Latest ministerial text shows WTO still divided on reaffirming Doha

NAIROBI: Sharp divisions persisted among Worlt Trade Organisation member nations on reaffirming a pro-development global trade deal even as the hectic parleys continued for the fifth day.

The third revision of the draft Nairobi ministerial clearly stated that many members want to reaffirm the Doha Development Agenda and carry out the work on the basis of the agreed structure but some want to go for a new architecture and not reaffirm it.

Though the five page text touches upon all issues that concern developing countries including India such as permanent solution for food security and special safeguards mechanism, and the demands of developed countries such as export competition, it lacks details and refers to separate texts for each of these issues.

Sources said the text is likely to have emerged from the G-5 meeting among India, China, the US, EU and Brazil and would then be circulated to other members for their comments.

The marathon G-5 meeting has been going on since Friday morning and no clarity seems to be emerging despite intense negotiations.

"SSM and Doha are difficult issues and the two countries discussing them - India and the US have binary and polar views," said an official.

The first draft of the ministerial declaration was completely silent on the public stockholding issue, the second one mentioned the peace clause but didn't reiterate 2017 as the deadline for finding a permanent solution thereby indicating the developed countries' lack of inclination to Include these issues in the declaration.