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Welcome to E-TISNET Monthly News to
keep you abreast of the latest developments
on trade and investment in the Asia-Pacific
region.
E-TISNET Monthly News is the new electronic
and user-friendly version of five sections
of the former TISNET Trade and Investment
Information Bulletin (see below). This
issue can be also accessed from UNESCAP's
web page, at http://www.unescap.org/tid/latestnews.asp
Past issues are available from http://www.unescap.org/tid/tisnet/tis_bul.asp
For enquiries, please contact us at escap-tisnet@un.org
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A. TRADE-RELATED
INFORMATION
DEVELOPING COUNTRIES
Developing nations agree on more cooperation.
World Bank Press Review, 22 December
2003
On 21 December 2003, 134 developing countries
adopted the "Marrakech Declaration" stressing
the need for more cooperation between
nations of the Southern hemisphere. The
G-77 signatories agreed to boost cooperation
in the fields of trade, investment, finance,
debt management, new technology and communications,
agriculture, water, energy, health and
education.
Accessed on 6 January 2004 from
<http://web.worldbank.org/WBSITE/EXTERNAL/NEWS/0,,date:12-22-2003~menuPK:278083~pagePK:34392~piPK:34427~theSitePK:4607,00.html#Story3>
EAST ASIA
Japan and ASEAN propose an East
Asian community. Japan Ministry of Foreign
Affairs, 12 December 2003
On 12 December 2003, Japan and 10 South
East Asian nations signed a declaration
proposing the creation of a common East
Asian community. The "Tokyo Declaration"
seeks to build an East Asian community,
which would also include China and the Republic
of Korea. Member countries will promote
opportunities for trade in goods and services
and will foster closer cooperation in areas
such as security, piracy, drug smuggling
and people trafficking.
Accessed on 15 December 2003 from <http://www.mofa.go.jp/region/asia-paci/asean/year2003/summit/>
EUROPEAN UNION (EU)
Customs agreement with India signed.
EU Taxation and Customs News IP/03/1650,
3 December 2003
On 29 November 2003, the
EU an agreement with India on customs co-operation
and mutual administrative assistance in
customs matters was initialed. The agreement
aims to improve customs co-operation in
view of developing trade facilitation and
provide a suitable legal framework to enhance
the fight against fraud.
Accessed on 12
December 2003 from
<http://europa.eu.int/rapid/start/cgi/guesten.ksh?p_action.gettxt=gt&doc=IP/03/1650|0|RAPID&lg=en&display=>
ORGANIZATION FOR ECONOMIC COOPERATION AND
DEVELOPMENT (OECD)
Evaluation of environmental
impact of export credits. OECD, 18 December
2003
On 18 December 2003, OECD countries
announced an agreement to strengthen their
common approaches for evaluating the environmental
impact of infrastructure projects supported
by their governments' export credit agencies
with a view to ensuring that these meet
established international standards.
Accessed on 15 December 2003 from
<http://www.oecd.org/document/56/0,2340,en_2649_201185_21688824_1_1_1_1,00.html>
PALAU
Palau becomes member of the Asian Development
Bank. ADB News Release 214/03,
29 December 2003
On 29 December 2003, Palau
became the 63rd member of the Asian Development
Bank (ADB). Palau's membership became effective
upon completion of all formalities, including
payment of its subscription to ADB's capital
stock.
Accessed on 7 January 2004 from <http://www.adb.org/Documents/News/2003/nr2003214.asp>
SOUTH EAST ASIA
South East Asian Nations
sign free trade pact. World Bank News, 6
January 2004
On 6 January 2003, seven South
Asian nations signed a free trade agreement
intended to facilitate tariff cuts starting
from 2006 as well as to promote trade among
the countries. The seven South Asian nations
are Bangladesh, Bhutan, India, Maldives,
Nepal, Pakistan and Sri Lanka.
