understanding the wto(25)

7/31/2019 Understanding the Wto(25)

1/24

UNDERSTANDING THE WTO: THE DOHA AGENDA

The Doha agenda

The work programme lists 21 subjects. The original deadline of 1 January 2005was missed. So was the next unofficial target of the end of 2006.


2/24

At the Fourth Ministerial Conference inDoha, Qatar, in November 2001 WTOmember governments agreed to launchnew negotiations. They also agreed towork on other issues, in particular theimplementation of the present

agreements. The entire package is calledthe Doha Development Agenda (DDA).

The negotiations take place in the TradeNegotiations Committee and itssubsidiaries, which are usually, eitherregular councils and committees meetingin special sessions, or specially-created negotiating groups. Other workunder the work programme takes place inother WTO councils and committees.

The Fifth Ministerial Conference in

Cancn, Mexico, in September 2003, wasintended as a stock-taking meeting wheremembers would agree on how tocomplete the rest of the negotiations.But the meeting was soured by discord onagricultural issues, including cotton, andended in deadlock on the Singaporeissues (see below). Real progress on theSingapore issues and agriculture was notevident until the early hours of 1 August2004 with a set of decisions in theGeneral Council (sometimes called theJuly 2004 package). The original 1

January 2005 deadline was missed. Afterthat, members unofficially aimed tofinish the negotiations by the end of2006, again unsuccessfully. Furtherprogress in narrowing membersdifferences was made at the Hong KongMinisterial Conference in December 2005,but some gaps remained unbridgeableand Director-General Pascal Lamysuspended the negotiations in July 2006.Efforts then focused on trying to achievea breakthrough in early 2007.

See also:> Doha development agenda

> General Council> Trade Negotiations Committee

There are 19-21 subjects listed in theDoha Declaration, depending on whetherto count the rules subjects as one orthree. Most of them involve negotiations;
http://www.wto.org/english/tratop_e/dda_e/dda_e.htmhttp://www.wto.org/english/tratop_e/dda_e/tnc_e.htmhttp://www.wto.org/english/tratop_e/dda_e/tnc_e.htmhttp://www.wto.org/english/thewto_e/whatis_e/tif_e/doha1_e.htm#singapore%23singaporehttp://www.wto.org/english/tratop_e/dda_e/dda_e.htmhttp://www.wto.org/english/thewto_e/gcounc_e/gcounc_e.htmhttp://www.wto.org/english/tratop_e/dda_e/tnc_e.htmhttp://www.wto.org/english/thewto_e/whatis_e/tif_e/dev1_e.htmhttp://www.wto.org/english/thewto_e/whatis_e/tif_e/bey5_e.htmhttp://www.wto.org/english/tratop_e/dda_e/dda_e.htmhttp://www.wto.org/english/tratop_e/dda_e/tnc_e.htmhttp://www.wto.org/english/tratop_e/dda_e/tnc_e.htmhttp://www.wto.org/english/thewto_e/whatis_e/tif_e/doha1_e.htm#singapore%23singaporehttp://www.wto.org/english/tratop_e/dda_e/dda_e.htmhttp://www.wto.org/english/thewto_e/gcounc_e/gcounc_e.htmhttp://www.wto.org/english/tratop_e/dda_e/tnc_e.htm


3/24

Click the + to open an item.

Understandingthe WTO

Basics

Agreements

Settling disputes

Cross-cuttingand new issues

The Doha agenda

Developingcountries

The organization

Abbreviations

A tree for site navigationwill open here if youenable JavaScript in yourbrowser.

More introductoryinformation

> The WTO in Brief> 10 benefits

>10 misunderstandings

Agriculture(par 13, 14) back to top

Negotiations on agriculture began in early2000, under Article 20 of the WTOAgriculture Agreement. By November

2001 and the Doha MinisterialConference, 121 governments hadsubmitted a large number of negotiatingproposals.

These negotiations have continued, butnow with the mandate given by the DohaDeclaration, which also includes a seriesof deadlines. The declaration builds onthe work already undertaken, confirmsand elaborates the objectives, and sets atimetable. Agriculture is now part of thesingle undertaking in which virtually allthe linked negotiations were to end by 1January 2005, now with the unofficialtarget of the end of 2006.

The declaration reconfirms the long-termobjective already agreed in the presentWTO Agreement: to establish a fair andmarket-oriented trading system through aprogramme of fundamental reform. Theprogramme encompasses strengthenedrules, and specific commitments ongovernment support and protection foragriculture. The purpose is to correct andprevent restrictions and distortions inworld agricultural markets.

Without prejudging the outcome,member governments commit themselvesto comprehensive negotiations aimed at:

market access: substantial reductions

exports subsidies: reductions of, with aview to phasing out, all forms of these (inthe 1 August 2004 framework members

agreed to eliminate export subsidies by adate to be negotiated)

domestic support: substantialreductions for supports that distort trade(in the 1 August 2004 framework,developed countries pledged to slashtrade-distorting domestic subsidies by20% from the first day any Doha Agenda

Key dates: agriculture

Start: early 2000

Framework agreed: 1 August2004.

Formulas and other modalitiesfor countries commitments:originally 31 March 2003, now by6th Ministerial Conference, 2005(in Hong Kong, China)

Countries comprehensive draftcommitments and stock taking :originally by 5th MinisterialConference, 2003 (in Mexico)

