More Trade News in Brief Week 12 (16 – 22 March 2015)

* Switzerland, EU Ink New Savings Tax Pact

Switzerland and the European Union (EU) have initialled an agreement on the automatic exchange of tax information (AEOI). Account data will be collected from 2017, with the first exchange scheduled for 2018.

See more clicking here.

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* EU: Combatting Corporate Tax Avoidance

The European Commission presented a package of tax transparency measures as part of its ambitious agenda to tackle corporate tax avoidance and harmful tax competition in the EU. A key element of this Tax Transparency Package is a proposal to introduce the automatic exchange of information between Member States on their tax rulings

Read more here.

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* China and US Telecoms Giants Lead Global Patent Activity in 2014

According to the UN World Intellectual Property Organization (WIPO) annual review of international patent filings, a leading Chinese telecoms giant overtook a Japanese firm as the largest applicant last year, and China and the US together accounted for 87 per cent of the total growth in filings under WIPO’s Patent Cooperation Treaty (PCT).

Under that system, some 215,000 applications were filed in 2014, a 4.5 per cent increase over the previous year, WIPO said in a news release.

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* WTO: Assistance in Food Safety, Animal and Plant Health

Five agencies and their partners operating a programme to help developing countries meet international standards on food safety and animal and plant health have approved plans for 2015–2019 designed to further strengthen safe trade.

The decision will allow the Standards and Trade Development Facility (STDF) to continue to provide assistance to developing countries,

The STDF was set up in 2004 by the UN Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO), World Organization for Animal Health (OIE), World Bank, World Health Organization (WHO) and World Trade Organization (WTO), and is run by the five partners together with donor countries and representatives of developing countries.

Check here and here for more.

 

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More Trade News in Brief Week 51 (15 – 21 Dicember 2014)

* US and Cuba to Normalize Relations

The leaders of the United States and Cuba agreed to restore full diplomatic relations between the two countries.

Check here for more.

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* Russia to Launch Alternative to SWIFT Bank Transaction System

Russia plans to launch its own international inter-bank system by May 2015. The national payment system department of the Central Bank of Russia (CBR) will be in charge of the new project.

Find more here.

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 * The 2014 edition of the World Intellectual Property Indicators

WIPO’s World Intellectual Property Indicators 2014 provides a wide range of indicators covering the following areas of intellectual property: patents, utility models, trademarks, industrial designs, microorganisms and plant variety protection.

It draws on data from national and regional IP offices, WIPO and the World Bank.

Download the full report.

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* World Economic Situation and Prospects 2015 (WESP) Report

The UN World Economic Situation and Prospects 2015 (WESP) report, which was launched today, estimates growth in 2015 of 3.1 per cent and in 2016 of 3.3 per cent.

Read more about it here.

 

News from ICC

 

* Revised ICC Statement Advises Against Exit Taxes Regimes

 

The International Chamber of Commerce (ICC) has issued a revised policy statement acknowledging recent developments in the international taxation landscape.

 

More about ‘Exit taxes: Serious obstacles for international business restructurings and movements of capital’ here.

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* New Global Innovation Index

 

ICC launched the 7th edition Global Innovation Index 2014 (GII).

 

New Global Innovation Index recognizes innovation as a driver of economic growth, read more here.

 

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* Guide on Effective Management of Arbitration

 

The ICC guide “Effective Management of Arbitration: A Guide for In-House Counsel and Other Party Representatives” provides a practical toolkit for in-house counsel all around the world.

 

Check here for more.

More Trade News in Brief Week 16 (14 – 20 April 2014)

* Trade developments in 2013-2015

 

WTO published a work paper on the state of the world economy and trade in 2013 and previsions for 2014-2015.

 

 Download this press release.

 

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* ISO’s 2013 Annual Report

 

International Organization for Standardization (ISO) published its 2013 report including themes like: financial statements, ISO key figures for 2013, an updated interactive map featuring our members and their participation in technical work and a fold-out leaflet.

 

 

Discover ISO’s Annual Report 2013.

 

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* Malta & Moldova Sign DTA

 

Malta and Moldova sign a dual taxation treaty (DTT).

 

Click here more.

 

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* Belgium: FATCA Deal With US

 

Belgium and the US will sign an intergovernmental agreement (IGA) in Brussels on April 23 for the implementation of the US Foreign Account Tax Compliance Act (FATCA).

