Suspension of the Doha Round of Multilateral Negotiations and the Need for Its Resuscitation

Dilip K. Das

Estey Centre Journal of International Law and Trade Policy, 2008, vol. 09, issue 01, 13

Abstract: The Doha Round of multilateral trade negotiations (MTNs) has proved to be egregiously problem-prone. Due to deep dissension among WTO members it had to be suspended, and efforts to revive it have so far not succeeded. Although the mercantilist mindset of the participants has been frequently blamed for the consistently tardy progress of negotiations, there is more to the situation than just a mindset. This article methodically analyzes the various steps taken since the launch of the Doha Round and dwells on the challenges faced during the MTNs. Time and again negotiating members and country groups publicized their constructive intentions, and a series of official pronouncements provided a surfeit of evidence of commitment to the objectives of the Doha Development Agenda. Ironically, with the passage of time it became obvious that those expressions of positive and virtuous intentions were completely misleading. There was a large distance between what was being said and what was being achieved in terms of tangible agreements and core modalities. It is imperative that the Doha Round be resuscitated and that the key players show flexibility and take decisive steps forward. The round is vital; the community of trading economies must not be allowed to collapse. Virtually the entire global community of traders will share in and gain from the successful outcome of the Doha Round. A failure will force them to share the shortfalls. Revival is a possible and credible objective. This article proposes a two-stage revival process.

Keywords: International; Relations/Trade (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2008
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Persistent link: https://EconPapers.repec.org/RePEc:ags:ecjilt:6319

DOI: 10.22004/ag.econ.6319

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