Deadline: originally by 1 January2005, now unofficially by end of2006, part of single undertaking
http://www.wto.org/english/thewto_e/whatis_e/tif_e/tif_e.htmhttp://www.wto.org/english/thewto_e/whatis_e/tif_e/tif_e.htmhttp://www.wto.org/english/thewto_e/whatis_e/tif_e/doha1_e.htmhttp://www.wto.org/english/thewto_e/whatis_e/tif_e/abbr_e.htmhttp://www.wto.org/english/thewto_e/whatis_e/inbrief_e/inbr00_e.htmhttp://www.wto.org/english/thewto_e/whatis_e/10ben_e/10b00_e.htmhttp://www.wto.org/english/thewto_e/whatis_e/10mis_e/10m00_e.htmhttp://www.wto.org/english/thewto_e/whatis_e/10mis_e/10m00_e.htmhttp://www.wto.org/english/thewto_e/minist_e/min01_e/mindecl_e.htm#agriculturehttp://www.wto.org/english/thewto_e/whatis_e/tif_e/doha1_e.htm#top%23tophttp://www.wto.org/english/thewto_e/whatis_e/tif_e/doha1_e.htm#top%23tophttp://www.wto.org/english/thewto_e/whatis_e/tif_e/doha1_e.htm#top%23tophttp://www.wto.org/english/thewto_e/whatis_e/tif_e/doha1_e.htm#top%23tophttp://www.wto.org/english/thewto_e/whatis_e/tif_e/doha1_e.htm#top%23tophttp://www.wto.org/english/thewto_e/whatis_e/tif_e/doha1_e.htm#top%23tophttp://www.wto.org/english/thewto_e/whatis_e/tif_e/abbr_e.htmhttp://clickonnode%28%2235%22%29/http://clickonnode%28%2230%22%29/http://www.wto.org/english/thewto_e/whatis_e/tif_e/doha1_e.htmhttp://clickonnode%28%2223%22%29/http://clickonnode%28%2219%22%29/http://clickonnode%28%227%22%29/http://clickonnode%28%221%22%29/http://www.wto.org/english/thewto_e/whatis_e/tif_e/tif_e.htmhttp://www.wto.org/english/thewto_e/whatis_e/tif_e/doha1_e.htmhttp://www.wto.org/english/thewto_e/whatis_e/tif_e/abbr_e.htmhttp://www.wto.org/english/thewto_e/whatis_e/inbrief_e/inbr00_e.htmhttp://www.wto.org/english/thewto_e/whatis_e/10ben_e/10b00_e.htmhttp://www.wto.org/english/thewto_e/whatis_e/10mis_e/10m00_e.htmhttp://www.wto.org/english/thewto_e/whatis_e/tif_e/doha1_e.htm#top%23tophttp://www.wto.org/english/thewto_e/whatis_e/tif_e/doha1_e.htm#top%23tophttp://www.wto.org/english/thewto_e/whatis_e/tif_e/doha1_e.htm#top%23tophttp://www.wto.org/english/thewto_e/minist_e/min01_e/mindecl_e.htm#agriculturehttp://www.wto.org/english/thewto_e/whatis_e/tif_e/doha1_e.htm#top%23tophttp://www.wto.org/english/thewto_e/whatis_e/tif_e/tif_e.htmhttp://www.wto.org/english/thewto_e/whatis_e/tif_e/tif_e.htm


4/24


5/24

Accordingly, the services negotiationsstarted officially in early 2000 under theCouncil for Trade in Services. In March2001, the Services Council fulfilled a keyelement in the negotiating mandate by

establishing the negotiating guidelinesand procedures.

The Doha Declaration endorses the workalready done, reaffirms the negotiatingguidelines and procedures, andestablishes some key elements of thetimetable including, most importantly,the deadline for concluding thenegotiations as part of a singleundertaking.

The negotiations take place in specialsessions of the Services Council andregular meetings of its relevantsubsidiary committees or working parties.

> current negotiations> more on services

31 May 2005

Deadline: originally by 1 January2005, now unofficially end of2006, part of single undertaking

Market access for non-agricultural products(par 16)back to top

The ministers agreed to launch tariff-cutting negotiations on all non-agricultural products. The aim is toreduce, or as appropriate eliminatetariffs, including the reduction orelimination of tariff peaks, high tariffs,and tariff escalation, as well as non-tariffbarriers, in particular on products ofexport interest to developing countries.These negotiations shall take fully intoaccount the special needs and interestsof developing and least-developed

countries, and recognize that thesecountries do not need to match orreciprocate in full tariff-reductioncommitments by other participants.

At the start, participants have to reachagreement on how (modalities) toconduct the tariff-cutting exercise (in theTokyo Round, the participants used an

Key dates: market access

Start: January 2002

Stock taking: 5th MinisterialConference, 2003 (in Mexico)

Deadline: originally by 1 January2005, now unofficially by end2006, part of single undertaking
http://www.wto.org/english/thewto_e/whatis_e/tif_e/doha1_e.htm#top%23tophttp://www.wto.org/english/thewto_e/whatis_e/tif_e/doha1_e.htm#top%23tophttp://www.wto.org/english/thewto_e/whatis_e/tif_e/doha1_e.htm#top%23tophttp://www.wto.org/english/thewto_e/whatis_e/tif_e/doha1_e.htm#top%23tophttp://www.wto.org/english/tratop_e/serv_e/s_negs_e.htmhttp://www.wto.org/english/tratop_e/serv_e/serv_e.htmhttp://www.wto.org/english/thewto_e/minist_e/min01_e/mindecl_e.htm#marketaccesshttp://www.wto.org/english/thewto_e/whatis_e/tif_e/doha1_e.htm#top%23tophttp://www.wto.org/english/thewto_e/whatis_e/tif_e/doha1_e.htm#top%23tophttp://www.wto.org/english/thewto_e/whatis_e/tif_e/doha1_e.htm#top%23tophttp://www.wto.org/english/thewto_e/whatis_e/tif_e/doha1_e.htm#top%23tophttp://www.wto.org/english/thewto_e/whatis_e/tif_e/doha1_e.htm#top%23tophttp://www.wto.org/english/thewto_e/whatis_e/tif_e/doha1_e.htm#top%23tophttp://www.wto.org/english/thewto_e/whatis_e/tif_e/doha1_e.htm#top%23tophttp://www.wto.org/english/thewto_e/whatis_e/tif_e/doha1_e.htm#top%23tophttp://www.wto.org/english/thewto_e/whatis_e/tif_e/doha1_e.htm#top%23tophttp://www.wto.org/english/thewto_e/whatis_e/tif_e/doha1_e.htm#top%23tophttp://www.wto.org/english/thewto_e/whatis_e/tif_e/doha1_e.htm#top%23tophttp://www.wto.org/english/thewto_e/whatis_e/tif_e/doha1_e.htm#top%23tophttp://www.wto.org/english/tratop_e/serv_e/s_negs_e.htmhttp://www.wto.org/english/tratop_e/serv_e/s_negs_e.htmhttp://www.wto.org/english/tratop_e/serv_e/serv_e.htmhttp://www.wto.org/english/thewto_e/minist_e/min01_e/mindecl_e.htm#marketaccesshttp://www.wto.org/english/thewto_e/whatis_e/tif_e/doha1_e.htm#top%23top


6/24

agreed mathematical formula to cuttariffs across the board; in the UruguayRound, participants negotiated cutsproduct by product). The agreedprocedures would include studies and

capacity-building measures that wouldhelp least-developed countriesparticipate effectively in thenegotiations. Back in Geneva, negotiatorsdecided that the modalities should beagreed by 31 May 2003. When that datewas missed, members agreed on 1 August2004 on a new target: the Hong KongMinisterial Conference in December 2005.

