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Stage set for WTO ministerial meeting in Qatar in Oct/Nov

The stage appears to have been set for the next ministerial meeting of WTO at Qatar in October-November this year where the next round of multi-lateral trade negotiations would possibly begin with developed nations bowing to the demand of developing countries to keep core labour standards out of the agenda.

This indication was available after the meeting the visiting European Union director Herve Jouanjean had with additional secretary in the commerce ministry Nripendra Mishra over the last two days.

The fourth ministerial meeting will now be held in Qatar in late October or early November and it would decide on the launch of next round of trade negotiations which was stalled at the Seattle ministerial meeting in November 1999 after developed countries took an adamant posture on inclusion of core labour standards and environmental issues in the agenda.

In the meeting with Indian authorities, Jouanjean said that EU has made it clear it was not averse to having a limited round on mandated negotiations on agriculture and services and issues of concern to developing countries like implementation of existing agreements, market access and trade facilitation.

Side by side negotiations could start on trade and investment and Competition law with an option for member countries to join the negotiations, Jouanjean said. India at present is not in favour of including these two issues in the agenda and developing countries were divided on them.

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