A tall order for WTO negotiators

Geneva, Switzerland (GenevaLunch) – The Doha Round talks resumed on the technical level  in earnest at the World Trade Organization (WTO) in Geneva 14 September after a commitment to conclude the Round by 2010 from ministers from 35 countries meeting in New Delhi, India 3 and 4 September. The Doha Round of trade talks collapsed in July 2008 after trade ministers failed to agree on issues tied to agriculture and industrial import rules.

The blame for the collapse was widely laid on differences between India, China and the US on the special safeguards mechanism, a means to raise tariffs against a sudden surge of imports.

The US and India in particular disagreed on the level of the tariffs. Negotiations were bogged down by differences over agricultural subsidies and export promotion by developed countries and protective measures on industrial goods by advanced developing countries, like India, Brazil and China.

Since last year, however, new governments in India and the US have allowed both countries to resume discussions.

Input from the meetings held in Geneva will be reported to G-20 leaders meeting in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania 24 and 25 September.

Related: Far Eastern Econmic Review, The Hindu

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