Washington — World Trade Organization (WTO) members have been unable to negotiate a set of deals to support the world's least developed countries, a package meant to be an "early harvest" ahead of meeting the rest of the Doha Development Agenda, according to U.S. Ambassador to the WTO Michael Punke.

"The only way for a small package to come together was for all major players to be ready to make meaningful contributions," Punke said to the organization's Trade Negotiations Committee in Geneva July 26. "As we feared, participants have proven much more comfortable in talking about what others can give them than in talking about what they can contribute themselves."

Punke, who also serves as U.S. deputy trade representative, said the United States had "spared no effort" in exploring issues and working to create the package. He said despite these efforts, it became clear the deal "is not happening and is not going to happen."

"It is not the conclusion that any of us wanted, but the facts are inescapable," he said, pointing to the "entrenched positions" and "red lines" presented by several members.

Punke said continuing to discuss the package without the prospect of success "comes at a significant cost, crowding out essential work on preparations" for the WTO 8th ministerial conference in December.

"There is a widely shared view that an absolutely essential element of [the conference] will be a discussion of where we go from here on Doha. We urgently need to work together and engage in that discussion," Punke said, adding that member countries will need "virtually all the time that remains" between now and the ministerial to prepare.

The package had at its core a number of issues concerning support for the world's least developed countries, and was part of a broader effort to break the stalemate on Doha trade talks. The Doha Development Agenda, so named for its creation in Qatar's capital city, was negotiated by the World Trade Organization in 2001. The agenda was designed as a global free-trade agreement meant to alleviate poverty and boost the international economy through trade liberalization. However, talks have been stalled since 2006, primarily due to divisions among major trading nations.

Punke said none of the WTO members was happy to end negotiations on the package, but that the acknowledgment "begins a new process of facing up together to our situation as it exists, and planning a realistic path forward."

The WTO conference will be held in Geneva December 15-17. It will include discussions on Doha and a wide range of other global issues.

Mackenzie C. Babb

27 July 2011

Source: allafrica.com