Two revised papers including what could become the formulas for cutting tariffs and trade-distorting agricultural subsidies in a final deal were issued on 19 May 2008. They are the outcome of the latest discussions in negotiation groups and will pave the way for talks combining the subjects before they are agreed by all WTO member governments.
The papers are agriculture negotiations chairperson Ambassador Crawford Falconer's and non-agricultural market access (NAMA) chairperson Don Stephenson's latest draft “modalities”.
The two documents are revisions of drafts previously circulated in July 2007 and February 2008. They are the result of WTO member governments' latest positions in the discussions since September 2007, one of the most intensive periods of negotiations since the Doha Round talks began in 2001.
They are the chairs' assessment of what might be agreed for the formulas for cutting tariffs and trade-distorting agricultural subsidies, and related provisions.