Archive - 2005

WTO Director-General Supachai Panitchpakdi warned that that'progress is nowhere near sufficient in terms of our critical path to Hong Kong,' andthat 'these negotiations are in trouble.'(M.Khor)

As the U.S. House of Representatives moves closer to a vote on the Central American Free Trade Agreement (CAFTA), much of the debate over the economic costs and benefits to all potential signatories remains unclear.

At the wrap-up of the latest informal trade ministerial meeting conducted by the World Trade Organization yesterday, Deputy US Trade Representative Peter Allgeier made a strong case for a two-coefficient simple 'Swiss' formula to cut industrial tariffs.

A week of discussions (beginning on 4 July) in the Negotiating Group on Non-Agricultural Market Access (NAMA) ended on the morning of 7 July with indications that the end-July target for coming up with 'first approximations' on the deal to be taken to Hong Kong was not likely to be met.(M.Khor)

Negotiations on agriculture took place on 4-6 July at the WTO. They ended earlierthan expected, indicating a lack of progress.(M.Khor)

Assessment issued by the Chair of the Services Negotiations to the TNC.

Negotiations on agriculture ended Wednesday with the Chairperson Tim Groser concluding that the chances are unlikely at this stage that he will be able to produce a 'first approximation' of the full modalities on agriculture by the end of July.

This is the market access proposal of G20.

Brazil and India blocked a deal on agricultural trade worked out late last week between European Union Trade Commissioner Peter Mandelson and US Trade Representative Rob Portman to accept a simple 'Swiss' formula to cut industrial tariffs

The informal trade ministerial meeting in Dalian, China, on Tuesday and Wednesday will solicit input from some 30 trade ministers on the structure for a market access formula in nonagricultural market access along with thresholds for tiers