World Trade Organisation (WTO) member states have informally agreed to return to the negotiating table to progress the Doha Agenda at a pace that recognises the present crisis-time challenges for nations globally.

Director-General Pascal Lamy reported to the General Council on May 1, 2012 that "conversations over the past few weeks with ministers and delegations have provided a sense that members wish to continue to explore any opportunities to gain the necessary traction and make tangible progress soon [on the Doha round]" - a global pact to reduce tariff and non-tariff barriers to world trade.

He reported that there was "support to give fresh impetus to the Doha negotiations towards results in areas with potential for prompt resolution - such as trade facilitation - while intensifying efforts to find creative ways and approaches to overcome the most critical and fundamental stalemates in especially challenging areas."

On trade facilitation, Lamy said there was a collective acknowledgement of liberalised trade's win-win potential for all members, provided technical assistance and capacity building for developing countries - and in particular the least-developed countries - is adequately provided.

In a report to the General Council in February, Lamy said that the Doha Round should continue in the 'most realistic and practical way possible - in small steps'.

At the time, Lamy encouraged Chairs to engage in informal consultations with nations on resolutions to outstanding issues: “The current political environment dictates that the most realistic and practical way forward is to move in small steps, gradually moving forward the parts of the Doha Round which are mature, and re-thinking those where greater differences remain."

The latest statement from Lamy indicates that nations may yet return to the negotiating table earlier than expected to settle the least problematic areas of the Round. Doha round negotiations began in 2001, but progress largely stalled in 2008.

May 8, 2012

Source: Tax News

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