> Negotiations, implementation and development: the Doha agenda
> The Doha Declaration explained
> The Implementation Decision explained
> How the negotiations are organized
> The Trade Negotiations Committee
> Texts and news: on the June/July 2006 Modalities page
SEE ALSO:
> Press
releases
> News
archives
> Pascal
Lamy’s speeches
JOB(06)/218
Let me start by recalling very briefly, for the record, that at an
informal meeting of the TNC on Wednesday at the level of Heads of
Delegation, we set out the immediate next steps in our process towards
establishing modalities in Agriculture and NAMA on the basis of the
texts that had been circulated by the Chairs of the two negotiating
groups.
I also announced that I would be undertaking, in the course of the
following few days, discussions in various formats towards this end with
the participation of a number of Ministers, and that the process would
culminate in a formal meeting of the Trade Negotiations Committee.
Since our last informal meeting yesterday morning, I have continued
contacts with a wide range of delegations, including the ministerial
consultative group. I would like to thank all of the delegations,
Ministers and Senior Officials who have been present here over the past
few days for their efforts. I am grateful for their hard work, and for
the constructive spirit in which it has been done. In these discussions,
I have also witnessed no acrimony around the table, which is a positive
sign.
That being so, and as I have just informed you in the informal meeting,
we remain far from the necessary convergence to be able to establish
modalities in Agriculture and NAMA, despite all the hard work put in by
everyone. We have tried hard, but have not managed to create the much
needed landing zone this week that we had hoped for. We therefore have
to face squarely the fact that we are now in a crisis situation. We are
in the red part of the red zone, and it will now be more difficult to
conclude this Round by the end of the year. Therefore, since time is not
on our side, the only guarantee of success is what so many of you have
been asking for, namely the readiness of Members to exchange, to make
concessions, that is, to negotiate. We know that a number of important
players have to play a leading role in this process.
In the light of this situation, I do not intend at this meeting to
review the state of play in all areas of our negotiations, with inputs
from the Chairs of the respective groups, or to update you on my ongoing
consultations on outstanding implementation issues, as we usually do at
TNC meetings.
I propose instead that we focus on the current situation, and the next
steps. Although we must admit that we are in crisis mode, the situation
is not hopeless. Over the broad scope of the DDA, the picture is by no
means dismal. Positive and substantive progress has and is being made in
a number of areas. However, the fact remains that all this effort and
progress in a large number of areas are at risk and probably would
disappear if the modalities are not unblocked. I have heard good news in
the very strong commitment from you to the objective of concluding the
Round before the end of this year. There has been total unanimity on
this point, so the question is to find a way to preserve this chance of
finishing this negotiation before the end of the year.
On the basis of the suggestions that have emerged in the informal
consultations, and in the informal TNC session just preceding this
meeting, regarding further process towards establishing these
modalities, I would like to propose that we agree as follows:
First, that in view of the crisis in the negotiations, the TNC request
me to conduct intensive and wide-ranging consultations with the aim of
facilitating the urgent establishment of modalities in agriculture and
NAMA;
Second, that my consultations should be based on the draft texts
prepared by the Chairs of the negotiating groups; and
Third, that I should report to the TNC as soon as possible.
In the light of a number of your observations, I want to be clear that
these consultations will aim at facilitating and catalyzing agreement
among the membership in this time of crisis, and that you the Members
continue to remain the main actors in the process. And these
consultations, if agreed, will be pursued fully in keeping with the
principle of a bottom-up approach, and respect for transparency and
inclusiveness, which I think you know by now that I am very committed
to, and which is, I believe, the way we have proceeding until now, and I
do not intend to change this.
If there are no comments or suggestions I invite the Trade Negotiations
Committee to take note of my statement, and agree to proceed in the
manner I have suggested.
I will now close this meeting.
> Lamy: ‘We are now in crisis.’ Director-General to try to break impasse
Audio from the press conference following the 1 July TNC meeting
Audio
> listen
(30 mins, 41MB)
> help
> More
podcasts