Hopes raised for new WTO trade round

Date: 01/08/01

THE European Commission believes that progress this week raises the likelihood that a new round will be launched at November's World Trade Organisation conference in Doha, Qatar.

The US and Latin America have backed EU calls for competition and investment issues to be covered by a new round - a U-turn from the Clinton administration's position.

WTO chief Mike Moore had earlier spoken of disputes between the organisation's 142 countries over issues such as agriculture and intellectual property. "Moore's comments were more negative than we felt the situation to be," said Anthony Gooch, spokesman for Trade Commissioner Pascal Lamy. "They could be viewed in the context of wishing to focus minds."

Although Gooch agreed hopes for a new round were rising, he added: "You cannot expect people to show their hands fully until the moment of truth."

The European Commission believes that recent progress raises the likelihood that a new round will be launched at the November 2001 World Trade Organisation conference in Doha, Qatar,.