As on 2001.09.20 

Background

For

Fence Sitters

Against

State-of-the-Play

A Working Group on Trade and Competition Policy was set up as per the Singapore Ministerial Declaration, 1996 and it is looking into the relationship between trade and competition. South could get in the issue of studying anti-competitive practice also

In the run up to the Singapore Ministerial meeting, the EU and Japan pushed for this issue, while USA was uninterested, due to domestic turf problems

EU

Japan

Norway

USA

Mexico

South Korea

India

Pakistan

Malaysia

The Working Group is yet to submit its final report

Like investment, tactically, EU has proposed a plurilateral agreement, with the participation of all WTO members but without any commitment. US will likely support such a move for other trade-offs

Background

For

Fence Sitters

Against

State-of-the-Play

The Singapore Ministerial Declaration instructed the WTO Council for Trade in Goods to start exploratory and analytical work on trade facilitation

EU

Japan

USA

Switzerland

S. Korea

India

The issue is at the background now, but the situation is fluid

Background

For

Fence Sitters

Against

State-of-the-Play

There is a plurilateral (WTO) agreement on government procurement

As per the Singapore Ministerial Declaration, the WTO has set a Working Group, which includes all members, on Transparency in Government Procurement

EU

USA

Canada

Switzerland

Singapore

Japan

S. Korea

Israel

Liechtenstein

Hong Kong

Argentina

Australia

Bulgaria

Czech Republic

Chile

Colombia

Turkey

Jordan

Poland

Panama

India

Pakistan

Egypt

Malaysia  

A potentially contentious area

Likely to be a part of the negotiating agenda in case new round starts

Background

For

Fence Sitters

Against

State-of-the-Play

The WTO Committee on Trade and Environment (CTE), established at Marrakesh, is discussing a 10-point agenda

Northern civil society a strong advocate ever since.

EU

USA

Canada

Japan

Norway

Switzerland

Australia

S. Korea

Many developing countries

Discussions at the CTE are not progressing but EU continues pushing as in the past to incorporate environment in all accords

Background

For

Fence Sitters

Against

State-of-the-Play

Ever since the first Ministerial meeting, some developed countries have pushed for a working party on trade and labour standards at the WTO, but that did not materialise due to opposition from others, but the issue has not yet died

Many trade unions in both North and South, while mainly Northern NGOs, are big lobbies

USA

Canada

Norway Sweden*

Germany*

(* EU members, but are pressing hard within)

EU

Argentina

India

Pakistan

Egypt

S. Korea

Thailand

S. Africa

Brazil

Hong Kong

Malaysia

There has been some softening of the stance of many of those countries who were pushing hard earlier

Background

For

Fence Sitters

Against

State-of-the-Play

Some countries want to launch a new round of multilateral trade negotiations during the fourth Ministerial Conference of the WTO to be held at Doha, Qatar in November 2001, while many others are opposing

The issue, in the form of a ‘millennium round’ came up during the third Ministerial meeting of the WTO, held at Seattle, USA in 1999, but there was no progress

Another proposal mooted by the UK for a ‘development round’ which highlighted India’s concerns over anti-dumping for instance

EU

USA

Canada

Egypt

S. Africa

Japan

Costa Rica

Singapore

Hong Kong

Bangladesh  

Thailand

China (a non-member)

APEC

Mexico

New Zealand

ASEAN

LDCs (but consensus lacking)

India

Pakistan

Mauritius

Kenya

Zambia

Botswana

Mauritania  

Malaysia

The situation is fluid with changing country positions

The EU is pushing hard, including consensus building, for a ‘comprehensive round’ while the US is for a ‘limited round’

E. &O.E.

2001.09.20