WTO Negotiators Agree to Start New Trade Round
November 19, 2001
After six days of meetings in Doha, Qatar, WTO Trade Ministers at their 4th Ministerial Meeting approved a Declaration launching new global trade negotiations. The Ministers also adopted a Declaration on Intellectual Property Protection (TRIPS) and access to medicines and Public Health, and a Decision on Implementation-Related Issues and Concerns raised by Developing Countries. The decision to launch a new round of trade negotiations, starting in January 2002, involved intense discussions about what issues may be discussed in those talks and what issues may not. However, the decision also involved several compromises that could make it difficult to meet the self-imposed, three-year deadline for completing this negotiating round.
Not surprisingly, farm export subsidies and developing country access to markets in the developed world were major sticking points. The talks went into overtime because of France's refusal to commit to phasing out farm export subsidies and India's desire to obtain greater access to the industrial world's textile and apparel markets. The Doha Declaration conceded to French concerns by stating that French agreement to talk about phasing out farm subsidies in no way committed them to actually agreeing to a phase-out at the end of the day. However, such language does not resolve the differing opinions among the members about what constitutes an export subsidy. Indian officials were allowed to say in a separate statement that they might opt out of a final agreement if it is not to their liking. The Ministers also decided to have the trade law talks in two phases, first discussions to clarify the issues and then subsequent negotiations about changes, but did not address when the transition to substantive talks will take place and what will be discussed.
In the U.S., the Bush Administration's agreement to place anti-dumping statutes on the table has aroused the anger of labor and of members of Congress with manufacturing constituencies. Rep. Robert Matsui, (D-CA) suggested that U.S. negotiators had come close to undermining the whole premise of U.S. participation in the WTO. And while the Doha Declaration gives the Administration a rationale to intensify lobbying for Congressional renewal of presidential trade negotiating authority, the U.S. compromises could complicate efforts to put together a majority in favor of the renewal.
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