WTO Ministerial Section • Volume 5 • Number 35 • 16th October 2001
Singapore ‘Mini-Ministerial’ Moves Doha Agenda Forward
Following up after a similar meeting in Mexico in August (see BRIDGES Weekly, 11 September 2001; ), trade ministers from 22 major WTO Members on 13-14 October held what US Trade Representative (USTR) Robert Zoellick called a "mini-ministerial" in Singapore to advance preparations for the Fourth WTO Ministerial Conference, currently scheduled officially for Doha, Qatar, on 9-13 November. Trade officials are still in the process of constructing language for a draft Ministerial Declaration that would set out the scope of future negotiations in a variety of areas. Ministers in Singapore generally expressed satisfaction with progress made on all contentious issues, but sources indicate that much work remains to be done, in particular with regard to implementation. Discussions were held back somewhat by doubts about the venue for the Ministerial Conference, with Singapore and other countries offering to host the meeting if need be.
In his final remarks, Singapore’s Trade Minister and chair of the meeting, George Yeo, highlighted the advances made at the meeting which he said meant that the document to be presented at the Ministerial Conference was "85-95 percent" there. Agreement was reached, inter alia, on dropping the reference to a ‘new round’ referring instead to ‘the new development agenda’, "in order to signal a different historical era and a different set of priorities," Yeo explained. While the general sentiment was positive, some developing countries were not entirely satisfied. As Indian Minister of Commerce and Industry Murasoli Maran pointed out, despite some convergences, the Singapore meeting "was not to our expectations". He also reminded ministers of the informal nature of meeting and the limited number of countries involved.Implementation still on top of the agenda.
With respect to implementation issues, Members still appeared divided - although these differences were more related to the perceptions of the degree of progress made. Despite this, however, there does seem to be relative agreement that some convergence was indeed achieved.Members agreed to merge Annexes I (early decisions) and II (decisions for Doha) from the draft Decision on Implementation (see BRIDGES Weekly, 9 October 2001) into a joint list to be worked on in preparation for the upcoming Ministerial Conference. In addition, a second list of implementation issues would be created, which it is reported countries agreed "could" be negotiated on in the context of a new round (i.e. after Doha). Sources say the latter list is especially meaningful in light of the numerous complaints lodged that the original draft text omitted a number of key issues for developing country Members. Another trade analyst pointed out, however, that while this new structure does make headway, it merely refocuses the "battle ground" on what items to include in which list.
Despite reports that all delegates in attendance were in favour of moving ahead with a ‘new round’, responses to the implementation talks were varied. One inside source reported that both Tanzania and Jamaica held firm to their anti-new round positions stated in Zanzibar (see related LDC article, this issue). India’s Maran was less enthusiastic than developed country Member ministers as he stated "[there] must be consensus, not quasi-consensus" in response to EC Trade Commissioner Lamy’s comment that quasi-consensus had been achieved. Malaysia decided to voice its opposition by abstaining from attending the entire meeting. Brazil noted that the movement to consolidate the annexes was a step in the right direction and that they were happy to see a general convergence in views at the meeting. Pakistan allegedly echoed Brazil’s sentiments, which would seem to be a departure from their traditional position of siding with India on these matters. On the other end of the spectrum, the US indicated that the Harbinson draft of 26 September represented the limit of how far it was willing to bend on implementation.
Some movement on environment
Member States made some headway on the highly contentious question of how to deal with environmental concerns in future trade talks (see BRIDGES Weekly, 9 October 200). Developing countries for the first time acknowledged the political pressures that some countries, especially the EC, felt at home on this issue. Thus, Members are likely to tackle environmental issues using a two-stage approach that would include a first study phase on the environmental issues most in need of clarification and a subsequent negotiating phase on these issues. The US toned down its previously strong opposition to discussing certain environmental concerns at the WTO when the EC weakened its insistence on a clarification of the precautionary principle.
Agriculture comes closer
Most progress was made on agriculture, with countries agreeing to use Harbinson’s proposed agriculture text for further negotiations (see BRIDGES Weekly, 9 October 2001; also see http://www.ictsd.org for actual text). In particular, Members discussed the possibility of eliminating "blue box" subsidies (i.e. payments within production reduction programmes), grouping them instead with "green box" or "amber box" subsidies. Green box payments are permitted as they are deemed least-trade distortive, while amber box subsidies refer to trade-distorting domestic support subject to reduction commitments. However, Members will continue to work out their positions on the agriculture text until Doha. "Nobody can accept [the agriculture draft] as it is," a Japanese official said. "Everybody is trying to improve it from their standpoint, but nobody is looking for a new text."
Still no draft text on TRIPs and public health
Members also narrowed their differences over issues related to intellectual property rights (IPRs) and public health, in particular on access to medicines (see BRIDGES Weekly, 25 September 2001). "Everyone agreed there must be rules regarding intellectual property rights, and when they should be suspended", said Yeo. To this end, ministers considered establishing rules on IPRs under normal circumstances, while applying ‘extraordinary rules’ during public health crises. Members, however, continued to disagree on the definition of ‘crisis’ and how it could be declared.
Back in Geneva, the draft text on IPRs and public health is rapidly becoming one of the more difficult subjects in the lead-up to Doha, with Members continuing to disagree over details of a compromise text. Discussions are set to continue in small informal consultations. Some officials have expressed concern that this issue could stall efforts to launch a new trade round at Qatar.
Ministerial venue still being debated
WTO Director-General Mike Moore and the WTO Secretariat continue to insist that preparations for the next Ministerial Conference are going ahead as planned, but Members are publicly expressing doubts regarding the venue and date. On Sunday, Singapore signalled its readiness to host the meeting on a "scaled-down" basis. "Singapore and a number of other countries have been sounded out in an informal way whether we could host [the meeting) in an emergency," Yeo said. ‘Others countries’ are believed to include Mexico and Switzerland. While Lamy and Zoellick said they would press ahead with next month’s meeting, Zoellick is also reported to have expressed hesitation about holding the meeting in the middle-eastern state of Qatar. Some diplomats said on Monday they expected a switch of venues on Wednesday after a meeting of the Qatari cabinet. "I would say it’s a 90 per cent certainty that we will have to go elsewhere, given the growing tensions affecting the Middle East region over the past few days," said one Member country official.
A revised second version of the draft Ministerial Declaration is likely to be released to Members at the end of this week. General Council Chair Stuart Harbinson said he intends to hold a General Council in early November and to send the draft text to capitals for final study before the Ministerial.
Countries present at the Singapore meeting included Australia, Brazil, Canada, Colombia, Egypt, the EC, Gabon, Hong Kong, India, Indonesia, Jamaica, Japan, Korea, Malaysia, Mexico, Pakistan, Qatar, Singapore, South Africa, Switzerland, Tanzania and the US.
"U.S. hesitant to see WTO meeting take place in Doha," KYODO NEWS, 15 October 2001; "WTO draft text on TRIPS, public health stalls as positions harden on easing rules," WTO REPORTER, 15 October 2001; "Reconciliation in Singapore on new round of world trade talks," AFP, 14 October; "Singapore says it can host WTO meeting," FT, 14 October 2001; "Trade officials narrow gaps on some issues at WTO mini- ministerial meeting in Singapore," ITR, 15 October 2001; GENEVA WATCH, 15 October 2001; ICTSD Internal Files.