1. DOHA DEVELOPMENT AGENDA

2. BACKGROUND Doha Ministerial Conference 2001  Background: Seattle, Millennium Round Ambitions, limits of Built-in-Agenda  Doha Declaration (WT/MIN/(01)/DEC/1)  Negotiation mandates + other work = Doha Development Agenda

3. PRINCIPAL ELEMENTS OF THE DDA Negotiations:  Agriculture and Services (Cotton added in 2003)  Non-agricultural Market Access (NAMA)  TRIPS (Register)  WTO Rules  Trade and Environment  Trade Facilitation (added in 2004)  Dispute Settlement Understanding (outside SU)  Special and Differential Treatment for developing countries

4. Work under the General Council, but not part of Single Undertaking : -Electronic Commerce -Small Economies -Trade, Debt and Finance -Trade and Transfer of Technology -Relationship between TRIPS Agreement and the CBD, the protection of traditional knowledge and folklore. Process Issues: -Single Undertaking – Consensus -Trade Negotiations Committee (TNC) -Doha Round conclusion 1 January 2005 -Concept of “ Early Harvest ” -Transparency/Inclusiveness and Bottom-up approach -Special & Differential Treatment/Development Dimension. Almost 70% of Members are developing.

5. WHY SO DIFFICULT? The issues – large number and complex; The high Level of Ambition; 153 Members – consensus – Single Undertaking; Public nature of negotiating – formulas instead of request-offers; Complications arising from economic crisis and overall international agenda; Electoral cycles;

6. THE DEVELOPMENT DIMENSION? Special and Differential Treatment  In every element of the text  Applied in different ways depending on levels of development. Less than Full Reciprocity; Transparent and Inclusive Negotiating Process; Big cuts needed in developed country farm subsidies – most distortive subsidies.

7. Developing Country Interests “ not one size fits all ” Solidarity among developing countries, but differences clear – LDCs, SVEs, emerging economies. North-South description in WTO is inaccurate and simplified. For example:  Preference Erosion  Agricultural Exporters v. Importers  Those seeking ambitious outcome in manufacturing/services versus those who take a more defensive position  TRIPS issues, GI extension and CBD

8. AGRICULTURE Flexibilities from overall reduction commitments:  Sensitive Products (largely for developed countries)  Special Products exclusively for developing countries; Special Safeguard Mechanism (SSM) for developing countries; The magnitude of the cut in cotton subsidies; The fundamental trade-offs:  Domestic subsidy cuts in return for market access;  Political cost of providing the market access for some countries.

9. NON AGRICULTURE MARKET ACCESS Flexibilities to deviate from formula, e.g.  What coefficient for developing countries? Proposed coefficients of 20, 22 and 25.  At 20 countries apply half the formula cut on 14% of tariff lines or no cut to 6.5%.  With 22 it would be 10% with half cut and no cut with 5%.  No flexibility with 25; Specific country circumstances, Argentina, South Africa and Venezuela; Sectorals – voluntary, but some see as potential solution to higher coefficients. Basically creating duty free sectors.

10. SERVICES Market access – done bilaterally. Around 30 countries active in the negotiations; LDC waiver – preferences, but in all areas or just market access not clear. Domestic Regulation Subsidies, safeguards Sequencing/links with Agriculture and NAMA Modalities

11. TRADE RELATED TO INTELLECTUAL PROPERTY RIGHTS Multilateral Register for geographical indications for wine and spirits:  legal and participation issues divide Members Extension of Geographical Indications  not a negotiation issue, but linked and controversial Link between TRIPS and CBD  disclose the origin of genetic material and traditional knowledge used in their inventions when applying for a patent

12. TRADE FACILITATIONS Negotiations to harmonize and streamline customs procedures. Articles V, VIII and X in the GATT, dealing with goods in transit, fees and paperwork. Capacity building/links to Aid for Trade.

13. TRADE AND ENVIRONMENT Three mandates:  Closer co-ordination of trade and environmental policies – no conflict to date in DSB  Closer co-ordination between WTO Secretariat and MEAs  Market access for environmentally related goods and services

14. DEVELOPMENT DIMENSIONS Agreement specific S&D proposals totalling 88. Three categories -- 32 agreed. Special and Differential Treatment – included in every segment of the negotiations; Capacity Building/Aid for Trade Trade Facilitation formula for linking implementation to reception of technical assistance

15. RULES Anti-Dumping Subsidies Fisheries Subsidies Regional Trade Agreements – Transparency Mechanism Review

16. DISPUTE SETTLEMENT REFORM Not part of the Single Undertaking, but clearly linked - Systemic Issue How to improve, update in light of 15 year experience Technical issues, sequencing and remanding; Timetables, shorter response time; Enabling greater developing country participation

17. WHAT NEXT????? 80% of technical negotiation done, but Agricultural and NAMA “ Modalities ” still bogged down; Services also progressing slowly. Economic crisis in 2008-9 saw first contraction (12%) in global trade for 50 years, some protectionist measures; ...but crisis focused minds of WTO Members on other roles of the Multilateral Trading System – e.g. monitoring; March 2010 stocktaking – some technical progress, but key political will absent. G20– focus likely on international financial system and reform.