While average customs duties are now attheir lowest levels after eight GATTRounds, certain tariffs continue to

restrict trade, especially on exports ofdeveloping countries for instancetariff peaks, which are relatively hightariffs, usually on sensitive products,amidst generally low tariff levels. Forindustrialized countries, tariffs of 15%and above are generally recognized astariff peaks.

Another example is tariff escalation, inwhich higher import duties are applied onsemi-processed products than on rawmaterials, and higher still on finished

products. This practice protects domesticprocessing industries and discourages thedevelopment of processing activity in thecountries where raw materials originate.

The negotiations take place in a MarketAccess Negotiating Group.

> current negotiations> more on market access

>GATT and the Goods Council

Trade-related aspects ofintellectual property rights(TRIPS)(pars 17-19)back to top

TRIPS and public health. In thedeclaration, ministers stress that it is

Key dates: intellectualproperty

Report to the General Council solution on compulsory licensingand lack of pharmaceuticalproduction capacity: originally byend of 2002, decision agreed 30April 2003.
http://www.wto.org/english/thewto_e/whatis_e/tif_e/doha1_e.htm#top%23tophttp://www.wto.org/english/thewto_e/whatis_e/tif_e/doha1_e.htm#top%23tophttp://www.wto.org/english/thewto_e/whatis_e/tif_e/doha1_e.htm#top%23tophttp://www.wto.org/english/thewto_e/whatis_e/tif_e/doha1_e.htm#top%23tophttp://www.wto.org/english/tratop_e/markacc_e/markacc_negoti_e.htmhttp://www.wto.org/english/tratop_e/markacc_e/markacc_e.htmhttp://www.wto.org/english/tratop_e/gatt_e/gatt_e.htmhttp://www.wto.org/english/tratop_e/gatt_e/gatt_e.htmhttp://www.wto.org/english/thewto_e/whatis_e/tif_e/doha1_e.htm#top%23tophttp://www.wto.org/english/tratop_e/gatt_e/gatt_e.htmhttp://www.wto.org/english/thewto_e/minist_e/min01_e/mindecl_e.htm#tripshttp://www.wto.org/english/thewto_e/whatis_e/tif_e/doha1_e.htm#top%23tophttp://www.wto.org/english/thewto_e/whatis_e/tif_e/doha1_e.htm#top%23tophttp://www.wto.org/english/thewto_e/whatis_e/tif_e/doha1_e.htm#top%23tophttp://www.wto.org/english/thewto_e/whatis_e/tif_e/doha1_e.htm#top%23tophttp://www.wto.org/english/tratop_e/markacc_e/markacc_negoti_e.htmhttp://www.wto.org/english/tratop_e/markacc_e/markacc_negoti_e.htmhttp://www.wto.org/english/tratop_e/markacc_e/markacc_e.htmhttp://www.wto.org/english/tratop_e/gatt_e/gatt_e.htmhttp://www.wto.org/english/thewto_e/minist_e/min01_e/mindecl_e.htm#tripshttp://www.wto.org/english/thewto_e/whatis_e/tif_e/doha1_e.htm#top%23top


7/24

important to implement and interpretthe TRIPS Agreement in a way thatsupports public health by promotingboth access to existing medicines and thecreation of new medicines. They refer to

their separate declaration on thissubject.

This separate declaration on TRIPS andpublic health is designed to respond toconcerns about the possible implicationsof the TRIPS Agreement for access tomedicines.

It emphasizes that the TRIPS Agreementdoes not and should not prevent membergovernments from acting to protectpublic health. It affirms governmentsright to use the agreements flexibilitiesin order to avoid any reticence thegovernments may feel.

The separate declaration clarifies someof the forms of flexibility available, inparticular compulsory licensing andparallel importing. (For an explanation ofthese issues, go to the main TRIPS pageson the WTO website)

For the Doha agenda, this separate

declaration sets two specific task. TheTRIPS Council has to find a solution tothe problems countries may face inmaking use of compulsory licensing ifthey have too little or no pharmaceuticalmanufacturing capacity, reporting to theGeneral Council on this by the end of2002.(this was achieved in August, 2003,see intellectual property section of theAgreements chapter.) The declarationalso extends the deadline for least-developed countries to apply provisionson pharmaceutical patents until 1January 2016.

Geographical indications theregistration system. Geographicalindications are place names (in somecountries also words associated with aplace) used to identify products withparticular characteristics because theycome from specific places. The WTO

Report to TNC action onoutstanding implementation issuesunder par 12: by end of 2002(missed)

Deadline negotiations on

geographical indicationsregistration system (wines andspirits): by 5th MinisterialConference, 2003 (in Mexico)(missed)

Deadline negotiations specificallymandated in Doha Declaration:originally by 1 January 2005, nowunofficially by end 2006

Least-developed countries to applypharmaceutical patent provisions:2016

The four Singapore issues: nonegotiations until

For trade and investment, tradeand competition policy,transparency in governmentprocurement and tradefacilitation, the 2001 Dohadeclaration does not launchnegotiations immediately. It saysnegotiations will take placeafter the Fifth Session of theMinisterial Conference on thebasis of a decision to be taken,by explicit consensus, at thatsession on modalities of

negotiations [i.e. how thenegotiations are to beconducted]." But consensuseluded members on negotiatingthe four subjects. Finallyagreement was reached on1 August 2004 to negotiate tradefacilitation alone. The threeother subjects were droppedfrom the Doha agenda
http://www.wto.org/english/thewto_e/whatis_e/tif_e/doha1_e.htm#top%23tophttp://www.wto.org/english/thewto_e/whatis_e/tif_e/doha1_e.htm#top%23tophttp://www.wto.org/english/thewto_e/whatis_e/tif_e/doha1_e.htm#top%23tophttp://www.wto.org/english/thewto_e/whatis_e/tif_e/doha1_e.htm#top%23tophttp://www.wto.org/english/thewto_e/whatis_e/tif_e/agrm7_e.htmhttp://www.wto.org/english/tratop_e/dda_e/implem_explained_e.htmhttp://www.wto.org/english/tratop_e/dda_e/implem_explained_e.htmhttp://www.wto.org/english/tratop_e/dda_e/implem_explained_e.htmhttp://www.wto.org/english/thewto_e/whatis_e/tif_e/doha1_e.htm#top%23tophttp://www.wto.org/english/thewto_e/whatis_e/tif_e/doha1_e.htm#top%23tophttp://www.wto.org/english/tratop_e/dda_e/implem_explained_e.htmhttp://www.wto.org/english/thewto_e/whatis_e/tif_e/agrm7_e.htm


8/24

TRIPS Council has already started work ona multilateral registration system forgeographical indications for wines andspirits. The Doha Declaration sets adeadline for completing the negotiations:

the Fifth Ministerial Conference in 2003.

