of lower trade barriers and revised trade rules. The work programme covers about 20 areas of trade. The Round is also known semi-officially as the Doha Development Agenda as a fundamental objective is to improve the trading prospects of developing countries.

The Round was officially launched at the WTO’s Fourth Ministerial Conference in Doha, Qatar, in November 2001. The Doha Ministerial Declaration provided the mandate for the negotiations, including on agriculture, services and an intellectual property topic, which began earlier.

In Doha, ministers also approved a decision on how to address the problems developing countries face in implementing the current WTO agreements.

production.This article addresses an important and complex subject relating to the link between international law and economic development. There is broad agreement that trade liberalization and participation in foreign markets play an important role in economic development. Countries in Sub-Saharan Africa (SSA) have generally pursued a liberalization route over the past two decades, but their economic performance has been deeply disappointing. In this article, we look at seven countries in the Horn of Africa and examine, from legal and institutional perspectives, the central question of why these countries have failed to translate their comparative advantage, particularly in the livestock sector, into meaningful trade-led economic growth. In order to answer this question, we have reviewed the relevant legal and policy instruments and the literature, visited five of the seven countries, and interviewed different players in the livestock value chain. Analysis of the evidence reveals that the main impediments to trade relate to rising sanitary import requirements in foreign markets and weak institutional capacity within the Horn. The limited technical and financial resources available to these countries also reduce their capacity to meet these standards. Meaningful institutional change requires substantial involvement of local actors and it takes place incrementally and over the long-term. International law can play a role in this process by promoting rule of law and tackling corruption, facilitating capacity building, and encouraging regional integration.

To achieve this the negotiation process must become more democratic, it being almost impossible to reach a good agreement through bad process. WTO negotiations go on allowing only a handful of countries to reach an agreement, leaving the full governing body only a short time to consent to a done deal. The Doha Round is typical of this approach.

For the sake of millions of people we cannot allow another bad agreement. It is high time for an objective assessment of whether WTO rules have benefited people, or merely boosted cross-border trade statistics. It is time to frame policies that discipline all sources of market distortion and to measure success against the imperative of meeting internationally agreed development benchmarks. Only such an agreement will help achieve the MDGs and reduce poverty.

The news of Warren Buffet making his biggest bets on the stock market in 2011 this year on August 8th when the S&P 500 Index suffered its most recent plunge also helped in lifting the market spirits worldwide. Warren Buffet, the CEO of Berkshire Hathaway Inc. and one of the famous living investors in the world exact words were, “I like buying on sale.”

Businessweek.com reported that Goldman Sachs Group Inc. said Google’s $12.5 billion purchase of Motorola Mobility may be positive for Asian Android-phone makers as it helps reduce litigation risk. The stocks worldwide are showing signs of recovery after the most recent stock market turmoil that happened on the downgrading of the US debt rating from AAA to AA+ some days back. This downgrading had raised concerns in the global markets about the weakness of US economic recovery.

This volatility in the stock market is confusing a lot of traders and investors around the world. Gold prices are reaching unprecedented heights as most of these nervous traders and investors are running towards the supposed safe haven of gold. Many analysts are of the view that the global economy is in serious trouble. But the most important question is should that change the way you trade or invest?

Chuck Hughes is a stock trader who has been trading for a number of years now. Chuck used to work as an airline pilot when he started stock and options trading in his spare time instead of playing golf. But he is not some ordinary stock trader. He won not one but seven live international trading championships with annual gains as high as 315% over the years. However, the most interesting thing is that he became seven-time international trading champion by remaining agnostic on a host of issues: Whether the stock market is going to go up or whether it is going to go down, whether gold is overpriced or under priced, whether the dollar is in trouble or is going to recover.  This allows Chuck to ignore 99% of what is being written about the markets by analysts and so-called experts. Instead, he focuses on the only thing that matters, and what matters is CASH FLOW – where the money is going!

international trade