Xinhuanet.com reports that the World Trade Organization's biennial review of China's trade policies alleges that China may be giving its manufacturers an unfair advantage by restricting exports of some raw materials. China uses restrictions such as prohibitions, licensing, quotas and partial tax rebates to manage exports of certain resources.
The European Union has posted its responses to questions posed by the World Trade Organization arbitrator examining the dispute U.S. - Laws, Regulations and Methodology for Calculating Dumping Margins ("zeroing", DS 294) on the parties' interpretation of the terms "trade effects" and "lost trade."
The Center for Environmental Health has announced a nearly $1.7 million legal agreement with more than 40 major retailers and vendors, including Macy’s, Sears/Kmart, Target, Kohl’s, JC Penney, Guess, Victoria’s Secret, and Saks, that will end lead threats in handbags, purses, wallets and other accessories sold in stores nationwide.
The World Trade Organization reports that the value of global trade in goods was around 25% higher in the first three months of 2010 than in the same period of 2009. Using the same “year-on-year” quarterly comparisons, global exports rose by 27%, while imports rose slightly less, at 24%.
On June 1, 2010, Israel formally joined the United Nations-backed international system (Madrid Protocol) which offers trademark owners a cost-effective and easy to access means of protecting and managing their brand names and logos internationally. The Madrid Protocol will become operational in Israel on September 1, 2010.
The European Commission has launched a broad public consultation on the future direction of EU trade policy. The consultation will run from June 2, 2010 to July 28, 2010 and is open to all stakeholders within the EU and in third countries. The EC intends to issue its new policy in the Fall of 2010.
The 18th Association of Southeast Asian Nations-European Union Ministerial Meeting wrapped up on May 26, 2010 in Madrid, and agreed upon a new indicative list of activities for 2011-2012 to further implement the Phnom Penh Agenda, an action programme for closer ties between ASEAN and the EU which was agreed at last year’s meeting.