The following is a report of recent developments in the WTO in relation to the preparations for the Cancun Ministerial Conference, and especially the issues that emerged from the General Council meting of 24-25 July just before the WTO took a short summer break (until 11 August).
Part II deals with the process and procedures being planned for further discussion of the many contentious issues, and especially on how the next draft or drafts of the Ministerial Declaration will be formulated, and the process by which the draft will be transmitted from Geneva to Cancun. It is shown that the process remains untransparent and that developing countries will be the likely losers.
Part III deals with the debate that has emerged whether a decision on the Singapore Issues is linked to development sin agriculture, or whether this would be on their own merit.
Part IV reports on the comments by some developing countries on the need to ensure a fair process before Cancun, whilst Part V deals with fundamental differences over the content of the draft ministerial declaration. Part VI reports on the General Council debate on several issues brought up by developing countries, especially anti-dumping actions and textile quota phasing out; however there was a generally hostile response from developed countries to the proposals. A final Part VII deals with a few other issues that were discussed at the General Council.
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