The
road to 11th WTO Ministerial Conference, 10-13 December, Buenos
Aires
A
Look at the negotiations through the SUNS* lens
This
collection puts together the SUNS articles that track the WTO negotiations
as it moves towards the 11th Ministerial to be held at
Buenos Aires, Argentina between 10-13th of December, 2017.
On the one hand, negotiations have covered the mandated issues of
agriculture (spanning a permanent solution on food security proposal,
domestic subsidies, Special Safeguard Mechanism, discipline on export
measures etc.), fisheries, special and differential treatment, LDC
issues. On the other hand, more and more topics under the umbrella
of so-called “new issues” are being pushed with remarkable frequency,
mainly by the developed countries along with a few developing countries.
These include investment facilitation, mandate on e-commerce, Global
Value Chains, SMEs, and so on. Alongside, the US has provided its
own twists by creating roadblocks on several process issues and refusing
to allow an outcome declaration from MC11.
The
SUNS articles, which have monitored the negotiations on a daily basis,
provide an in-depth look into each track, and maps the volatile dynamics
as the 11 WTO Ministerial draws closer. This collection is intended
as a useful tool for negotiators, academics, trade policy analysts,
and civil society at large, to catch up quickly on the negotiations.
*SUNS
refers to the South North Development Monitor, published by Third
World Network (TWN). SUNS is a unique source of information and analyses
on international development issues with particular focus on North-South
and South-South negotiations. Over the years SUNS has provided unique
in-depth coverage of the activities of the Non-Aligned countries,
of the Group of 77 and other regional and inter-regional groups of
the South and the non-governmental organizations.
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full list (PDF)
Find
articles by topic
G90
setback as North nations refuse any outcome on S&DT
(D. Ravi Kanth, Geneva, 28 November 2017)
The
large majority of developing and poorest countries - the Group of
90 - suffered a setback on Thursday (23 November) at the World Trade
Organization after the United States, the European Union, and other
major industrialized countries refused to agree to any outcome on
their core issues for improving special and differential flexibilities
at the Buenos Aires ministerial conference next month, trade envoys
told SUNS.
US
rejects proposal by 52 WTO members on AB selection
(Kanaga
Raja, Geneva, 30 November 2017)
The
United States has again blocked efforts to launch the process for
filling three vacancies at the Appellate Body of the World Trade Organization.
Isolated
US tries to block MC11 Ministerial Declaration
(D.
Ravi Kanth, Geneva, 28 November 2017)
The
United States stood isolated and exposed on Wednesday (22 November)
for its unilateral decision to block the finalization of the ministerial
declaration for the World Trade Organization's eleventh ministerial
conference (MC11) in Buenos Aires next month, trade envoys told SUNS.
South
nations throw down gauntlet on e-com at MC11
(D.
Ravi Kanth, Geneva, 24 November 2017)
A
large majority of developing and poorest countries, including India
and South Africa, on Tuesday (21 November) threw down the gauntlet
on electronic commerce at the World Trade Organization, challenging
the European Union, Japan, and other countries that want to change
the existing mandate on e-commerce at the eleventh ministerial conference
in Buenos Aires (MC11) next month, trade envoys told SUNS.
Streamlined
texts emerge on IUU fishing, overfished stocks
(Kanaga
Raja, Geneva, 24 November 2017)
The
WTO Negotiating Group on Rules, meeting over five days last week (13-17
November), saw the completion of efforts by a group of members to
streamline texts on prohibited subsidies relating to IUU (illegal,
unreported and unregulated) fishing and on overfished stocks.
E-Com
at MC11 is effort to hijack basic internet governance issues
(Chakravarthi
Raghavan, Geneva, 22 November 2017)
As
issues relating to the monopolistic/oligopolistic control over information
and data by the Silicon Valley technology giants and their platforms
are beginning to attract adverse public and political attention around
the world, these technology platforms (Google, Facebook, Twitter)
are attempting to hijack the issue of internet governance and democracy
by writing trade rules at the WTO under the rubric of "e-commerce".
US
cherry-picking MC11 outcomes, holds Members hostage
(D.
Ravi Kanth, Geneva, 20 November 2017)
The
United States continues to cherry-pick outcomes for the World Trade
Organization's eleventh ministerial meeting in Buenos Aires next month.
US
doubts WTO's pre-eminence for multilateral trade liberalization
(D.
Ravi Kanth, Geneva, 16 November 2017)
The
United States has cast doubts on the pre-eminence of the World Trade
Organization for accelerating multilateral trade liberalization. The
US did so on Tuesday (14 November) during a discussion at a small
group meeting on the outcome document for the ministerial meeting
in Buenos Aires, trade envoys familiar with the development told SUNS.
US
transparency proposal criticised at WTO Goods Council
(Kanaga
Raja, Geneva, 15 November 2017)
The
United States proposal, setting out stringent procedures on transparency
and notification requirements under the WTO Agreements including penalties,
was criticised at a meeting of the WTO Goods Council on 10 November
by over a dozen WTO Members, both developed and developing.
