Archive - Jun 14, 2005

Negotiations aimed at producing a new global trade pact are moving very slowly on trade in services

With the World Trade Organization 6th Ministerial Conference just six months away, foreign governments are increasingly nervous about security preparations for the meeting amid worries that anti-globalization protesters could seek to disrupt the high profile talks.

At the WTO agriculture session on 30 May to 3 June, the Groupof 33 (comprising 42 countries, mainly developing countries, whichare concerned about food security, livelihood security and ruraldevelopment needs) submitted two papers on special products (SPs)and special safeguard mechanism (SSM), in which the G33 spellout in greater detail their proposals on these two concepts.(M.Khor)

A session of mainly informal negotiations took place at the WTOon agriculture issues on 30 May to 3 June. One of the key issues discussed was market access, especially the nature of the 'tiered formula' for tariff reductions.(M.Khor)