Chemicals from Poland : a tempest in a teacup

In the early 1980s, the Polish chemical industry got caught up in a battle waged by the European Community's chemical industry to preserve the EC market for itself. The Polish share of that market was very small, and the performance of the Polish companies did not depend on it, so they emerged from the battle unscathed. Perhaps the most striking finding of this study is what it tells us about the business ethics implicit in antidumping regulation. This ethic stresses collective behavior and the resolution of economic questions through political negotiation and compromise. The business behavior the antidumping rules attempt to impose on is in direct conflict with the antimonopoly laws - a basic part of the business ethics of a market system - but it fits well into the business ethics of a nonmarket economy. As an interface between the two systems, the antidumping rules teach the capitalists to behave like socialists, rather than teach the socialists how tobehave as capitalists.Environmental Economics&Policies,Water and Industry,Economic Theory&Research,Markets and Market Access,TF054105-DONOR FUNDED OPERATION ADMINISTRATION FEE INCOME AND EXPENSE ACCOUNT

Beyond effectiveness. The adversities of implementing a fortification program : a case study on the quality of iron fortification of fish and soy sauce in Cambodia

Fortification of fish and soy sauces is a cost-effective strategy to deliver and increase iron intake in the Cambodian diet, as both are widely consumed by the entire population. In order to qualify as fortified sauces recognized by international regulations, iron content must be between 230 and 460 mg/L, whilst nitrogen and salt should contain no less than 10 g/L and 200 g/L respectively. This survey aims to analyze the progress of the fortification program. Through a better understanding of its obstacles and successes, the paper will then consider approaches to strengthen the program. Two hundred and fifty two samples were collected from 186 plants and 66 markets in various provinces. They were then analyzed for iron, nitrogen and salt content. The study demonstrates that 74% of fortified fish and soy sauces comply with Cambodian regulations on iron content. 87% and 53.6% of the collected samples do not have adequate level of nitrogen and salt content, respectively. The paper will discuss additional efforts that need to be implemented to ensure the sustainability of the project, including the need to: (i) comply with International Codex; (ii) adopt mandatory legislation; and (iii) ensure enforcement

Diagnosis and management of preeclampsia in community settings in low and middle-income countries

Hypertensive disorders of pregnancy contribute significantly to maternal mortality and morbidity. Preeclampsia belongs to the spectrum of hypertensive disorders of pregnancy and if undiagnosed and/or untreated leads to fatal consequences for both the mother and the baby. Early detection and prevention of preeclampsia is limited by uncertainty in the knowledge about its etiopathogenesis. While much work has been done in establishing clinical guidelines for management of preeclampsia in the hospital or tertiary care settings, there is considerable lack of work in the domain of evidence-based guidelines for screening, identification and management of preeclampsia at the community-level. The article reviews these issues with special considerations and to challenges faced in low and middle-income countries. There is a need to focus on low-cost screening and interventions in the community to achieve a significant impact on preventable maternal and fetal mortality in order to control the burden of preeclampsia significantly as well as investing on more research at primary care level to improve the evidence base for community-level interventions

Biofuels production, trade and sustainable development: emerging issues

Sustainable Markets Discussion Paper No. 2, september 200

Creatine supplementation during pregnancy: summary of experimental studies suggestion a treatment to improve fetal and neonatal morbidity and reduce mortality in high-risk human pregnancy

While the use of creatine in human pregnancy is yet to be fully evaluated, its long-term use in healthy adults appears to be safe, and its well documented neuroprotective properties have recently been extended by demonstrations that creatine improves cognitive function in normal and elderly people, and motor skills in sleep-deprived subjects. Creatine has many actions likely to benefit the fetus and newborn, because pregnancy is a state of heightened metabolic activity, and the placenta is a key source of free radicals of oxygen and nitrogen. The multiple benefits of supplementary creatine arise from the fact that the creatine-phosphocreatine [PCr] system has physiologically important roles that include maintenance of intracellular ATP and acid–base balance, post-ischaemic recovery of protein synthesis, cerebral vasodilation, antioxidant actions, and stabilisation of lipid membranes. In the brain, creatine not only reduces lipid peroxidation and improves cerebral perfusion, its interaction with the benzodiazepine site of the GABAA receptor is likely to counteract the effects of glutamate excitotoxicity – actions that may protect the preterm and term fetal brain from the effects of birth hypoxia. In this review we discuss the development of creatine synthesis during fetal life, the transfer of creatine from mother to fetus, and propose that creatine supplementation during pregnancy may have benefits for the fetus and neonate whenever oxidative stress or feto-placental hypoxia arise, as in cases of fetal growth restriction, premature birth, or when parturition is delayed or complicated by oxygen deprivation of the newborn