South
countries insist MC11 outcome must be finalised in Geneva
(D.
Ravi Kanth, Geneva, 14 November 2017)
Uganda
along with many countries said on Friday (10 November) that the outcome
document for the World Trade Organization's eleventh ministerial conference
in Buenos Aires must be finalized in Geneva so as to avert the opaque
process that was adopted in the run-up to the last ministerial meeting
in Nairobi, in 2015, trade envoys told SUNS.
US
addressing outcome on PSH at MC11
(D.
Ravi Kanth, Geneva, 10 November 2017)
The
United States has begun to address an outcome for the permanent solution
for public stockholding programs for food security at the upcoming
World Trade Organization ministerial meeting in Buenos Aires (MC11).
No
outcome likely at MC11 on domestic regulation in services
(D.
Ravi Kanth, Geneva, 9 November 2017)
A
large majority of developing and least developed countries rejected
on Tuesday (7 November) the revised draft negotiating proposal for
an outcome on disciplines on domestic regulation of trade in services
at the upcoming World Trade Organization ministerial meeting in Buenos
Aires.
Argentina's
desperate effort to avert failure of MC11
(D.
Ravi Kanth, Geneva, 7 November 2017)
In
a desperate attempt to save its "South American" face, and
despite a categorical NO from the United States to any outcome on
domestic support at the upcoming World Trade Organization ministerial
meeting in Buenos Aires (MC11), Argentina on Thursday (2 November)
issued a draft ministerial decision for further consideration, trade
envoys told SUNS.
Stiff
opposition to proposed MC11 decision on regulatory transparency
(Kanaga
Raja, Geneva, 6 November 2017)
A
proposed ministerial decision on transparency of regulatory measures
for trade in goods in relation to small and medium-sized enterprises
(SMEs) tabled by the European Union and several other countries has
been strongly opposed by many developing and least-developed countries.
US
attempts to use wrecking ball against WTO
(D.
Ravi Kanth, Geneva, 2 November 2017)
The
United States on Tuesday (31 October) indicated as to how it is going
to put the Doha Round of trade negotiations to bed, after circulating
a proposal on mandatory transparency provisions and notification requirements
in all the World Trade Organization agreements that would amount to
altering the rights and obligations of members, trade envoys told
SUNS.
A
new vice-chair, consultations to intensify on organisation of MC11
(Kanaga
Raja, Geneva, 30 October 2017)
With
less than seven weeks to go for the eleventh Ministerial Conference
of the WTO, the Chair of the General Council, Ambassador Xavier Carim
of South Africa, is holding intensified consultations and meetings
on the organization of MC11 and the kind of outcome document members
would like to see coming out of MC11.
Impasse
over AB selection process lingers on, US again criticised
(Kanaga
Raja, Geneva, 27 October 2017)
The
impasse over the launch of the process for the selection of new Appellate
Body (AB) members to fill current and upcoming vacancies on the Appellate
Body continues with the United States again saying that it is not
in a position to agree to the launch of this process until its concerns
over the continued service of former AB members are addressed.
MC11
becoming a North-South battle
(D.
Ravi Kanth, Geneva, 26 October 2017)
The
eleventh ministerial conference (MC11) of the World Trade Organization
in Buenos Aires in December is increasingly transforming itself into
a North-South battle on unresolved trade issues of the Doha Work Program
(DWP).
Outcome
unlikely on domestic regulation in services at MC11
(D.
Ravi Kanth, Geneva, 25 October 2017)
The
proposed multilateral outcome on enhanced disciplines for domestic
regulation in trade in services by major developed and some developing
countries at the upcoming World Trade Organization ministerial meeting
in Buenos Aires almost evaporated on Monday (23 October) following
unbridgeable divisions on the need to finalize any decision at this
juncture, trade negotiators told SUNS.
Moves
for permanent solution for PSH for MC11 ministers
(D.
Ravi Kanth, Geneva, 24 October 2017)
With
about seven weeks to go for the eleventh Ministerial conference (MC11)
in Buenos Aires, attempts appear to be currently under way at the
WTO to push the major unresolved issues of the mandated permanent
solution for public stockholding (PSH) programs for developing countries
to the wire and for trade ministers of major nations to finalise an
outcome at MC11.
The
African Group position on e-commerce talks at WTO
(Kanaga
Raja, Geneva, 24 October 2017)
The
African Group has formally circulated on 20 October, as a restricted
official document, the full statement that it had delivered at an
informal meeting on the Work Programme on Electronic Commerce on 16
October.
South
countries shoot down proposals for e-commerce negotiations
(D.
