Towards Half Time in the Doha Development Agenda

John M. Curtis, Dan Ciuriak, eds.,TRADE POLICY RESEARCH, 2003

Ottawa: Foreign Affairs and International Trade, p. 1-41

42 Pages Posted: 7 Feb 2010

See all articles by John M. Curtis

John M. Curtis

Department of Foreign Affairs and International Trade (DFAIT)

Dan Ciuriak

Ciuriak Consulting Inc.; Centre for International Governance Innovation (CIGI); C.D. Howe Institute; Asia Pacific Foundation of Canada; BKP Development Research & Consulting GmbH

Date Written: 2003

Abstract

On March 13-14, 2003, the Department of Foreign Affairs and International Trade convened an informal meeting of leading observers of international trade and investment to discuss prospects for the Doha Development Agenda. This paper represents a thematic summary of those discussions, which were held under Chatham House rules. In view of the troubled macroeconomic and geopolitical situation in the global economy, some participants indicated that the first priority might well be to simply to preserve the system. However, others were more optimistic, especially as trade is an essential element to restore economic growth and international confidence following a period of geopolitical tension. There was also discussion on how to address instabilities in the system of trade rules which “reach into” domestic policy spheres, and how to make course corrections lest the WTO sail into waters that some observers fear are rougher than it can handle. As developing countries increasingly participate in the multilateral trading system, new problems are developing, but so are opportunities. The basic counsel from the discussions was that the international community need not rush the Round; the intellectual foundation for a "big result" is not there and there is still time to think things through.

Keywords: WTO, Doha Round, trade liberalization, system friction, Singapore Issues, Special and Differential Measures

JEL Classification: F13

Suggested Citation

Curtis, John M. and Ciuriak, Dan, Towards Half Time in the Doha Development Agenda (2003). John M. Curtis, Dan Ciuriak, eds.,TRADE POLICY RESEARCH, 2003 , Ottawa: Foreign Affairs and International Trade, p. 1-41, Available at SSRN: https://ssrn.com/abstract=1548540

John M. Curtis

Department of Foreign Affairs and International Trade (DFAIT) ( email )

125 Sussex Drive
Ottawa K1A 0G2, Ontario
Canada
613-944-0376 (Phone)
613-944-0375 (Fax)

Dan Ciuriak (Contact Author)

Ciuriak Consulting Inc. ( email )

83 Stewart St.
Ottawa, Ontario K1N 6H9
Canada

Centre for International Governance Innovation (CIGI) ( email )

57 Erb Street West
Waterloo, Ontario N2L 6C2
Canada

C.D. Howe Institute ( email )

67 Yonge St., Suite 300
Toronto, Ontario M5E 1J8
Canada

Asia Pacific Foundation of Canada ( email )

Canada

HOME PAGE: http://ciuriakconsulting.com/

BKP Development Research & Consulting GmbH ( email )

Romanstrasse 74
München, 80639
Germany

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