World Trade Organization (WTO)
Current Negotiations
Informal Meeting of Trade Ministers held in Paris, France
Representatives from thirty countries met at the Australian Embassy
in Paris on Wednesday, May 4 for an informal ministerial meeting
to attempt to re-energize ongoing negotiations under the WTO’s
Doha Development Agenda. John Gero, Canada’s Chief Negotiator
for the WTO, led the Canadian delegation to the Hong Kong-hosted
meeting, which took place on the margins of the OECD’s annual
Ministerial Conference Meeting. While WTO informal ministerial meetings
are not decision-making forums, they provide opportunities to lend
political guidance and momentum to the negotiations in the period
leading up to the sixth WTO Ministerial Conference in Hong Kong,
China, from December 13-18, 2005.
The Paris meeting focussed primarily on agriculture and, in particular,
on finding a solution to the question of converting specific agricultural
tariffs (e.g., $ per tonne) into percentage terms (or ad valorem
equivalents – AVEs) for the purpose of applying the tariff
reduction formula for agricultural market access. This highly technical
issue had blocked discussion on market access issues in the agriculture
negotiations for a number of months and threatened to effectively
stall progress in all areas of the negotiations. Discussions ultimately
resulted in a solution on AVEs among the Ministers in Paris, which
will now be put to the broader Membership in Geneva for approval.
Finding a solution to this complex agricultural market access issue
was a priority for Canada, according to International Trade Minister
Jim Peterson who applauded the breakthrough. “Canada welcomes
this agreement for its straightforward approach that applies equally
to all Members. I am very encouraged that Members have overcome
this important hurdle.”
The agreement in Paris has effectively removed a roadblock in the
agriculture talks, and is expected to provide new momentum to Doha
Round negotiations in Geneva. Ministers reiterated that they are
aiming for an ambitious outcome to the Round, one that provides
commercially meaningful market access opportunities and addresses
the concerns of developing country Members.
Canada’s overarching objective in the Doha Round of WTO negotiations
is an outcome that will level the playing field for the agri-food
sector; increase market access for goods and service providers;
strengthen rules on anti-dumping, countervail and subsidies; facilitate
trade by cutting red tape at the border; and better integrate developing
countries into the world trading system.
Other Members represented at the Paris meeting included: Argentina,
Australia, Bangladesh, Benin, Brazil, Botswana, Chile, China, Costa
Rica, Egypt, the European Union, Guyana, Hong Kong (chair), India,
Indonesia, Japan, Kenya, South Korea, Malaysia, Mexico, New Zealand,
Norway, Pakistan, Rwanda, Singapore, South Africa, Switzerland,
the United States, and Zambia. WTO Director General Supachai Panitchpakdi
was also in attendance.
This was the third informal ministerial of 2005, and follows meeting
in Davos, Switzerland (January 29) and Mombasa, Kenya (March 2-5).
The next informal ministerial meeting is scheduled for Dalian, China,
from July 12-13.
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