Author Archives: andrewfilis

About andrewfilis

http://papers.ssrn.com/sol3/cf_dev/AbsByAuth.cfm?per_id=1382696

food trade – US-China relationship mediated through common WTO membership

The following article highlights the concerns surrounding US China trade relations and the relationship between currency policy and implications for cross-border trade.  Content of article follows as the link is (free) subscription limited: “Two important articles over the weekend and … Continue reading

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investment dispute resolution in a future EU-US free trade agreement

The following link refers to the potential form of the investment dispute provisions to be negotiated in the FTA between the EU and the US. The proposals go further than existing practice (under the New York Convention) to allow the … Continue reading

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an energy security pursued at all costs leads to catastrophic environmental costs – coal power generation on the rise globally

“According to WRI’s estimates, 1,199 new coal-fired plants, with a total installed capacity of 1,401,278 megawatts (MW), are being proposed globally. These projects are spread across 59 countries. China and India together account for 76 percent of the proposed new … Continue reading

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New Russia, Japan Meat Trade Policies Highlight Food Safety Issues

ICTSD article on Japan and Russia measures restricting trade in meat imports that potentially engage WTO norms.

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EU considers duty on US ethanol imports to address dumping

The EU Commission has proposed a duty on US ethanol imports as cheap imports have flooded the EU and muscled out other suppliers – e.g., Brazil’s share of the EU ethanol market dropped from c. 30% to 4.5%! All parties … Continue reading

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stockholding foodstuffs and implications for the WTO system

The following article on ICTSD discusses the issue of stockholding foodstuffs – in terms of the WTO system, a member is obligated under Article XI to eliminate all quantitative restrictions (including export and import restrictions) other than those: contained in … Continue reading

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China marching towards food security

Read this ICTSD article on China’s intention to become grain self-sufficient. The implications for the WTO system is to which extent this policy may engage China’s obligations in relation to its accession to the WTO.

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offshore gas projects in the east mediterranean basin

See the following link about facts & figures around maritime energy resources exploration in the east Mediterranean basin. Although this article contains no legal argument or analysis, the sort of legal issues that it might engage are: the capacity of … Continue reading

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US challenges India’s solar programme restrictions at WTO

This Reuters’ news item relates to the WTO system, its rules on subsidies and gov’t procurement, and to WTO member policies aimed at the promotion of renewable energy.  The Indian state, through state subsidies, encourages the use of domestically produced … Continue reading

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energy security – Australia and China’s energy strategies

Recently published policy papers indicate quite divergent energy strategies for Australia and China. Notable is China’s heavy investment in renewables to shift the composition of its energy mix towards renewables, whilst Australia aspires to become the regional energy provider par … Continue reading

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