Bridges Weekly

Participants at the UN’s #Biodiversity Conference are discussing how to finish implementing #CBD targets for 2011-2020 and begin setting the stage for a post-2020 strategy bit.ly/2S4hgng

Standards bodies have an important role to play in achieving #gender equality, according to a recommendation adopted by @UNECE on 15 November bit.ly/2FPNDVF

Discussions between #EU and South African leaders included a wide array of topics such as #trade and market access, #Brexit, migration, and #sustainability bit.ly/2S8GpNz

.@WTO members had an informal meeting last week where they debated how to approach agricultural export restrictions and their impact on #WFP #humanitarian aid bit.ly/2FDFuDy

Leaders from 21 Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (#APEC) economies wrapped up their annual summit, where they tackled subjects relating to regional #connectivity and #economic integration bit.ly/2DXq5w6

European leaders are preparing for a landmark summit on Sunday 25 November, where they are expected to sign off on a draft #Brexit deal reached by #EU and #UK negotiators bit.ly/2R3Q7Ax

The @EU_Commission has reported steady progress in the #trade talks with Indonesia and New Zealand, respectively, with subsequent negotiating rounds planned for early 2019 bit.ly/2qPaRAE

A working group of UK and US #trade representatives met in Washington to continue talks on their post-Brexit #trade and #investment relationship, including how to support #SMEs bit.ly/2ThkJjH

EU Trade Commissioner @MalmstromEU and @USTradeRep Robert Lighthizer met to review bilateral and multilateral #trade objectives, with a report due to their respective presidents this year bit.ly/2PAP9PF

Negotiators at the #WTO are looking to wrap up a deal disciplining harmful #fisheries subsidies by the end of 2019 bit.ly/2RWfKTU

Leaders from the 16 countries negotiating the Regional Comprehensive Economic Partnership (#RCEP) #trade deal plan to wrap up a "high quality and mutually beneficial" accord next year bit.ly/2zXl8ih

Myanmar and Cambodia face temporary removal of trade preferences from the EU, due to concerns of compliance with human and labour rights conventions bit.ly/2JP2X31

An #EU regulation that sets rules on cadmium in chocolate on #foodsafety grounds has drawn scrutiny from developing country exporters concerned over farmer livelihoods bit.ly/2PjJcGA

The inaugural Bloomberg New Economy Forum was held this week, addressing pressing issues including international #trade and #climatechange against an evolving global economic backdrop bit.ly/2AUR8W6

A proposal to improve #transparency and strengthen notification requirements has been submitted to @WTO members on behalf of Argentina, Costa Rica, the EU, Japan, and the US bit.ly/2yYqJFm

The inaugural China International Import Expo (#CIIE) kicked off this week in Shanghai, the first event of its kind to focus solely on imports bit.ly/2F6x6fo #trade

One of the first #trade matters that the incoming US Congress will face is a review and vote on the #USMCA (US-Mexico-Canada Agreement) bit.ly/2DuwLRY

In recent high-level meetings, Chinese and Japanese leaders pledged to boost joint cooperation in infrastructure projects, as well as supporting the global trading system and bilateral trade ties bit.ly/2qohSbo

Regarding #trade, #environment and #climatechange issues, Bolsonaro’s next steps are expected to have significant impacts on both the regional and international communities bit.ly/2qnwTuk

European parliamentarians say that the bloc’s #climateaction policies should be aligned with the #ParisAgreement’s long-term goals, and endorsed cutting emissions by 55% by 2030 bit.ly/2PGwxNH