More Trade News in Brief Week 20 (12 – 18 May 2014)

 

* China – Extra Free Trade Zones (FTZ)

 

China will set up a number of new free trade zones to boost foreign trade growth and increase the use of the renminbi.

 

See more here.

 

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* The World’s Biggest Public Companies

 

The Forbes magazine released the 2014 Global 2000. For the first time, China is home to the world’s three biggest companies; it also lands five of the top 10 spots.

 

Check here The 2014 Global 2000.

 

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* 2014 ICT Figures

 

International Telecommunication Union (ITU) released 2014 ICT figures, please check for some of the most important findings:

 

* fixed-telephone subscriptions continue to decline

* mobile-cellular subscriptions to hit nearly 7 billion

* growth in fixed-broadband penetration slowing in developing countries

* mobile-broadband subscriptions will reach 2.3 billion globally

* home internet access approaches saturation levels in developed countries

* three billion people will use the Internet by end of 2014

 

The latest ITU statistics are available here.

 

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* ICAO 2013 Annual Safety Report

 

The International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO) released its annual Safety Report for 2013, reflecting very positive global aviation safety outcomes.

 

Read more here and download The ICAO 2014 Safety Report.

 

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News from World Health Organization

 

* Large Gains in Life Expectancy

 

People everywhere are living longer, according to the “World Health Statistics 2014”.

 

Read the press release on the “World Health Statistics 2014”.

 

World Health Statistics 2014.

 

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* Global Status Report on Alcohol and Health

 

Worldwide, 3.3 million deaths in 2012 were due to harmful use of alcohol, says a new report launched by WHO.

Alcohol consumption also increases people’s risk of developing more than 200 diseases and, in addition, harmful drinking can lead to violence and injuries.

 

Read the press release on the global alcohol report.

 

Global status report on alcohol and health 2014.

 

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* Health for the World’s Adolescents

 

WHO’s “Health for the world’s adolescents” report reveals that depression is the predominant cause of illness and disability for both boys and girls aged 10 to 19 years.

The top 3 causes of adolescent deaths globally are road traffic injuries, HIV/AIDS, and suicide.

 

Read the press release on adolescent health.

 

Read the “Health for the world’s adolescents” report.

 

More Trade News in Brief Week 19 (5 – 11 May 2014)

 

* ICC – Guide to International Franchising

 

The International Chamber of Commerce (ICC) has published a practical guide to help business people understand why, how and when to use franchising to expand into new foreign markets.

 

Check the “Using Franchising to Take Your Business International: ICC Strategies and guidance for master franchising, area development and other arrangements”.

 

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* US & Singapore – FATCA Agreement

 

United States and Singapore have initialled the text of an intergovernmental agreement (IGA) to implement the Foreign Account Tax Compliance Act (FATCA).

 

Check here for more.

 

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* EU & Japan – FTA by 2015

 

The European Union (EU) and Japan agreed to a one-year review that should lead to the “early conclusion of a highly comprehensive and ambitious” free trade agreement (FTA).

 

Read more here.

 

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* US & Israel – Reach FATCA Agreement

 

United States and Israel have concluded the text of an intergovernmental agreement (IGA) to implement the Foreign Account Tax Compliance Act (FATCA).

 

See more following the link.

 

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* USTR Releases Annual Report on Intellectual Property Rights

 

The Office of the United States Trade Representative (USTR) has released its annual “Special 301” Report on the adequacy and effectiveness of U.S. trading partners’ protection and enforcement of intellectual property rights (IPR). 

 

Find the Press Release here.

 

News from OECD

 

* OECD – Climate Deal for 2015

 

All the OECD’s member countries confirmed their desire to work towards a deal on combating climate change.

 

Full OECD Ministerial Statement on Climate Change here.

 

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* OECD – Single Global Tax Exchange Standard

 

The OECD’s 34 member countries endorsed the implementation of a new single global standard on automatic exchange of information.

 

Read the Declaration on Automatic Exchange of Information in Tax Matters.

 

 

News from EU

 

* Stronger Rules to Defend the EU’s Rights under Trade Agreements

 

The new legal framework will allow for a more effective EU response to illegal measures taken by its trading partners.

 

Read the Press Release.

 

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* EU’s first ‘Partnership Agreement’ for Growth and Jobs in 2014-2020

 

The European Commission has adopted the first of 28 “Partnership Agreements” that set down the strategies in EU member states and regions for European Structural and Investment Funds.

 

Check here for more.

 

 

News from OECD

 

* OECD – Economic Outlook

 

OECD published its last Economic Outlook: global economy strengthening but significant risks remain.

 

Check the OECD’s latest Economic Outlook.

 

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* OECD – Services Trade Restrictiveness Index

 

The OECD’s new Services Trade Restrictiveness Index (STRI) provides a unique and comprehensive snapshot of services trade restrictions across 18 sectors in 40 leading economies, representing over 80% of global services trade.

 

Read more about Services Trade Restrictiveness Index (STRI).

 

WHO’s Urban Air Quality Database

 

According to WHO database, about half of the urban population is exposed to air pollution that is at least 2.5 times higher than the recommended levels.

 

Read the press release on deteriorating air quality.

 

View the database on the quality of air in cities.

FAO – Agriculture’s Greenhouse Gas Emissions

 

For the first time FAO has released its own global estimates of greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions from agriculture, forestry and other land use (AFOLU), contributing to the Fifth Assessment Report of the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC).

 

New FAO estimates of greenhouse gas data show that emissions from agriculture, forestry and fisheries have nearly doubled over the past fifty years and could increase an additional 30 percent by 2050.

 

Check here and here for more.

More Trade News in Brief Week 17 (21 – 27 April 2014)

 

* G5 Agree Deadline for Automatic Info Exchange

 

The G5 has agreed to formally ink a new deal on a global standard for the automatic exchange of tax information.

 

Check here for more.

 

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* US and Australia Inked IGA

 

The United States and Australia signed an intergovernmental agreement (IGA) to implement the Foreign Account Tax Compliance Act (FATCA).

 

Find more following the link.

 

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* Bahrain Implements ATA Carnet System

 

Bahrain is the 74th country in the world to adopt the ATA system.

 

Read more here.