DOHA DEVELOPMENT ROUND

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DOHA DEVELOPMENT ROUND

This is a quick reference calendar indicating the timing commitments made in the Ministerial Declaration of the 4th WTO Ministerial Conference in Doha held November 9 to 14 2001. WTO Ministers agreed to conclude negotiations as a single undertaking not later than January 1 2005, though early implementation for some agreements is possible.

No timing commitments were included for Industrial Market Access, or WTO Rules (antidumping, subsidies and countervail).

The work program also includes TRIPS, the relationship between trade and investment, interaction between trade and competition policy, trade and environment, and other matters. There are interpretative issues attached to many of these topics that have already emerged regarding the nature and scope of commitments the Members believe they made in Doha. None are likely to be decided before the 5th Ministerial in 2003.

Some observers have expressed concern that the Declaration is unclear on whether the negotiation of fisheries subsidies is to be conducted as a rules issue or an environment issue. The Declaration is most clear on this matter: fisheries subsidies will be negotiated as part of the Declaration's Article 28 coverage of WTO Rules.

DOHA DECLARATION EVENT HORIZON

Trade Negotiations Committee
* First meeting no later than January 31, 2002

Agriculture
* Modalities to be established no later than March 31, 2003
* Draft schedules based on modalities to be submitted no later than the date of the Fifth Session of the Ministerial Conference in 2003

Services
* Initial requests for specific commitments by June 30, 2002
* Initial offers by March 31, 2003

E-Commerce
* Moratorium on imposing customs duties on electronic transmissions until the 5th Ministerial Conference

Dispute Settlement Understanding
* Conclude negotiations on improvements and clarifications no later than May 2003, with entry into force as soon as possible thereafter

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