World Trade Organization (WTO)
Current WTO Negotiations
WTO Doha Development Agenda Negotiations Suspended
On July 24, 2006, WTO Director-General Pascal Lamy recommended the suspension
of the WTO Doha Development Agenda negotiations until further notice,
and members subsequently agreed. There is no indication of a new
timeframe to resume the talks and the next steps in the negotiations
are not clear at this point.
At the end of June, negotiations reached an impasse on the issues of market access for agriculture and non-agricultural products, as well as agricultural domestic support. The G6 Ministers (US, EU, India, Brazil, Australia, and Japan) then met in Geneva to try to advance the agriculture and non-agricultural goods market access (NAMA) negotiations on July 24, 2006. Despite lengthy negotiations, the G6 Ministers were unable to bridge their differences in negotiating positions in the WTO Doha Development Agenda.
Canada is extremely disappointed at the impasse that has resulted in the suspension of the Round, which also marks a lost opportunity for all WTO members. A successful outcome of the Round was not only key to advancing Canadian objectives of increased access to global markets for Canadian producers, manufacturers and service providers, but also for developing countries who stood to gain from further integration into the world trading system, and from the reduction in agriculture subsidies.
Canada remains committed to more liberalized trade, the rules-based multilateral trading system, and the objectives of the Doha negotiations. We will continue to work with the Director-General and other WTO members to promote our interests in the Doha negotiations, if and when members are able to find a way forward. The government will continue to consult with provinces, territories, and stakeholders on how best to achieve our trade policy objectives.
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