(Reuters) - The world's leading economies must try harder to keep their markets open to counter slowing global growth, international agencies said on Wednesday. The World Trade Organization, the OECD and UNCTAD said the G20group of countries imposed fewer protectionist measures in the past five months, but the slow pace of recovery in foreign direct investment (FDI) was causing concern.

At a recent meeting organized by the U.S. Chamber of Commerce, Ambassador Roberto Azevedo, Brazil’s permanent representative to the WTO and chief negotiator, said that after two days of discussions with U.S. officials, there has been no progress in resolving the longstanding WTO case against cotton and export credit guarantees.

NEW DELHI: The US has accused India of wrongfully giving fresh export subsidies to its textile industry instead of phasing them out as mandated by the World Trade Organisation. It has also complained to the multilateral body about the country ignoring its requests for bilateral discussions on the issue. Turkey, too, has expressed its unhappiness at the alleged rise in textile exports from India and its industry being pitted against subsidised Indian products. New Delhi, however, has rejected the allegations.

BEIJING, Oct 30 (Xinhua) -- Chinese authorities uncovered 169 batches of substandard imported food in September, according to figures released by China's General Administration of Quality Supervision, Inspection and Quarantine (AQSIQ) here on Tuesday. Unqualified food additives, product quality and microorganisms were the major problems found with the imports, which came from 31 countries or regions, the AQSIQ said.

The World Trade Organization (WTO) has announced that it would likely approve Tajikistan's bid to join the WTO this December.  The WTO said on October 29 that "all members" are expected to approve the documents that Tajikistan's working group submitted for entry. The decision is expected during a meeting of the WTO's General Council on December 11-12. Tajikistan vowed to undertake a series of commitments designed to meet all WTO regulations. Tajikistan has been attempting to join the WTO since 2001.

Japan's trade talks with other countries on market liberalization will reach their climax in November. The focal point is whether Japan can reach an agreement with China and South Korea to begin trilateral free trade negotiations during an upcoming series of international meetings, including the East Asian Summit. It is hoped an accord will act as a catalyst toward improving bilateral relations with each country.

OTTAWA, Oct 29 (Reuters) - Canada and Japan will launch their first full round of bilateral trade negotiations next month, Trade Minister Ed Fast said on Monday, the latest in a series of bilateral talks Canada has begun with trade partners with multilateral efforts stalled. "Both sides are committed to concluding a comprehensive agreement that will unlock the full potential of our relationship and benefit workers and businesses in both countries," Fast said in a statement.

The Canadian government has tabled an agreement in parliament to modernize and expand its existing Free Trade Agreement (FTA) with Chile. Negotiations to amend the FTA were concluded in February, 2012 and the new agreement was signed in April. The deal arranged will introduce a new financial services chapter to the FTA and will bring the agreement in line with Canada’s other free trade agreements. The chapter provides access to markets for cross-border financial services providers and regulated financial institutions established in each jurisdiction.

The Trans-Pacific Partnership (TPP) member countries recently concluded the latest round of negotiations in Leesburg, Virginia. Talks between the United States, Australia, Brunei, Chile, Malaysia, New Zealand, Peru, Singapore, and Vietnam have been underway since 2010. Canada and Mexico will be joining the negotiations for the first time in early December.

Two of the biggest threats to the Internet are two international agreements: the Trans-Pacific Partnership agreement (TPP) and the Anti-Counterfeiting Trade Agreement (ACTA). TPP continues to expand across the Pacific, with Mexico and Canada joining in the next round in New Zealand.