What is the Doha Round?
The World Trade Organisation (WTO) was launched in 1995, and since then, five Ministerial conferences have been held. The Doha Ministerial in 2001 was declared the Development Round, and was marked by a core concern: that the multilateral trading system should benefit the developing countries that constitute over three quarters of WTO members. The Doha declaration pledged to enable developing countries to ‘secure a share in the growth of world trade commensurate with the needs of their economic development’ through two key routes: - Improving market access to Northern markets for developing countries by reducing import tariffs that prevent increase prices and distort competitiveness
- Phasing out domestic and export subsidies, that enable the over-production of goods at very low prices, often leading to the dumping of these goods at prices that are cheaper than those of locally produced goods
The most strategic area identified for reform at Doha was agriculture, followed by non-agricultural market access (NAMA), trade in services (GATS), developing country issues (Special and Differential Treatment);aid for trade. Yet, in the intervening period, Northern countries have proved unwilling to open up their agricultural markets, without a commitment from developing countries to lower their own barriers in services and non-agricultural goods. Rich countries also want to limit the scope of Special and Differential Treatment Measures (SDT) measures that would soften the impact of tariff reductions for developing countries. Thus, the promise of Doha as a catalyst for development has largely not been met. Recommended reading...
images: F. Moleres / Panos Pictures
