World Trade Organization (WTO)
Current WTO Negotiations
Resumption of technical discussions in the WTO Doha Development
Agenda Negotiations
On November 16, 2006, WTO Director-General Pascal Lamy obtained
support from the WTO membership for technical discussions on the
Doha Development Agenda to resume. The Director-General recommended
that negotiations re-engage after noting Members’ firm desire
to see a successful conclusion to the round after months of quiet
diplomacy and informal talks had been increasing, following the
suspension of the negotiations. Members had agreed to suspend the
negotiations in July 2006 after the negotiations became blocked
around the issues of domestic support, agricultural market access
and non-agricultural market access.
Mr. Lamy has suggested to members that work re-commence across
all areas of the negotiations and has tasked the Chairs of the negotiating
groups to explore Members’ negotiating positions and areas
of flexibility which may help move the Round forward.
Canada was very disappointed at the suspension of negotiations
and welcomes the steps being taken to re-engage and move the Doha
Round of WTO negotiations forward. We encourage all Members to show
the necessary flexibility to move beyond current differences of
opinion towards the conclusion of a successful and ambitious round.
Canada reaffirms its commitment to more liberalized trade, the
rules-based multilateral trading system, and the objectives of the
Doha Development Agenda, which will advance Canadian objectives
of increased access to global markets for Canadian producers, manufacturers
and service providers, strengthened global trade rules, and easing
the flow of trade by cutting red tape at borders. Canada also strongly
supports the issues of importance to the developing countries and
is seeking an outcome that will help them better integrate and benefit
from, the global trading system.
We will continue to work with other WTO members to seek an ambitious
conclusion to the Doha Development Agenda negotiations and promote
our interests in the multilateral trade system. We will continue
to consult with other levels of government and Canadian stakeholders.
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