Accessed
on 6 January 2004 from <http://web.worldbank.org/WBSITE/EXTERNAL/NEWS/0,,date:01-06-2004~menuPK:34461~pagePK:34392~piPK:34427~theSitePK:4607,00.html#Story5>
South East Asian countries sign open skies
pact. ABC Radio Australia News, 5 December
2003 On 4 December 2003, Cambodia, Lao PDR,
Myanmar and Viet Nam signed an air services
accord aimed at deregulating air transport
in the region. The agreement allows carriers
in the four countries to exploit each others'
markets without trade barriers.
Accessed
on 12 December 2003 from <http://www.abc.net.au/ra/newstories/RANewsStories_1004605.htm>
TIMOR-LESTE
UN recognizes
Timor-Leste as Least Developed Country.
United Nations News 17 December 2003
On
17 December 2003, the General Assembly of
the United Nations adopted a resolution
endorsing the Economic and Social Council's
recommendation that Timor-Leste be added
to the list of the least developed countries.
Timor-Leste became a member of the United
Nations on 27 September 2002.
Accessed on
18 December 2003 from <http://www.un.org/special-rep/ohrlls/ohrlls/17%20Dec%20GA%20endorse%20Timor-Leste.htm>
B. CUSTOM REGULATIONS AND CHARGES
CHINA
Custom
protection of intellectual rights. Hong
Kong (China) Trade and Industry Department,
29 December 2003
On 6 January 2004, China
issued Commercial Information Circular No.
2/2004 announcing the new amended Regulation
on Customs Protection of Intellectual Property
Rights, which will come into force on 1
March 2004.
Accessed on 6 January 2004 from
<http://www.tid.gov.hk/english/aboutus/tradecircular/cic/asia/2004/ci022004.html>
2004 tariff codes for goods under CEPA.
Hong Kong (China) Trade and Industry Department,
29 December 2003
On 29 December 2003, Hong
Kong (China) issued Commercial Information
Circular No. 315/2003 informing traders
about the 2004 China's tariff codes for
the goods covered in the initial phase of
tariff preference under the Closer Economic
Partnership Agreement (CEPA) between China
and Hong Kong (China).
Accessed on 6 January
2004 from <http://www.tid.gov.hk/english/aboutus/tradecircular/all_in_one/2003/as792003.html>
EUROPEAN UNION (EU)
Amendment of the autonomous
common customs tariff duties on certain
industrial, agricultural and fishery products.
Official Journal of the European Union,
30 December 2003
On 22 December 2003, the
EU approved council regulation (EC) No 2285/2003
amending Regulation (EC) No 1255/96 temporarily
suspending the autonomous common customs
tariff duties on certain industrial, agricultural
and fishery products.
Accessed on 6 January
2004 from <http://europa.eu.int/eur-lex/pri/en/oj/dat/2003/l_341/l_34120031230en00010062.pdf>
Import duties in the cereal sector. Official
Journal of the European Union, 30 December
2003 With effect from 1 January 2004, the
EU approved commission regulation (EC) No
2348/2003 fixing the import duties in the
cereals sector.
Accessed on 6 January 2004
from <http://europa.eu.int/eur-lex/pri/en/oj/dat/2003/l_346/l_34620031231en00540056.pdf>
Import duties in the rice sector. Official
Journal of the European Union, 10 December
2003
With effect from 11 December, the EU approved
commission regulation (EC) No 2158/2003
fixing the import duties in the rice sector.
Accessed on 12 December 2003 from
<http://europa.eu.int/eur-lex/pri/en/oj/dat/2003/l_324/l_32420031211en00190021.pdf>
C. NON-TARIFF MEASURES
EUROPEAN UNION (EU)
GSP scheme
for the period 2002-2004. Official Journal
of the European Union, 23 December 2003
On 23 December 2003, the EU approved commission
regulation (EC) No 2331/2003 applying a
scheme of generalized tariff preferences
for the period 1 January 2002 to 31 December
2004. Sectors and countries in respect of
which tariff preferences shall be removed
are: automobiles (Mexico), clothing (Pakistan),
glass and ceramic (Thailand), jewellery
and precious metals (China), and other base
metals and articles of base metal (Russian
Federation).
