World Trade Organization Negotiations: The Doha Development Agenda

The World Trade Organization WTO was established in 1995 and is the principal international organization governing world trade. It has 150 member countries, representing over 95 of world trade. On November 9-14, 2001, trade ministers from WTO countries met in Doha, Qatar, for its 4th Ministerial Conference. At that meeting, members agreed to a work program for a new round of multilateral trade negotiations. The work program folds on-going negotiations on agriculture and services into a broader agenda that includes industrial tariffs, topics of interest to developing countries, changes in WTO rules, and other provisions numbering 19 in all. Because of the influence that developing countries had in setting the work program, the round has become known as the Doha Development Agenda DDA. Negotiations were to conclude by January 1, 2005, but this deadline was breached and no new deadline officially has been established. Agriculture has been the linchpin in the DDA. U.S. goals were substantial reduction of trade-distorting domestic support, elimination of export subsidies, and improved market access. Industrial trade barriers and services are other market access topics in the negotiations. Three issues are among the most important to developing countries, in addition to concessions on agriculture 1 compulsory licensing of medicines and patent protection, 2 a review of provisions giving special and differential treatment to developing countries, and 3 problems that developing countries are having in implementing current trade obligations. The 5th Ministerial Conference was held September 10-14, 2003 in Cancun, Mexico, but broke up without agreement. On July 31, 2004, WTO members approved a Framework Agreement to guide remaining negotiations. The July 31 framework included important terms on agriculture and began new negotiations on trade facilitation. The 6th Ministerial was held in Hong Kong from December 13-18, 2005.