Trade : EU-led initiative on trade and health suffers major setback (PRIV)
(D. Ravi Kanth, Geneva)
The trade and health initiative proposed by the European Union and the Ottawa Group of countries suffered a major setback on 17 December, after several developing countries as well as the United States argued that the proposal fails to address the health crisis arising from the COVID-19 pandemic, trade envoys told the SUNS.

Trade : US, Japan & Brazil fail to secure support on market-oriented conditions (PRIV)
(D. Ravi Kanth, Geneva)
The United States, Japan, and Brazil failed to secure support from many developing countries on advancing market-oriented conditions in the global trading system, which has already been rejected in the previous WTO General Council meeting in October, participants said.

Trade : Questions raised on exempting WFP purchases from export restrictions (PRIV)
(D. Ravi Kanth, Geneva)
India has raised some fundamental issues concerning the draft General Council decision on exemption from export restrictions of foodstuffs purchased by the World Food Programme (WFP) and the linkage to the amended Bali "peace clause", a move that would require serious negotiations before taking any decision at this juncture, people familiar with the development said.

COVID-19 : Pandemic puts Jamaican children at heightened risk of abuse (PRIV)
(IPS, Kingston)
In Jamaica, school playgrounds are deserted, filled only with phantom shrieks of delight. Blackboards remain devoid of arithmetic and uniforms hang wrinkle-free in closets.