These negotiations take place in specialsessions of the TRIPS Council.

Geographical indications extendingthe higher level of protection toother products. The TRIPS Agreementprovides a higher level of protection togeographical indications for wines andspirits. This means they should beprotected even if there is no risk ofmisleading consumers or unfaircompetition. A number of countries wantto negotiate extending this higher levelto other products. Others oppose themove, and the debate in the TRIPSCouncil has included the question ofwhether the relevant provisions of theTRIPS Agreement provide a mandate forextending coverage beyond wines andspirits.

The Doha Declaration notes that theTRIPS Council will handle this under thedeclarations paragraph 12 (which dealswith implementation issues). Paragraph12 offers two tracks: (a) where weprovide a specific negotiating mandate inthis Declaration, the relevantimplementation issues shall be addressedunder that mandate; (b) the otheroutstanding implementation issues shallbe addressed as a matter of priority bythe relevant WTO bodies, which shallreport to the Trade NegotiationsCommittee [TNC], established underparagraph 46 below, by the end of 2002for appropriate action.

In papers circulated at the MinisterialConference, member governmentsexpressed different interpretations ofthis mandate.

Argentina said it understands there is noagreement to negotiate the other


9/24

outstanding implementation issuesreferred to under (b) and that, by theend of 2002, consensus will be requiredin order to launch any negotiations onthese issues.

Bulgaria, the Czech Republic, EU,Hungary, India, Liechtenstein, Kenya,Mauritius, Nigeria, Pakistan, the Slovak

Republic, Slovenia, Sri Lanka,Switzerland, Thailand and Turkey arguedthat there is a clear mandate tonegotiate immediately.

Reviews of TRIPS provisions. Tworeviews have been taking place in theTRIPS Council, as required by the TRIPSAgreement: a review of Article 27.3(b)which deals with patentability or non-patentability of plant and animalinventions, and the protection of plantRelationship between trade and

investment(pars 20-22)back to top

This is a Singapore issue i.e. a workinggroup set up by the 1996 SingaporeMinisterial Conference has been studyingit.

Key dates: trade and

investment

Continuing work in working groupwith defined agenda: to 5thMinisterial Conference, 2003 (inMexico)

Negotiations: after 5th MinisterialConference, 2003 (in Mexico)
http://www.wto.org/english/thewto_e/minist_e/min01_e/mindecl_e.htm#tradeinvestmenthttp://www.wto.org/english/thewto_e/whatis_e/tif_e/doha1_e.htm#top%23tophttp://www.wto.org/english/thewto_e/whatis_e/tif_e/doha1_e.htm#singapore%23singaporehttp://www.wto.org/english/thewto_e/minist_e/min01_e/mindecl_e.htm#tradeinvestmenthttp://www.wto.org/english/thewto_e/whatis_e/tif_e/doha1_e.htm#top%23tophttp://www.wto.org/english/thewto_e/whatis_e/tif_e/doha1_e.htm#singapore%23singapore


10/24

In the period up to the 2003 MinisterialConference, the declaration instructs theworking group to focus on clarifying thescope and definition of the issues,transparency, non-discrimination, ways of

preparing negotiated commitments,development provisions, exceptions andbalance-of-payments safeguards,consultation and dispute settlement. Thenegotiated commitments would bemodelled on those made in services,which specify where commitments arebeing made positive lists ratherthan making broad commitments andlisting exceptions.

The declaration also spells out a numberof principles such as the need to balance

the interests of countries where foreigninvestment originates and where it isinvested, countries right to regulateinvestment, development, public interestand individual countries specificcircumstances. It also emphasizes supportand technical cooperation for developingand least-developed countries, andcoordination with other internationalorganizations such as the UN Conferenceon Trade and Development (UNCTAD).

Since the 1 August 2004 decision, this

subject has been dropped from the Dohaagenda.

> statement:chairman's understanding ofthe mandate ...

> more on trade and investment

subject to explicit consensus onmodalities with deadline: by 1January 2005, part of singleundertaking. But no consensus;dropped from Doha agenda in 1August 2004 decision

Interaction between trade andcompetition policy(pars 23-25)back to top

This is another Singapore issue, with aworking group set up in 1996 to study thesubject.

In the period up to the 2003 MinisterialConference, the declaration instructs theworking group to focus on clarifying:

Key dates: trade andcompetition policy


Negotiations: after 5th MinisterialConference, 2003 (in Mexico)subject to explicit consensus onmodalities with deadline: by 1January 2005, part of singleundertaking. But no consensus;
http://www.wto.org/english/thewto_e/minist_e/min01_e/min01_chair_speaking_e.htm#clarificationhttp://www.wto.org/english/thewto_e/minist_e/min01_e/min01_chair_speaking_e.htm#clarificationhttp://www.wto.org/english/thewto_e/minist_e/min01_e/min01_chair_speaking_e.htm#clarificationhttp://www.wto.org/english/tratop_e/invest_e/invest_e.htmhttp://www.wto.org/english/thewto_e/minist_e/min01_e/mindecl_e.htm#interactionhttp://www.wto.org/english/thewto_e/whatis_e/tif_e/doha1_e.htm#top%23tophttp://www.wto.org/english/thewto_e/minist_e/min01_e/min01_chair_speaking_e.htm#clarificationhttp://www.wto.org/english/thewto_e/minist_e/min01_e/min01_chair_speaking_e.htm#clarificationhttp://www.wto.org/english/tratop_e/invest_e/invest_e.htmhttp://www.wto.org/english/thewto_e/minist_e/min01_e/mindecl_e.htm#interactionhttp://www.wto.org/english/thewto_e/whatis_e/tif_e/doha1_e.htm#top%23top


11/24

core principles including transparency,non-discrimination and proceduralfairness, and provisions on hardcorecartels (i.e. cartels that are formally setup)

ways of handling voluntary cooperationon competition policy among WTOmember governments

support for progressive reinforcement

of competition institutions in developingcountries through capacity building

The declaration says the work must takefull account of developmental needs. Itincludes technical cooperation and

dropped from Doha agenda in 1August 2004 decision

Transparency in governmentprocurement(par 26)back to top

A third Singapore issue that washandled by a working group set up bythe Singapore Ministerial Conference in1996.