Ravi Kanth, Geneva, 18 October 2017)
A
large majority of developing and least developed countries shot down
on Monday (16 October) proposals from major industrialized and some
developing countries for establishing a "Working Party"
or "Working Group" on Electronic Commerce at the World Trade
Organization's upcoming ministerial meeting in Buenos Aires, several
trade envoys told SUNS.
US
NO to Cotton-four, but China-India welcome proposal
(D.
Ravi Kanth, Geneva, 17 October 2017)
The
United States on Friday struck a body blow to the four poorest countries
(C-4) - Benin, Burkina Faso, Mali, and Chad - in West Africa, rejecting
their demand for a decision on substantial cuts in cotton subsidies
by 70 per cent, at the upcoming World Trade Organization's eleventh
ministerial meeting (MC11) in Buenos Aires, trade envoys told SUNS.
Consensus
eludes trade ministers at Marrakesh
(D.
Ravi Kanth, Geneva, 16 October 2017)
The
just-concluded informal trade ministerial summit in Marrakesh on 10
October brought into sharp focus the linkages between fisheries subsidies
and improvements in the Doha trade remedy rules, and between the permanent
solution for public stockholding programs and domestic support.
No
outcomes possible at MC11, unilateralist USA insists
(D.
Ravi Kanth, Geneva, 16 October 2017)
The
United States, which sent a low-level delegation to the Marrakesh
meeting, continued to maintain its unilateral position that no outcomes
are possible at the World Trade Organization's eleventh ministerial
meeting in Buenos Aires beginning on 10 December, participants told
SUNS.
New
"vertical" text on fisheries, assessment by Rules Chair
(Kanaga
Raja, Geneva, 16 October 2017)
The
proponents of the seven textual proposals, put forward in the ongoing
negotiations on fisheries subsidies, have submitted a new "non-paper"
compiling these proposals.
MC11
will be scene for fierce US vs South battle
(D.
Ravi Kanth, Geneva, 10 October 2017)
The
World Trade Organization's eleventh ministerial conference (MC11)
in Buenos Aires beginning on 10 December is going to be a fierce battle
between the developing and poorest countries on the one side, and
the United States on the other, trade envoys told SUNS.
CSOs
urge WTO Members to abandon expansionist agenda
(Kanaga
Raja, Geneva, 10 October 2017)
Some
300 civil society organisations (CSOs) from more than 150 countries
have raised the alarm that some members of the World Trade Organisation
(WTO) are "pushing a dangerous and inappropriate new agenda"
in the run-up to the WTO's eleventh ministerial conference (MC11)
in Buenos Aires beginning on 10 December.
African
Group will not negotiate e-commerce rules at WTO
(D.
Ravi Kanth, Geneva, 9 October 2017)
The
African Group on Thursday fiercely rejected proposals by major industrialized
countries and their allies in the developing world for changing the
structure of the current electronic commerce work program so as to
establish a separate Working Group at the World Trade Organization's
eleventh ministerial conference in Buenos Aires beginning on 10 December,
trade envoys told SUNS.
India,
Africa resist IC moves to finalize outcomes in GATS DR at MC11
(D.
Ravi Kanth, Geneva, 6 October 2017)
India
and the African Group have expressed sharp concern over attempts to
finalize outcomes in the domestic regulation for trade in services
by major industrialized countries and their allies in the developing
world without adhering to the work done in the 2009 and 2011 texts,
services negotiators told SUNS.
US
again blocks AB selection process from going forward
(Kanaga
Raja, Geneva, 4 October 2017)
The
United States has once again said it is not in a position to agree
to launch the process for the selection of new Appellate Body (AB)
members to replace those members whose terms have either expired or
will expire soon until its concerns over the continued service of
former AB members are addressed.
US
assault on DSU and DG's "deafening silence"
(D.
Ravi Kanth, Geneva , 3 October 2017)
The
United States appears to be mounting a sustained assault on the Dispute
Settlement Understanding (DSU) of the World Trade Organization, with
the objective of eliminating the negative consensus rule, something
that the US had principally pushed for in 1993 as a condition for
its acceptance of the DSU.
ICs
and allies in South push for new mandate on e-commerce
(D.
Ravi Kanth, Geneva, 27 September 2017)
Major
developed countries and their allies in the developing world have
upped the ante for launching negotiations on electronic commerce at
the World Trade Organization's eleventh ministerial meeting in Buenos
Aires beginning on 10 December. They have issued a fresh call for
pursuing negotiations under a new mandate as opposed to the 1998 e-commerce
work program, trade envoys told SUNS.
US
told to de-link its AB concerns from selection process
(Kanaga
Raja, Geneva, 21 September 2017)
A
large number of WTO Members have made clear to the United States that
no linkage should be made between its concerns regarding the WTO Appellate
Body (AB) and the launching of the selection process for new AB members.
"Will
not pay for mandated permanent solution for PSH", insist G33
(D.