Accessed on 6 January 2004
from <http://europa.eu.int/eur-lex/pri/en/oj/dat/2003/l_346/l_34620031231en00030011.pdf>
New quotas for certain products originating
from China. Official Journal of the European
Union, 20 November 2003
On 20 November 2003,
the EU approved commission regulation (EC)
No 2044/2003 establishing administrative
procedures for the second tranche of the
2004 quantitative quotas for certain products
originating from China.
Accessed on 12 December
2003 from <http://europa.eu.int/eur-lex/pri/en/oj/dat/2003/l_303/l_30320031121en00030009.pdf>
Sri Lanka granted special incentive arrangements.
Official Journal of the European Union,
29 December 2003
On 29 December 2003, the
EU approved commission regulation (EC) No
2342/2003 granting Sri Lanka the benefit
of the special incentive arrangements for
the protection of labour rights. The products
included in these arrangements will benefit
from the tariff preferences referred to
in Article 8(1) of Regulation (EC) No 2501/2001
subject to the conditions set out in Article
19 of that Regulation.
Accessed on 6 January
2004 from <http://europa.eu.int/eur-lex/pri/en/oj/dat/2003/l_346/l_34620031231en00340035.pdf>
Textile quotas for 2004. Official Journal
of the European Union, 29 December 2003
On 29 December 2003, the EU approved commission
regulation (EC) No 2308/2003 laying down
rules for the management and distribution
of textile quotas established for the year
2004 under Council Regulation (EC) No 517/94.
The 2004 quotas will be allocated in two
separate tranches, of which the second will
become available for the acceding States
from 1 May 2004.
Accessed on 6 January 2004
from <http://europa.eu.int/eur-lex/pri/en/oj/dat/2003/l_342/l_34220031230en00130020.pdf>
Transfers between the quantitative limits
of textiles and clothing products originating
in India. Official Journal of the European
Union, 1 December 2003
On 1 December 2003,
the EU approved Commission regulation (EC)
No 2117/2003 authorizing the transfers between
the quantitative limits of textile and clothing
goods originating in India for the quota
year 2003.
Accessed on 12 December 2003
from <http://europa.eu.int/eur-lex/pri/en/oj/dat/2003/l_318/l_31820031203en00030004.pdf>
UNITED STATES OF AMERICA (U.S.A.)
Safeguard
actions on Chinese textiles and clothing
products.
Hong Kong (China) Trade and Industry
Department, 29 December 2003
On 24 December
2003, the USA requested China for consultations
on safeguard actions on five categories
of textiles and clothing products exported
from China to the USA. The five categories
include knit fabric products; cotton and
man-made fibre brassiere, and cotton and
man-made fibre dressing gowns. With effect
from the same day, quantitative limits were
imposed on the items concerned.
Accessed
on 6 January 2004 from <http://www.tid.gov.hk/english/aboutus/tradecircular/cic/americas/2003/ci3182003.html>
Action regarding certain ductile iron waterworks
fittings from China recommended.
U.S. Department
of State, 15 December 2003
On 15 December
2003, the U.S. International Trade Commission
(USITC) determined that imports of certain
ductile iron waterworks fittings from China
are causing market disruptions and affecting
U.S. producers. USITC recommended the adoption
of remedies under which domestic producers
could obtain relief. Ductile iron waterworks
fittings are used in water transmission
and distribution lines.
Accessed on 18 December
2003 from <http://usinfo.state.gov/xarchives/display.html?p=washfile-english&y=2003&m=December&x=20031215134838ikceinawza0.14172&t=usinfo/wf-latest.html>
D. INDUSTRY AND TECHNOLOGY-RELATED INFORMATION
INDONESIA
No extension for Indonesian textile
quota. Asia Times, 2 December 2003
Canada,
the European Union and the United States
of America announced that they will not
extend the import quota for Indonesian textiles
and garments after the termination of the
system in 2005. With the termination of
the quota system, Indonesian producers will
be exposed to open competition from rivals
in China, India, Vietnam and other countries.
Accessed on 18 December 2003 from <http://www.atimes.com/atimes/Southeast_Asia/EL02Ae03.html>
INTERNATIONAL ORGANIZATION for STANDARDIZATION (ISO)
New guidelines for ISO certifications.
