HEALTH: Global Campaign Vows to Fight MNC Drug Monopoly

Public health and HIV/AIDS activists from the developing world are seeking to break the monopoly over drugs held by pharmaceutical giants through a new global campaign designed to influence international debate over the issue.

COMMONWEALTH: "Get Rid of Your Agricultural Subsidies" – McKinnon

The political crisis in Pakistan and global trade negotiations are amongst issues set to dominate the Commonwealth Heads of Government Meeting (CHOGM) that starts Friday in the Ugandan capital, Kampala.

KYRGYZSTAN: Okays Ukraine Entry to WTO

With an eye on admission into the World Trade Organisation (WTO), Ukraine has repaid 27.3 million dollars owed to Kyrgyzstan as outstanding ‘state debt’ incurred in the years up to the collapse of the Soviet Union in 1991.

EUROPE: Trade Rope Around Mediterranean Nears

Judging by some of their statements lately, European Union officials are hoping to chalk up a new entry in the Guinness Book of Records: the creation of the world's largest free trade area.

TRADE: Developing Countries Close Ranks

Governments of poor countries in the World Trade Organisation (WTO) made a show of unity the day after the sixth anniversary of the start of the Doha Round of multilateral trade talks.

SOUTH PACIFIC: Australia Unchallenged by Chequebook Diplomacy

Despite the expanded involvement of a number of different powers in the South Pacific - exemplified by the European Union’s recently increased aid commitment - observers say that Australia remains the region’s dominant player.

DEVELOPMENT: Millennium Goals Are Possible

The world’s poorest countries, even those of sub-Saharan Africa, are ‘’approaching’’ the Millennium Development Goals, the new Trade and Development Index (TDI) indicates.

TRADE-MEXICO: Competition With China – If You Can’t Beat It, Join It

China has beaten Mexico hands down in terms of trade in the past few years, and may do even better after December, when a "peace clause" expires.

TRADE: EU May Have To Cut Ambitions

Just two months before a deadline set by the European Union for signing all-embracing free trade accords with some of the world's poorest countries, the EU has admitted that it will have to reduce its ambition.

Q&A: &#39Caribbean Closer to Deal With Europe, But Not There&#39

Caribbean countries have said they are committed to finalising Economic Partnership Agreements (EPAs) with the European Union by the year-end, even though a number of hurdles remain. These pertain to the "already severe social, economic and fiscal dislocations to these small and vulnerable economies by the ongoing phasing out of preferences," says Colin Granderson, assistant secretary-general of the Caribbean Community (Caricom).

TRADE: EU Talks Tough with the Poor

The European Union's top trade official has refused to accept African demands that he grant them lengthy transition periods for removing restrictions on imports under a new market opening deal.

DEVELOPMENT: Subsidies Dip a Little, But Nowhere Near Decline

Rich countries have failed to carry out reform of their domestic farm subsidies programmes to reduce distortions in global trade, says a senior official of the Paris-based Organisation for Economic Cooperation and Development (OECD), a grouping of 30 wealthy nations.

DEVELOPMENT: IBSA Summit a “Political Endorsement” for Future Plans

A slew of co-operation agreements emerged from the second IBSA (India, Brazil and South Africa) summit in Pretoria, South Africa, this week.

EUROPE: Treaty Tinkered With, Not Amended

Bleary-eyed European Union leaders agreed a 'reform treaty' for the 27-country bloc after a working dinner in Lisbon continued until the early hours of the morning Oct. 19. Yet despite suggestions that governments like those of Poland and Britain had driven a hard bargain, sizeable chunks of the text they signed up to are identical to the EU constitution rejected by French and Dutch voters in 2005.

TRADE: &#39EU Undermining Agriculture in Africa&#39

Europe is undermining its own efforts to strengthen African agriculture by foisting free trade on the continent, a Ghanaian farm leader has complained.

DEVELOPMENT: India, Brazil, South Africa – the Power of Three

Brazil, India and South Africa will intensify their campaign for permanent seats on the United Nations Security Council when their leaders meet in the South African capital, Pretoria, on Oct. 17. President Luiz Inácio da Silva of Brazil, President Thabo Mbeki of South Africa and Indian Prime Minister Manmohan Singh will discuss U.N. reforms and other issues of common interest at the second IBSA (India, Brazil, South Africa) summit later this week.

TRADE: South Africa Won&#39t &#39&#39Roll Over&#39&#39 on Singapore Issues

The European Union (EU) needs to downscale its ambition to include the so-called ‘‘new generation’’ or Singapore issues in the economic partnership agreement (EPA) with southern African countries before the end of the year, says South Africa’s deputy minister of trade and industry, Dr Rob Davies.

TRADE: Development Underlined in Doha Talks

Developing countries say they are committed to conclude the languishing Doha round of trade negotiations only on the basis of the "developmental" goals enshrined in the mandate, warning that they will not be cowed down by renewed efforts by the United States to shift the blame for raising constructive proposals.

TRADE: EU Deals With Africa Could Violate Rights

Opening up trade between the European Union and Africa risks violating basic human rights, according to campaigners.

LABOUR-MALAYSIA: Flawed Policy Results in Flood of Migrant Workers

As thousands of migrant workers from Bangladesh stranded at the international airport here await deportation questions are being asked about Malaysia’s migrant worker policies and the dubious role of employment agencies.

TRADE-EU: World Bank Asks For More Time on EPAs

Senior World Bank staff have asked the European Union to consider extending the end-of-year deadline it has set for a series of free trade agreements with Africa.