More Trade News in Brief – Week 7 (11 – 17 February 2013)

 

* OECD – International Tax System

 

The Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD) urges stronger international co-operation on corporate tax to avoid different treatment between multinationals and local smaller businesses.

 

The study – Addressing Base Erosion and Profit Shifting (BEPS) – reflects the tax system over the G-20 countries.

 

Check here for more.

 

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 * ICC-Ifo – World Economic Climate

 

The International Chamber of Commerce (ICC) and Ifo Institute published the latest World Economic Survey (WES).

 

For further details check here and here.

 

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* The Global Competitiveness Report 2012–2013

 

The World Economic Forum (WEF) released ”The Global Competitiveness Report 2012–2013”.

 

Please check it here.

 

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More Trade News in Brief – Week 6 (4 – 10 February 2013)

 

* WHO, WIPO, WTO – Medical Technologies and Innovation

 

5 February 2013

 

The World Health Organization (WHO), World Intellectual Property Organization (WIPO) and World Trade Organization (WTO) released the “Promoting Access to Medical Technologies and Innovation: Intersections between Public Health, Intellectual Property and Trade”.

 

Find more about this study here.

 

                                       

  

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* Turkey – Mauritius Signed FTA

 

7 February 2013

 

Turkey and Mauritius signed a free trade agreement (FTA). Check here.

 

Read more about the Turkey’s FTA’s here.

 

New International Services Trade Agreement (ISA)

 

A group of 20 trading partners – the US, Canada, the European Union, Norway, Switzerland, Australia, New Zealand, Hong Kong, South Korea, Japan, Singapore, Taiwan, Mexico, Chile, Colombia, Peru, Costa Rica, Israel, Pakistan and Turkey – will start soon negotiations on a new International Services Agreement (ISA).

 

Please find more information following the next link.

 

Global Wage Report 2012-13

 

 

The new report entitled “Global Wage Report 2012/13: Wages and Equitable Growth”  from International Labor  Organization (ILO) includes global and regional wage trends and statistics, as well as policy recommendations.

 

Enjoy optimal reading experience of the Global Wage Report with any of these formats:

1. Full report (printable PDF)
2. Summary (PDF)
3. EPUB (2.5 MB, for all eReaders)
4. Enhanced EPUB (with embedded videos, 77 MB, for eReaders supporting EPUB3)

More Trade News in Brief – Week 51 (17 – 23 December 2012)

 

* EU & Singapore Concluded FTA

 

The European Commission & Singapore have concluded the negotiations for a free trade agreement (FTA).

 

Check here.

 

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* US to Modernize Its Customs

 

US introduced the Customs Trade Facilitation and Enforcement Act of 2012. The bill’s aim is to modernize the United States Bureau of Customs and Border Protection (CBP) and boost the enforcement of trade laws governing import duties.

 

For more follow the link.

 

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* Andorra’s Tax Reforms

 

The tax heaven small country Andorra announced the implementation of “courageous” reforms in order to construct a completely new tax system.

 

More here.

 

EU & Shipping Industry

* European Commission Proposed a New Framework for Marine Equipment

 

 The European Commission adopted a proposal for a new directive on marine equipment (the “MED”).

 

The Commission has proposed a revision of the Directive on marine equipment to ensure an harmonised application of the International Maritime Organisation (IMO) standards.

 

The proposal has two general objectives:
– to enhance the implementation and enforcement mechanisms of the MED, and
– to simplify the regulatory environment.

 

For more information, check here and here.

 

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* New Rules on Cleaner Fuels for Shipping

 

On 17 December 2012 entered in force the new EU environmental rules on marine fuels.

 

Check for more here.

 

More Trade News in Brief – Week 50 (10 – 16 December 2012)

 

* Austria & Chile Signed DTA

 

A bilateral double taxation agreement (DTA) has been signed between Austria and Chile.

 

Kindly read more here.

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* Nordic Nations Extended Their Network of TIEAs

 

The Nordic group of territories (Sweden, Denmark, Norway, Finland, Iceland, Greenland, and the Faroe Islands) has extended their network of TIEAs to 40 after signed a new tax cooperation agreement with Jamaica.

 

More details following the link.

 

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* EU approved New FTAs

 

11 December 2012

 

The EU’s Parliament approved two landmark pacts trade with Colombia, Peru and six countries in Central America (Costa Rica, El Salvador, Guatemala, Honduras, Nicaragua and Panama).

 

Please check here for further details.

 

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* EU-Russia Relations

 

13 December 2012

 

“EU-Russia relations are still suffering from Russia’s failure to embrace democratic values fully and strengthen the rule of law” state the Members of the European Parliament (MEPs).

 

Kindly read more here.

 

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* UN Extends Sanctions on Liberia

 

12 December 2012

 

The UN Security Council  extended the sanctions imposed on Liberia for another year.

 

Follow the link for more information.

 

UNCTAD & WTO Launched the Handbook on Trade Policy Analysis

4 July 2012

 

WTO and UNCTAD’s Virtual Institute co-published the A Practical Guide to Trade Policy Analysis.

 

The publication is a addressed to policymakers, trade economists and development practitioners dealing with international trade and explain the tools and methods commonly used in the analysis of international trade and trade policy.

 

A Practical Guide to Trade Policy Analysis

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

The guide is available on the next link.

“Green Economy Roadmap” from ICC

15 June 2012, Rio de Janeiro

 

The International Chamber of Commerce (ICC) released its “Green Economy Roadmap”, a guide for business, policymakers and society.

The Roadmap contains 10 conditions needed to drive growth in a resource-constrained world divided in 4 groups:

–   Economic innovation

          – Open and competitive markets

          – Metrics, accounting, and reporting

          – Finance and investment

–   Environment innovation

          – Resource efficiency and decoupling

          – Life cycle approach

–   Social innovation

          – Awareness

          – Education and skills

          – Employment

–   Mutually reinforcing and cross-cutting elements

          – Integrated environmental, social and economic policy and decision-making

          – Governance and partnerships

 

The Guide is available here.

Uruguay, the 1st to Ratify ILO Domestic Work Convention

14 June 2012, Geneva

 

Uruguay is the first country to ratify ILO’s standard-setting Convention on Domestic Workers adopted one year ago.

The ILC’s Convention aims to improve the working conditions of worldwide domestic workers.

 

More here.