Doha Development Agenda

Modalities on agriculture and industrial goods trade would provide a powerful injection of momentum to the Doha negotiations, clearing the way for a final deal in the near future. The stakes are very high. The global economy is facing tumultuous times. Sharply rising prices for food and energy, sharply decelerating economic growth and instability in international markets have raised concern in all corners of the world. Many politicians have proposed protectionist solutions as a means of addressing these concerns. These are global problems which demand global solutions. The members of the WTO have an important contribution to make. Striking a deal here in the coming days, would send a signal to the world that working together we can address these problems. We need global trade rules which are more equitable, development-friendly, transparent and pertinent to the realities of trade in the 21 st century. A stronger trading system would instil greater confidence in the global economy and would be a potent insurance policy against the retreat into protectionism that we all know leads only to conflict and geopolitical instability.

Aid for Trade is about helping developing countries, in particular the least-developed, to build the trade capacity and infrastructure they need to benefit from trade opening. The WTO mostly has a catalytic role to play: ensuring that the agencies involved understand the trade needs of WTO members, and encouraging them to deliver solutions. According to the OECD, total Aid for Trade commitments rose by 22% in real terms between 2002 and 2005, from $17.8 billion to $21.7 billion. It is projected that an additional $8 billion from donors could be made available by 2010, bringing total Aid for Trade commitments to $30 billion.

Non-agricultural market access (NAMA)

Non-agricultural products include industrial goods, manufactured goods, textiles, fuels and mining products, footwear, jewellery, forestry products, fish and fisheries, and chemicals. Collectively, they represent almost 90% of world merchandise exports.