Financial crisis deepens: will the lessons be learnt?
By Martin Khor
This time it is Cyprus’ turn to face bitter financial crisis as bank depositors get hit and capital controls are imposed. Will the lessons about these crises ever be learnt?
Why Chavez’s legacy will live on
By Martin Khor
The death of Hugo Chavez last week sparked an outpouring of grief in Venezuela and South America, but his legacy will live on in his policies and South-South initiatives.
Poor countries hit by US spending cuts
By Martin Khor
The government spending cuts in the United States as the President and Congress fails to reach a deal will also affect poor developing countries as the aid budget especially for food and medicines is reduced.
Growth in the South: Resilience, Decoupling, Recoupling
By Yilmaz Akyuz
Rapid acceleration of growth in developing countries (DCs) and the widening of their growth gap with advanced economies (AEs) before the outbreak of the global financial crisis were widely interpreted as decoupling of the South from the North. In the early days of the crisis, there were also widespread expectations that growth in the South would be little affected by the difficulties facing AEs. In fact, DCs slowed considerably in 2009 as a result of contraction of exports to AEs and financial contagion. However, they recovered rapidly, with growth rates in 2010-11 matching or exceeding the levels seen before the crisis, while recovery in the US has remained weak and erratic, and Europe has gone into a second dip. This has again revived the decoupling thesis, notwithstanding the sharp slowdown in many major DCs over the course of the current year.
Resolving Debt Crises: How a Debt Resolution Mechanism Would Work
By Martin Khor
More countries are facing a debt crisis, and the world urgently needs an international system of debt arbitration and restructuring. This article describes the elements needed in such a system.
India prepares to supply free generic medicines
By Zofeen Ebrahim
As the northern Indian state of Rajasthan rolls out an ambitious universal healthcare plan, the discontent of the state’s doctors stands in stark contrast to the joys of the 68 million people who will benefit from the scheme.
LDCs seek exemption from WTO TRIPS agreement
By Kanaga Raja
The Least Developed Countries (LDCs) have submitted a “duly motivated” request to the WTO TRIPS Council for an extension of the transition period for them to comply with the TRIPS Agreement “for as long as the WTO Member remains a least developed country”.
A proposed draft decision annexed to their request states that: “Least developed country Members shall not be required to apply the provisions of the Agreement, other than Articles 3, 4 and 5, until they cease to be a least developed country Member.”
LDCs seek exemption from WTO TRIPS agreement
By Mariama Williams
The Least Developed Countries (LDCs) have submitted a “duly motivated” request to the WTO TRIPS Council for an extension of the transition period for them to comply with the TRIPS Agreement “for as long as the WTO Member remains a least developed country”.
A proposed draft decision annexed to their request states that: “Least developed country Members shall not be required to apply the provisions of the Agreement, other than Articles 3, 4 and 5, until they cease to be a least developed country Member.”
Challenges posed by BITs to developing countries
By Mariama Williams
Bilateral investment treaties pose many challenges to developing countries, and initiatives are underway to move towards a new framework. This message is contained in a closing speech by Mariama Williams on behalf of the South Centre at the 6th Annual Investment Forum for Developing Country Negotiators, Port of Spain, Trinidad and Tobago, 29-31 October 2012, which was co- organised by the South Centre.
Hazards in Bilateral Investment Treaties (BITs): Investors’ rights v. public health
By Carlos Correa
An arbitral tribunal is expected to issue soon a decision on jurisdictional matters in a case brought by Philip Morris against the government of Uruguay. The claim, based on a bilateral investment treaty (BIT) between that country and Switzerland, challenges packaging and labeling requirements for cigarettes adopted by Uruguay to reduce tobacco’s consumption.
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South Africa’s review and new policy on BITs
By Xavier Carim
Below is a speech on “A South African Perspective on International Investment Agreements” by Xavier Carim, Deputy Director General, Department of Trade and Industry, South Africa at the WTO Public Forum, 25 September 2012, Geneva.
Unhappy first week at COP18; uncertainty over the final outcome
By Martin Khor
A big battle is taking place at the UN climate conference in Doha. In the first week of the two-week meeting, the developed countries have made it clear they want to close down the working group that has been the main negotiating forum on climate change actions without its having completed its work.
