Agenda
item 1: reports by the Chairpersons of bodies established by the TNC
back
to top
At
the invitation of the Chairman, Dr. Supachai Panitchpakdi attended the
meeting and made some brief remarks.
The
Chairpersons of the bodies established by the TNC made brief
statements to update participants on the state of work in their
respective groups. The Chairman of the Negotiating Group on Market
Access reported that it had not been possible to reach a consensus on
a “Programme of meetings” in his group (specifically on the target
date for agreement on the modalities for the negotiations), but that
new ideas being advanced might lead to a solution. During the
afternoon session, he was able to report that consensus had been
reached on this issue. The TNC took note of and welcomed the positive
understanding that had emerged, encouraged the Chairman to follow up
as necessary with his group to make it operational, and to reconvene a
substantive meeting as soon as possible.
The
Chairman said that the work was moving at a steady and deliberate
speed, and everyone was aware that time was the only thing that could
not be replaced or recycled. He sensed a constructive mood among
participants, and he thought a good start had been made on the
negotiations — far better than many predicted. He reported that a
solution on the question of IGO observerships was not yet near.
In
commenting on the Chairpersons' reports, 39 delegations spoke; many of
them also addressed the question of the work in the period to Cancún
(agenda item 2). The tone was generally optimistic, although one
participant said there was no room for complacency or satisfaction
regarding progress, calling on the General Council and the TNC to meet
more often to check progress. Another participant welcomed the common
sense of purpose that was evident amongst delegations to meet
deadlines. A developing-country participant, although acknowledging
that much work had already been done, warned that process and
substance were linked, since a bad process could affect substance and
it drew attention to its joint proposal on the preparation and running
of Ministerial Conferences. It expressed concern about the likelihood
that the July S&D Work Programme and implementation deadlines
would be missed — a view reiterated by several other developing
countries. The view was also expressed that the implementation
paragraph of the Doha Declaration was being reinterpreted by
delegations.
Many
delegations referred to the negative effect that external events could
have on the negotiations. Respecting deadlines was often mentioned as
an important way to ensure that progress was achieved, in particular
those in March 2003. Adequate technical assistance was once again
highlighted by developing and developed countries alike as being
essential to progress. Most delegations reiterated their positions on
key issues in the Chairpersons' reports, some also referring to the
importance of other issues in the Doha work programme (Work Programme
on Small Economies, TRIPS/Public Health and implementation) and some
expressing either their ambitions for or opposition to yet other
issues (Singapore issues, trade and environment, and other TRIPS
issues including additional protection under geographical
indications).
A
number of recently-acceded countries suggested that credit for their
accession commitments should be given in the negotiations, with one
participant also specifying that such commitments should not be taken
as an excuse to force others to undertake the same level of
commitments.
The
reports submitted were:
Special Session of the Committee on Agriculture: TN/AG/2; Special
Session of the Council for Trade in Services: TN/S/2; Negotiating
Group on Market Access: TN/MA/2; Special Session of the Council for
TRIPS: TN/IP/2; Negotiating Group on Rules: TN/RL/2; Special Session
of the Dispute Settlement Body: TN/DS/2; Special Session of the
Committee on Trade and Environment: TN/TE/2; Special Session of the
Committee on Trade and Development: TN/CTD/2; the Chairman noted his
understanding that the last report was without prejudice to the
position of any Member on the nature of the Special Session of the
Committee on Trade and Development.
|
Search
Documents Online
These links open a
new window: allow a moment for the results to appear.
- Get
these reports from Documents Online (Document
code varies) > search
> help
|
Agenda
item 2: Future work back
to top
The
Chairman recalled that at the last meeting in April, he had said by
the time of this meeting the TNC should have a more precise road map
to Mexico. He believed that the road map and deadlines were clear,
that everybody present was committed to meeting those deadlines, and
that an important deadline would be 31 July. The work was now
about substance and real negotiations. He had talked to a number of
Ministers about Ministerial-level involvement in the work, and he
believed that it was also important that senior officials be closely
involved in Geneva from time to time, so as to allow this
Member-driven, ministerial-led organization to achieve what Members
wanted it to by the next Ministerial Conference.
In
addition to those who touched on future work under agenda item 1,
three delegations spoke. One participant stressed the development
dimension of the work, saying that progress, however small, should be
made by the time deadlines were reached on the issues of importance to
developing countries. It warned against moving the process out of
Geneva by holding small meetings of Ministers. In contrast, another
participant stressed the importance of the involvement of Ministers,
and also capital-based officials, and hoped that not too many issues
would be left to Ministers at Cancún – for this all deadlines
should be met. The third participant to speak agreed with the first
speaker on Cancún, again drawing attention to its joint proposal on
Ministerial Conferences, and stressed that there should not be two
categories of deadline. It also agreed with the second speaker on
small meetings of Ministers.
In
closing the meeting, the Chairman outlined the dates of future TNC
meetings — the next meeting would be held on 3-4 October, and
thereafter at least one more meeting would be foreseen this year on
4-6 December. |
