At the recent meeting of the United Nations General Assembly Second Committee (Economic and Financial), many speakers underscored the importance of the UN Convention against corruption. One delegate cited corruption, the trade in small arms, human-trafficking, money-laundering and the narcotics trade as part of the “ugly underbelly of globalization and interdependence.”
World Trade Organization Director-General Lamy has stated that the focus of the Third Global Review of Aid for Trade in July 2011 would be a consideration of whether "Aid for Trade" is working. He added that “if the global crisis had made Aid for Trade imperative for developing countries, it has also made the need to show results essential in donor countries.”
The World Trade Organization has announced that at the request of the parties in the dispute on U.S. Certain Country of Origin Labeling (COOL) Requirements (DS384/DS386), the Panel has agreed to open its second substantive meeting with the parties on December 1-2, 2010 with a session open to public viewing at the WTO Headquarters in Geneva.
On October 20, 2010, the European Union published new legislation in the Official Journal that makes it mandatory to create a European rail network for competitive freight based on international freight corridors. The EU states that this will enable the creation of nine rail freight corridors linking the main industrial regions of Europe.
The European Commission has posted an overview of the Anti-Counterfeiting Trade Agreement (ACTA). According to the EC, ACTA contains state of the art provisions on: civil measures, criminal measures, customs measures, Internet enforcement measures, robust cooperation mechanisms among ACTA Parties, and best practices for effective IPR enforcement.
The World Customs Organization has announced that it will be holding the Connecting the World through Efficient Supply Chains - Smart Customs Enforcement, International Harmonization and Security Cooperation Conference on November 5, 2010 at its Headquarters in Brussels.
In its latest East and Pacific Economic Update, the World Bank reported on October 19, 2010 that China needs to make further progress in rebalancing its economy as it prepares for its next five-year development plan. The report adds that China's economic outlook remains "favorable" despite subdued expansion in its main export markets, which warrants the further normalization of its policy stance.
The World Trade Organization has issued a package of new data, including the 2010 edition of its annual International Trade Statistics, updates of the World Tariff Profiles, Trade Profiles, and new pages allowing users to map trade data.
Mexico's Diario Oficial of October 20, 2010 lists a notice from the Secretary of the Economy as follows:
The Chinese government has issued a press release announcing that China will launch a new national campaign to crack down on violations of intellectual property rights and on the production and distribution of fake and shoddy products. The campaign will last for half a year, beginning from the end of October.