Brussels, 28/03/2003 (Agence Europe) - Still sticking firmly to their positions, the 145 member countries of the World Trade Organisation will not be at the meeting on 31 March to finalise the modalities for programmed liberalisation of farm trade. This is now certain. Even Stuart Harbinson, who pilots the negotiations on this strategic chapter of the Doha Development Agenda no longer believes in it, it was said by diplomatic sources familiar with the issues under discussion, on Friday. Official reactions and the follow-up to be given to what no-one dares describe as a failure at this stage will be given in Geneva on Monday after the formal meeting of the negotiating committee on agriculture. As for access to medicines, all eyes are turned to Cancun, where the next WTO ministerial conference will be held in September.
Closing four days of informal talks, which began on Tuesday, Mr Harbinson had to accept the obvious: - it was impossible to produce a new draft compromise, impossible for now to fill the large gap between the different camps present: - those supporting multi-functionality of agriculture, like the Union and Japan, their detractors, whose buzzword is improved market access, the Cairns Group and the United States in the lead, and the different positions within the developing world. This, said Mr Harbinson, is a ""serious setback", but is only put off for now, as the 145 all remain committed to this process whose completion is in principle planned for December 2004 (Ed.: even if there is increasing conjecture about the probability of prolongation during one if not two years) in the context of an overall package including the other chapters of the Doha Development Agenda. And they still have time to give a framework to talks and to make the necessary concessions for defining modalities (targets, major principles) of reform of farm trade, Mr Harbinson considered in substance. He also referred to progress registered - more on the eventual disciplines than on the possible modalities. Nonetheless, he again insisted with his countries, more work is needed, not only in Geneva at technical level by also at the political level in capitals.
This week, the last lap before the buffer date fixed in Doha and now forced to be pushed back, the head of the negotiation group clearly sees for now that negotiators cannot give anything away on the key issues, such as the fate of export subsidies, internal support, etc. Nonetheless, he said, it is of vital importance to define the modalities for greater reform, as soon as possible. He urged the 145 to reflect and to work still harder. The situation in which we find ourselves is very serious although it is not entirely without its positive aspects, he added, stressing that rapprochement has been noted and the fact that the positions on the most difficult questions are now much clearer, as well as the link between these issues. What remains to be accomplished is not simple, but clear: to end the work that has been entrusted to us by the Doha ministers, as soon as possible, he said.