WTO: A New Beginning after Doha? [http://www.weforum.org/site/knowledgenavigator.nsf/Content/WTO%3A%20A%20New%20Beginning%20after%20Doha%3F?open&topic_id=300350000&theme_id=300]

            04.12.2001

            India Economic Summit 2001}

            Bertrand Collomb, Chairman and Chief Executive Officer, Lafarge, France, began the discussion by stating that in the era of globalization, international trade issues have come to the forefront. He said that the agreement made in Doha was very positive and that the next step is going to be very important.

            François Huwart, Minister of Foreign Trade of France, stated that the World Trade Organization (WTO) in its six years of existence has broadened its sphere of competence, attracted new members and asserted its authority through the dispute settlement mechanism.

            He said that the negotiations launched in Doha are a powerful tool to leverage the WTO’s enlarged vision, benefiting all WTO members. Pointing out the need for promoting development objectives, he highlighted some steps undertaken at the Doha Ministerial Meeting: Anti-dumping procedures not to harass developing countries;
            Increased market access in sectors such as textiles and agriculture;
            Protection of geographical indicators;
            Coordination of the WTO with other international organizations.

            He specified the need for the WTO to lay down rules and enforce compliance to allow business to operate in an increasingly stable, open and foreseeable framework. He said this would also benefit Indian companies. On the issue of environmental negotiations, he said that India has been a supporter of conventions on the protection of the environment and should have no regret in reconciling WTO commitments with environmental commitments. 

            Huwart pointed out that the Declaration on the Agreement on Trade-Related Aspects of Intellectual Property Rights (TRIPS) and public health demonstrates the capacity of the WTO to take account of national and international goals. He said that the issue of countries incapable of producing pharmaceuticals themselves has to be addressed and that France and the EU are determined to contribute actively towards this issue. He also expressed his concern that this declaration should not undermine the importance of intellectual property rights.

            He said that the WTO should offer all members, regardless of size, a guarantee that anti-competitive practices can be identified and sued. An investment forum for promoting investments would be useful to promote investment. He added that the preparatory works on these two issues would reveal the existence of common interests between India and the EU.

            According to Huwart, Doha was not at the end but at the starting point of negotiations that will be concluded in January 2005. He also urged both India and European business representatives to participate in talks between the EU and India for the Euro-Indian initiative to stimulate trade and investment.

            Murasoli Maran, Minister of Commerce and Industry of India, said that the success of the Doha work programme depends upon commitment from developed countries to satisfy the demands of the developing countries.

            He pointed out that developed countries have long ignored the concerns of developing countries. However, in Doha a move towards the resolution of implementation issues was made and some of the following concerns were addressed:
            Exclusion of labour;
            Protection of interests in agriculture, services and industrial tariffs;
            Postponement of negotiations on Singapore issues;
            Safeguards in environmental negotiations;
            TRIPS and public health;
            Emphasis on developmental goals.

            Maran stressed the fact that the credibility of the multilateral trading system depends on the declaration being interpreted in the same way to suit the convenience of developed countries. He also highlighted two important features of the Doha Declaration: transfer of technology and provisions for special and differential treatment.

            He pointed out that developed countries have high tariffs on products of special interest to developing countries such as agricultural and labour-intensive goods. Developed countries need to change their attitude and realize that the "one size fits all" approach will cause more pains than gains to the developing countries.

            Commenting on the transparency in the WTO, Maran said that the system should be made more transparent in order to reflect the views of the developing members. He stated that India would actively and constructively participate in the consultations. India supports core labour standards, but feels that they should be in the domain of the International Labour Organization (ILO), he added. The WTO should not try to include everything under its purview.

            Huwart responded that to manage globalization there is a need to recognize these labour norms in the WTO, even if they have not been created. He said that the EU is committed to organizing dialogue between different organizations to try and achieve global governance for the development of all countries in the world.

            Collomb concluded the session stating that the agreement in Doha is a step forward and in the next two years progress should be made on issues of concerns to both developing and developed countries.                 

                  *{Contributors:       Collomb Bertrand
                  Huwart François
                  Maran Murasoli}