World Trade Organization Director-General Lamy in an October 15, 2010 speech to the French Senate asked for a new way to look at trade statistics, noting that the country of origin of goods has gradually become obsolete as various operations, from design to manufacture of components and assembly, have spread across the world.

World Trade Organization Director General Lamy, in October 19, 2010 remarks before the Trade Negotiations Committee, urged members to put the Doha negotiations in a higher gear and warned that the hard-won path towards stability and a trade-led recovery could be put in serious jeopardy by uncooperative currency behavior.

The World Trade Organization has posted a description by the European Union of its import licensing procedures. In the overview, the EU states that its import licensing system is based on the premise that no import licenses are required except where specific products are subject to quantitative restrictions, safeguard measures or import monitoring or surveillance. The EU applies no quantitative restrictions to WTO Members in the industrial sector. There are a number of products subject to EU surveillance. (May have to open source document twice for proper viewing.)

The World Trade Organization has posted a description by Canada of its import licensing procedures. In the overview, Canada states that import licenses are required for goods subject to certain quantitative restrictions; for textiles and apparel goods for which a tariff preference level is sought under NAFTA; or international commitments (e.g. narcotics and endangered species of fauna and flora). (May have to open source document twice for proper viewing.)

The Government of Canada states it took action on October 19, 2010 to protect the health and safety of children by appealing to members of industry to voluntarily stop production, importation and sale of children's jewelery made with the intentional use of cadmium or cadmium-containing materials.

The World Trade Organization's Committee on Customs Valuation has circulated a working document in preparation for the sixteenth annual review of the implementation and operation of the Agreement on Implementation of Article VII of the GATT on November 4, 2010. (May have to open source document twice for proper viewing.)

In the October 19, 2010 edition of the Official Journal of the European Union, the following trade-related notices were posted:

The Canadian government has issued the following releases on October 18, 2010:

The Canadian government has issued the following releases on October 19, 2010:

The first Asia Pacific Economic Cooperation Ministerial meeting on Food Security was held in Nigata, Japan on October 16-17, 2010. Meeting participants adopted the Nigata Declaration on APEC Food Security and an Action Plan, which has food safety components and some trade aspects. Action Plan available here.