The Federal Government has signed an agreement with leading trade law firm, King and Spalding, LLP Geneva, Switzerland to provide legal services for Nigeria's trade remedy legislation as a key element of modern trade policy.
Ms Constance Ikokwu, Strategy and Communications Adviser to the Minister of Industry, Trade and Investment, Dr. Okechukwu Enelamah, said this in a statement issued in Abuja on Wednesday.
The agreement was signed in Geneva by Chief Negotiator and Director-General of the Nigerian Office for Trade Negotiations (NOTN), Ambassador Chiedu Osakwe for Nigeria, while Mr Daniel Crosby stood for King and Spalding.
Osakwe said "the firm is expected to support the drafting of Nigeria's trade remedy law and prepare a legal brief on the rationale and requirements for the legislation, which will effectively stop dumping on the Nigerian market.
"The firm's services are on a pro bono basis.” The term generally refers to free services that a professional provides to poverty-stricken clients, non-profit groups or charitable organisations.
According to him, Nigeria has been grappling unsuccessfully with increased cases of dumping and other injurious imports in the economy.
He added that the government was determined to support local manufacturers and service providers to competitively grow the economy through integration to global value chains in a rule-based global economy.
