Upcoming Mid-Review of the Doha Development Agenda

The ongoing multilateral trade negotiations round, Doha Development Agenda (DDA) which started at the WTO Ministerial Conference in Doha, Qatar, in November 2001, has soon reached halfway. The Round should be completed by the end of 2004.

Progress has so far been modest. Several dead lines have been passed without major results: TRIPS (Trade-Related Aspects of Intellectual Property Rights) and public health (access to essential medicines) and clarification of the rules related to the special and differential treatment (SDT) of developing countries at the turn of the year and again in February, agriculture in March, implementation issues in the spring of the present year, modalities for market access for non-agricultural products and review of the dispute settlement understanding (DSU) at the end of May.

The 5th Ministerial Conference of the WTO in Cancun, Mexico, on 10 to 14 September 2003, is an important mid-review event where ministers give political guidance to the negotiations. Preparations for the Cancun Conference have started under the leadership of WTO Director-General Supachai and Chairman of General Council Perez de Castillo in Geneva. Slow progress in the trade negotiations is not unusual as such, but it fuels the expectations on the Cancun Conference. In addition to government representatives a large number of representatives of NGOs will also participate in the Conference.

The Ministerial Conference in Cancun(Link to another website.) (Opens New Window)