News and Analysis • Volume 14 • Number 1 • February 2010

3. WTO Ministerial: Excerpts from the Chair’s Summary

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Ministers reaffirmed the need to conclude the Round in 2010 and for a stock-taking exercise to take place in the first quarter of next year. [...] Gaps remain on substance and there was wide acknowledgment of the need for leadership and engagement on the remaining specific issues over the coming weeks.

There was wide support for building on progress made to date [and] for not attempt-ing to reopen stabilised texts. While priority is being given to agriculture and NAMA, it is important to advance on other areas on the agenda, including services, rules and trade facilitation.

LDC-specific issues were underlined as needing particular attention, including duty-free quota-free market access, cotton, and the LDC waiver for services.

There was broad agreement that the growing number of bilateral and regional trade agreements is an issue for the multilateral trading system, and that there is a need to ensure that the two approaches to trade opening continue to complement each other.

There was wide recognition that providing market access to developing countries and LDCs is not enough on its own. Capacity-building was seen as vital to addressing supply-side constraints. The importance of keeping up the momentum of Aid for Trade, including the Enhanced Integrated Framework, was stressed.

Ministers had a wide-ranging discussion on enhancing the institutional effectiveness of the WTO. Its monitoring and analytical work was widely seen to have been of particular value in helping to stave off protectionist responses to the crisis. There was substantial convergence on the need to improve notifications as well as data collection, analysis and dissemination.

High value continues to be placed by members on transparency and inclusiveness in the WTO. Improving the institution’s effectiveness should not compromise this principle.

Numerous comments were made on other current and future issues facing the WTO. Climate change was raised by many. The contribution the WTO can make through removing barriers to trade in environmental goods and services was widely endorsed. There were also warnings against ‘green protectionism’. Food security and energy security were also highlighted.