| Strive for a Doha global trade deal |
| 2008-07-24 05:25 |
| From:china daily Article type:Reproduced |
Negotiators should put more emphasis on helping poor countries to make the ongoing week-long WTO trade talks a real opportunity to save the seven-year-old Doha Round. Billed as the "development round", a Doha global trade deal is supposed to help poorer countries by opening markets to their exports and reducing rich countries' subsidies. Such a deal is surely crucial to achieving the Millennium Development Goal the United Nations set to reduce poverty around the world. Moreover, the food crisis that has so far hit some developing countries the hardest only makes it more necessary than ever to create a more efficient and fair global food trade. Trade and agricultural ministers from 35 major World Trade Organization members have gathered in Geneva with the aim to make a breakthrough in the two key areas of the Doha Round negotiations - agriculture and NAMA (non-agricultural market access). Their immediate task is to establish the so-called modalities of agriculture and NAMA, which refer to the method and formula of tariff and subsidy cuts. The WTO Doha Round negotiations were launched in 2001, but the past seven years have seen the talks missing repeated deadlines as a result of differences between the developing and the developed countries over agriculture and non-agricultural market access. If negotiators can bridge huge differences and unblock a trade deal this time, their efforts will give a much-needed boost to the world's flagging economy while promoting the economic development of WTO members, especially the developing members. However, expectations remain low on the prospect of a Doha WTO deal being concluded soon to remove the distortions of agricultural subsidies. Rich countries should agree to substantially cut their trade-distorting farm support, as the soaring global food prices have put them in a better position to do so nowadays. Meanwhile, the particular interests and concerns of poor developing countries should be effectively addressed if WTO members are to achieve the development goal set forth for the Doha Round. Failure to conclude a Doha deal soon would not only be a blow for the global trade system but also frustrate developing countries' response to the food crisis. It is high time for all trade ministers to work together with a concerted mind, collective wisdom and maximum courage so as to pave a solid ground for the successful conclusion of the negotiations. |
| (Source: English Site of Department of Information Technology) |
 | The 2008 Working Meeting of Economic and Commercial Counselors Stationed Abroad Closed 2008-07-23 09:27 |
| The 2008 Working Meeting of Economic and Commercial Counselors Stationed Abroad Held in Beijing 2008-07-23 09:18 |
| Outlook of China foreign trade positive, Vice Minister of Commerce 2008-07-23 05:34 |
| China equities ease on profit-taking, oil price hike 2008-07-23 05:34 |
| China's growth rate may dip to 9.9% 2008-07-23 05:33 |
| China's M&A market grows 225% in 2Q, consulting firm finds 2008-07-23 05:33 |
| China's H1 tax revenues up 30% on surge in corporate profits 2008-07-23 05:33 |
| China farm bank's rural loans grew 50 bln yuan in first half 2008-07-23 05:32 |
| China SOEs' Sales Revenue Up 25.7 Pct in H1 2008-07-23 05:31 |
| Stamp Tax Revenue Grows 34% in the First Half 2008-07-23 05:14 |
All articles marked with "Article type: Original" posted on the website of the Ministry of Commerce and its sub-sites are copyrighted by this Website and its sub-sites. Any reproduction or use by any other websites, media or individuals must be attached with a clear indication of "Source: Ministry of Commerce Website".
All articles posted on this website or its sub-sites marked with "Article type: reproduced" or "Article type: translated" and "Article type: redistributed" come from other media, and are provided solely for the user's information, which does not mean this Website or its sub-sites endorse the ideas thereof or assume any legal liability or responsibility for their authenticity. Any other media, websites or individuals must maintain the source of information indication on this Website or its sub-sites when using the information, and shall assume legal liability for the use.
