The WTO Conference in Hong Kong : What are the stakes for the European Union and France?

Summary: The WTO ministerial conference that is to take place in Hong Kong, is a stage in the Doha Cycle negotiations that will be finalised at the end of 2006. However significant progress is expected to launch them on the path of success. The Doha programme for development is part of the work undertaken by the international community to promote growth – that the gradual liberalisation of trade over the last fifty years has enabled – and the reduction of poverty, notably via the improved integration of poor countries into the world economy. It is therefore question of continuing the liberalisation of trade in industrial goods, services, the main drivers of growth in the rich countries, to open up their agricultural markets and to plan for specific and differentiated approaches for the developing countries. The stakes of these negotiations are considerable: European Union Member States, especially France take full advantage of the opening up to trade whilst the WTO and the multilateral trading system have their credibility in the balance. And the developing countries have everything to lose in the case of failure. There is a margin for success, as long as the rich countries just like the poor ones succeed in identifying their true interests.