Doha Deadlock Continues |
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April 15, 2010
The WTO's Doha trade negotiations, launched eight years ago, have been deadlocked since mid-2008, when a marathon meeting of WTO ministers broke down in mutual recrimination. Although summit meetings of the G20 and other bodies have repeatedly set deadlines for completing the negotiations, and technical work has continued, governments have not taken the political initiatives needed to overcome their differences.
The WTO's Doha trade negotiations, launched eight years ago, have been deadlocked since mid-2008, when a marathon meeting of WTO ministers broke down in mutual recrimination. Although summit meetings of the G20 and other bodies have repeatedly set deadlines for completing the negotiations, and technical work has continued, governments have not taken the political initiatives needed to overcome their differences.
A long list of reasons explains why the Doha negotiations have gone so badly. Apart from the present unfavorable economic climate, it includes:
--a mismatch of ambitious demands by some countries, and extreme defensiveness by others, on many highly sensitive issues;
--too many subjects under negotiation at the same time, tied together as 'a single undertaking';
--unrealistic expectations created by labelling the round as the 'Doha Development Agenda' (DDA);
--tepid business support;
--WTO rules that effectively give each country a veto on progress; and
--leaders unready to commit political capital to trade liberalisation.
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