ISO Press Release, 15 December 2003
On 15 December 2003, ISO issued new guidelines
to assist organizations in publicizing certifications
to the ISO 9001:2000 quality management
system and ISO 14001 environmental management
system standards. Certificates to the 1994
versions are no longer recognized as valid
by the national accreditation bodies that
make up the IAF (International Accreditation
Forum) and lose their accredited status.
Accessed on 18 December 2003 from http://www.iso.ch/iso/en/commcentre/pressreleases/2003/Ref883.html>
PAKISTAN
Boosting competitiveness of SMEs.
ADB News Release No. 206/03, 19 December
2003
On 19 December 2003, the Asian Development
Bank (ADB) approved an assistance package,
including US$170 million in loans and a
partial credit guarantee (PCG). The initiative
aims at boosting the competitiveness and
profitability of Pakistan's small and medium
enterprises (SMEs) as a way to promote economic
growth.
Accessed on 18 December 2003 from
<http://www.adb.org/Documents/News/2003/nr2003206.asp>
SINGAPORE
Further deregulation of Singapore's
power industry. Business Times Asia, 12
December 2003
On 11 December 2003, Singapore
announced that it will allow more price
competition between the country's three
largest power generation companies. The
Energy Market Authority said that from 1
January 2004 only 65 per cent of total electricity
supply will be subject to a price cap allowing
the price for the remaining 35 per cent
to be regulated by open competition.
Accessed
on 18 December 2003 from <http://business-times.asia1.com.sg/sub/latest/story/0,4574,101703,00.html?>
Singapore and the EU sign IP agreement.
Intellectual Property Office of Singapore,
20 November 2003
On 20 November 2003, the
Intellectual Property Office of Singapore
(IPOS) and European Patent Office agreed
to increase cooperation on the protection
of IP. IPOS signed a MoU with the European
agency aimed at further strengthening existing
agreements through a series of activities
between 2004 and 2006.
Accessed on 18 December
2003 from <http://www.ipos.gov.sg/newdesign/index.html>
UNITED NATIONS (UN)
UN General Assembly
launches programme for the 2005 international
year of microcredit. UN Press Release GA/10224,
23 December 2003
On 23 December 2003, the
UN General Assembly adopted a draft resolution
(A/58/488) supporting the Programme of Action
for the International Year of Microcredit
2005. The Year is intended to provide an
occasion to raise awareness of the importance
of microcredit and microfinance in the process
of eradicating poverty, to share good practices
and to further enhance financial sector
development that supports sustainable pro-poor
services in all countries.
Accessed on 18
December 2003 from <http://www.un.org/News/Press/docs/2003/ga10224.doc.htm>
WORLD BANK
Extractive industries transparency
initiative endorsed. World Bank Weekly Update,
15 December 2003
The Bank Group announced
its formal endorsement of the Extractive
Industries Transparency Initiative and pledged
to work with several developing nations,
as well as companies, on ways to publish
information about revenues accruing from
oil, gas and mining sectors.
Accessed on 18 December 2003 from
<http://web.worldbank.org/WBSITE/EXTERNAL/NEWS/>
E. INVESTMENT-RELATED INFORMATION
CHINA
Banks
to get ready for the stock market. BBC News,
6 January 2004
By the end of 2003, China
has assigned US$45bn to two of its biggest
banks as the country is preparing the sector
for the stock market. State-owned Bank of
China and China Construction Bank are the
two banks which have received this financial
support from the country's foreign currency
reserves. The Chinese government plans to
integrate its four biggest banks to the
stock market in 2006.
Accessed on 6 January
2004 from <http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/business/3371237.stm>
EUROPEAN INVESTMENT BANK (EIB)
EIB and EDFI
establish a new financing facility. The
IPAnet Briefing, Volume 6- Issue 12, December
2003
The European Investment Bank (EIB)
and the European Development Finance Institutions
(EDFI) have established a joint venture
for financing private sector operations
in Africa, the Caribbean and the Pacific,
titled the European Financing Partners (EFP).