The Doha Declaration says that thenegotiations shall be limited to thetransparency aspects and therefore willnot restrict the scope for countries togive preferences to domestic supplies andsuppliers it is separate from theplurilateral Government Procurement

Key dates: governmentprocurement(transparency)


Negotiations: after 5th MinisterialConference, 2003 (in Mexico)subject to explicit consensus onmodalities with deadline: by 1January 2005, part of singleundertaking. But no consensus;dropped from Doha agenda in 1August 2004 Decision.
http://www.wto.org/english/thewto_e/minist_e/min01_e/mindecl_e.htm#transparencyhttp://www.wto.org/english/thewto_e/whatis_e/tif_e/doha1_e.htm#top%23tophttp://www.wto.org/english/thewto_e/whatis_e/tif_e/doha1_e.htm#top%23tophttp://www.wto.org/english/thewto_e/minist_e/min01_e/mindecl_e.htm#transparencyhttp://www.wto.org/english/thewto_e/whatis_e/tif_e/doha1_e.htm#top%23top


12/24

Agreement.

The declaration also stressesdevelopment concerns, technicalassistance and capacity building.

Since the 1 August 2004 decision, thissubject has been dropped from the Dohaagenda.


>more on transparency in governmentprocurement

Trade facilitation(par 27)back to top

A fourth Singapore issue kicked off bythe 1996 Ministerial Conference.

The declaration recognizes the case forfurther expediting the movement,release and clearance of goods, includinggoods in transit, and the need forenhanced technical assistance andcapacity building in this area.

In the period until the Fifth MinisterialConference in 2003, the WTO GoodsCouncil, which had been working on thissubject since 1997, shall review and asappropriate, clarify and improve relevantaspects of Articles 5 (Freedom ofTransit), 8 (Fees and FormalitiesConnected with Importation andExportation) and 10 (Publication andAdministration of Trade Regulations) ofthe General Agreement on Tariffs andTrade (GATT 1994) and identify the tradefacilitation needs and priorities of

Members, in particular developing andleast-developed countries.

Those issues were cited in the1 August 2004 decision that broke theCancn deadlock. Members agreed tostart negotiations on trade facilitation,but not the three other Singapore issues.

Key dates: tradefacilitation

Continuing work in Goods Councilwith defined agenda: to 5thMinisterial Conference, 2003 (inMexico)

Negotiations: after 5th MinisterialConference, 2003 (in Mexico)subject to explicit consensus onmodalities, agreed in 1 August 2004Decision.

Deadline: originally by 1 January

2005, now unofficially end of2006, part of single undertaking
http://www.wto.org/english/thewto_e/minist_e/min01_e/min01_chair_speaking_e.htm#clarificationhttp://www.wto.org/english/thewto_e/minist_e/min01_e/min01_chair_speaking_e.htm#clarificationhttp://www.wto.org/english/thewto_e/minist_e/min01_e/min01_chair_speaking_e.htm#clarificationhttp://www.wto.org/english/tratop_e/gproc_e/gptran_e.htmhttp://www.wto.org/english/tratop_e/gproc_e/gptran_e.htmhttp://www.wto.org/english/tratop_e/gproc_e/gptran_e.htmhttp://www.wto.org/english/thewto_e/minist_e/min01_e/mindecl_e.htm#tradefacilitationhttp://www.wto.org/english/thewto_e/whatis_e/tif_e/doha1_e.htm#top%23tophttp://www.wto.org/english/thewto_e/whatis_e/tif_e/doha1_e.htm#top%23tophttp://www.wto.org/english/thewto_e/minist_e/min01_e/min01_chair_speaking_e.htm#clarificationhttp://www.wto.org/english/thewto_e/minist_e/min01_e/min01_chair_speaking_e.htm#clarificationhttp://www.wto.org/english/tratop_e/gproc_e/gptran_e.htmhttp://www.wto.org/english/tratop_e/gproc_e/gptran_e.htmhttp://www.wto.org/english/thewto_e/minist_e/min01_e/mindecl_e.htm#tradefacilitationhttp://www.wto.org/english/thewto_e/whatis_e/tif_e/doha1_e.htm#top%23top


13/24


>more on trade facilitation

WTO rules: anti-dumping andsubsidies(par 28)back to top

The ministers agreed to negotiations onthe Anti-Dumping (GATT Article 6) andSubsidies agreements. The aim is toclarify and improve disciplines whilepreserving the basic, concepts, principlesof these agreements, and taking intoaccount the needs of developing andleast-developed participants.

In overlapping negotiating phases,participants first indicated whichprovisions of these two agreements theythink should be the subject ofclarification and improvement in the nextphase of negotiations. The ministersmention specifically fisheries subsidies asone sector important to developingcountries and where participants shouldaim to clarify and improve WTOdisciplines.

Negotiations take place in the RulesNegotiating Group.

> current negotiations> more on anti-dumping

>more on subsidies

Key dates: anti-dumping,subsidies

Start: January 2002



WTO rules: regional tradeagreements(par 29)back to top

WTO rules say regional trade agreementshave to meet certain conditions. Butinterpreting the wording of these ruleshas proved controversial, and has been acentral element in the work of theRegional Trade Agreements Committee.As a result, since 1995 the committee hasfailed to complete its assessments of

Key dates: regional trade

Start: January 2002


http://www.wto.org/english/thewto_e/minist_e/min01_e/min01_chair_speaking_e.htm#clarificationhttp://www.wto.org/english/thewto_e/minist_e/min01_e/min01_chair_speaking_e.htm#clarificationhttp://www.wto.org/english/thewto_e/minist_e/min01_e/min01_chair_speaking_e.htm#clarificationhttp://www.wto.org/english/tratop_e/tradfa_e/tradfa_e.htmhttp://www.wto.org/english/tratop_e/tradfa_e/tradfa_e.htmhttp://www.wto.org/english/thewto_e/minist_e/min01_e/mindecl_e.htm#ruleshttp://www.wto.org/english/thewto_e/whatis_e/tif_e/doha1_e.htm#top%23tophttp://www.wto.org/english/thewto_e/whatis_e/tif_e/doha1_e.htm#top%23tophttp://www.wto.org/english/tratop_e/rulesneg_e/rulesneg_e.htmhttp://www.wto.org/english/tratop_e/adp_e/adp_e.htmhttp://www.wto.org/english/tratop_e/scm_e/scm_e.htmhttp://www.wto.org/english/tratop_e/scm_e/scm_e.htmhttp://www.wto.org/english/thewto_e/minist_e/min01_e/mindecl_e.htm#ruleshttp://www.wto.org/english/thewto_e/whatis_e/tif_e/doha1_e.htm#top%23tophttp://www.wto.org/english/thewto_e/whatis_e/tif_e/doha1_e.htm#top%23tophttp://www.wto.org/english/thewto_e/minist_e/min01_e/min01_chair_speaking_e.htm#clarificationhttp://www.wto.org/english/thewto_e/minist_e/min01_e/min01_chair_speaking_e.htm#clarificationhttp://www.wto.org/english/tratop_e/tradfa_e/tradfa_e.htmhttp://www.wto.org/english/thewto_e/minist_e/min01_e/mindecl_e.htm#ruleshttp://www.wto.org/english/thewto_e/whatis_e/tif_e/doha1_e.htm#top%23tophttp://www.wto.org/english/tratop_e/rulesneg_e/rulesneg_e.htmhttp://www.wto.org/english/tratop_e/adp_e/adp_e.htmhttp://www.wto.org/english/tratop_e/scm_e/scm_e.htmhttp://www.wto.org/english/thewto_e/minist_e/min01_e/mindecl_e.htm#ruleshttp://www.wto.org/english/thewto_e/whatis_e/tif_e/doha1_e.htm#top%23top


