From a recent TBT Committee meeting: Tobacco: Australia’s plain packaging This issue attracted the most attention in this meeting even though it had already been discussed at length in the June meeting. Because it affects trademarks it has also been discussed in the Council for Trade Related Aspects of

I have had long doubts as to whether the proposed Trans Pacific Partnership (TPP) will ever be completed.  Too many countries, too many issues.  With Japan now talking about joining, I'm even more skeptical.  But hey, what do I know?  Let me ask others what they think with

From the International Economic Law Interest Group (IEcLIG) of American Society of International Law (ASIL) and Suffolk University School of Law: Post - Crisis International Financial Regulation: Fragmentation, Harmonization and Coordination December 2, 2011 Suffolk University  School of Law 8:30-9:00 Continental Breakfast 9:00-9:15 General Introduction:

From the WTO announcement: Russia’s accession to the WTO cleared a major hurdle when the WTO Working Party on its accession approved, ad referendum on 10 November 2011, the package spelling out Russia’s terms of entry to the organization. The Working Party will now send its accession recommendation

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