A REVIEW of the possible benefits of joining the proposed Trans-Pacific Partnership Agreement (TPP) will be accelerated by the Philippines now that negotiations for Mexico and Canada’s entry have picked up. Exporters are also urging the Aquino administration to hasten the country’s TPP bid, saying competitors who become members could move into the prime US export market.

GENEVA/MEXICO CITY, Aug 27 (Reuters) - Mexico has launched its first dispute against Argentina at the World Trade Organization, accusing it of protectionism, a move that follows similar complaints by the European Union, United States and Japan. The Mexican complaint, announced by the WTO on Monday, centers on Argentina's import licensing rules, which critics say amount to a blanket restriction on imports.

The Australian mining boom may or may not be over, but the massive redeployment of skilled workers from across the country to allow the construction and operation of the giant new projects that are being put in place to service the spectacular growth of Asia’s resource demand is in full swing.

You don't have to blame mainstream media or be outright paranoid to think there must be a news blackout about the newest scheme by corporations trying to grease another way to move jobs overseas and move money around the world. The lack of coverage of the Trans Pacific Partnership (TPP), or "the NAFTA of the Pacific," as activists call it, is more because of the secrecy in which it's being written. Of course, that's not an excuse, but an explanation.

The WTO's dispute settlement body will take up on August 31 India's complaint against duties imposed by the US on imports of some Indian steel products, the multi-lateral body has said. In April, India complained that the US had wrongly imposed countervailing duties, a kind of restrictive duty, on certain hot-rolled carbon steel flat products from India.

President Vladimir Putin and his Ukrainian counterpart Viktor Yanukovych believe their country’s membership of the World Trade Organization should help them expand economic cooperation in all fields. They discussed this and other matters at a meeting near Sochi on Saturday. Russia already accounts for 90% of Ukraine’s total export and for 70% of its farming sales. The two countries are advanced partners in nuclear energy, shipbuilding and aerospace, particularly in aircraft engine building. August 25, 2012

On August 21, 2012, Japan and the United States separately notified the World Trade Organization (WTO) of a request for consultations with Argentina on alleged import restrictions caused by a system of non-automatic import licensing and other related measures. According to both Japan and the US, “these measures restrict imports of goods and discriminate between imported and domestic goods”. The measures, according to both complainants, “do not appear to be related to the implementation of any measure justified under the WTO Agreement”.

Indonesia is eager to boost trade with Canada, but the South Asian country isn’t interested in two of the Harper government’s top priorities — pursuing a free-trade deal or buying Alberta oilsands crude. Nonetheless, Indonesian Foreign Minister Marty Natalegawa was enthusiastic Thursday about boosting trade as he arrived in Ottawa for talks with his counterpart John Baird.

JAKARTA. Aug. 24 (Xinhua) -- The United States has lifted accusation of dumping on paper product from Indonesia, local media quoting officials as saying here on Friday. The U.S. government had announced its final decision to cancel an anti-dumping import duty and countervailing duty on the paper products from Indonesia, said Ernawati, the director of trade security at the trade ministry. The decision made on August 2 was a result of a "sunset review" of dumping charges against Certain Lined Paper School Supplies ( CLPPS) from Indonesia.

Senate Finance Committee Chairman Max Baucus (D - Montana), Chairman of the United States Senate Finance Committee, has met with New Zealand’s Prime Minister John Key and Trade Minister Tim Groser, to discuss the negotiation of the proposed extension to the Trans-Pacific Partnership (TPP). The 13th round of TPP trade treaty negotiations was held last month. Australia, Brunei, Chile, Malaysia, New Zealand, Peru, Singapore, the US and Vietnam are currently involved in the talks, with Canada and Mexico due to join the negotiations later this year.