Ravi Kanth, Geneva , 20 September 2017)
Indonesia,
India, China, and other members of the G33 group made clear categorically
on Friday (15 September) that they will not pay for the mandated permanent
solution for public stockholding programs for food security in the
developing countries at the upcoming World Trade Organization's eleventh
ministerial meeting in Buenos Aires, several trade envoys told SUNS.
North
declares war on S&DT and improvements at WTO
(D.
Ravi Kanth, Geneva, 19 September 2017)
The
United States and other major developed countries seem to have declared
a war against proposals for specific improvements in special and differential
flexibilities as demanded by a large majority of developing and poorest
countries at the upcoming World Trade Organization's eleventh ministerial
conference in Buenos Aires from 10 December, several trade negotiators
told SUNS.
Argentina's
"authoritarian" MC11 agenda views rile South nations
(D.
Ravi Kanth, Geneva, 18 September 2017)
Argentina,
which is hosting the World Trade Organization's eleventh ministerial
meeting in Buenos Aires from 10 December, has warned members to drop
proposals for MC11, such as the elimination of most trade-distorting
domestic subsidies - the Aggregate Measurement of Support (AMS) -
proposed by China and India, on grounds that it will lead to the breakdown
of the conference, sources told SUNS.
South
nations insist on reference to DWP in fisheries accord at MC11
(D.
Ravi Kanth, Geneva, 14 September 2017)
A
large majority of developing and poorest countries have insisted that
any outcome/agreement for prohibiting certain categories of fisheries
subsidies must refer explicitly in the preamble to the mandate provided
in the Doha Work Program (DWP) of 2001, trade negotiators told SUNS.
PSH
with several caveats a priority for MC11, says agri-chair
(D.
Ravi Kanth, Geneva, 11 September 2017)
The
chair for Doha agriculture negotiations, Ambassador Stephen Karau
of Kenya, has said that the permanent solution for public stockholding
programs for food security purposes (PSH) in developing countries
remains "a priority issue" for the World Trade Organization's
eleventh ministerial meeting in Buenos Aires beginning on 10 December.
India
re-calibrates its TFS proposal
(D.
Ravi Kanth, Geneva, 3 August 2017)
India
has re-calibrated its proposal on trade facilitation for services
(TFS) at the World Trade Organization by suggesting that the proposed
TFS agreement will only cover commitments scheduled under the General
Agreement on Trade in Services (GATS), trade envoys told the SUNS.
WTO
Rules Chair issues "matrix" paper on fisheries subsidies
(Kanaga
Raja, Geneva, 2 August 2017)
The
Chair of the WTO Negotiating Group on Rules has issued a compilation
matrix of all the textual proposals put forward so far in the ongoing
negotiations on fisheries subsidies.
Developing
nations and LDCs reject new E-com work programme
(D.
Ravi Kanth, Geneva, 28 July 2017)
The
developing and least-developed countries on Wednesday (26 July) rejected
proposals from major developed countries and their allies in the developing
world for a new work program for electronic commerce for addressing
cross-cutting issues, trade envoys told SUNS.
DG
pulled up for flouting mandates, WTO and Rules
(D.
Ravi Kanth, Geneva, 27 July 2017)
The
World Trade Organization Director-General, Roberto Azevedo, was taken
to task on Tuesday (25 July) by developing countries for flouting
the mandates of the Doha Work Program and for adopting questionable
procedures and practices, such as Heads of Delegations (HoD) meetings,
in his efforts to advance new issues by the backdoor, several trade
envoys told SUNS.
South
call for credible results, including on PSH & SSM at MC11
(D.
Ravi Kanth, Geneva, 27 July 2017)
The
developing countries, individually and along with their coalitions
on Tuesday called for credible results based on the Doha work program,
including the permanent solution for public stockholding programs
for food security, at the World Trade Organization's eleventh ministerial
meeting in Buenos Aires in December, trade envoys told SUNS.
Chairs
of WTO Doha bodies report on key issues at TNC
(Kanaga
Raja, Geneva, 27 July 2017)
After
an hiatus of almost two years, an informal meeting of the WTO Trade
Negotiations Committee (TNC) was finally held on Tuesday, at which
the chairs of the various negotiating bodies under the Doha Work Programme
reported on their recent consultations on the key issues in the run-up
to the eleventh ministerial conference in Buenos Aires this December.
Doha
Round "legacy issues" can't be ignored in favour of new
issues
(Kanaga
Raja, Geneva, 21 July 2017)
The
legacy issues of the Doha Round cannot be ignored in the push for
starting negotiations on the new issues (such as investment facilitation
and binding rules on e-commerce), and the WTO members must decide
"by consensus" that the Round has been concluded, Ms Nirmala
Sitharaman, India's Minister for Commerce and Industry, said on 18
July.
India
optimistic over course-correction for Buenos Aires MC11
(D.
