World Trade Organization Director-General Pascal Lamy, in opening the 21st Geneva Week for WTO non-resident members and observers, said that the G20 and APEC leaders' meetings last week provided a clear signal that they expect the Doha Development Round to be deliverable next year.
"Discussions between leaders on this topic were to the point: how to supplement what is already on the table with new give and take in order to build a final package that they would take to their respective Parliaments," Lamy said. "The challenge is now to translate this political will into negotiations here in Geneva. Since June last year, members have been testing flexibilities in various formats. This process must now intensify in order to "'walk the talk.'"
Over the past few weeks the level of activity of these contact groups around Geneva has increased and some of the areas which had been lagging behind have received more attention. During the last meeting of the Trade Negotiations Committee which took place on Oct. 19 developments in each area of the negotiation were looked at. Since then the G20 met in Seoul and APEC Leaders and Ministers met in Yokohama. Both instances sent strong signals of political resolve to conclude the Doha Development Round.
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