India Objections Stall WTO Talks
– The World Trade Organizations (WTO) plans to streamline global trade failed this week as India demanded to keep its food subsidy programs. The agreement would have been the most significant initiative for the nearly 20 year old organization. Members are now discussing options of moving forward without India.
Read more from Bloomberg
Highway Funding Bill Passes –Congress approved last-minute legislation this week extending highway and transit funding through May. The $10.8 billion dollars now approved for the Highway Trust Fund is seen as a temporary budget fix as taxes on gasoline and fuel haven’t kept pace with spending.
Read more from the WSJ
ILWU and PMA Take Break from Negotiations – This week the International Longshore and Warehouse Union (ILWU) and the Pacific Maritime Association (PMA) took a break from negotiating their labor contract at U.S. West Coast ports. Negotiations are set to resume next Monday, August 4 th , in San Francisco.
Read the PMA-ILWU Joint Statement
