The July 2008 package

23/11/2010    12104

The July 2008 package is a stepping stone on the way to concluding the Doha Round. The main task before WTO members was to settle a range of questions that would shape the final agreement of the Doha Development Agenda. Consultations took place among a group of ministers representing all interests in the negotiations. A series of meetings were held in Geneva from 21 to 30 July.

Objectives

The immediate goal of the July meeting was to agree “modalities” in agriculture and non-agricultural market access (NAMA) — ie, the formulas and other methods to be used to cut tariffs and agricultural subsidies, and a range of related provisions — and to look at the next steps in concluding the Doha round of negotiations. Agreeing modalities would determine the scale of reductions in tariffs on thousands of industrial and agricultural products and future levels of farm subsidies in the WTO's member countries. Other issues were also on the menu, including services and rules.

Negotiating texts and reports

In agriculture and non-agricultural market access, intensive negotiations produced several drafts; the latest before the July package talks were circulated on 10 July. In other subjects the texts take various forms, including reports from the chairs of the negotiating groups or committees handling each subject.

The link below take you to the texts reports of July Package:

http://www.wto.org/english/tratop_e/dda_e/meet08_texts_e.htm