Brussels, 09/01/2008 (Agence Europe) - Swiss government sources have said that the Swiss minister for the economy, Doris Leuthard, will host an informal dinner during the World Economic Forum in Davos (23-27 January). This informal occasion on 26 January will bring together trade ministers from countries that are playing a key role in the Doha negotiations. The aim is to draw up a balance sheet of the discussions following six months of work accomplished in the only framework for the multilateral process since the death of the G4 (European Union, US, Brazil and India) last June in Potsdam. It will also provide an opportunity to discuss political issues that are still dividing developed and developing, exporter and importer countries.
So far, not all the participants are known but it is already certain that three of the four main negotiators, the European commissioner for trade - Peter Mandelson, the US representative for trade - Susan Schwab, the head of Brazilian diplomacy - Celso Amorim, and WTO director general - Pascal Lamy, will be present at Ms Luethard's meal. The presence of the Indian minister for trade - Kamal Nath remains uncertain given French President Nicolas Sarkozy's official trip to India at the moment. On the other hand, Simon Crean from Australia, Akira Amari from Japan and Mari Pangestu from Indonesia are expected to attend. Other ministers have been invited but the informal nature of this meeting does not compel Berne to respect an exact balance between the main actors and negotiation groups at the WTO (Cairns Group, G20, G33 and G90). To prevent criticism from G90 developing countries (African Group, ACP and LAC), which have often been critical of the arbitrary character of the informal meetings of the G4 and G6 (G4 plus Japan and Australia), where there has been an imbalance in the representation of actors and negotiation groups in the private discussions (Green Room) during the ministerial WTO conferences, Berne will, nevertheless, ensure significant representation of these countries at the event. Mandelson, Amorim, Nath and Schwab are now expected to participate at the end of the meeting in a debate at the World Economic Forum on threats to the multilateral trade regime. Mr Lamy has set the new deadline for a compromise on modalities for the liberalisation of trade in agriculture and manufactured goods at the end of February, in the perspective of concluding the Doha Round by the end of 2008. (E.H.)