News

The Norwegian delegation participated in the fourth Trade Policy Review of Mexico in the WTO on 11 and 13 February, and made the following intervention.

Norway is one of WTO's founding Members and was also among the first signatories to the GATT. WTO has an over-arching role in providing stable, predictable and transparent rules for international trade. The Multilateral Trading System is central to Norwegian trade policy.

The TRIPS Council adopted  6th December 2005 changes to the Agreement on Trade-Related Aspects of Intellectual Property Rights making permanent a decision on patent and publig health adopted by the General Council in august 2003.  The WTO Members have until 1 December 2007 to ratify the changes.   The waiver remains in force until than.  Norway, has already adopted changes to the national legislation, in line with the adopted changes.  The relevant texts are attached.  See also below a reference to the Norwegian legislation.

The TRIPS Council adopted  6th December 2005 changes to the Agreement on Trade-Related Aspects of Intellectual Property Rights making permanent a decision on patent and publig health adopted by the General Council in august 2003.  The WTO Members have until 1 December 2007 to ratify the changes.   The waiver remains in force until than.  Norway, has already adopted changes to the national legislation, in line with the adopted changes.  The relevant texts are attached.  See also below a reference to the Norwegian legislation.

The accession of Ukraine to the WTO was agreed by the General Council on 5 February 2008, in the presence of President Viktor Yushchenko. This completed a long process of negotiations in which Norway participated actively, and the Norwegian delegation expressed satisfaction that Ukraine is soon a Member. Here is the statement that Ambassador Eirik Glenne held at the Council meeting.

The accession of Ukraine to the WTO was agreed by the General Council on 5 February 2008, in the presence of President Viktor Yushchenko. This completed a long process of negotiations in which Norway participated actively, and the Norwegian delegation expressed satisfaction that Ukraine is soon a Member. Here is the statement that Ambassador Eirik Glenne held at the Council meeting.

All WTO Members are subject to a peer review of their trade policies at regular intervals in the Trade Policy Review Body (TPRB). Norway will be reviewed next in October 2008. Norway also participates in the review of other Members – here is the intervention held regarding Pakistan’s trade policy on 16 January 2008.

All WTO Members are subject to a peer review of their trade policies at regular intervals in the Trade Policy Review Body (TPRB). Norway will be reviewed next in October 2008. Norway also participates in the review of other Members – here is the intervention held regarding Pakistan’s trade policy on 16 January 2008.

Norway is very concerned by the recent escalation of violence between militants in Gaza and Israel and deplore the high number of civilian caualties.

Aid for Trade was included as a WTO priority at the Hong Kong Ministerial Conference in December 2005. The recommendations of a WTO Task Force were adopted in 2006, and in 2007 the first global review was completed and Norway presented an action plan.