WTO talk enters extended day

NAIROBI, Dec 19: As members of the World Trade Organisation (WTO) on Friday failed to bridge the gaps on agriculture related issues as well as continuation on Doha round, the scheduled closing day of the 10th ministerial conference, the talks ultimately entered into an extended day – Saturday.
Negotiators worked till Friday midnight to reach a consensus for preparing the ministerial text for declaration.
On Friday evening, most ministers were requested to go to their hotels. They were also told that they would be informed when they are needed again in the Kenyatta International Convention Centre the venue of the meeting. The ministerial talks started on Tuesday.
A meeting of the head of delegations was scheduled at 11.00am in Kenyan time (2.00pm BST) on Saturday.
Though a consensus was reached on relaxed rules of origin (ROO) for the exports of the least developed countries (LDCs) and also services waiver, without having any consensus on contentious issues, agriculture subsidy and continuation of Doha round, these minimal benefits for the LDCs will not come into effect. ([email protected])