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Although development is supposed to be at the centre of the Doha WorkProgramme, in reality the development dimension has not been adequately implemented, or may be absent altogether, in the current Doha negotiations, according to several panelists at a session on development during the WTO's public symposium held in Geneva on 20-22 April.

At the session, a broad range of NGOs and trade union representativescriticised the framework on NAMA (non agriculture market access) and the proposals tabled at the negotiations.(M.Khor)

You may find this speech of interest, especially the comments on NAMA.(M. Waghorne)

A deputy ministers meeting meant to restart talks on a free trade agreement between the U.S. and the Southern African Customs Union were cancelled this week and efforts to reschedule the meeting were unsuccessful.

A new proposal by India, Brazil and Argentina on NAMA presented at the NAMA Negotiating Group meeting on 25 April at the WTO received varyingdegrees of support from several developing countries, while being strongly criticised by the United States for not delivering sufficient market access. (M.Khor)

Philippine negotiators agreed to increase the minimum access volume (MAV) of rice for the seven-year extension of the special treatment for rice.

ActionAid International and Greenpeace International warned that governments are rushing to complete a trade deal without considering the impacts on poor communities and the environment.

The negotiations hit a snag when a joint proposal by Argentina, Brazil and India (now termed the ABI proposal) drew strong criticisms from developed countries, supported by some Latin American countries.(M.Khor)

A third and final round of consultations on a revised slate of two candidates to select the next Director-General of the WTO will get underway during the week of 9 May.

The Pakistan Kissan Ittehad (Farmer's Unity in Pakistan) commemorated Global Week of Action and Farmer's Struggle Day of 17th April with a rally and a press conference.