EFP is a limited liability company that
will contribute funding to private sector
projects proposed by any EDFI shareholder.
The total finance capacity of EFP will be
EUR180 million.
Accessed on 18 December
2003 from <http://www.ipanet.net/briefing/brief.cfm?menu_chosen=53a&num=59#4471>
INDONESIA
Loan to develop electrical train
infrastructure. Asia Times, 12 December
2003
Japan will provide Indonesia 150 billion
yen (about US$1.38 billion) in aid for the
development of its electrical train infrastructure.
The initiative comes under the current close
economic cooperation between the two countries,
and through which Japan assists Indonesia
in the development of its infrastructure.
Accessed on 18 December 2003 from <http://atimes.com/atimes/Southeast_Asia/EL12Ae04.html>
IRAN (ISLAMIC REPUBLIC OF)
New member to
MIGA. MIGA News, 17 December 2003
On 17
December 2003, the Islamic Republic of Iran
became the newest member of the Multilateral
Investment Guarantee Agency (MIGA) with
its subscription to agency's capital base.
With the membership, foreign companies seeking
to invest in the Islamic Republic of Iran
are now eligible to receive MIGA's guarantee
coverage, which protects investments against
the risks of transfer restriction, expropriation,
breach of contract, and war and civil disturbance
(including terrorism).
Accessed on 18 December
2003 from <http://www.miga.org/screens/news/press/121703.htm>
JAPAN
Regional banks team up with China.
Asia Times, 12 December 2003
Tokyo Tomin
Bank signed a business partnership with
two Chinese banks, Beijing City Commercial
Bank and Dalian City Commercial Bank, in
a move that will mark the first alliance
of the countries' non-major financial institutions.
The partnership aims to help small- and
mid-size Japanese companies extend their
businesses into China.
Accessed on 15 December
2003 from <http://atimes.com/atimes/Japan/EL12Dh01.html>
LAO PDR
Loan to develop infrastructure.
ABC Radio Australia News, 27 November 2003
Thailand has approved a US$20 million loan
to neighboring Lao PDR to develop its airports
and infrastructure ahead of a Southeast
Asian summit to be held in Vientiane next
year. Under the deal, the international
airport in Vientiane will be developed along
with the airport in the southern city of
Pakse.
Accessed on 15 December 2003 from
<http://www.abc.net.au/ra/newstories/RANewsStories_998043.htm>
NAURU
Nauru removed from OECD list of uncooperative
tax havens. OECD Media Release, 12 December
2003
On 12 December 2003, the Organization
for Economic Cooperation and Development
(OECD) removed Nauru from its list of uncooperative
tax havens. The OECD also welcomed the commitment
that the country has made to improve transparency
and establish effective exchange of information
for tax matters with OECD countries by 31
December 2005.
Accessed on 18 December 2003
from <http://www.oecd.org/document/31/0,2340,en_2649_201185_21863583_1_1_1_1,00.html>
TAJIKISTAN
Loan to improve roads and market
access. ADB News Release 202/03, 19 December
2003
On 19 December 2003, the Asian Development
Bank (ADB) announced a US$15 million loan
to upgrade the national road heading northeast
from Tajikistan's capital of Dushanbe to
the Kyrgyz Republic, and onward to China.
In addition to the rehabilitation of the
140-kilometer Dushanbe-Nurobod road section,
the project will also improve 77 kilometers
of rural roads serving poor villages, improving
access to the main road and thus to regional
markets and Tajikistan's capital.
Accessed
on 15 December 2003 from <http://www.adb.org/Documents/News/2003/nr2003202.asp>
Information is taken mainly from secondary
sources and UNESCAP accepts no responsibility
for its accuracy. Mention of any companies
and their products does not imply endorsement
by the United Nations.
The designations
employed and the presentation of the material
in this publication do not imply the expression
of any opinion whatsoever on the part of
the Secretariat of the United Nations concerning
the legal status of any country, territory,
city or area, or of its authorities, or
concerning the delimitation of its frontiers or boundaries.
©2004 United Nations
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ISSUE 1/2004