World Trade Organization

The importance of an accurate and complete record of invention caimot be underestimated. The record of invention should serve as the basic document for estabUshing the date of conception and reduction to practice of the invention. The U.S. PTO issues patents to those who are first to invent. In a contest over inventorship, any available record of invention is submitted to the U.S. PTO to estabUsh proof of an inventor s rights. As of January 1, 1996, any inventor from a country belonging to the World Trade Organization may use such evidence before the U.S. PTO. Previously, this type of proof could be rehed upon only if the activity, documented in the notebook, record, etc, was undertaken in the United States. Similarly, activity undertaken after December 8, 1993 in Mexico or Canada may also be rehed upon to prove inventorship. 

The U.S. industry has several advantages over the rest of the world market modem mills, a highly skilled work force, a large domestic market, and an efficient transportation infrastructure. Major export markets for pulp are Japan, Italy, Germany, Mexico, and France. The U.S. Department of Commerce anticipates exports to grow faster than production for domestic markets through 2004. World Trade Organization (WTO) efforts to reduce tariffs include those on pulp and paper products if these are successful, the U.S. industry expects pulp and paper export rates to increase even further. 

None of the solutions mentioned in the above lines will be forthcoming from any invisible hand , nor can it be decided by one state as a corrective measure against market failures, because national authorities lack the capacity to impose regulations beyond their national borders. The way forward should be along the lines of an international agreement between countries, promoted and guaranteed by international bodies such as the WHO and the World Trade Organization (WTO). 

China s pharmaceutical market is growing at a very fast pace. The current data show that the total market is around US 20 billion, and it is the ninth largest pharmaceutical country in the world. The Chinese government maintains price control on imported drugs. With China s entry into the World Trade Organization (WTO), tariffs have been reduced from 20% to 6.5%. The projection is that the market size will reach US 60 billion by 2010, and China will be the world s largest market by 2020. 

In 1988, the European Commission (EC) prohibited the use of hormones for growth promotion in animals to be used for food production. The ban also applied to imported of meat products. The result was a considerable amount of litigation, and trade disputes between North America and the European Union nations. The disputes led to tariff sanctions against the European Union nations. In 1998, the World Trade Organization (WTO) Appellate Body essentially condemned the EC for harming meat products from animals treated... 

The Codex Alimentarius is a code of food standards for all nations. All members of CAC and interested international organizations are invited to comment on proposed standards, including possible implications for their economic interests. Members are encouraged to consult with interested and affected parties in their countries. Codex standards are recognized by the World Trade Organization as the international reference standards for food safety. 

WTO 1994. Agreement on Technical Barriers to Trade. World Trade Organization, Geneva. 

World Trade Organization (WTO). 1994. Agreement on Trade-Related Aspects of Intellectual Property Rights. Geneva WTO. Available at http //www.wto.org/english/docs e/legal e/27-trips.pdf [Accessed January 15, 2006]. 

World Trade Organization (WTO). 2001. Permanent Mission of the United States, Brazil Measures Affecting Patent Protection, Request for the Establishment of a Panel by the United States. WT/ DS199/3. Available at www.wto.int [Accessed February 5, 2006]. 

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