27 May 2000: news summary:

International Organisations, Agencies & Partnerships:

Also: Various, 20-25/5/00
~ China signs trade agreement in another major step towards WTO entry; EU foreign ministers give backing to China’s entry to WTO but US vote is divided.
Also: ‘China and EU in ‘make or break’ talks‘, FT, 19/5/00
~ Article looks at the issues involved in the China/EU trade talks.
Also: ‘Greed triumphs as EU turns its back on human rights‘, STel, 21/5/00

‘EU seeks quick start to global trade round‘, FT, 25/5/00
~ An early launch to a global trade round before China’s entry may make agreement easier. [Michael Smith]

‘Tories set up commission to reform Commonwealth‘, FT, 23/5/00
~ Tories want a modernised Commonwealth with increased efficiency. (Robert Shrimsley)

‘Taking a lead in the fight against poverty‘, D+C, May/June 2000, pp23-4
~ Implementing the World Bank and IMF’s new strategy, the PRSP, Poverty Reduction Strategy Paper. [Walter Eberlei]

Economic Development

‘Sub-Saharan Africa experiences rapid rise in private capital inflows‘, FT, 19/5/00
~ Independent research claims the last decade saw a large increase of private capital flowing into sub-Saharan Africa.

Aid & Debt

‘Does Aid Do Harm?‘, D+C, May/June 2000, pp25-6
~ Despite huge amounts of aid Africa has been unable to achieve sustainable growth levels; could it be that ‘self-help forces’ have been stifled? (Heinrich Langerbein)

‘Aid contracts to face ethics test‘, IND, 24/5/00
~ Overseas aid contracts are to be subject to ethical criteria.

‘Nation in waiting: Row over delay in debt relief in Uganda‘, G, 22/5/00
~ Jubilee 2000 coalition call for independent arbitration of debt relief process as Paris Club creditors delay decision on Uganda. (Charlotte Denny)

Health

‘Cheaper medicine exposes Africa’s woes‘, FT, 19/5/00
~ Following HIV drug price cuts by major pharmaceuticals further barriers to healthcare in Africa come to the fore.

‘Patent treaty boycott urged‘, FT, 19/5/00
~ A treaty designed to reform patent protection rules could massively increase the price of medicines for Africa. [Francis Williams]

Education

‘Future hopes‘, G, 23/5/00
~ A new report has stressed the importance of universities and their graduates in poor countries for socio-economic development.

Business, Trade & Development

‘Trade groups to form umbrella organisation‘, FT, 24/5/00
~ British Trade International is to coordinate all inward investment and export promotion.

‘Rio rocked by support for ethics in workplace‘, EXP, 25/5/00
~ 17% of Rio Tinto shareholders vote for a "credible workplace code of practise" based on ILO human rights agreement.

‘Ecuador wins on banana sanctions‘, FT, 19/5/00
~ Ecuador becomes the first developing country to implement the WTO’s retaliation procedures.

‘Confounded by China‘, The Economist, 20-26 May 2000, pp71-2
~ Looks at Congress’s decision over whether to grant China permanent normalised trade relations.

Environment

‘Next time you buy prawns…‘, G, 20/5/00
~ Examines the unsustainable fisheries industry in Thailand that is exploiting the local people and the environment.

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