WTO Informal Ministerial Meeting in Singapore

October 15, 2001

1 An Informal Ministerial Meeting of the World Trade Organization was held in Singapore on October 13 and 14. Ministers of 21 WTO member states and regions playing a prominent role in launching a new round of negotiations participated, as well as the Director-General of the WTO. From Japan, Minister for Foreign Affairs Makiko Tanaka and Minister of Economy, Trade and Industry Takeo Hiranuma attended the meeting.

2 At the meeting, with a view to facilitate the preparatory process for launching a new round, participating ministers had a lively exchange of views giving particular attention to the draft ministerial declaration previously presented by General Council Chairman Stuart Harbinson. Subjects discussed included agriculture, environment, "implementation" issues, the Singapore Agenda (in particular, investment and competition), and anti-dumping measures. There still remain differences in various members' positions. However, ministers were successful in gaining further momentum toward the launch of a new round at the fourth WTO Ministerial Meeting, scheduled to take place in November. There was a common view that the launch of a new round was particularly important for the recovery of the world economy at this time, when its prospects remain unclear.

3 The major points of the discussions were as follows:

1) Agriculture

There was overall agreement that the draft ministerial declaration should be viewed as the basis for further coordination among Members. While the Cairns group, composed of major agricultural exporting countries, maintained its position of putting agriculture under the same disciplines as other products, Japan made point that the draft declaration should not prejudge the outcome of the ongoing agricultural negotiations and should not preclude the views of any Members.

2) Environment

In the draft declaration, the issue of "trade and environment" is described as a subject for further study, and not as a subject of negotiations. In this regard, there was no agreement between the countries which strongly insisted that there would be no new round without negotiations on "trade and environment", and other countries which are cautious and opposed to negotiating the issues in the new round.

3) "Implementation-related" issues

Some developing members were not satisfied with the achievement to date in this area and demand that greater results should be shown as a package. Developed Members as well as other developing Members expressed the view that issues which would require negotiations should be dealt with as such, or be treated in the Working Parties after the launch of the new round.

4) Investment

In the draft ministerial declaration two views were stated: that negotiations on investment rules should be conducted, or that study on the subject should be continued. On this point, Japan expressed its position that negotiations were needed for the investment rules and indicated some room for flexibility to respond to the concerns raised by developing Members. There were opinions expressed in support of Japan's position, yet some other Members stated that they were not prepared for the negotiations.

5) Anti-dumping

Japan strongly advocated the inclusion of anti-dumping as a subject for negotiations. However, one Member stated that the current draft declaration, which included anti-dumping as an item for the negotiating agenda, could not be accepted. Some Members pointed out that further work is required with regard to the wording of the declaration.

6) Trade Related Intellectual Properties (TRIPS) and access to medicine

A convergence of views on this subject was not yet seen. However, there was a shared view that the TRIPS agreement should provide flexibility for sufficient access to medicine for HIV/AIDS and other infectious diseases.