Trade : E-com pluri-talks a reality, so better join, says UNCTAD SG (PRIV)
(Chakravarthi Raghavan, Geneva)
The plurilateral talks for e-comm erce rules at the WTO, mooted by 76 countries, is a reality, though 88 other mem bers cannot or will not participate, and "it is my hope that those holding out a re not blackmailing the system but have legitimate issues that can be brought on b oard," UNCTAD Secretary-General Dr Mukhisa Kituyi has said.

Trade : US threatens to slap $11 billion duties on EU goods (PRIV)
(D. Ravi Kanth, Geneva)
The United States has opened a new front i n its expanding trade wars with countries, threatening to punish its Trans-Atlant ic trade partner, the European Union, by imposing additional import duties on Europe an goods worth $11 billion under the provisions of Section 301 of the US Trade Act of 1974.

United Nations : NGOs blast US for undermining ICC (PRIV)
(IPS, New York)
As it paves a destructive path against international institutions and multilateralism, the Trump administration is slowly but steadily undermining the United Nations and its affiliated agencies.