In response, for instance, to questions as to when the modalities on Singapore Issues will be ready, Amb. Castillo stated that he thought that the fate of the Singapore issues "are very much linked to the package that we will be able to take to Cancun." He added that if there could be 'some developmental package' with substantial movement on agriculture and non-agriculture market access by Cancun, then Singapore issues would be on the table. In that event, he suggested, drafting modalities on the Singapore issues would be no problem.
Amb Castillo had earlier indicated that movement on agriculture in particular would be the key to unlocking movement in all other areas. But for this vital movement on agriculture, Amb Castillo indicated that he hoped that consultations between the US and the EU would be ripe for them to give some signals at the Montreal mini-ministerial, and this would be useful for pursuance of work in Geneva'.
Thus the fate of one set of issues -- the Singapore Issues -- on which all the members have strong opinions one way or the other, is linked to deals between some of the parties; and a key stage of the consultations is a mini-ministerial, an informal structure which does not form part of WTO processes, and to which most members are not invited.
As reported in the SUNS 5393, the theme of linking progress in agriculture with the Singapore Issues was replayed last week in Geneva at a small informal meeting hosted by Japan in a Geneva hotel to which only senior officials from a few selected countries were invited. This strategy of linkage is one being pushed most forcefully by the Cairns group, the US, and even WTO officials. The EU, which once was most prominently putting forward the linkage concept ("For us to make concessions in agriculture, we must get something in return, especially Singapore issues") announced that it did not believe in any such linkage
Most developing countries, in Asia, Africa and the Caribbean, are resistant to any such linkage between agriculture and the Singapore issues. They believe the Singapore issues should be decided on their own merits and not be used as a bargaining chip. But few developing countries were invited to the meeting.
Both Japan and the EU have come out with their versions of modalities for the Singapore issues. These two proposed texts for decisions are very similar to each other.
Thus while most developing countries will be attending the open-ended morning consultations, the actual deals that will impact on the draft are expected to be worked out in small groups and bilateral consultations, to which most are not privy.
These countries excluded from the small consultations will continue to express their views at the so-called open-ended informal head of delegations consultations. Whether their views expressed at this level will be faithfully reflected in the draft text is a big issue.
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