Ravi Kanth, Geneva, 21 July 2017)
The
Indian commerce minister Nirmala Sitharaman on Wednesday (19 July)
expressed "optimism" about finalizing two-thirds of the
work on the proposed deliverables for the World Trade Organization's
eleventh ministerial meeting by the time when an informal trade ministerial
summit takes place in Marrakech by mid-October.
Brazil
joins hands with EU, strikes death blow to G20
(D.
Ravi Kanth, Geneva, 19 July 2017)
Brazil
has finally struck a death blow to the G20 coalition of developing
countries that it had created in 2003 for reforming the global agriculture,
after joining hands with its erstwhile foe - the European Union -
for tabling a proposal on domestic support. The proposal leaves the
two big subsidizers - the United States and the EU - in the industrialized
world almost untouched, several trade envoys told SUNS.
South
nations for ending AMS, cuts in "green box" in agriculture
(D.
Ravi Kanth, Geneva, 17 July 2017)
Major
developing countries on Wednesday (12 July) called for the elimination
of Aggregate Measurement of Support (AMS) as well as significant reduction
commitments of minimally trade-distorting green box programs in the
developed countries in the ongoing Doha agriculture negotiations at
the World Trade Organization, trade envoys told SUNS.
EU,
Indonesia table revised proposals on fisheries subsidies
(Kanaga
Raja, Geneva, 17 July 2017)
Both
the European Union and Indonesia have introduced their revised proposals
on fisheries subsidies at an informal meeting of the WTO Negotiating
Group on Rules on Thursday.
Developing
and LDCs to pay heavy price for Hamburg declaration
(D.
Ravi Kanth, Hamburg, 11 July 2017)
The
leaders of the Group of 20 developed and developing countries along
with invited nations on Saturday unveiled a controversial declaration
of compromises for "shaping the interconnected world" for
which the developing and poorest countries will continue to pay a
heavy price.
G90
demand fruitful outcome on S&DT at MC11
(D.
Ravi Kanth, Geneva, 7 July 2017)
A
large majority of developing and least-developed countries have demanded
a "fruitful outcome" at the World Trade Organization's eleventh
ministerial conference in Buenos Aires in December on 25 revised agreement-specific
proposals for strengthening special and differential flexibilities
for promoting "inclusive and sustainable industrialization."
EU
and Brazil oppose end to "green box" cotton payments
(D.
Ravi Kanth, Geneva, 6 July 2017)
The
European Union and Brazil opposed the elimination of a range of green
box direct payments for cotton as demanded by the Cotton-4 countries
- Benin, Burkina Faso, Mali, and Chad - in the unresolved Doha agriculture
negotiations at the WTO.
Goods
Council debates national security exceptions to WTO rules
(Kanaga
Raja, Geneva, 6 July 2017)
A
meeting of the WTO Goods Council on 30 June debated the issue of national
security exceptions to the WTO rules, with a number of members voicing
concerns over the "systemic risks" posed by the investigations
initiated by the United States earlier this year into steel and aluminium
imports under Section 232 of the Trade Expansion Act of 1962.
China
lowers MC11 ambition on AD-CVD, US still opposed
(D.
Ravi Kanth, Geneva, 30 June 2017)
China
faces an acid test for bringing about a modest outcome of improvements
in trade remedies at the World Trade Organization's eleventh ministerial
meeting in Buenos Aires in December as the United States remains dead
opposed to any changes in the anti-dumping provisions as well as negotiated
deliverables in the Argentinean capital.
Prospects
for any Doha agri accords at MC11 bleak
(D.
Ravi Kanth, Geneva, 29 June 2017)
The
African Group of countries, particularly the Cotton-four - Benin,
Burkina Faso, Mali and Chad - are going to be left high and dry at
the World Trade Organization's eleventh ministerial meeting (MC11)
at Buenos Aires in December without any outcomes on their main demands
for reducing the domestic support in agriculture by the developed
countries, sources told SUNS.
DG
Azevedo needs to come clean on his meeting with USTR
(D.
Ravi Kanth, Geneva, 27 June 2017)
The
World Trade Organization's Director-General Roberto Azevedo needs
to come clean about his meeting with the United States Trade Representative
Robert Lighthizer early this month during which the USTR served notice
about the changes the Trump administration wants to see in the Dispute
Settlement Body, according to people familiar with the development.
Formulaic
approach to MC11 outcomes to ensure comfort for US?
(D.
Ravi Kanth, Geneva, 22 June 2017)
Attempts
to finalize a formulaic approach of outcomes for the World Trade Organization's
eleventh ministerial meeting in Buenos Aires this December are being
intensified with the sole aim of ensuring that the United States remains
comfortable without having to undertake any fresh commitments, according
to people familiar with the development.
North
to try to bury DDA, push e-commerce & MSME talks at MC11
(D.
