Archive - Apr 2007

The mood of despondency is increasing among WTO members as the possibility that the Doha negotiations cannot make headway this year looms larger.

In a stated attempt to 'narrow the gaps' on one of the most contentious issues in the troubled Doha Round agriculture negotiations, Pakistan on 10 April issued a new paper seeking to split the differences between developing countries eager to shield some 'special products' from the full force of tariff cuts and the agricultural exporters that fear diminished commercial opportunities.

Mr. Lamy in an attempt to encourage the completion of the Doha Round has recently been engaging with trade ministers across the globe.

A bipartisan majority of U.S. senators called on President Bush April 16 to oppose any further concessions in the World Trade Organization agriculture negotiations, saying that other WTO members have still not done enough in terms of offering enhanced market access for U.S. farm products.

A week-long meeting (26-30 March) of the WTO Negotiating Group on Market Access for Non-Agricultural Products (NAMA) was almost exclusively devoted to discussions on text-based proposals on how to deal with Non-Tariff Barriers (NTBs).

Senior officials of the G4 - Brazil, the European Union, India and the United States - are meeting in Paris, Monday to Wednesday (2-4 April), in a renewed attempt to better understand one another's positions.

The suggestion of the developed world that India should open up its market for imports is likely to prove fatal for farmers and food security. US trade representative Susan Schwab in the last week urged India to open up its markets for imports, as it would help in its effort to contain the rising trend in prices.

Pressures are mounting on India to play an effective role in resolving the issue of Special Products (SPs) and Special Safeguard Mechanism (SSM) in a way which would not hinder market access for developed countries.

Common Frontiers announces a new resource to help cut through the spin and clutter around the Security and Prosperity Partnership of North America (SPP) - a

Trade ministers from the United States, the European Union, India and Brazil will this week gather for the first time in more than eight months to try to negotiate a breakthrough in world trade talks.