Judicial review of safeguard measures in the European Community

This thesis is an attempt to analyse the jurisprudence of the European Court of Justice in the review of safeguard measures in the European Community. The safeguard measures considered are the Community's anti-dumping and anti-subsidy rules under Regulation 2423/88, safeguard measures under Regulation 288/82 and rules to combat illicit commercial practices under Regulation 2641/84. These instruments are part of the European Community's arsenal designed to counteract unfair trade practices of Third Countries. Emphasis is placed on the anti-dumping rules given that the measures imposing anti-dumping duties are most frequently challenged before the Court.The thesis begins with a synopsis of the Community's competence to deal exclusively with these matters. The respective roles of the Community authorities and the Member States in the adoption of protective measures is also considered.In order to understand the rationale of the Court's rulings in cases involving safeguard measures each of the instruments are viewed from an international and European perspective. The latter involves an analysis of the Community's legislation with respect to the substantive and procedural rules governing the imposition of protective measures to combat unfair trade practices of Third Countries.Having placed the safeguard measures in their proper perspective, judicial review by the Court is viewed first from the standpoint of an applicant's locus standi or standing to challenge a Community act imposing protective measures. If an applicant has locus standi he may apply to the Court for an award of interim measures pending the outcome of the main application. The rules relating to such awards are considered and the Court's rulings in cases involving safeguard measures are analysed. Judicial review 'proper' in the sense of the Court's review of the merits of the cases that have come before it to date are considered in the light of the grounds of review in Article 173 of the EEC Treaty. This final chapter attempts to determine the extent to which the Court is prepared to review the findings of the authorities upon which the measures were adopted

Empty Chair at the Table: Bargaining, Costs and Litigation at the World Trade Organization

This study examines the World Trade Organization (WTO) to test how, if at all, its Dispute Settlement Body (DSB) serves the needs of its members. More specifically, it probes why countries would join the institution, but do not use it if a trade dispute arises. To test this expectation, the study hypothesizes that exorbitant dispute settlement costs can inhibit litigation. This occurs, however, across all dyads and not just when developing and developed countries litigate. The project uses mixed methods comprising an extensive form game, case studies and the information theory approach for comparative case analysis. The cases selected have power disparities, and variation in the dependent variable, since not all of them are litigated. Additionally, they all feature cement as the contested good and invocation of the Anti-Dumping Agreement for reprieve. These disputes are China – Cement (between China and Jamaica); Guatemala – Cement I and II (between Guatemala and Mexico); and United States – Cement (between the United States and Mexico). The formal model shows that with the same litigation costs, there is a pure subgame perfect Nash equilibrium where both states will engage in protectionism and avoid filing. In situations where one state has a higher burden to seek recourse, its trading partner will protect as its dominant strategy. The affected state is then forced to continue with free trade and not use the DSB, or respond with protectionism and then acquiesce since it cannot afford the full litigation process. The case studies highlight how legal capacity and other associated costs can catalyze DSB participation, or induce non-involvement. Countries that have membership in other dispute settlement organizations, DSB experience, as well as domestic and international experience with the Anti-Dumping Agreement are more likely to litigate. The likelihood of litigation also increases if the contested good contributes significantly towards GDP and if the country expects to win. The information theory approach tests these results under conditions of reduced uncertainty and validates some of these findings. Generally, the study shows that non-participatory membership is relative to the timing of the dispute, the countries involved, and their calculations of the costs against the projected benefits