 

See more about following the link.

 

More Trade News in Brief Week 8 (17 – 23 February 2014)

 

* Barbados and US Started FATCA Talks

 

Barbados and US have agreed to start negotiations with respect to an Inter-Governmental Agreement (IGA) that will give effect in Barbados to the provisions of the Foreign Account Tax Compliance Act (FATCA).

 

See more about here.

 

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* Guernsey & Seychelles Sign DTA

 

Guernsey and Seychelles signed a double taxation agreement (DTA) between their countries.

 

See more details here.

 

More Trade News in Brief Week 44 (28 October – 3 November 2013)

 

* EU Extend Sanctions to Belarus

 

The European Union has extended its sanctions against Belarus by another 12 months.

 

Check here for more.

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* Global Investment Trends Monitor

 

UNCTAD published the Global Investment Trends Monitor.

 

Check for findings and details here.

 

More Trade News in Brief Week 42 (14 – 20 October 2013)

 

* Latvia – OECD Membership

 

The 34 OECD Members have approved a Roadmap to accession for Latvia.

 

Check here for more.

 

 

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* Switzerland Signs Multilateral Convention on Tax Matters

 

Switzerland has become the 58^th country to sign the Multilateral Convention on Mutual Administrative Assistance in Tax Matters.

 

Follow the link for more.

 

 

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* Isle Of Man First To Sign UK FATCA-Style Agreement

 

The Isle of Man signed an agreement with the United Kingdom extending the automatic disclosure of tax information.

 

Read more here.

 

More Trade News in Brief Week 41 (7 – 13 October 2013)

 

* ICC – Drafting and Negotiating

 

ICC has published a practical guide to drafting and negotiating international commercial contracts.

 

Kindly follow the link for more.

 

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* Gambia Pulls Out of Commonwealth

 

Gambia has withdrawn from the British Commonwealth.

 

Please check here.

 

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* Revised ISO/IEC 27001

 

ISO published the revised standard of information security management system ISO/IEC 27001.

 

Kindly check here and here for more details.

 

 

More Trade News in Brief Week 26 (24 – 30 June 2013)

 

* Croatia – Welcomed to EU

 

On Monday 1 July Croatia will become the 28th Member State of the European Union.

 

For more information:

 

– Institutional and administrative aspects of Croatia’s EU accession MEMO/13/593

 

– Croatia’s EU accession – Q&A MEMO/13/629

 

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* 2012 Annual Review of GSP System

 

US announced today the outcome of the 2012 Annual Review under the Generalized System of Preferences (GSP) program.

 

Check here.

 

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* World Investment Report 2013

 

UNCTAD published its 2013 World Investment Report with the latest trends in foreign direct investment (FDI).

 

Download  World Investment Report 2013

 

Read more here.

 

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* Norway the First to Sign the Hong Kong Ship Recycling Treaty

 

The Kingdom of Norway became the first contracting State to the Hong Kong International Convention for the Safe and Environmentally Sound Recycling of Ships (2009).

 

Please follow the link.

 

More Trade News in Brief Week 24 (11 – 16 June 2013)

 

* Israel & Columbia Signed FTA

 

10 June 2013, Jerusalem

 

Israel and Columbia signed a free trade agreement (FTA).

 

Read more here.

 

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* New EU Open Data Rules

 

13 June 2013, Brussels

 

The EU’s Parliament adopted the updated EU rules on the re-use of public sector information.

 

The aim of the rules is to make it easier for businesses to obtain access and permission to re-use government-held information.

 

Check here for more.

 

 

Open Data website.

 

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* Investor Education Gateway

 

 4 June 2013, Madrid

 

IOSCO revealed its new website feature – the Investor Education Gateway.

 

 This online tool is an education initiative and aims to enhance the sharing of investor education information.

 

Check here the new initiative.

 

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* A Common European Asylum System

 

12 June 2013, Strasbourg

 

EU adopted updated rules on asylum applications; these include common procedures, the creation of a basic set or rights for asylum seekers arriving in the EU and a proposal to stop transfers to member states struggling to cope with the number of asylum seekers and related responsibilities.

 

Kindle read the press release here.

 

DG Home Affairs website.