Ravi Kanth, Geneva, 14 June 2017)
Major
developed countries and their "allies" in the developing
world have intensified efforts to quietly bury the Doha Development
Agenda negotiations while launching negotiations on electronic-commerce
and micro, small, and medium enterprises (MSMEs) at the World Trade
Organization's eleventh ministerial conference in Buenos Aires in
December, several ministers and trade envoys told SUNS.
South
nations demand credible, concrete outcomes on Doha at MC11
(D.
Ravi Kanth, Paris, 12 June 2017)
Trade
ministers from India, South Africa, Indonesia, and the ACP countries
on Thursday called for credible and concrete outcomes based on the
outstanding Doha issues at the World Trade Organization's eleventh
ministerial meeting in Buenos Aires in December, according to people
familiar with the development.
South
stress food security and SSM outcomes at MC11
(Kanaga
Raja, Geneva, 7 June 2017)
A
number of developing countries, at dedicated sessions of the WTO agriculture
negotiations last week, stressed on the importance of a permanent
solution for public stockholding programmes for food security as well
as an effective Special Safeguard Mechanism (SSM), and for meaningful
outcomes on these issues at the eleventh WTO ministerial conference
in Buenos Aires this December.
Permanent
solution for PSH seems unlikely at MC11
(D.
Ravi Kanth, Geneva, 1 June 2017)
Major
developed nations, and some of their allies in the South are refusing
to engage in substantive discussions on the mandated permanent solution
for public stockholding programmes for food security, and a successful
outcome is unlikely at the WTO's eleventh ministerial meeting in Buenos
Aires in December.
Investment
Facilitation and links to China's OBOR
(Chakravarthi
Raghavan, Geneva, 22 May 2017)
The
stalemate over the agenda at the General Council last week, resolved
on 18 May with a compromise of sorts by the statement from the GC
Chair, Amb. Xavier Carim of South Africa, has nevertheless brought
to the fore many questionable practices of the secretariat and major
systemic issues that, if left unresolved, may soon result in causing
irreparable damage to the WTO multilateral trading system.
Investment
facilitation cannot now be discussed formally at WTO
(Kanaga
Raja, Geneva, 22 May 2017)
Following
strong opposition from India along with several other developing countries
to the inclusion of an agenda item on trade and investment facilitation
(IF), a resumed General Council meeting on Thursday decided that this
issue cannot now be formally discussed at the World Trade Organisation
(WTO).
Investment
Facilitation proposals and India's objections
(Chakravarthi
Raghavan, Geneva, 19 May 2017)
The
several proposals put forward (in Job documents) for inclusion in
the General Council Agenda for 10 May, with a view to secure some
"deliverables" on Investment Facilitation at the eleventh
WTO Ministerial Conference in Buenos Aires this December, have been
modified now (in the GC Chair's compromise statement) to be merely
"Communications" without calling for any GC decisions.
India
and others ensure IF can't be discussed formally at WTO
(D.
Ravi Kanth, Geneva, 19 May 2017)
India
along with several developing countries on Thursday (18 May) ensured
that investment facilitation cannot be discussed formally at the World
Trade Organization, causing a huge setback to China, Russia, Brazil,
Argentina, and others who sought to sneak in the failed (OECD mediated)
Multilateral Agreement on Investment in a new avatar into the global
trade body, trade envoys told SUNS.
India
blocks GC over agenda item on Investment Facilitation
(D.
Ravi Kanth, Geneva, 11 May 2017)
India
on Wednesday blocked the proceedings of the World Trade Organization
General Council on grounds that the agenda includes proposals to discuss
the controversial issue of investment facilitation that is not part
of the WTO's mandate, trade envoys told SUNS.
Efforts
to import parts of failed TiSA into services DR thwarted
(D.
Ravi Kanth, Geneva, 11 May 2017)
Many
developing and least-developed countries on Tuesday (9 May) thwarted
attempts by the Chair of the World Trade Organization Working Party
on Domestic Regulation to steam-roll discussions on proposals, apparently
incorporated from the failed Trade in Services Agreement (TiSA) negotiations,
services negotiators told SUNS.
Positions
unchanged on public stockholding, SSM, HOD told
(Kanaga
Raja, Geneva, 10 May 2017)
An
informal Heads of Delegation meeting at the World Trade Organization
on Monday showed that members remain sharply divided on the key issues
and possible deliverables at MC11 in Buenos Aires, with a large majority
of developing countries insisting that the focus should be based on
the Doha Work Programme and Nairobi Ministerial decisions, and not
on any new issues like E-commerce or investment facilitation.
US,
India-South Africa nix move for Investment Facilitation accord
(D.
Ravi Kanth, Geneva, 9 May 2017)
A
sustained push by Germany to revive the failed Multilateral Agreement
on Investment (MAI) under the banner of an Investment Facilitation
agreement foundered on Friday (5 May) at the G20 technical experts'
meeting in Berlin.
India's
TFS proposal gets little support
(D.
