WORLD STAGE
WTO: Game of optimism and pessimism
Sarker Partha Pratim
“It always seems impossible, until it’s done.” - Nelson Mendela
In addition to the Bali Package,
ministers formally adopted a number
of more routine decisions at the end
of a five-day meeting opened by
Indonesia‘s
President
Susilo
Bambang Yudhoyono, which also
saw Yemen accepted as a new
member. Yemen will be 160th
member and 35th LDC Member. No
doubt that it is a further, positive step
towards universality.
―For the first time in our history: the
WTO has truly delivered,‖ said WTO
Director-General Roberto Azevêdo.
―I challenged you all, here in Bali, to
show the political will we needed to
take us across the finish line. You did
that. And I thank you for it.‖
The Bali Package is a selection of
issues from the broader Doha Round
negotiations. Echoing calls from
many delegations, Mr Azevêdo, said
members‘ attention should now turn
the rest of the round, known semiofficially as the Doha Development
Agenda.
Ministers and other delegates greeted
the agreement enthusiastically, with
repeated clapping and cheering. But
the conference was also tinged with
29
WTO‘s Bali Ministerial
Conference concluded a day later
than scheduled on 7 December 2013
with agreement on a package of
issues designed to streamline trade,
allow developing countries more
options for providing food security,
boost least developed countries‘ trade
and
help
development
more
generally. It is only through
multilateral agreements that many of
the poorest and most vulnerable
countries can truly benefit from
international trade. So theatre like the
WTO is vital.
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