Lamy Reports Little Progress on WTO Doha Round, but Sense of 'Tangible Progress Soon'
Pascal Lamy, director-general of the World Trade Organization and chairman of the Trade Negotiations Committee, reported to the General Council May 1 on progress in the Doha Round, and in particular the work of negotiating groups, according to the WTO. Lamy said the situation had not evolved much since his last report, but that he has a sense that Members wish to explore any opportunities to gain the necessary traction and make tangible progress soon. Highlights of his reports on negotiating groups follow:
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- Agriculture: There had been one open-ended informal on March 22, which confirmed that the 10 outstanding issues which were identified by the previous Chair remain key political issues that will need to be resolved before any overall agreement can be reached.
- Non-Agricultural Market Access (NAMA): The Chairman has proposed resuming consultations on some of the Wagon 1 Non-Tariff Barrier proposals.
- Services: Some Members have been exploring more fully different negotiating approaches, keeping in mind the need to advance the negotiations where progress can be achieved.
- Trade Facilitation: Members successfully completed the first phase of the Work Plan adopted at the beginning of the year. The negotiating group agreed on new language that will be incorporated into an improved version of the Draft Consolidated Negotiating Text. It was further decided to continue to facilitator process with three groups (S&D, transit and customs brokers / Pre-Shipment Inspection).
- TRIPS-GI for Wines and Spirits: There is no general sign of appetite for activities, including work on low-conflict technical issues, as the issue of linkages is still cited as an obstacle for engagement on the side of the joint proposal group.
- Trade and Environment: Consultations will be held in May in order to discuss the process forward.
- Special and Differential Treatment: Members have resumed consideration of the elements of the Monitoring Mechanism. On the 28 Agreement-specific proposals, agreed to in principle at the Cancún Ministerial, they expressed their resolve to fulfill the Ministerial guidance from MC8 by taking stock of these proposals with a view to adopting those that could be agreed.
- Dispute Settlement: The Chairman of the DSB Special Session convened a series of consultations in the week of March 5, on a number of topics under discussion, such as third party rights, panel composition, Member-control and flexibility, and strictly confidential information (SCI). Further meetings are foreseen for the week of May 7, covering these issues as well as remand and developing country interests.