Agriculture

Agriculture is once again proving to be the determinant of results in the GATT/WTO negotiations. In December 1987, it caused the collapse of the Montreal Mid-term Review of the Uruguay Round negotiations. Then at the end of that round, the results could be consolidated only after the two major developed countries had an agreement in this area in what was called the Blair House accord.

Doha Development Agenda trade facilitation negotiations Chairman Muhamad Noor Yacob called for intensifying talks in the post-Hong Kong phase by pursuing text-based negotiations clarifying current rules relating to developing countries

European Union trade commissioner Peter Mandelson yesterday issued a stern warning to 'some' trade partners to enter into real negotiations with Brussels instead of making unrealistic demands and hiding behind criticism of the EU

Agriculture lies at the centre of the Doha Round and is the engine of the negotiations, the Group of 20 developing countries stressed on 9 November in a Ministerial press statement.

Taiwan farmers' interests must be protected and this will be the top priority of a national delegation taking part in a World Trade Organization (WTO) Doha round ministerial-level meeting next month in Hong Kong, Premier Frank Hsieh said Tuesday.

Initial reactions to the European Union's 28 October proposal on agriculture have been mainly unfavourable, with some countries calling it disappointing and others finding it unacceptable, for various reasons.

A letter from the G33 to the various Chair's of the negotiating groups, raising concerns that Special and Differential Treatment (SDT) is lacking in the negotiations and reaffirming the importance of an inclusive and transparent process in the negotiations.

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Mr Chirac used the Hampton Court summit to fire a warning shot across the bows of Peter Mandelson, EU trade commissioner, who will today present a new European offer on agriculture to help break the deadlock in the Doha world trade talks.