"Urgency" of WTO Trade Negotiations

I. What is the global picture?

The Trade Negotiating Committee (TNC) at its 27 June 2008 meeting discussed the status of the Doha Development Agenda negotiations, in particular regarding the immediate goal of establishing modalities in agriculture and Non-Agriculture Market Access (NAMA).

Pascal Lamy, as chair of the TNC, recalled that since the last General Council held on 7 May 2008, WTO Members have continued to reiterate their political determination to conclude the Doha Round by the end of 2008. “Political leaders widely believe that in order to achieve this goal, we must put into place modalities in Agriculture and NAMA by the end of July 2008”, he said.

Since April 2008, consultations and meetings have been taking place on agriculture and NAMA. These aimed at producing revised modalities texts therein. Despite their centrality, the modalities texts on agriculture and NAMA are not the only areas, in which the Doha negotiations are to move forward.

Pascal Lamy also reported that his consultations on Trade and Environment, the S&D (Special and Differential Treatment) Work Programme and Trade Facilitation were advancing, and needed not be taken up in detail at the time of the modalities. On these issues, the respective Chairs will report to the TNC to be held in July 2008 on progress, and set out roadmaps for further work in their respective areas. More clarity on services, rules and the TRIPS-related issues is also needed.

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Source: International Gender and Trade Network