WTO talks on track, subsidies to go by 2013

19 Dec '05

5 min read

Ministers from the WTO's 149 member governments approved a declaration that many described as significant progress both since the July 2004 “package” and after six days of intensive negotiations in Hong Kong which the chairperson described as “working like a dog”.

Despite the long hours and hard work, “it was worth it,” WTO Director-General Pascal Lamy told a press conference late in the evening of the final day. “We have managed to put the Round back on track after a period of hibernation.

Hong Kong's Commerce, Industry and Technology Secretary John Tsang, who chaired the conference, outlined the achievements in the declaration:

“We have secured an end date for all export subsidies in agriculture, even if it is not in a form to everybody's liking.

“We have an agreement on cotton.

“We have a very solid duty-free, quota-free access for the 32 least-developed country members.

“In agriculture and NAMA (non-agricultural market access), we have fleshed out a significant framework for full modalities.

“And in services, we now have an agreed text that points positively to the way forward.”

The declaration was agreed after several days of meetings late into the night, the last two continuing to the morning. “It's been a hard day's night. And I've been working like a dog,” Secretary Tsang said, quoting John Lennon and Paul McCartney.

With the 44-page document now agreed, members face intense pressurein the new year to complete “full modalities” in agriculture and non-agricultural market access by the new deadline they have set themselves, 30 April 2006.