World Trade Organization Director General Pascal Lamy says that July will be a critical month for progress if the Doha Round of global trade talks is to be completed by the end of the year.
"We need in my view a timeline to manage expectations if we are to do the deed right. And in my view we have to plan on a number ministers meeting here in the week starting July 21," Lamy says.
Lamy says he hopes the ministers will arrive in Geneva a few days prior to the meeting in order to meet bilaterally and prepare the ground for the ministerial meeting that is set to start on July 21. But he says there is also plenty of work to do before then.
"The immediate challenge for the next days is to make the sort of progress on key issues which will provide a basis for improved texts on agriculture," Lamy says. "Once we've achieved that goal we will need to prepare for the ministerial discussions so that we can be productive. That means maximum effort from everyone over the next few weeks."
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