14/24

whether individual trade agreementsconform with WTO provisions.

This is now an important challenge,particularly when nearly all member

governments are parties to regionalagreements, are negotiating them, or areconsidering negotiating them. In the DohaDeclaration, members agreed tonegotiate a solution, giving due regard tothe role that these agreements can playin fostering development.

The declaration mandates negotiationsaimed at clarifying and improvingdisciplines and procedures under theexisting WTO provisions applying toregional trade agreements. Thenegotiations shall take into account thedevelopmental aspects of regional tradeagreements.

These negotiations fell into the generaltimetable established for virtually allnegotiations under the Doha Declaration.The original deadline of 1 January 2005was missed and the current unofficial aimis to finish the talks by the end of 2006.The 2003 Fifth Ministerial Conference inMexico was intended to take stock ofprogress, provide any necessary politicalguidance, and take decisions asnecessary.

Negotiations take place in the RulesNegotiating Group.

> current negotiations> more on regional trade agreements

Dispute Settlement

Understanding(par 30)back to top

The 1994 Marrakesh MinisterialConference mandated WTO membergovernments to conduct a review of theDispute Settlement Understanding (DSU,the WTO agreement on disputesettlement) within four years of the entry

Key dates: disputesunderstanding

Start: January 2002

Deadline: originally by May 2003,currently no deadline, separatefrom single undertaking
http://www.wto.org/english/tratop_e/region_e/region_negoti_e.htmhttp://www.wto.org/english/tratop_e/region_e/region_e.htmhttp://www.wto.org/english/thewto_e/minist_e/min01_e/mindecl_e.htm#disputehttp://www.wto.org/english/thewto_e/whatis_e/tif_e/doha1_e.htm#top%23tophttp://www.wto.org/english/thewto_e/whatis_e/tif_e/doha1_e.htm#top%23tophttp://www.wto.org/english/tratop_e/region_e/region_negoti_e.htmhttp://www.wto.org/english/tratop_e/region_e/region_e.htmhttp://www.wto.org/english/thewto_e/minist_e/min01_e/mindecl_e.htm#disputehttp://www.wto.org/english/thewto_e/whatis_e/tif_e/doha1_e.htm#top%23top


15/24

into force of the WTO Agreement (i.e. by1 January 1999).

The Dispute Settlement Body (DSB)started the review in late 1997, and held

a series of informal discussions on thebasis of proposals and issues thatmembers identified. Many, if not all,members clearly felt that improvementsshould be made to the understanding.However, the DSB could not reach aconsensus on the results of the review.

The Doha Declaration mandatesnegotiations and states (in par 47) thatthese will not be part of the singleundertaking i.e. that they will not betied to the overall success or failure ofthe other negotiations mandated by thedeclaration. Originally set to conclude byMay 2003, the negotiations are continuingwithout a deadline.

Negotiations take place in specialsessions of the Dispute SettlementBody.

> more on Dispute SettlementUnderstanding negotiations

Trade and environment(pars 31-33)back to top

New negotiations

Multilateral environmental agreements.Ministers agreed to launch negotiationson the relationship between existing WTOrules and specific trade obligations setout in multilateral environmentalagreements. The negotiations will

address how WTO rules are to apply toWTO members that are parties toenvironmental agreements, in particularto clarify the relationship between trademeasures taken under the environmentalagreements and WTO rules.

So far no measure affecting trade takenunder an environmental agreement has

Key dates: environment

Committee reports to ministers:5th and 6th MinisterialConferences, 2003 and 2005 (inMexico and Hong Kong, China)

Negotiations stock taking: 5thMinisterial Conference, 2003 (inMexico)

Negotiations deadline: originally by1 January 2005, now unofficially

end of 2006, part of singleundertaking
http://www.wto.org/english/tratop_e/dispu_e/dispu_e.htm#negotiationshttp://www.wto.org/english/tratop_e/dispu_e/dispu_e.htm#negotiationshttp://www.wto.org/english/thewto_e/minist_e/min01_e/mindecl_e.htm#tradeenvironmenthttp://www.wto.org/english/thewto_e/whatis_e/tif_e/doha1_e.htm#top%23tophttp://www.wto.org/english/tratop_e/dispu_e/dispu_e.htm#negotiationshttp://www.wto.org/english/tratop_e/dispu_e/dispu_e.htm#negotiationshttp://www.wto.org/english/thewto_e/minist_e/min01_e/mindecl_e.htm#tradeenvironmenthttp://www.wto.org/english/thewto_e/whatis_e/tif_e/doha1_e.htm#top%23top


16/24

been challenged in the GATT-WTOsystem.

Information exchange. Ministers agreedto negotiate procedures for regular

information exchange betweensecretariats of multilateralenvironmental agreements and the WTO.Currently, the Trade and EnvironmentCommittee holds an information sessionwith different secretariats of themultilateral environmental agreementsonce or twice a year to discuss the trade-related provisions in these environmentalagreements and also their disputesettlement mechanisms. The newinformation exchange procedures mayexpand the scope of existing cooperation.

Observer status. Overall, the situationconcerning the granting of observerstatus in the WTO to other internationalgovernmental organizations is currentlyblocked for political reasons. Thenegotiations aim to develop criteria forobservership in WTO.

Trade barriers on environmental goodsand services. Ministers also agreed tonegotiations on the reduction orelimination of tariff and non-tariffbarriers to environmental goods andservices. Examples of environmentalgoods and services are catalyticconverters, air filters or consultancyservices on wastewater management.

