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The document argues that the US uses bilateral and regional free trade agreements (FTAs) to implement "TRIPS-plus" intellectual property standards that undermine the 2001 Doha Declaration on TRIPS and Public Health. These provisions—including data exclusivity, patent term extensions, and restrictions on compulsory licensing—increase drug prices and delay generic competition, thereby hindering access to essential medicines in developing countries. The author suggests that civil society should raise public awareness in both negotiating countries and the US, engage ministries of health, and advocate for a WTO moratorium on TRIPS-plus provisions. Furthermore, the paper argues for shifting the global discourse from intellectual property protection to a health-needs-driven R&D model, citing evidence that high IP standards have not significantly boosted research for diseases predominantly affecting the developing world.

The report examines the remittance landscape for immigrants in Norway, comparing 42 services across 21 mechanisms, including banks, money transfer operators (MTOs), and informal hawala systems. It highlights a restrictive regulatory environment that often drives users toward illegal services, particularly for transfers to Somalia and Iraq. The analysis reveals that real costs are often hidden through exchange rate spreads, with typical costs for NOK 1,000 transfers ranging from 5% to 25%. While bank transfers can be cheaper for larger amounts, they are often slower and less predictable than MTOs. The report argues that improving financial literacy and regularizing informal services could enhance the development impact of remittances and improve immigrant integration.

The document analyzes terrorism in Egypt through three distinct cycles, tracing the evolution from the 1928 founding of the Muslim Brotherhood to the 2006 Dahab bombings. It argues that Egypt's closed political system, socio-economic marginalization—particularly of the Bedouin community in Sinai—and heavy-handed security responses have fueled extremism. The paper also details the significant role of Egyptian nationals, such as Ayman al-Zawahiri, in the formation and leadership of transnational networks like al-Qa'eda, suggesting that domestic repression effectively exported extremism globally.

The report evaluates the EU's approach to combating the illicit trade of small arms and light weapons (SALW) and managing explosive remnants of war (ERW). It argues that while the EU has established a Small Arms Strategy and various funding instruments, there is a need for greater policy coherence, a formal extension of mine action assistance to include ERW, and a more comprehensive approach that links security and development. The document specifically examines the situation in North Africa, highlighting gaps in border management and the need for technical assistance in stockpile management and mine clearance.

Concentrating solar power (CSP) uses mirrors to focus sunlight to generate electricity, offering the lowest cost among solar technologies at $0.09 to $0.12 per kWh for plants over 10 MW. The document details three primary technologies: trough systems, power tower systems, and dish systems, noting that trough and tower systems can store heat for use after dark. While the US has significant potential—specifically in the Southwest—high capital costs and the requirement for direct sunlight remain primary challenges. The US Department of Energy projects costs could drop to $0.04 to $0.05 per kWh in the coming decades.

The document assesses the progress and deadlocks of the Doha Round negotiations as of November 2005. It highlights significant stalemates in agricultural market access, non-agricultural market access (NAMA), and services, while detailing specific disputes over fisheries subsidies, intellectual property rights (TRIPS), and the implementation of special and differential treatment for developing countries. It also reviews the impact of the 2005 expiry of textile and clothing quotas and the ongoing efforts to improve the WTO's Dispute Settlement Understanding.

The document introduces 'communication rights' as a broad conceptual umbrella that extends beyond freedom of expression to include democratic media governance, linguistic rights, and access to knowledge. It presents the Communication Rights Assessment Framework (CRAFT), which organises these rights into four pillars: Communicating in the Public Sphere, Communicating Knowledge for Creativity and Equity, Civil Rights in Communication, and Cultural Rights in Communication. The handbook details how to apply this framework through research, stakeholder verification, and follow-up advocacy, drawing on pilot projects conducted in Brazil, Colombia, Kenya, the Philippines, and the European Union.

The document examines the trend of 'TRIPS-plus' provisions in bilateral trade agreements, particularly those involving the United States, which extend copyright terms to 70 years and implement strict Technological Protection Measures (TPMs) based on the U.S. Digital Millennium Copyright Act (DMCA). It argues these measures undermine the public domain and impede access to knowledge in developing countries. Additionally, the report tracks Q1 2005 developments in the WTO, WIPO, CBD, WHO, and UNESCO, highlighting stalemates over pharmaceutical compulsory licensing, disclosure requirements for genetic resources, and the future work program of the Standing Committee on the Law of Patents.

The research paper examines the expansion of South African companies into other African markets, noting that these firms often invest in diverse sectors beyond extractive industries and employ innovative strategies to overcome infrastructural deficits. While South African business competitiveness is high, it has led to perceptions of dominance and 'bullying' in smaller economies. The author argues that while regulating criminal behavior like bribery is necessary, any broader code of conduct must avoid being overly restrictive to prevent deterring investment in a challenging business environment.

