140th Session of the Trade Committee - Agenda

1.     Doha Development Agenda

Members and Observers are invited to express their views on the current state of play and recent developments in the DDA negotiations in Geneva. A particular focus will be the Framework text agreed in July and the opportunities, and challenges, opened up by that agreed text.

2.     Trade and Structural Adjustment Project

Delegates are invited to note the work-in-progress being carried out under the Trade and Structural Adjustment project, to provide guidance on the further development of the text and to offer insights based on national experience.

In all of the eight sectors examined trade policy emerges as a key element of structural adjustment for developed and developing countries alike. In none of the cases studied have barriers to trade been effective in facilitating the adjustment process or in obviating the need for adjustment. Rather, to the contrary, a liberal trade environment is found to complement the adjustment process by fostering competitiveness, improving access to essential inputs and stimulating exports.

It is proposed that a technical workshop, bringing together experts from OECD and non-OECD countries, be convened on 20-21 January 2005, probably in Paris, at which the draft Trade and Structural Adjustment study will be subject to analysis and debate.

A further draft of the consolidated text will be presented to the March 2005 meeting of the Trade Committee before completion of the study in time for the 2005 MCM. At the time of the Ministerial Meeting a short booklet (of some 20 pages) will be prepared on the basis of the overview sections of Parts I, II & III.

3.    Work in progress

The Secretariat will update Delegates on developments in ongoing work. The Chairman of the Working Party of the Trade Committee, Mr. Henk Bakker, and the Secretariat are at the Trade Committee’s disposal to answer any questions that Delegates may wish to raise.