Much has been recently written about the Multilateral Agreement on Investment (MAI) that has been negotiated by OECD countries. Perhaps even more has been said by the critics of those who would like to see an agreement of this kind extended among other countries. There has indeed been a great...

On 21 August 2012, Japan requested consultations with Argentina concerning certain measures imposed by Argentina on the importation of goods. Japan challenges: (i) the requirement to present for approval of a non-automatic import licence: Declaración Jurada Anticipada de Importación (DJAI);...

On 19 May 2000, Canada requested consultations with the US regarding certain US measures that treat a restraint on exports of a product as a subsidy to other products made using or incorporating the restricted product if the domestic price of the restricted product is affected by the restraint....

On 7 April 1997, the US requested consultations with Japan in respect of the latter’s prohibition, under quarantine measures, of imports of certain agricultural products. The US alleged that Japan prohibits the importation of each variety of a product requiring quarantine treatment until the...

G20 governments continue to resist protectionist pressures but risks remain: A joint report by the WTO, OECD and UNCTAD released on 4 November 2010 for the Group of 20 biggest economies, ahead of their meeting in Seoul on 11 November, says that by and large, G20 governments have continued to...

WTO G-20 report: Weak growth and imbalances “testing” government resolve against protectionism: The WTO’s report on G-20 trade measures, issued on 26 October 2011, said that “disappointingly weak growth in some G-20 countries and continuing macroeconomic imbalances globally are testing...