Download Locations

• U.S. Department of State

Summary

The World Trade Organization was established in 1995 and is the principal international organization governing world trade. It has 146 member countries, representing over 95% of world trade. <p> On November 9-14, 2001, trade ministers from WTO countries met in Doha, Qatar for their fourth Ministerial Conference. At that meeting, they agreed to a work program for a new round of multilateral trade negotiations to conclude by January 1, 2005. The work program folds on-going negotiations on agriculture and services into a broader agenda that includes industrial tariffs, topics of interest to developing countries, changes in WTO rules, and other provisions. Because of the influence that developing countries had in setting the work program, the round has become known as the Doha Development Agenda. <p> Agriculture has been the linchpin in the Doha Development Agenda. U.S. goals were substantial reduction of trade-distorting domestic support; elimination of export subsidies, and improved market access. Industrial trade barriers and services are other market access topics in the negotiations. <p> There are three issues that are among the most important to developing countries, in addition to concessions on agriculture and textile/clothing trade. One issue pertains to compulsory licensing of medicines and patent protection. A second deals with a review of provisions giving special and differential treatment to developing countries. A third addresses problems that developing countries are having in implementing current trade obligations. <p> In other areas, negotiators are meeting to clarify and improve disciplines under the antidumping and subsidies agreements. These talks on trade remedies are being observed closely by some Members of Congress, who did not want the issue on the agenda at all. Other discussions in the WTO are addressing the so-called "Singapore issues" -- government procurement, trade facilitation (customs issues), investment and competition. <p> The fifth Ministerial Conference was held September 10-14, 2003 in Cancun, Mexico. The Ministerial in Cancun was to "...take stock of progress in the negotiations, provide any necessary political guidance, and take decisions as necessary." The meeting, however, ended unsuccessfully. <p> In February 2004, WTO members approved new chairpersons for the WTO bodies and working groups, and resumed negotiations in March 2004. On July 31, 2004, WTO members approved a framework to guide remaining negotiations. The July 31 framework included important terms on agriculture. Work is expected to slow down through the rest of 2004 because of leadership changes in the European Union and the U.S. elections. WTO members did not set a new deadline for the negotiations, but they did decide that the next Ministerial Conference will be in Hong Kong in December 2005.

Related Legislation:
• S.146

XML