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World Trade Leader Says Ag Negotiations are Moving

Speaking to the World Trade Organization's General Council this week, Director General Pascal Lamy said the work on agriculture is engaged, has the support of members and holds the prospect, given political will, of moving towards agreed modalities in the new year.

"Work in agriculture is proceeding on a two-track approach," Lamy said. "One track, template work, is advancing well, with substantive contributions from members. The other track is the Chair's informal consultations on issues in the draft modalities and associated documentation."

Lamy also noted there have been discussions on domestic support, where again it is clear that a solution on cotton is fundamental, and on market access issues, including useful work on sensitive products, tariff cap, Tariff Rate Quota expansion and tariff simplification.

In referring to the upcoming WTO Ministerial Conference, Lamy said it would not be a negotiating session, it would be a platform for ministers to review the functioning of this house including the Doha Round, and an occasion to send a number of strong signals to the world with respect to the entire WTO waterfront of issues from monitoring and surveillance to disputes, as well as accessions, Aid for Trade, technical assistance and international governance.