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Other WTO Ministerials:
> Cancún
10–14 Sept. 2003
>
Doha 9–14 Nov. 2001
>
Seattle 30 Nov.–3 Dec. 1999
> Geneva
18-20 May 1998
> Singapore
9–13 Dec. 1996
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The Ministerial Conference is the organization’s highest-level decision-making
body. It meets “at least once every two years”, as required by the
Marrakesh Agreement Establishing the World Trade Organization —
the WTO’s founding charter.
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The Conference is chaired by Mr John Tsang, Secretary of Commerce, Industry
and Technology of Hong Kong, China. A key role in these meetings is expected
to be played by Mr Pascal Lamy, Director-General of the WTO and Chairman of
the Trade Negotiations Committee of the DDA negotiations in Geneva. The
three Vice-Chairpersons are: Dr Martin Bartenstein, Federal Minister for
Economic Affairs and Labour of Austria; Mr Idris Waziri, Minister of
Commerce of Nigeria; and The Hon. Antoinette Miller, Senior Minister,
Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Foreign Trade of Barbados. The formal
plenary sessions of the Conference, which are open to the media and NGOs,
are chaired by one of the above.
The plenary sessions continue throughout the duration of the Conference and
consist of formal statements by each minister in turn, delivered orally and
broadcast live, outlining each member government’s view of the current state
of affairs in world trade and in the DDA negotiations. There is no
discussion, negotiation, or spontaneous exchange of views in the plenary
sessions; they are formal statements for the record. |
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DOHA
AGENDA