Update on WTO 27 July 500pm

The WTO General Council started its meeting today at 10amand ended at about 110pm.

It dealt with eight regular items today, including TRIPS andhealth, special and dfiierential treatment, small economies,implementation issues, budget committee.

On TRIPS and health, the negotiations chair reported no agreementhad been rached on a permanent solution to the problem of supplyingaffordable medicines to countries having no or inadequatemanufacturing capacity. Kenya expressed deep disappointmentthat this issue had not been resolved after two years and manymissed deadlines. It was supported by Cuba and Brazil.

On implementation, the DG Dr Supachai had already in a meetinglast week (of the Trade Negotiations Committee) reported lack ofprogress in 7 key areas. Today he reiterated lack of progress onone of the issues, geographical indications.

The main agenda item of the General Council, which is to receiveand discuss a report of the Trade Negotiations Committee on thestate of the negotiations, will take place on Friday.

Before that, the TNC itself will resume its meeting on Thursday.

In other developments today, a meeting this morning on specialand differential treatment provisions for LDCs could not reacha conclusion. It appears that there will not be any result eitherin this area.

Thus on the three issues specifically dealing with development(Special and Differential Treatment, implementation issues,TRIPS and public health permanent solution), it seems that there will not be any agreement in this July series of meetings.