Brussels, 03/10/2001 (Agence Europe) - The 142 member countries of the World Trade Organisation (WTO) did not manage, on Wednesday, to reach a consensus on the confidence measures proposed to developing countries with a view to ensuring that a new round of trade talks would be launched in Doha. No-one, however, rejected the package of concessions that the organisation plans to make to respond to the concerns of three quarters of its members regarding the implementation of agreements reached during the previous round. The same is true for the draft agenda of the Doha meeting.
On the side of the developed and transition (CEEC) countries, both of the texts are generally considered as a valid negotiating basis. The first could be accepted as such by a vast majority of these countries and the second is naturally the subject of considerable reservation, reluctance and some disappointment. The Europeans seem mainly concerned about the adverse effect caused by some delegations over past weeks relating to the inclusion of competition and investment in the round of talks, and they insisted that there was a lack of environmental leaning in the agenda. The developing countries generally called for more immediate concessions (anti-dumping, textiles, etc.) and concessions that go further (subsidies …), as well as less evasive proposals on agriculture, an omnipresent reference to development. They are mainly opposed to any mention - however discreet - to social standards.