The moment of truth
Pascal Lamy | Friday, 11 July 2008
DG, WTO
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A memorandum to the world's trade ministers:
As the world economy is on a downturn, most trade agreements were concluded under the pressure to create additional welfare from trade. For the past eight years, the global economic pressure has not been as stringent as it is right now.
French President Nicolas Sarkozy, who is otherwise known to be protectionist, has openly spoken up against a Doha Deal. As he has taken over charge of the European Union (EU) presidency for the second semester, it is now, before he really holds the reins, or later, in 2009, with the next EU presidency, to take actions to move the Doha Development Round (DDR) move forward. But then again if there is Mr. Barack Obama in charge in the US after the presidential election, there will be fresh uncertainty.
In this context, there are some good reasons to think that in fact the last Doha dice is rolling which indeed does not mean that the last WTO dice was thrown, as the WTO Director General, Pascal Lamy has taken the initiative for holding a ministerial conference in Geneva.
A honest closing of the Doha Round would be best for the WTO. It could then start to look at real issues such as the global shortage of agricultural produce needed for food, feeding and fuel.
Here below is the memorandum of the WTO Director General to the world's trade ministers:
Forgive this brief intrusion into your busy days, but I thought it prudent to update you on our Doha Round negotiations in advance of your meeting later this month in Geneva. Each of you has informed me that your objective for these talks is to conclude by the end of the year.
------------------------------------
A memorandum to the world's trade ministers:
As the world economy is on a downturn, most trade agreements were concluded under the pressure to create additional welfare from trade. For the past eight years, the global economic pressure has not been as stringent as it is right now.
French President Nicolas Sarkozy, who is otherwise known to be protectionist, has openly spoken up against a Doha Deal. As he has taken over charge of the European Union (EU) presidency for the second semester, it is now, before he really holds the reins, or later, in 2009, with the next EU presidency, to take actions to move the Doha Development Round (DDR) move forward. But then again if there is Mr. Barack Obama in charge in the US after the presidential election, there will be fresh uncertainty.
In this context, there are some good reasons to think that in fact the last Doha dice is rolling which indeed does not mean that the last WTO dice was thrown, as the WTO Director General, Pascal Lamy has taken the initiative for holding a ministerial conference in Geneva.
A honest closing of the Doha Round would be best for the WTO. It could then start to look at real issues such as the global shortage of agricultural produce needed for food, feeding and fuel.
Here below is the memorandum of the WTO Director General to the world's trade ministers:
Forgive this brief intrusion into your busy days, but I thought it prudent to update you on our Doha Round negotiations in advance of your meeting later this month in Geneva. Each of you has informed me that your objective for these talks is to conclude by the end of the year.