Saving Doha and Delivering on Development

INTERNATIONAL SEMINAR
on
“SAVING DOHA AND DELIVERING ON DEVELOPMENT”

12-13 March 2007, ‘Kamal Mahal’ ITC Maurya Sheraton Hotel, New Delhi

The Doha Round negotiations underway in the World Trade Organization (WTO) are poised at a crucial stage.  Members resumed meetings in November 2006 with a view to breaking the impasse in the negotiations as early as possible.  Agriculture is at the centre of the impasse, with divergences between the expectations of Members calling for substantial and effective reductions in trade-distorting domestic support and the offers to do so made by the concerned developed country Members and differences over agricultural market access.  These divergences have had important spill over effects on the positions held by the Members on non-agricultural market access (NAMA) and Services.  To conclude the negotiations, a balanced package, which is consistent with the agreements reached through the Doha Ministerial Declaration, the July 2004 Framework Agreement and the Hong Kong Ministerial Declaration across all the areas under negotiation including cotton, rules, TRIPS, and initiatives for LDCs, is required to be worked out.

The purpose of the Seminar is to elicit open and frank discussions among renowned experts and academicians, non-governmental organizations and other stake-holders, as well as representatives of Member governments, but in their personal capacities and on the clear understanding that the views presented by them may not necessarily represent their respective country or organization.  The key issues to be addressed are:

a. The central asymmetries in the Doha Round are well acknowledged.  What are the constraints to resolving them?  What are the implications for welfare gains, standards of living, and distributional equity arising from the major proposals and the posed trade-offs?  What are the key constituents of any Doha outcome to serve the development imperatives?

b. What are the additional initiatives (DFQF, Cotton, Aid for Trade, Implementation Issues) required to address the needs of the specifically distressed?

Media Coverage of "Saving Doha and Delivering on Development": The seminar received widespread media coverage.  Click on the links below to read summaries and analysis.

Business Standard: "WTO for Ending Doha Talks; Government of India Says No"

Bridges Weekly Trade News Digest: "Lamy Calls for 'Full Speed' Doha Negotations at Multilateral Level"

Indian Express: "India, Allies Question Lamy's June Deadline for Doha Round"

Telegraph India: "Trade Optimism Laced with Caution"