NWU joins WTO Chair Programme The World Trade Organisation (WTO) on 28 May 2014 announced that seven universities – from Benin, Brazil, Indonesia, Oman, South Africa, Tunisia and Turkey – had been added to its Chairs Programme (WCP). The WCP was originally launched in 2010 as a pilot capacity-building project which aims to enhance knowledge and understanding of the multilateral trading system among academics and students in developing countries through teaching, research and outreach activities in research institutions. According to the WTO, for the second phase of the programme the number of participating institutions will be expanded to 21. This phase will run until 30 May 2018 and will be funded with support from The Netherlands. The new Chairs selected will expand the current network of the 14 existing Chairs. The WTO Secretariat will continue to work with current Chairs who will benefit from scientific and trade-related technical assistance support. Of the seven selected institutions, one is South African - The North-West University (NWU), which is represented by Professor Wilma Viviers. The WCP is implemented through partnership agreements between the WTO Secretariat and the selected institutions. The WTO provides financial, scientific and technical support to its partners in three interdependent pillars – research, curriculum development and outreach activities – for a period of up to four years maximum. The WCP will assist national academic institutions in providing students with a deeper understanding of trade policy issues. Through analytical input into the formulation and implementation of trade policy, the WCP will help strengthen the participation of the beneficiary countries in international trade. Yemen the 160th WTO member On 27 May 2014 the WTO announced that Yemen had deposited its “Instrument of Acceptance” confirming its WTO membership terms and was now set to become a fully fledged member on 26 June 2014. In the “Instrument of Acceptance”, the Yemeni government declared that the law approving Yemen’s Protocol of Accession enacted by Parliament was issued by the President of Yemen on 11 May 2014. Yemen is the 7th leastdeveloped country (LDC) to accede to the multilateral trading system since the WTO was established in 1995. According to the WTO, as an LDC, Yemen will benefit from technical assistance and capacity building from the WTO Secretariat to support the implementation of its accessions commitments, negotiate trade rules and develop the trade-related skills and infrastructure needed to benefit from its WTO membership. Duty Calls Watch List Comment on the following is due by 30 June 2014. The draft interpretation note on the supply of goods and services by professional foreign hunters, and the registration as Value-added Tax (VAT) vendors. The carbon offsets paper and the review of the taxation of alcoholic beverages in South Africa. Comment on the proposed increase in the rate of customs duty on paper and paperboard coated, impregnated or covered with plastic; and other paper, paperboard, cellulose fibres by creation of additional 8-digit tariff subheadings is due by 20 June 2014.
