Washington, D.C. – United States Trade Representative Ron Kirk commented today on a joint statement released by a group of World Trade Organization (WTO) Members discussing an international services agreement in Geneva.  The Members announced today that they intend to enter a new phase of talks toward a services agreement that they ultimately hope can provide the foundation for multilateral consensus on services liberalization.

The United States will file a complaint against China on Thursday with the World Trade Organization for imposing duties on more than $3 billion worth of U.S.-made autos, a senior U.S. official said. The complaint comes as President Barack Obama campaigns in Ohio, an important election battleground state where auto plants have been affected by the duties.

HCM CITY — The Philippines and the Viet Nam Trade Promotion Agency yesterday brought together business executives from the two nations to promote bilateral trade. Philippine businesses came looking for Vietnamese partners and distributors in areas like industrial paints, preservatives and other substances used in foodstuff, herbal medicines, confectionery, and animal feed. Viet Nam is the first destination for the Philippine delegation. Following its three-day visit ending today (Thursday), the group will go on to Laos, Myanmar, and Cambodia.

A new report from the World Trade Organization (WTO) on trade-related developments warns of the longer-term nature of the protectionist, trade-restricting measures nations have introduced during the past seven months. According to the report, governments are increasingly considering protectionist measures to achieve national economic objectives instead of the temporary measures to protect domestic industries more commonly reported at the start of the global crisis.

Negotiations between Japan and the European Union over crafting a free-trade agreement will not begin until this fall or later due to persistent reluctance among the European auto industry, according to senior officials at the Foreign Ministry. The government initially hoped agreement would be reached in July to initiate the negotiations, as Japanese businesses have called for an early start in hopes of boosting auto and TV sales in Europe.

When it comes to the Trans-Pacific Partnership Free Trade Agreement (TPP), Canada may have been invited to the party, but we are not yet part of the club. After considerable government lobbying during the recent G20 summit in Mexico, Canada was extended an invitation to a recent San Diego meeting. Canada’s admission, however, has not yet been approved by the U.S or the other member countries, which include Australia, Brunei, Chile, Malaysia, New Zealand, Peru, Singapore and Vietnam. Mexico and Japan have also expressed an interest in being included.

KIEV, July 3 (Xinhua) -- Ukrainian Prime Minister Mykola Azarov said here Tuesday his country will not place any restrictions on grain exports as the domestic market situation is stable. "We expect quite a good grain crop, and do not plan to introduce any restrictions that we had to impose in 2010," Azarov said during consultations with representatives of NGOs working in agriculture.

European Union (EU) Commissioner for Trade Karel De Gucht has recently underscored the importance of the European Union-Korea Free Trade Agreement (FTA) in terms of boosting trade and reducing duties, one year after its signature.

Following the request to the World Trade Organization (WTO) by the United States, European Union and Japan for the establishment of a dispute settlement panel on what they consider to be China’s unfair export duties and other restraints on rare earths, the Chinese government has continued to defend its policies.

The Canadian government has welcomed the World Trade Organization's (WTO) ruling that the US's Country-of-Origin Labelling (COOL) measure discriminates against Canadian livestock.