Trade : Developed countries continue to block TRIPS waiver proposal (PRIV)
(D. Ravi Kanth, Geneva)
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 Switzerland among others have apparently adopted "stonewalling" tactics to block progress towards a General Council decision on this issue, negotiators told the SUNS.

Trade : Korea to consider withdrawing its candidate from DG race (PRIV)
(D. Ravi Kanth, Geneva)
Korea is apparently considering the withdrawal of its trade minister, Ms Yoo Myung-hee, from the race for the post of WTO director-general, a move that could pave the way for Nigeria's former finance minister Ms Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala to be confirmed as the new head of the global trade body, said people familiar with the development.

Opinion : Farmers will (again) feed the world (PRIV)
(IPS, New York)
Wealthier countries struggling to contain the widening COVID-19 pandemic amid protests over lockdowns and restrictions risk ignoring an even greater danger out there - a looming global food emergency.