From a recent USDA Federal Register notice, here's a new regulation that attempts to promote the fresh cut Christmas tree industry: This rule establishes an industry- funded promotion, research, and information program for fresh cut Christmas trees. The Christmas Tree Promotion, Research, and Information Order (Order), was submitted

For those following the various aspects of the legality of domestic tobacco labelling restrictions under international economic law, this U.S. court decision (reported by the AP) may be of interest: A judge on Monday blocked a federal requirement that would have begun forcing tobacco companies next year to put

There are many people who think that intent (or aim or motive or purpose or policy justification, or whatever you want to call it) should not be part of the National Treatment obligation.  For these people, such issues are better left to exception provisions, such as GATT Article XX. But

In the course of writing a paper recently, I developed an idea that I would like to test in the epistemic community. It is to do with the definitions of  internal measures under Article III:4 and enforcement measures under the Note Ad Art III. Fundamental points, of course, and

Although the WTO is more transparent than the GATT, there is still a great deal of insularity and secrecy.  One recent example are the accession negotiations.  Although there are apparently some negotiations going on regarding the Russian accession, and some brief news items on the WTO website, the most recent

From a recent TRIPS Council meeting: Australia’s plain packaging bill for tobacco products The bill, first discussed in the last meeting, has passed the lower house and is now in the Senate, Australia reported. It is part Australia’s anti-smoking campaign. (See also this Australian government web page,

From the AP: Facebook will build a new server farm on the edge of the Arctic Circle — its first outside the U.S. — that will improve performance for European users of the social networking site, officials said Thursday. ... Facebook didn't give the price of its investment, but Lulea

I feel like much of the talk about the Trans Pacific Partnership (TPP) relates to IP and health issues.  More interesting to me is the proposed (and recently leaked) "regulatory coherence" chapter.  Here's an excerpt: 1. Through its national coordinating body, process or mechanism, each Party,

From customs law blogger Larry Friedman, here is a brief summary of an interesting Section 337 case, Tianrui Group v. International Trade Commission: The underlying issue in this case is interesting for two reasons. First, it relates to trade secrets. Second, it relates to activity occurring entirely in China. The