Search Results for: International business

BY KEITHNUTHALL
THE CREATION of an international joint-venture, manufacturing oxo chemicals – which are a key ingredient of many synthetic fibres – has been agreed by the European Commission. It has approved the 50/50 initiative involving German chemical producers Celanese AG and Degussa AG; it will trade as European Oxo Chemicals (EOC).…

BY KEITH NUTHALL
A WORLD Trade Organisation disputes settlement panel has dismissed claims made by India that American textile rules of origin regulations are illegal under international law. New Delhi had claimed that changes to the USA’s 1996 Uruguay Round Agreements Act broke commitments within the WTO Rules of Origin Agreement that member countries do not discriminate in favour of one trading partner.…

BY MONICA DOBIE
BRITISH Columbia’s attempt to recover billions of dollars in smoking-related healthcare costs from large Canadian tobacco firms has been thrown out by the province’s Supreme Court. Justice Ronald Holmes ruled that legislation underpinning the province’s lawsuit is unconstitutional because it is directed at international companies outside the province’s jurisdiction.…

BY KEITH NUTHALL
THE CREATION of an international joint-venture, manufacturing oxo chemicals – which are a key ingredient of many solvents – has been agreed by the European Commission. It has approved the 50/50 initiative involving German chemical producers Celanese AG and Degussa AG; it will trade as European Oxo Chemicals (EOC).…

BY KEITH NUTHALL
THE EUROPEAN Commission has approved the acquisition of VDBO, the oil seeds division of Unilever Bestfoods by Archer Daniels Midland International Ltd (UK).…

BY KEITH NUTHALL
THE OFFICE International des Épizooties, the world animal health organisation, has declared northern Argentina (north of the 42° parallel) free from foot and mouth disease (FMD), albeit with the help of vaccination, backdated to July 7…

BY KEITH NUTHALL
THE PARLIAMENTARY Assembly of the Council of Europe is debating a plan to extend the European Convention on Human Rights with an additional protocol, guaranteeing European citizens decent environmental standards. If the proposal is carried forward, it would entail international lawyers drafting a clear definition of “a healthy environment” and the convention extension would “oblige states to protect individuals from environmental nuisances harmful or dangerous to health;” it is being promoted by the council’s committee on environment, agriculture and local and regional affairs.…

BY KEITH NUTHALL
INDIA’S Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) has seized 45 shahtoosh shawls and two shirts, acting on information from the Wildlife Protection Society of India. The items were discovered in Delhi and included one seven metre length of uncut shahtoosh fabric.…

BY KEITH NUTHALL
UNILATERAL action by the Belgian government to ban the night-time landing and take-off of outdated aircraft using hush-kit noise reduction mufflers is being challenged by the European Commission. It says that Belgium should impose noise restrictions on aircraft in a way that is harmonised with the rest of the EU, under the terms of a new air noise directive, due to come in force on July 1.…

BY KEITH NUTHALL
A CLEARER picture of the international funds and cooperation deals required to boost the reliance of the world on renewable energy sources has emerged from the first conference of the Johannesburg Renewable Energy Coalition. The 80-country organisation – established at the city’s world summit on sustainable development last year – forged a consensus on the shape of financial instruments that could promote green energy worldwide.…