Chakravarthi Raghavan, Chief Editor, South-North Development Monitor
The WTO has set itself an end-July deadline for a framework package to relaunch the negotiations, and an attempt to rush through the Oshima-Supachai package.
Although pared down - investment, competition and government procurement have been dropped - the framework is still likely to pose problems for many countries.
The development concerns are not given priority or even recognition and respect, in many areas (especially in NAMA, S and D, implementation and agriculture) and in overall balance.
South-North Development Monitor (SUNS), 14 July 2004
The US in effect would like to create a 'special blue box' for itself, to accommodate the mandatory counter-cyclical payments provided by its post-Doha Farm legislation of 2002.
TWN Report by Tetteh Hormeku, Grand Baie, Mauritius, 14 July 2004
Amorim said that the G20 was formed in the lead up to Cancun to make sure that a framework for trade in agriculture would lead to an outcome in line with the interests of the developing countries and in keeping with the Doha mandate.
Critics of the Doha development agenda who suggest these trade negotiations hold little potential benefit for poor nations bring to mind the old adage that one should not make the perfect the enemy of the good.
Many counties also rejected the proposal by the Chair of the NAMA negotiating group, and by some members, to set up a so-called 'vehicle' where some indication of divergence of views could be given.
