World Trade Organization Director-General Pascal Lamy, reporting to an informal meeting of the Trade Negotiations Committee, said that after some months of impasse in negotiations, his own sense is that there are beginning to be signs of a new dynamic emerging. Lamy called on negotiators to build on the new dynamic by expanding the small groups discussion to all areas. He hopes to evaluate progress somewhere around mid-October.
Lamy points to the fact that more heads of government have highlighted the central importance of the Doha Development Agenda. These leaders have expressed concern at the slow progress in the negotiations and urged a move towards a conclusion as soon as possible. Lamy says what is clear from all these discussions is an overall desire to move the negotiations to a balanced and ambitious conclusion as soon as possible, consistent with the mandate and based on progress already made.
"Clearly, it is too early to say whether this new dynamic is firmly rooted and can expand to all issues under the negotiating agenda," Lamy said. "It is also too early to see how you engage on horizontal trade-offs across different areas. Nevertheless, if this process lives up to its promising beginnings then Members will have to be prepared, when the time is right, to start testing 'what ifs'."
Powered by iNet Solutions Group ©2011 All Rights Reserved.