Doha Round Could Wrap Up In December

Avatar for Matt Hopkins By Andrea Klosterman Harris|17 November 2008

Whether or not this is possible depends on several factors; for one, the two chairs overseeing the agriculture and market-opening for industrials need revised solutions – soon – from the key players before they can table revised draft texts. In agriculture, there are four major issues — special safeguard mechanism (SSM) for developing countries, farm tariff simplification, the treatment of sensitive farm products in industrialized countries, and US cotton subsidies— that have showed no signs of coming together until now.

Industrialized countries led by the US want large emerging countries like China, India, Argentina, and South Africa to agree on the existing measures as well as a commitment to participate in sectoral tariff negotiations, particularly chemicals, industrial machinery, electricals and electronics. However, China has announced that it categorically will not participate in these sectors.