Brussels, 23/10/2014 (Agence Europe) - WTO Director General Roberto Azevêdo informed the WTO General Council on Tuesday 21 October that consultations would be opened from 22 October on the future of the decisions taken at the Bali ministerial conference at the end of 2013 and on the post-Bali work programme. A meeting of the heads of delegation of the 160 member countries is planned for Thursday 30 October.
Addressing the WTO trade negotiations committee on 16 October, Azevêdo made clear his concern over the deadlock in the discussions, almost three months after the member countries failed to adopt the memorandum of understanding on the trade facilitation deal, agreed in Bali. “This could be the most serious situation this organisation has ever faced”, he warned.
India, leading a small coalition of countries which blocked the post-Bali process at the end of July, continues to link implementing the trade facilitation agreement and adoption of permanent derogations for its policy of public stock holdings for food security purposes. New Delhi wants a permanent solution for the “peace clause” which allows developing countries to take measures on the public storage of agricultural products over and above the limits set by the WTO for domestic support, without other member countries challenging these measures at the WTO. In Bali, the previous Indian government secured a moratorium until 2017. (EH)