Fisheries subsidies. Ministers agreed toclarify and improve WTO rules that applyto fisheries subsidies. The issue offisheries subsidies has been studied in theTrade and Environment Committee forseveral years. Some studies demonstratethese subsidies can be environmentallydamaging if they lead to too manyfishermen chasing too few fish.

Negotiations on these issues, includingconcepts of what are the relevantenvironmental goods and services, takeplace in special sessions of the Tradeand Environment Committee.


17/24


18/24


19/24

economies.

> more on Committee on Trade andDevelopment

Trade, debt and finance(par 36)back to top

Many developing countries face seriousexternal debt problems and have beenthrough financial crises. WTO ministersdecided in Doha to establish a WorkingGroup on Trade, Debt and Finance tolook at how trade-related measures cancontribute to find a durable solution tothese problems. This working group willreport to the General Council which willin turn report to the next MinisterialConference.

Key date: debt and finance

General Council report: 5th and6th Ministerial Conferences, 2003and 2005 (in Mexico and HongKong, China)

Trade and technology transfer(par 37)back to top

A number of provisions in the WTOagreements mention the need for atransfer of technology to take placebetween developed and developingcountries.

However, it is not clear how such atransfer takes place in practice and ifspecific measures might be taken withinthe WTO to encourage such flows oftechnology.

WTO ministers decided in Doha toestablish a working group to examine theissue. The working group will report tothe General Council which itself will

report to the next Ministerial Conference.

> more on Committee on Trade andDevelopment

Key date: technologytransfer

General Council report: 5th and6th Ministerial Conferences, 2003and 2005 (in Mexico and HongKong, China)

Technical cooperation andcapacity building

Key dates: technical
http://www.wto.org/english/tratop_e/devel_e/d3ctte_e.htmhttp://www.wto.org/english/tratop_e/devel_e/d3ctte_e.htmhttp://www.wto.org/english/thewto_e/minist_e/min01_e/mindecl_e.htm#tradedebthttp://www.wto.org/english/thewto_e/whatis_e/tif_e/doha1_e.htm#top%23tophttp://www.wto.org/english/thewto_e/whatis_e/tif_e/doha1_e.htm#top%23tophttp://www.wto.org/english/thewto_e/minist_e/min01_e/mindecl_e.htm#technologyhttp://www.wto.org/english/thewto_e/whatis_e/tif_e/doha1_e.htm#top%23tophttp://www.wto.org/english/thewto_e/whatis_e/tif_e/doha1_e.htm#top%23tophttp://www.wto.org/english/tratop_e/devel_e/d3ctte_e.htmhttp://www.wto.org/english/tratop_e/devel_e/d3ctte_e.htmhttp://www.wto.org/english/tratop_e/devel_e/d3ctte_e.htmhttp://www.wto.org/english/tratop_e/devel_e/d3ctte_e.htmhttp://www.wto.org/english/thewto_e/minist_e/min01_e/mindecl_e.htm#tradedebthttp://www.wto.org/english/thewto_e/whatis_e/tif_e/doha1_e.htm#top%23tophttp://www.wto.org/english/thewto_e/minist_e/min01_e/mindecl_e.htm#technologyhttp://www.wto.org/english/thewto_e/whatis_e/tif_e/doha1_e.htm#top%23tophttp://www.wto.org/english/tratop_e/devel_e/d3ctte_e.htmhttp://www.wto.org/english/tratop_e/devel_e/d3ctte_e.htm


20/24

(pars 38-41)back to top

Through various paragraphs of the DohaDeclaration, WTO member governmentshave made new commitments ontechnical cooperation and capacity

building.

For example, the section on therelationship between trade andinvestment includes a call (par 21) forenhanced support for technical assistanceand capacity building in this area.

Within the specific heading technicalcooperation and capacity building,paragraph 41 lists all the references tocommitments on technical cooperationwithin the Doha Declaration: paragraphs16 (market access for non-agriculturalproducts), 21 (trade and investment), 24(trade and competition policy), 26(transparency in governmentprocurement), 27 (trade facilitation), 33(environment), 38-40 (technicalcooperation and capacity building), 42and 43 (least-developed countries).(Paragraph 2 in the preamble is alsocited.)

Under this heading (i.e. pars 38-41), WTOmember governments reaffirm alltechnical cooperation and capacitybuilding commitments made throughoutthe declaration and add generalcommitments:

The Secretariat, in coordination withother relevant agencies, is to encourageWTO developing-country members toconsider trade as a main element forreducing poverty and to include trademeasures in their developmentstrategies.

The agenda set out in the DohaDeclaration gives priority to small,vulnerable, and transition economies, aswell as to members and observers that donot have permanent delegations inGeneva.

Technical assistance must be delivered

cooperation

Technical assistance funding raised80%; Development Agenda GlobalTrust Fund set up: December 2001

Director-General reports to GeneralCouncil: December 2002

Director-General reports toministers: 5th and 6th MinisterialConferences, 2003 and 2005 (inMexico and Hong Kong, China)
http://www.wto.org/english/thewto_e/minist_e/min01_e/mindecl_e.htm#cooperationhttp://www.wto.org/english/thewto_e/whatis_e/tif_e/doha1_e.htm#top%23tophttp://www.wto.org/english/thewto_e/minist_e/min01_e/mindecl_e.htm#cooperationhttp://www.wto.org/english/thewto_e/whatis_e/tif_e/doha1_e.htm#top%23top


21/24

by the WTO and other relevantinternational organizations within acoherent policy framework.

The Director-General reported to theGeneral Council in December 2002 andto the Fifth Ministerial Conference onthe implementation and adequacy ofthese new commitments.

Following the declarations instructionsto develop a plan ensuring long-termfunding for WTO technical assistance, theGeneral Council adopted on 20December 2001 (one month after theDoha conference) a new budget thatincreased technical assistance funding by80% and established a Doha DevelopmentAgenda Global Trust Fund. The fund nowhas an annual budget of 24 million Swissfrancs.

>more on WTO assistance for developingcountries

Least-developed countries(pars 42, 43)back to top

Many developed countries have nowsignificantly decreased or actuallyscrapped tariffs on imports from least-developed countries (LDCs).

In the Doha declaration, WTO membergovernments commit themselves to theobjective of duty-free, quota-free marketaccess for LDCs products and to consideradditional measures to improve marketaccess for these exports.

Members also agree to try to ensure that

least-developed countries can negotiateWTO membership faster and more easily.

Some technical assistance is targetedspecifically for least-developedcountries. The Doha Declaration urgesWTO member donors to significantlyincrease their contributions.