Ravi Kanth, Geneva, 5 May 2017)
Members
of the African Group and least-developed countries on Wednesday (3
May) raised several systemic concerns over India's draft negotiating
proposal for facilitating trade in services at the World Trade Organization.
New
proposal on fisheries to undermine S&DT flexibilities
(D.
Ravi Kanth, Geneva, 4 May 2017)
Attempts
to undermine special and differential flexibilities for developing
countries are being considered as part of the disciplines for prohibiting
fisheries subsidies that are being promoted as a major deliverable
for the World Trade Organization's eleventh ministerial meeting in
Buenos Aires later this year, rules negotiators told SUNS.
US
hurls "unparliamentary" language against India at WTO committee
(D.
Ravi Kanth, Geneva, 4 May 2017)
The
United States - which has failed to comply with several World Trade
Organization rulings and has blocked several procedural proposals
on the Trade-Related Aspects of Intellectual Property Rights (TRIPS)
agreement and the accession of Iran - created an ugly scene at a meeting
of the WTO Committee on Safeguards on 24 April, several participants
told SUNS.
New
efforts to bring long-buried MAI into WTO
(D.
Ravi Kanth, Geneva, 2 May 2017)
A
group of countries - Argentina, Brazil, China, Russia, Hong Kong (China),
Mexico, Nigeria, Colombia, Korea, and Australia among others - has
stepped up its efforts to bring back the long-buried Multilateral
Agreement on Investment (MAI) to the World Trade Organization in the
form of an Investment Facilitation Agreement for Development, several
trade envoys told SUNS.
G33
insist on unambiguous outcomes at MC11 on food security
(D.
Ravi Kanth, Geneva, 28 April 2017)
Developing
countries with hundreds of millions of resource poor and livelihood
farmers face a do-or-die battle, ahead of the World Trade Organization's
eleventh ministerial meeting in Buenos Aires later this year, to secure
a permanent solution for public stockholding programs for food security
and a simple and effective special safeguard mechanism, trade envoys
told SUNS.
Friends
of E-Commerce lay out roadmap for MC11 and beyond
(Kanaga
Raja, Geneva, 27 April 2017)
The
Group of Friends of E-Commerce for Development (FED) at the World
Trade Organisation (WTO) has put forward a roadmap of seven key issues
relating to e-commerce aimed at paving the way for conversations to
be held on this issue in Geneva as well as at the WTO's upcoming eleventh
ministerial conference to be held in Buenos Aires this December.
Large
majority of South nations opposed to "investment facilitation"
(D.
Ravi Kanth, Geneva, 12 April 2017)
A
large majority of developing and least-developed countries, including
India and South Africa, remain firmly opposed to attempts by Russia,
China, Brazil, and five members of the MIKTA - Mexico, Indonesia,
Korea, Turkey and Australia - group for starting discussions on investment
facilitation at the World Trade Organization, trade envoys told SUNS.
Kenya's
Karau to chair agriculture negotiations
(D.
Ravi Kanth, Geneva, 7 April 2017)
An
informal meeting of the General Council on Friday (7 April) is expected
to formally adopt the appointment of Ambassador Stephen Ndung'u Karau
of Kenya as the new chair of the Doha agriculture negotiating body.
Prospects
for credible outcomes at Buenos Aires bleak
(D.
Ravi Kanth, Geneva, 31 March 2017)
Efforts
are currently underway to nominate Kenya's trade envoy Ambassador
Stephen Ndung'u Karau as the chair of the Doha agriculture negotiating
body, with the African Group, at the behest of some powerful developed
and South American countries, apparently asking Ambassador Karau to
chair the Special Session on agriculture to break the current impasse.
PSH
must cover all DCs, not country-specific
(D.
Ravi Kanth, Geneva, 21 March 2017)
The
G33 farm coalition led by Indonesia has called for a permanent solution
for public stockholding programs to address the concerns of all developing
countries, instead of any one country-specific solution, at the World
Trade Organization's eleventh ministerial meeting (MC11) in Buenos
Aires later this year, trade envoys told SUNS.
Indian
TFS draft faces sharp questions, intense scrutiny
(D.
Ravi Kanth, Geneva, 20 March 2017)
Many
developing and least-developed countries, including members of the
African Group, sharply questioned India at the World Trade Organization
(WTO) on Thursday (16 March) over its proposal to negotiate a standalone
agreement on Trade Facilitation for Services (TFS) without any prior
mandate, services negotiators told SUNS.
ICs
intensify efforts on e-commerce negotiations at MC11
(D.
Ravi Kanth, Geneva, 13 March 2017)
Major
developed countries have decided to intensify their efforts for launching
negotiations on several controversial issues in electronic commerce
at the World Trade Organization's eleventh ministerial meeting in
Buenos Aires later this year, trade envoys told SUNS.
