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Simon Lester

WTO Rules and Free Speech

This will be a fun case to watch if it goes anywhere: The California First Amendment Coalition (CFAC), a free speech and government transparency group, has launched an initiative to use international trade laws to force the government of China to end its censorship of the Internet and to remove

More Reaction to the Draft Rules Text

For those in DC: THE AMBASSADOR'S DART BOARD: Responses to the Doha "Rules" Paper Published by Chairman Guillermo Valles Galmés Thursday, December 13, 2007 8:30 – 10:30 A.M. (Registration opens at 8:00 a.m.) The National Press Club 529 14th Street, NW, 13th

International Tribunals Don't Like Zeroing

It's not just the WTO. Last week, a NAFTA Chapter 19 tribunal that was considering a Department of Commerce AD ruling found zeroing to be impermissible: In sum, on the issue of the permissibility of zeroing, the Panel remands the matter back to Commerce to re-calculate Mittal’

The Zeroing Negotiations: U.S. Industry Reaction

When I read Brazil's reaction to the draft rules on zeroing, and then I come across the following reaction from a U.S. industry group, I start to wonder how a deal will ever get done: The Committee to Support U.S. Trade Laws ("CSUSTL") expressed

Postscript on the Appellate Body Appointments

What Chinese Appellate Body appointee Zhang Yuejiao had to say: "I will do my best with unwavering impartiality," Zhang said Thursday. She will take her seat in June in the seven-member Appellate Body, which issues final rulings in trade disputes. "You can rest assured that I

More Gambling 22.6 Arbitration Documents

The Antigua legal team's gambling dispute web site has a few recently added documents related to the Article 22.6 arbitration. I don't have time to go through them right now -- I'm still trying to sort through the recent AB reports -- to see if

Is There A Chinese Ban On American Films?

Variety reports: In its most drastic measure ever against Hollywood, Chinese authorities have banned the release of American pics for at least three months. Ban began Saturday and will continue until the end of February at least, but Chinese sources say it could continue until May. Central-government order came

The Zeroing Negotiations: Brazil's Reaction to the Draft Texts

Brazil is not happy with the draft text on zeroing: [Brazilian Foreign Ministry trade chief Roberto Azevedo] also slammed a new proposal released last week by the WTO's leading rules negotiator, Guillermo Valles Galmez of Uruguay. He said his silence until Tuesday was "one of the symptoms

Mitt Romney on the WTO

Mitt Romney on the WTO: I realize that with the [World Trade Organization] there are many features that are not advantageous to us. It doesn't deal with manipulation of currencies as it should. It doesn't deal with protection of intellectual property as it should. We'

The Real World Impact of WTO Rulings: Chiquita

Reuters reports: Shares of banana importer Chiquita Brands International Inc jumped over 9 percent on Tuesday on reports a World Trade Organization panel has ruled in favor of Ecuador in a challenge to the EU's banana tariff policy. Oppenheimer analyst Barry Sine said in a note to clients