Key date: least-developedcountries

Reports to: General Council: July

2002, 5th and 6th MinisterialConferences, 2003 and 2005 (inMexico and Hong Kong, China)
http://www.wto.org/english/tratop_e/devel_e/teccop_e/tct_e.htmhttp://www.wto.org/english/tratop_e/devel_e/teccop_e/tct_e.htmhttp://www.wto.org/english/tratop_e/devel_e/teccop_e/tct_e.htmhttp://www.wto.org/english/thewto_e/minist_e/min01_e/mindecl_e.htm#ldcshttp://www.wto.org/english/thewto_e/whatis_e/tif_e/doha1_e.htm#top%23tophttp://www.wto.org/english/tratop_e/devel_e/teccop_e/tct_e.htmhttp://www.wto.org/english/tratop_e/devel_e/teccop_e/tct_e.htmhttp://www.wto.org/english/thewto_e/minist_e/min01_e/mindecl_e.htm#ldcshttp://www.wto.org/english/thewto_e/whatis_e/tif_e/doha1_e.htm#top%23top


22/24

In addition, the Sub-Committee for LDCs(a subsidiary body of the WTO Committeeon Trade and Development) designed awork programme un February 2002, asinstructed by the Doha Declaration,

taking into account the parts of thedeclaration related to trade that wasissued at the UN LDC Conference.

>more on Sub-Committee on Least-Developed Countries

>more on WTO assistance for developingcountries

Special and differentialtreatment(par 44)back to top

The WTO agreements contain specialprovisions which give developingcountries special rights. These specialprovisions include, for example, longertime periods for implementingagreements and commitments ormeasures to increase tradingopportunities for developing countries.

In the Doha Declaration, member

governments agree that all special anddifferential treatment provisions shouldbe reviewed with a view to strengtheningthem and making them more precise.

More specifically, the declaration(together with the Decision onImplementation-Related Issues andConcerns) mandates the Trade andDevelopment Committee to identifywhich of those special and differentialtreatment provisions are mandatory, andto consider the implications of making

mandatory those which are currentlynon-binding.

The Decision on Implementation-RelatedIssues and Concerns instructed thecommittee to make its recommendationsfor the General Council before July2002. But because members needed moretime, this was postponed to the end of

Key date: special anddifferential treatment

Recommendations to GeneralCouncil: July 2002, July 2005
http://www.wto.org/english/tratop_e/devel_e/dev_sub_committee_ldc_e.htmhttp://www.wto.org/english/tratop_e/devel_e/dev_sub_committee_ldc_e.htmhttp://www.wto.org/english/tratop_e/devel_e/dev_sub_committee_ldc_e.htmhttp://www.wto.org/english/tratop_e/devel_e/teccop_e/tct_e.htmhttp://www.wto.org/english/tratop_e/devel_e/teccop_e/tct_e.htmhttp://www.wto.org/english/tratop_e/devel_e/teccop_e/tct_e.htmhttp://www.wto.org/english/thewto_e/minist_e/min01_e/mindecl_e.htm#specialhttp://www.wto.org/english/thewto_e/whatis_e/tif_e/doha1_e.htm#top%23tophttp://www.wto.org/english/thewto_e/whatis_e/tif_e/doha1_e.htm#top%23tophttp://www.wto.org/english/tratop_e/devel_e/dev_sub_committee_ldc_e.htmhttp://www.wto.org/english/tratop_e/devel_e/dev_sub_committee_ldc_e.htmhttp://www.wto.org/english/tratop_e/devel_e/dev_sub_committee_ldc_e.htmhttp://www.wto.org/english/tratop_e/devel_e/teccop_e/tct_e.htmhttp://www.wto.org/english/tratop_e/devel_e/teccop_e/tct_e.htmhttp://www.wto.org/english/thewto_e/minist_e/min01_e/mindecl_e.htm#specialhttp://www.wto.org/english/thewto_e/whatis_e/tif_e/doha1_e.htm#top%23top


23/24

July 2005.

> more on special and differentialtreatment provisions

Cancn 2003, Hong Kong 2005back to top

The Doha agenda set a number of tasks tobe completed before or at the FifthMinisterial Conference in Cancn, Mexico,1014 September 2003. On the eve of theconference, on 30 August, agreement wasreached on the TRIPS and public healthissue. However, a number of thedeadlines were missed, including

modalities for agriculture and the non-agricultural market access negotiations,reform of the Dispute SettlementUnderstanding, and recommendations onspecial and differential treatment. Norwere members near to agreement on themultilateral geographical indicationsregister for wines and spirits, due to becompleted in Cancn.

Although Cancn saw delegations movecloser to consensus on a number of keyissues, members remained deeply divided

over a number of issues, including theSingapore issues launchingnegotiations on investment, competitionpolicy, transparency in governmentprocurement, and trade facilitation and agriculture.

The conference ended without consensus.Ten months later, the deadlock wasbroken in Geneva when the GeneralCouncil agreed on the July package inthe early hours of 1 August 2004, whichkicked off negotiations in trade

facilitation but not the three otherSingapore issues. The delay meant the1 January 2005 deadline for finishing thetalks could not be met. Unofficially,members aimed to complete the nextphase of the negotiations at the HongKong Ministerial Conference, 1318December 2005, including fullmodalities in agriculture and market
http://www.wto.org/english/tratop_e/devel_e/dev_special_differential_provisions_e.htmhttp://www.wto.org/english/tratop_e/devel_e/dev_special_differential_provisions_e.htmhttp://www.wto.org/english/thewto_e/whatis_e/tif_e/doha1_e.htm#top%23tophttp://www.wto.org/english/tratop_e/devel_e/dev_special_differential_provisions_e.htmhttp://www.wto.org/english/tratop_e/devel_e/dev_special_differential_provisions_e.htmhttp://www.wto.org/english/thewto_e/whatis_e/tif_e/doha1_e.htm#top%23top


24/24

access for non-agricultural products, andto finish the talks by the end of thefollowing year.

> more on Ministerial Conferences

contact us: World Trade Organization, rue de Lausanne 154, CH-1211 Geneva 21, Switzerland
http://www.wto.org/english/thewto_e/minist_e/minist_e.htmhttp://www.wto.org/english/thewto_e/minist_e/minist_e.htmhttp://www.wto.org/english/info_e/cont_e.htmhttp://www.wto.org/english/thewto_e/whatis_e/tif_e/dev1_e.htmhttp://www.wto.org/english/thewto_e/whatis_e/tif_e/bey5_e.htmhttp://www.wto.org/english/thewto_e/minist_e/minist_e.htmhttp://www.wto.org/english/info_e/cont_e.htm

understanding the wto(25)

Documents