Rules
Chair to hold focused sessions on fisheries subsidies
(Kanaga
Raja, Geneva, 6 March 2017)
The
Chair of the WTO Negotiating Group on Rules has informed members that
he plans to hold focused sessions on specific substantive issues in
relation to disciplines on fisheries subsidies.
Azevedo
gets second term, South Africa to chair General Council
(Kanaga
Raja, Geneva, 2 March 2017)
The
General Council of the World Trade Organisation (WTO) on Tuesday formally
re-appointed Roberto Azevedo to a second four-year term as Director-General
of the organisation.
India's
draft legal proposal for TFS
(D.
Ravi Kanth, Geneva, 28 February 2017)
India
has called for substantial improvements in several articles of the
World Trade Organization's General Agreement on Trade in Services
(GATS) to "facilitate the movement of information, data, technology
and natural and juridical persons in an increasingly globalized and
digitized world," according to the draft legal text reviewed
by SUNS.
WTO
Members voice their views on key issues for MC11
(Kanaga
Raja, Geneva, 28 February 2017)
An
informal Heads of Delegation (HOD) meeting at the WTO on 23 February
heard a range of members voicing their views on what they see as their
priority issues for possible deliverables at the eleventh ministerial
conference (MC11) in Buenos Aires later this year.
WTO
secretariat & DG reproached for vitiating negotiating climate
(D.
Ravi Kanth, Geneva, 27 February 2017)
India
and several developing countries on Thursday (23 February) reproached
the World Trade Organization Secretariat led by Director-General Roberto
Azevedo for "vitiating" the negotiating climate by pushing
controversial new issues such as e-commerce and investment facilitation,
despite opposition from a large majority of members, trade envoys
told SUNS.
South
stress on public stockholding, SSM, S&D, development
(Kanaga
Raja, Geneva, 27 February 2017)
Many
developing countries stressed the importance of outcomes, amongst
others, on the issues of public stockholding for food security purposes
and on the Special Safeguard Mechanism (SSM) at MC11 in Buenos Aires
later this year.
14
developing countries meet DG, push e-commerce
(D.
Ravi Kanth, Geneva, 16 February 2017)
In
a coordinated effort with the World Trade Organization director-general
Roberto Azevedo, 14 developing countries on Tuesday (14 February)
called for urgent discussions on four issues concerning "electronic
commerce and development", despite opposition from a majority
of developing and least-developed countries, trade envoys told SUNS.
CSOs
urge WTO DG to advance development mandate, not 'new issues'
(Kanaga
Raja, Geneva, 13 February 2017)
Over
80 Indian civil society organisations (CSOs) called on WTO Director-General
Roberto Azevedo to advance the development mandate of the WTO negotiations
especially on key issues in agriculture, instead of his current push
for agreements on e-commerce and investment.
Azevedo
pushing differentiation, negotiating North's agenda for MC11
(D.
Ravi Kanth, Geneva, 9 February 2017)
The
World Trade Organization director-general Roberto Azevedo has told
several trade envoys that differentiation among developing countries
would happen in the development dossier of the unfinished Doha negotiations,
trade envoys told SUNS.
DG
Azevedo rebuked by India over "value-loaded" statements
(D.
Ravi Kanth, Geneva, 8 February 2017)
India
sharply rebuked on Monday (6 February) the World Trade Organization
director-general Roberto Azevedo over his assessment that there were
"wide divergences" on special safeguard mechanism (SSM)
in the run-up to the Nairobi ministerial meeting in December 2015,
trade envoys told SUNS.
Green
room process on services domestic regulation
(D.
Ravi Kanth, Geneva, 6 February 2017)
The
WTO Director-General, Roberto Azevedo, held a green room meeting Thursday
(2 February) on domestic regulation in services to prepare the ground
for a possible outcome in this area at the forthcoming Ministerial
Conference in Buenos Aires end of 2017.
LDCs
table proposal on fisheries subsidies disciplines
(Kanaga
Raja, Geneva, 26 January 2017)
An
informal open-ended meeting of the WTO Negotiating Group on Rules
on Tuesday (24 January) held an initial discussion on a new submission
by the Least Developed Countries (LDCs), proposing some elements for
discussion on new disciplines on fisheries subsidies.
ICs
want "payment" anew for unresolved Doha agri issues
(D.
Ravi Kanth, Geneva, 24 January 2017)
Major
developed and some developing countries appear to be pushing for "payment"
for addressing the unresolved Doha issues in agriculture in the run-up
to the World Trade Organization's eleventh ministerial meeting in
Buenos Aires later this year, sources told SUNS on Saturday.
LDCs
push for concrete outcomes at MC11 on agri domestic support
(D.
Ravi Kanth, Geneva, 23 January 2017)
Despite
the uncertainty and unpredictability induced by the new Trump administration's
unilateral demands in global trade, the least-developed countries
have raised the antennae for concrete outcomes for reducing trade-distorting
domestic support at the World Trade Organization's eleventh ministerial
meeting in Buenos Aires later this year.
