Making progress in multilateral trade negotiations involving more than 150 countries is very difficult. Negotiations require exchanges – offering something for what you want. Given the widely discrepant wealth of developed and developing countries, the poorest countries must, in relative terms, offer a great deal more. Negotiations can advance because the internal interests of the [...]

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The gains from a Doha Round would greatly exceed those of the Uruguay Round. It would be a shame if an inability to find a solution to the SSM on the one hand, and further reduce trade distorting support on the other, derails the Doha Round, Such a failure would reflect a serious lack of [...]

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In my view a failed Ministerial is not a failed Round. I am not aware that any of the negotiators have indicated that the Round has failed, and it is important as talks move forward to remain committed to sound agricultural policy, both in international trade and on a domestic level. Regarding agricultural trade policy, [...]

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NOTE: This is an informational compilation. GMF does not endorse, either explicitly or implicitly, the content contained herein.   NEWS   In Wake of Georgian War, Russian Media Feel Heat Washington Post (U.S.), Philip P. Pan, 15 Sep 2008 Summary: “The message to the 30 or so media executives at the gathering was clear: With [...]

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NOTE: This is an informational compilation. GMF does not endorse, either explicitly or implicitly, the content contained herein.   NEWS   Putin tells Britain: relations can only improve when you remove dissidents The Times (UK), Richard Beeston, 12 Sep 2008 Summary: “Vladimir Putin served notice yesterday that his country’s relations with Britain would never recover [...]

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NOTE: This is an informational compilation. GMF does not endorse, either explicitly or implicitly, the content contained herein.   NEWS   S. Ossetia Sends Russia Mixed Signals New York Times (U.S.), Ellen Barry and Alan Cowell, 11 Sep 2008 Summary: “The leader of Georgia’s breakaway South Ossetia region, the focus of Russia’s war with Georgia [...]

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Over on the main GMF site, you will find a link to Transatlantic Trends, GMF’s signature survey of American and European public opinion. This year’s findings include data on the U.S. election, Russia as a threat to stability, attitudes toward continued reconstruction in Afghanistan, support for NATO, perceptions of various global threats, and attitudes about [...]

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Whether it was the crowds in Berlin this summer or newspaper polls asking how Europeans would vote in the U.S. presidential elections, Senator Barack Obama has been seen as more popular in Europe than Senator John McCain.   We found Europeans to have a significantly more favorable opinion of Senator Obama than Senator McCain (69% [...]

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NOTE: This is an informational compilation. GMF does not endorse, either explicitly or implicitly, the content contained herein.   NEWS   Russian troops dismantle west Georgia checkpoints Reuters, Lasha Berulava, 10 Sep 2008 Summary: “Russian soldiers were dismantling checkpoints in western Georgia on Wednesday, a Georgian official and a Reuters witness said, two days after [...]

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NOTE: This is an informational compilation. GMF does not endorse, either explicitly or implicitly, the content contained herein.   NEWS   U.S. Rules Out Unilateral Steps Against Russia New York Times (U.S.), Thom Shanker and Steven Lee Myers, 8 Sep 2008 Summary: “The Bush administration, after considerable internal debate, has decided not to take direct [...]

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