Trade : "Friends of the system" seek extension on e-com & TRIPS moratorium   (D. Ravi Kanth, Geneva) (PRIV)
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The developed and several developing countries at the World Trade Organization, who characterise themselves as "friends of the system," are worried over the prospect of an end to the moratorium on electronic commerce by the end of this year, and have sought an extension by six months until the WTO's 12th ministerial conference in Nur Sultan, Kazakhstan, in June 2020, trade envoys told the SUNS.

United Nations : Business and human rights treaty negotiations start   (Kinda Mohamadieh, Geneva) (PRIV)
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The open-ended working group on transnational corporations and other business enterprises with respect to human rights (OEIGWG) met in Geneva for its 5th session on 14 to 18 October 2019.

Opinion : Africa's investment drive gathers pace   (IPS, Rome) (PRIV)
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Headwinds are blowing amid IMF warnings of a "synchronised slowdown" in global economic growth, yet Africa's investment drive is still gathering pace, supported by intense international competition in development finance.

Opinion : Trump poised to withdraw from Open Skies Treaty   (IPS, Washington DC) (PRIV)
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The Trump administration is reportedly on the verge of withdrawing from the 1992 Open Skies Treaty, according to lawmakers and media reports.