all eyes are now on Europe and Japan among others as momentum grows for text-based negotiations on the temporary TRIPS waiver for combating the Covid-19 pandemic.
Category: Trade
In ‘monumental’ decision, US shows support for TRIPS waiver
The Biden-Harris administration on 5 May brought about a seismic change in the ongoing discussions on a temporary waiver from certain provisions of the WTO’s TRIPS Agreement in combating the COVID-19 pandemic
Dialogue on TRIPS Waiver for Covid-19 medical products 4 May
Yet one year on, there is a vast disparity in access to COVID-19 medical products between the high-income countries and low-middle-income countries.
Huge traffic: Shops, malls reopen
The number of private vehicles, rickshaws and auto-rickshaws marked a significant rise on the roads in the capital on Sunday as the government allowed shops and shopping malls to reopen their doors to shoppers on a limited scale.
TRIPS waiver proposal held hostage on ideological grounds
A handful of industrialized countries led by the European Union, Switzerland and the United Kingdom have held hostage on “ideological” grounds the proposal to suspend certain provisions of the WTO’s TRIPS Agreement to combat the pandemic, said people familiar with the development.
Vaccine equity event enabled frank discussions: WTO DG
the meeting WTO DG convened with four trade ministers, vaccine manufacturers, and other stakeholders on “COVID-19 and vaccine equity” enabled frank discussions
Perspectives sharply differ at WTO DG’s vaccine event
Pfizer and Moderna apparently ruled out any prospect of sharing their mRNA technology-based vaccines with the vaccine firms in developing countries on grounds that they are far too complex and require more than 100 raw materials.
CSOs challenge DG’s third way as USTR discusses TRIPS waiver
The temporary TRIPS waiver seeks to suspend the implementation of several provisions in the TRIPS Agreement relating to copyrights, industrial designs, patents, and protection of undisclosed information for ramping up global production of diagnostics, medicines and vaccines in order to fight the worsening COVID-19 pandemic.
Bangladesh shops, shopping malls to reopen Friday for 5 days
Dhaka, Apr 8: The government has allowed the reopening of shops and shopping malls for five days from Friday (April 9-13) subject to maintaining health guidelines.
Shop owners, workers’ demo protesting closure of markets
Shop owners and employees of New Market and adjacent shopping malls staged demonstrations for the second consecutive day on Monday protesting the closure of shopping malls
Seven countries urge WTO DG to hold direct talks with Big Pharma
A group of seven countries – Australia, Canada, New Zealand, Norway, Turkey, Chile and Colombia has urged the WTO Director-General Ms Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala to conduct discussions directly with vaccine developers and manufacturers.
The Case for 12-year transition period for graduating LDCs
The LDCs have upped the ante on their request at the WTO that LDC-specific support measures must be extended for a period of 12 years for those countries graduating from the LDC category
5,000 trucks waiting to enter Bangladesh through Benapole
Around 5,000 trucks loaded with goods are waiting to cross into Bangladesh at India’s Petrapole land port, on the other side of the Benapole border. While they have been stranded, trade between the two countries has been greatly affected.
Meghalaya Deputy CM for increased trade with Bangladesh
Deputy Chief Minister of Indian State Meghalaya Prestone Tynsong has appreciated Bangladesh’s leadership for achieving progress in various sectors and laid emphasis on further increasing bilateral trade for the betterment of the two people.
US lawmakers urge Biden to support TRIPS waiver move at WTO
A group of lawmakers from the Democratic Party want US President Joe Biden to support the TRIPS waiver proposal that seeks to temporarily suspend several provisions in the WTO’s TRIPS Agreement in combating the COVID-19 pandemic.
Resolve custom valuation issues of imported cars: BARVIDA
Dhaka, Feb 13 – The members of Bangladesh Reconditioned Vehicles Importers and Dealers Association (BARVIDA) called upon the authorities to resolve the custom valuation problems for both new and reconditioned cars, for the sake of the sector’s development.
Petrapole port suspension halts trade thru Benapole
Benapole, Jan 31 – Trade at Petrapole-Benapole border checkpoint remained suspended all day on Sunday as Petrapole port halted operation protesting different ‘harassments’ by the Border Security Force (BSF).
False declaration: 40 tons of fabrics seized at Ctg port
Chittagong, Jan 14 — About 40 tonnes of fabrics imported under false declaration were seized at the Chattogram Port by the Customs House on Wednesday.
Rice import from India through Hili land port resumes
Hili (Dinajpur), Jan 10 – Trucks carrying 112 metric tonnes of rice from India entered into Bangladesh through the Hili land port on Saturday afternoon.
US, allies adopt diversionary tactics to block TRIPS waiver
Geneva, 7 Dec (D. Ravi Kanth) – Despite the rapidly worsening COVID-19 pandemic as well as growing concerns over the so-called “us and them” framework being adopted for access to new vaccines, the United States and its allies seem to…
Bangladesh signs Preferential Trade Agreement with Bhutan
Bangladesh on Sunday signed its maiden Preferential Trade Agreement (PTA) with Bhutan to boost bilateral trade between the two countries.
Dhaka, Thimphu to sign PTA next month: Envoy
Dhaka, Nov 26 – Bhutan will sign the Preferential Trade Agreement (PTA) with Bangladesh in December to further enhance trade and commerce between the two countries.
Developed countries continue to block TRIPS waiver proposal
Geneva, 23 Nov (D. Ravi Kanth) — As the global pressure grows by the day for a waiver to suspend various provisions of the WTO’s TRIPS Agreement in combating the COVID-19 pandemic, the United States, the European Union, Japan, and…
‘Stop importing fish from India’: Jashore fish farmers
Fish farmers and importantly the Fisheries Department of Jashore district are calling for a ban on importing fish from India, at a time when the country’s fish imports from India have doubled through Benapole port.
Onion trucks entering thru’ Hili, Sonamasjid land ports
Dhaka, Sept 19 – Onion-laden trucks stranded on the Indian ports opposite to Hili Land Port (HLP) in Hakimpur Upazila of Dinajpur and Sonamasjid Land port in Chapainawabganj started entering Bangladesh through the ports Saturday after several days.
India bans export of onions again: Prices double in BD
The government of India on Monday prohibited the export of all varieties of onion except in cut, sliced or powdered form.
TikTok choses Oracle over Microsoft as US buyer
Washington, AP/UNB, Sept 14 – The owner of TikTok has chosen Oracle over Microsoft as its preferred buyer, according to a source familiar with the deal.
Bangladesh seeks UK’s GSP facility until 2030
Dhaka, Aug 29: Bangladesh has sought a post-Covid extension of the UK’s GSP facility to Bangladeshi products until 2030 to boost trade and also its greater support for a faster post-pandemic SDGs recovery.
Walmart joins Microsoft in bid for TikTok’s US operations
The US retail giant Walmart has said it will team up with Microsoft to make a bid for the US operations of TikTok. Walmart told the BBC it thought a deal with the Chinese video-sharing app would help it expand…
Nakugaon reflects pandemic’s heavy toll on trade with India
Revenue for state coffers through Nakugaon, in the northern bordering district of Sherpur, has been badly hit by the COVID-19 pandemic, with international trading activities at the land port still only a fraction of levels witnessed till late March.