WTO to hold informal ministerial meeting in June
The World Trade Organisation on Tuesday said ministers will hold an informal meeting on the Doha negotiations in Paris next month on the fringes of a summit of the Organisation for Economic Cooperation and Development.
By Agencies |
GENEVA: The World Trade Organisation on Tuesday said ministers will hold an informal meeting on the Doha negotiations in Paris next month on the fringes of a summit of the Organisation for Economic Cooperation and Development.
The Australian embassy in Paris will host the meeting, at which WTO Director General Pascal Lamy will be present, a WTO spokeswoman said.
Around 20 ministers are also expected to be present, she added.
The WTO's Doha round of talks to reduce trade barriers was launched in the Qatari capital in November 2001 with the aim of reaching a deal by 2004.
It has foundered ever since, mainly over disputes between developed and developing countries on agricultural subsidies and industrial tariffs.
Lamy had initially hoped to bring ministers to Geneva over Easter to decide on "modalities" -- the key numbers for tariff cuts that would form the basis for any comprehensive deal.
But this timetable has repeatedly had to be put back as the WTO's 152 member states prove incapable of reaching consensus despite intensive technical discussions.
The Australian embassy in Paris will host the meeting, at which WTO Director General Pascal Lamy will be present, a WTO spokeswoman said.
Around 20 ministers are also expected to be present, she added.
The WTO's Doha round of talks to reduce trade barriers was launched in the Qatari capital in November 2001 with the aim of reaching a deal by 2004.
It has foundered ever since, mainly over disputes between developed and developing countries on agricultural subsidies and industrial tariffs.
Lamy had initially hoped to bring ministers to Geneva over Easter to decide on "modalities" -- the key numbers for tariff cuts that would form the basis for any comprehensive deal.
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But this timetable has repeatedly had to be put back as the WTO's 152 member states prove incapable of reaching consensus despite intensive technical discussions.
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