New threat of trade talks delay

WTO director general designate Supachai Panitchpakdi will take on a tough job

The demands by rich countries to make working conditions and environmental protection part of the next round of World Trade Organisation (WTO) talks could be damaging, developing countries warned on the weekend.

If the price of going into a new round is to introduce new non-trade topics, that may be risking what we have gained over 50 years

Herminio Blanco Mendoza
Former Mexico trade secretary

"All of us would like the WTO to go forward," said Mexico's former trade secretary Herminio Blanco Mendoza at a conference discussing the WTO's role.

"But if the price of going into a new round is to introduce new non-trade topics, that may be risking what we have gained over 50 years and eight rounds of trade liberalization."

His comments, which were made in Geneva at a preparatory conference ahead of the next round of trade talks in Doha, Qatar in November, mirrored concerns expressed by many developing countries.

Many poor countries worry about being overloaded with obligations that could hinder instead of help their economic growth and development.

Threat of delay

Mr Blanco said he would prefer to delay the planned trade round, due to be held in Doha, Qatar in November, rather than launch discussions that are too broad.

A new round brings huge benefits to all parts of the globe

Mike Moore
WTO director-general

The talks have already been delayed once:

They were due to be held in Seattle in 1999, but the 140 WTO members failed to agree on which areas should be part of the discussions.

WTO's director-general Mike Moore resisted calls for delaying the talks.

He insisted that the sooner trade barriers could be cut, the better for the world economy.

The next round of talks is due in November

If all trade barriers were removed, $1.9 trillion dollars would be added to the world economy, while $613bn would be added if trade barriers were cut by a third, he said.

"Reasonable people can quibble about the exact size of the gains from a new round [of trade talks], but the basic message from study after study is clear," he said.

"A new round brings huge benefits to all parts of the globe."