BRIDGES Weekly Trade News Digest

Lead Stories
North-South Coalition Sets Out 'Draft Modalities' on TRIPs	An unprecedented coalition of developed and developing countries has crafted a set of 'draft modalities' on three controversial intellectual property issues: the disclosure of the source of genetic information in patent applications, the extension of geographical indications (GIs) to all goods, and the establishment of a multilateral register for GIs for wines and spirits. The text, which was put forward by a coalition led by Brazil, the EU, India, and Switzerland, outlines how these long-controversial issues might be addressed in next week's mini-ministerial conference, which is widely considered a make-or-break meeting for the struggling Doha round of trade talks.
Negotiators Divided Over Whether New Ag Text Could Spark Doha Deal	Trade delegates awaiting the arrival of ministers in Geneva next week expressed both optimism and pessimism about whether a deal could be struck on the basis of a 10 July text circulated by the chair of the WTO agriculture negotiations. While some reported that it should be possible to reach an accord, others warned of numerous areas of continued disagreement that threatened to derail the high-level talks. "I think a deal can be done easily" said one negotiator, while admitting that there were areas in which further convergence was still needed. But that optimism was not shared by all. "There are still so many brackets, I don't think that a deal will be struck" another negotiator said, in a reference to the many issues that remain unresolved in the most recent text.
Chair Says NAMA Deal is 'Doable', Though Divisions Remain	Trade ministers meeting in Geneva next week will still have to resolve wide differences if they are to strike a framework deal on cutting manufacturing tariffs, after a new draft compromise text by the chair of the WTO negotiating committee left potential provisions on some central issues largely unchanged from an earlier version. The chair, Canadian Ambassador Don Stephenson, had said that he would only amend sections of his May draft if Members' positions showed signs of converging.
WIPO Committee Reviews Recommendations on Development Agenda	The World Intellectual Property Organisation's Committee on Development and Intellectual Property (CDIP) made progress last week in its negotiations on how to implement a set of 45 recommendations that are meant to make WIPO more development friendly. The CDIP, which is chaired by Ambassador Trevor Clarke (Barbados), will forward its recommended implementation activities to the WIPO General Assembly in September.

In Brief	WTO in Brief
	Tropical Products and Preference Erosion: Still No Deal Rules Chair Outlines Strategy for Future Negotiations Senior Officials Prepare for Services 'Signalling Conference' Anti-Dumping Cases Dropped in Second Half of 2007, WTO Reports

Events        &        Resources
Events	17 July, London, UK. ENERGY SECURITY, THE FOOD CRISIS AND THE NIGER DELTA. Nigeria is undergoing fundamental change as it transforms from a developing country to an emerging economic power. At the same time, the country faces significant challenges in establishing good governance, economic diversification, and growth that benefits its entire people. The crisis in the Niger Delta and in energy supply, in food costs and availability, all have serious global, as well as national dimensions. Hosted by Chatham house, President of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, HE Umaru Musa Yar'Adua, will address these challenges and how they are to be overcome, as well the increasing impact Nigeria has in international affairs. For further information, please refer to http://www.chathamhouse.org.uk/events/view/-/id/884/.
Resources	ANOTHER INCONVENIENT TRUTH: HOW BIOFUEL POLICIES ARE DEEPENING POVERTY AND ACCELERATING CLIMATE CHANGE. Oxfam, June 2008. In this report, Oxfam calculates that rich country biofuel policies have dragged more than 30 million people into poverty, according to evidence that biofuels have already contributed up to 30 percent to the global rise in food prices. To access the report, please refer to http://www.oxfam.org/en/policy/another-inconvenient-truth.
Vacancies	The Bretton Woods Project, which works with NGOs and activists worldwide to monitor and challenge the World Bank and IMF, is seeking a new Policy Officer. This position is an exciting opportunity to research, write and do advocacy work on a number of environment and development policy issues; to facilitate network strengthening with emphasis on the UK; and to monitor the role of UK institutions in the World Bank and IMF. Applicants need a good working knowledge of development and environment issues and the role of the World Bank and IMF. Experience with producing accessible briefings, and with NGO networks essential. Experience with international networks, government development or environment institutions, work in Southern countries and ability to speak other languages desirable. The deadline for applications is 9am, 30 July 2008. For further details and application instructions, please refer to http://www.brettonwoodsproject.org/jobs. Please send any inquiries to [email protected].
BRIDGES Weekly Trade News Digest is made possible through the generous support of the Government of the United Kingdom (DFID) and ICTSD's core donors including the Governments of Finland, Denmark, the Netherlands and Sweden; Christian Aid (UK) and NOVIB (NL). BRIDGES Weekly also benefits from support for the BRIDGES series of publications from donors including the Rockefeller Foundation and the Swiss Agency for Development and Cooperation.