*{Doha: A New Opportunity for Development [http://www.weforum.org/site/knowledgenavigator.nsf/Content/Doha%3A+A+New+Opportunity+for+Development?open&topic_id=300250000&theme_id=300]

            02.12.2001

            India Economic Summit 2001}

            Rahul Bajaj, Chairman and Managing Director of Bajaj Auto Limited, India, and Co-Chair of the India Economic Summit 2001, introduced the theme by stating that the negotiations at the World Trade Organization (WTO) need to ensure fair trade along with the free trade. He said that developing countries like India were concerned that the WTO was leading to several inequalities among member nations. "And these inequalities among nations are growing." He stressed the need for a win-win situation for all members of the multilateral body.

            In his special address, Supachai Panitchpakdi, Director-General Designate of the WTO, pointed out that he was keen that the Doha ministerial conference was necessary to prove to the world that it was "business as usual." It was an important feel-good factor to stall the recessionary trend in the globe, he said.

            The launch of a "Work Programme" at Doha was good and the declaration was very balanced. He said that while Doha was a success, it is important to carry that spirit of give and take to the negotiating table so that the member countries will end with concrete benefits for all.

            Supachai said that Doha had succeeded due to the following reasons:
            1. Countries were not keen on a second failure after Seattle;
            2. There was enough time for all countries to come to a consensus and there were just three or four points, which are either a make or break for a consensus;
            3. There was the threat of global recession deepening if Doha failed and so every country wanted the ministerial to succeed;
            4. After 11 September, every country was interested in finding global solutions to global problems; 5. All developing countries stood completely united for the first time.

            He said that the balanced declaration now called for some balanced negotiations. Explaining this point, Supachai said that if you look through the declaration there are at least ten paragraphs where the words technical assistance or special treatment for LDCs or developing countries were mentioned. This, he said, was heartening to note. But the catch he felt was that it has to be decided by member countries whether technical assistance will precede negotiations. He felt that the need to understand that technical assistance to build capacities among developing countries has to precede the delicate negotiations.

            The second point was that agriculture was added on to the "Work Programme" despite the fact that negotiations have already been launched on this subject. This, he said, had been done to provide a quid pro quo to countries which were reluctant to open up the agriculture sector. He said the terminology in the Doha declaration on agriculture stating that there will be phasing of export subsidies is very mild. He was of the opinion that there should be serious negotiations on this issue and there should be no room for continuing with the subsidies in any which way.

            Another issue which Supachai highlighted was on industrial tariffs. He said that the developed world would have to be clear that the negotiations would have to lead to complete removal of peak tariffs and tariff escalations. Otherwise the developing countries will always be relegated to being producers of primary products. The terms of trade never favour primary producers and therefore there is a need to help these countries move up the value chain.

            He said that the industrial tariff negotiations should not be used by the developed world to get returns for giving up on agriculture. 

            Another important issue he touched upon was the need to expand the agenda for negotiations on TRIPS and the need to include textiles into the negotiating agenda on implementation.

            He concluded by stating that the negotiations that follow will have to meet the spirit of give and take that was established at Doha. 

            Bajaj concluded the session by stating that the negotiations will have to lead to free and fair trade among nations.                 

                  *{Contributors:       Bajaj Rahul
                  Panitchpakdi Supachai}