24 countries vow to wrap Doha talks by ’11

DAVOS: Trade ministers from 24 WTO member countries, including India, on Saturday agreed to step up efforts to conclude the Doha round of liberalization talks by the end of the year. The decision was arrived at amid a mood of continued mistrust between developed and developing countries.

At the informal meeting, both sides seemed to stick to their stand, though they did recognize that they have only 11 months to conclude the latest round of trade liberalization talks, which started in the Qatari capital in late 2001.

With US presidential elections due next year, there is little chance of the trade deal, being cleared by the Congress.

“There is a window available to conclude the deal this year... The draft on agriculture , services and non-agricultural market access (which is reduction in duties on industrial goods) will be revised shortly,” commerce and industry minister Anand Sharma said after the meeting , convened by the Swiss trade minister.

According to the revised timeline drawn up by the ministers , the chairs of the negotiating groups on subjects like agriculture, services and industrial tariffs, among others, would submit their drafts texts around mid-April . These may be revised around a month later following discussion between the 153 member countries. And, if things go as per plan, trade ministers would then meet around July so that the legal text can be ready by the end of 2011. Subsequently, it has to be sent for ratification by governments of member countries in 2012.

Negotiators, however, said developing trust between members holds the key to successful conclusion of the talks. The developing countries still view the developed block, comprising the US and the European Union, as only seeking concessions without giving any return. The feeling is reciprocated by the developed countries.