Press Release: WTO Doha Development Agenda: WTO mid-point agreement paves the way for future conclusion of trade round – a stronger multilateral trading system

Meeting in Geneva this week, the World Trade Organisation has taken a decision which effectively completes half of the trade negotiations launched in Doha in November 2001 - the Doha Development Agenda (DDA). The text adopted today sets the parameters of the future package in five key areas: agriculture, industrial products, development issues, trade facilitation, and services. To complete the Round, the framework needs to be filled out, notably with figures. The DDA is crucial to bolstering international economic growth and helping developing countries integrate into the global economy. The decision adopted today gives a clear signal that the multilateral trading system can deliver on the real needs of all its members, especially developing countries, and maintaining an ambitious round that is broad in scope.

http://ec.europa.eu/comm/trade/issues/newround/doha_da/cancun/index_en.htm http://ec.europa.eu/comm/trade/issues/newround/doha_da/cancun/index_en.htm

http://www.wto.org/english/tratop_e/dda_e/draft_text_gc_dg_31july04_e.htm http://www.wto.org/english/tratop_e/dda_e/draft_text_gc_dg_31july04_e.htm

http://www.wto.org/english/news_e/news04_e/dda_package_sum_31july04_e.htm http://www.wto.org/english/news_e/news04_e/dda_package_sum_31july04_e.htm

http://ec.europa.eu/comm/trade/icentre/infopack_en.htm http://ec.europa.eu/comm/trade/icentre/infopack_en.htm

http://europa.eu/rapid/pressReleasesAction.do?reference=SPEECH/04/379&format=HTML&aged=0&language=EN&guiLanguage=en http://europa.eu/rapid/pressReleasesAction.do?reference=SPEECH/04/379&format=HTML&aged=0&language=EN&guiLanguage=en

http://consilium.europa.eu/ueDocs/cms_Data/docs/pressData/en/gena/81612.pdf http://consilium.europa.eu/ueDocs/cms_Data/docs/pressData/en/gena/81612.pdf

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