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How the negotiations are organized
The
November 2001 declaration of the Fourth Ministerial Conference
in Doha, Qatar, provides the mandate for negotiations on a range of
subjects, and other work including issues concerning the
implementation of the present agreements.
The negotiations take place in the Trade Negotiations Committee and its subsidiaries.
Other work under the work programme takes place in other WTO councils and committees.
Organization and management of the negotiations
The Doha Declaration organizes work on the negotiations and other tasks (relevant paragraphs in brackets).
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(par 46)
> TNC Chairperson抯 statement on organization of work, 1 February 2002
Trade
Negotiations Committee (TNC) under the authority of
the General Council, set up by the Doha Declaration. Chairperson:
WTO Director-General until the end of the negotiations.
> Ministerial
Declaration
> Declaration
on the TRIPS Agreement and public health
> Implementation-related
issues and concerns — Decision
> Subsidies
— procedures for extensions under Article 27.4 (of the Subsidies and Countervailing Measures Agreement)
for certain developing country members
> Decision
on waiver for EU-ACP Partnership Agreement
> Decision
on EU transitional regime for banana imports
> Organization chart
> Current WTO chairpersons
Negotiating groups The Trade Negotiations Committee agreed the following structure.
In new negotiating groups:
- WTO rules (anti-dumping, subsidies, regional trade agreements)
In existing bodies:
-
Agriculture: in special sessions of the Agriculture Committee
-
Services: in special sessions of the Services Council
- Geographical indications, a multilateral registration system: in special sessions of the Council for Trade-Related Aspects of Intellectual Property Rights (TRIPS). Other TRIPS issues given priority in regular TRIPS Council meetings
- Dispute Settlement Understanding: in special sessions of the Dispute Settlement Body
- Environment: in special sessions of the Trade and Environment Committee
- Negotiations on outstanding implementation issues: in relevant bodies according to paragraph 12 of the Doha Ministerial Declaration. (See explanation)
The decision also places considerable emphasis on special and differential treatment for developing countries in three ways. It affirms that this is an integral part of the WTO agreements. All negotiations and other aspects of the Doha agenda抯 work programme are to take this principle fully into account. And all special and differential provisions are to be reviewed to make them more precise, effective and operational. To this end:
- Review of all special and differential treatment provisions: in special sessions of the Trade and Development Committee
Principles
Single undertaking: Virtually every item of the negotiation is part of a whole and indivisible package and cannot be agreed separately. 揘othing is agreed until everything is agreed?
Participation: The negotiations are open to all WTO members and to observer governments negotiating or intending to negotiate membership. But decisions on the outcomes are only taken by members.
Transparency: The negotiations have to be transparent.
Special and differential treatment: The negotiations have to take fully into account the principle of special and differential treatment for developing and least-developed countries.
Sustainable development: The Trade and Development and Trade Environment identify and debate developmental and environmental aspects of the negotiations to ensure that sustainable development is appropriately reflected.
Subjects not negotiated: Elements of the work programme which do not involve negotiations are also accorded a high priority. The General Council is to report on their progress to the Fifth Ministerial Conference in 2003.
See also:
> ?a href="../../news_e/news02_e/tnc_01feb02_e.htm#principles">principles
and practices?detailed in Trade Negotiations Committee,
1 February 2002
> TNC
Chairperson抯 statement on organization of work,
1 February 2002