The report analyzes the shift in US trade policy toward 'aggressive unilateralism' and bilateral FTAs as a means to open foreign markets and pressure the multilateral WTO process. It specifically examines the motivations and challenges surrounding the proposed US-SACU FTA, noting that while it offers an opportunity to lock in market access and build on the African Growth and Opportunity Act (AGOA), it faces hurdles regarding agricultural subsidies, intellectual property rights, and the disparate economic sizes of the partners. The authors warn that the FTA may not be a panacea for development if not coupled with broader structural policies.

The Center for International Environmental Law (CIEL) argues that the U.S.-Morocco Free Trade Agreement's investment chapter grants foreign investors excessive rights that exceed those of domestic U.S. investors, violating the Trade Act of 2002. CIEL highlights the risks of the investor-state dispute mechanism, the lack of a general environmental exception, and the use of subjective standards like 'fair and equitable treatment' which could undermine public interest regulations and democratic governance.

A coalition of organizations requests that the Office of the United States Trade Representative (USTR) adopt specific transparency measures for trade negotiations, including the timely publication of proposed agreement texts and negotiating proposals on its website to ensure broader public participation and avoid perceived bias.

The document analyzes the intersection of intellectual property and development, highlighting the risks of fragmented negotiations across different international bodies. It focuses on three critical issues for the September 2004 WIPO General Assembly: the interrelation between the Convention on Biological Diversity (CBD) and IP disclosure requirements, the proposed treaty on the protection of broadcasting organizations, and the future of the Substantive Patent Law Treaty (SPLT). Additionally, it tracks IP-related activities in the WTO, WHO, UNCTAD, and various bilateral 'TRIPS-plus' trade agreements, arguing that developed countries often use bilateral fora to circumvent multilateral flexibilities.

The report examines the shift in intellectual property standard-setting from multilateral forums like the WTO and WIPO to bilateral and regional trade agreements. It highlights the risk of "TRIPS-plus" provisions—standards exceeding the WTO's TRIPS Agreement—which erode flexibilities for developing countries. A central focus is the application of non-violation complaints in bilateral deals (e.g., US-Chile, CAFTA), which the authors argue could make WTO discussions irrelevant and restrict the right of states to regulate IP in the public interest. The document also updates activities in the TRIPS Council, WIPO's committees on patents and genetic resources, and various UN agencies regarding traditional knowledge and public health.

The report examines the expansion of South African business into the rest of Africa, highlighting a shift from traditional construction and mining into sectors like banking, telecommunications, and retail. While South African firms possess competitive advantages in capital and technology, they face significant structural hurdles, including political risk, corruption, poor infrastructure, and currency volatility. The document provides detailed case studies on sectors (Banking, Telecommunications, Retail, Mining) and countries (Uganda, Morocco, Mozambique, Ghana), concluding that sustainable growth requires improved governance, the rule of law, and stronger regional integration through initiatives like Nepad.

A formal Freedom of Information Act (FOIA) request submitted by Friends of the Earth – U.S. and other environmental organizations to the United States Trade Representative for documents concerning investment provisions in various U.S. free trade agreements.

The Center for International Environmental Law (CIEL), along with Friends of the Earth – US, Natural Resources Defense Council, and Defenders of Wildlife, submitted a FOIA request to the USTR for all environmental provisions and supporting documents of free trade agreements negotiated since early 2003, specifically mentioning agreements with Morocco, Colombia, Australia, and Central America.

The document argues that the deployment of peacekeeping forces in Africa must account for the widespread presence of anti-personnel landmines. It discusses the development of the African Stand-by Force and the role of the Ottawa Convention in banning landmines, highlighting the specific challenges in the SADC region and South Africa's legislative efforts to criminalise landmine possession and production.

The document details the early stages of the Doha Round negotiations on WTO rules, highlighting the friction between developed and developing nations over trade remedies and subsidies. It examines specific proposals to reform anti-dumping procedures, the debate over the 'safe harbour' of OECD export credit standards, and the contentious issue of fisheries subsidies. Additionally, it outlines the effort to balance the proliferation of regional trade agreements with multilateralism, noting a lack of consensus on key definitions and the developmental impact of such agreements.

The Kyoto Protocol establishes a compliance system for Annex I nations that is more robust than typical multilateral environmental agreements, featuring a two-branch Compliance Committee. While the legal binding nature of consequences remains a point of contention among some nations, the system includes specific penalties for exceeding emissions targets, such as a 1.3-ton deduction for every excess ton in the next period and restrictions on emissions trading. The system relies on Article 8 expert review teams to monitor reporting and a quasi-judicial enforcement branch to determine noncompliance.