Overview of the Doha
Work Programme
Implications for the
Developing Countries
Commercial Diplomacy Programme
UNCTAD
WWW.UNCTAD.ORG/COMMDIP
December 2001
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Doha Sets the “stage” for the:
1- Continuation of the on-going negotiations;
2- Launching of new negotiations;
3- Preparations of possible negotiations in
new issues;
4- Resolution of the implementation issues.
Doha marked the beginning of a multilateral
negotiating process. As in soccer it could be
seen as the kick-off to the beginning of the
game.
End of the Game: January 2005
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1-Continuation of the
On-Going Negotiations on:
AGRICULTURE
• Substantial
improvement in market
access;
• Phasing out of all forms
of export subsidies;
• Substantial reductions
in trade-distorting
domestic support
SERVICES
• Goals of Article
XIX
• Guidelines and
Procedures
• Article IV
S&D Provisions by 31-03-03
Draft Schedules: before
Ministerial Conference
5th
Initial requests: 30-06-02
Initial Offers: 31-03-03
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2-Launching of
New Negotiations on:
• Geographical indications other than wines
and spirits (TRIPS) (by 5th Min.Conf.).
• Market Access for non-agricultural
products (tariff peaks, high tariffs,
tariff escalation, non-tariff barriers).
• WTO Rules: AntiDumping, Subsidies and
Countervailing measures, fisheries
subsidies, regional trade agreements.
• Trade and Environment.
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3-Preparation of Possible
Negotiations on the
“Singapore Issues”, i.e.:
•
•
•
•
Trade and Investment
Trade and Competition
Government Procurement
Trade Facilitation
Members agreed that negotiations will take
place after the Fifth Ministerial Conference on
the basis of a decision to be taken, “by
explicit consensus, at that Session on
modalities of negotiations”.
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4-Resolution of the
Implementation Issues:
The Decision on
Implementation
concerns:
Market Access, TBT,
Agriculture, SPS,
Subsidies and countervailing
measures,
TRIMS,
Rules of Origin,
AntiDumping,
Textiles ,
TRIPS,
Custom Valuation
Special and Differential
Treatment
Deadlines: almost all
by 2002
Outstanding issues
regarding:
GATT 94,
TBT,
Agriculture,
SPS,
Subsidies and CVM , TRIMS,
Safeguards, AntiDumping,
Waivers , TRIPS, Custom
Valuation, Special and
Differential Treatment
Deadlines: report to the
Trade Negotiating
Committee
by end 2002 6
Other Development-related
Issues (1)
• Declaration on TRIPS and Public Health=
Immediate political value for developing
countries;
• Waiver granted for the EC/ACP
preferential regime, and for the
transitional banana regime (until end
2005).
• Commitment to the objective of dutyfree, quota-free market access for
LDCs’ exports.
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Other Development-related
Issues (2)
• Review of S&D provisions. Endorsement
of a work programme on S&D set out in
the Decision on Implementation;
• Working groups: Trade, Debt and
finance, and Trade and Transfer of
Technology.
• Greater coherence based on WTO work
with Bretton Woods institutions.
• Technical assistance and capacity
building.
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Implications for the preparation
of
Developing Countries:
Sharpen their proposals
in agriculture and
services
Identify their interests
and consolidate alliances
in all topics
Take into account
regional and
preferential
arrangements
Make new proposals on
S&D provisions
Identify the “development
dimension” from the
beginning in the topics of
investment and competition
Prepare Terms of
Reference for the WTO
Working Groups on
transfer of technology and
trade, debt and finance.
Identify links among the
topics
Concentrate on
implementation issues first
(2002)
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FINAL REMARKS :
Is This Work Programme a
“Development Round”?
Does this Work Programme
provide the potential to improve
the multilateral trading system
so as to enable developing
countries to increase their
share of world trade and
pursue development policies?
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A Potential Positive Outcome Could Be
Achieved …IF :
•Developing countries are successful in defining
clear objectives and negotiating proposals in each
topic.
•Developed countries provide resources for
effective technical cooperation and capacity
building.
•Developing countries ensure coherence among the
topics being negotiated from the point of view of
their development strategies.
•Effective, targeted and operational S&D
provisions are ensured in each topic.
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