Informal General Council Meeting at Senior Official Level of the World Trade Organization (WTO)
(Overview and Assessment)

June 25, 2001

1. Overview

1. On 25 and 26 June, 2001, in Geneva, an informal meeting was held with senior officials (vice-minister level) from the 141 capitals of World Trade Organization (WTO) member states and the ambassadors of those countries resident in Geneva. Representing Japan were Deputy Minister for Foreign Affairs Yoshiji Nogami and Ambassador to the Permanent Mission to the International Organizations in Geneva Koichi Haraguchi. The United States was represented by Deputy United States Trade Representative Peter Allgeier, with the European Union (EU) represented by Director-General for Trade Mogens Peter Carl and the Swiss Federation represented by Delegate for Trade Agreement/World Trade Luzius Wasescha. Representatives from developing countries included Commerce Secretary Prabir Senguptha from the Republic of India, and Deputy Minister for Foreign Affairs Magda Shaheen from the Arab Republic of Egypt.
2. At this informal meeting the following four main points were discussed:
   1. Discussions on whether to launch a new round of multilateral trade negotiations at the next WTO Ministerial Conference to be held in Doha, State of Qatar in November.
   2. The negotiating agenda for the new round.
   3. Discussions on the obstacles to reach a consensus.
   4. Discussions on what preparations should be advanced by the end of July.
3. Representing Japan, Deputy Foreign Minister Nogami emphasized that a new round should be launched at Doha, and that the negotiating agenda should include not only trade liberalization, but be sufficiently broad, including trade rules. In addition, he emphasized the importance of resolving the implementation-related issues, something that is being strongly demanded by developing countries, and added that efforts should continuously be made from the end of July towards the achievement of consensus on all issues. (Statement by Deputy Minister for Foreign Affairs Yoshiji Nogami)
4. Statements were made by the United States, the EU and other developed countries that they support the launch of a new round, and a number of developing countries which had previously opposed the launching of a new round made no statement of objection. In addition, concerning the negotiating agenda, countries including Japan, the EU and the Republic of Korea all stressed the need for broad agenda items, whereas Hong Kong, Australia and a number of developing countries stressed the need for a relatively narrow range of agenda items. Upon the issue of Trade Promotion Authority being discussed in Congress, the United States declined to clearly state its position.
5. The next meeting is planned to be held in Geneva on 30 July, at which time it was decided that an appraisal would be made of to what degree a consensus can be reached regarding which items to put in the agenda for the new round.

2. Assessment

1. The cooperation and agreed stance on general matters taken by Japan, the United States, the EU and Canada that was shown at the meeting has launched a large movement towards the launching of a new round in Doha in general.
2. Concerning the negotiating agenda, many delegations expressed their support for agriculture and the service sector, negotiations for both of which have aready been initiated, as well as the further trade liberalization of non-agricultural products, trade facilitation, and transparency in government procurement. On the other hand, concerning the formation of rules in new sectors such as investment, competition and the environment, there was a degree of opposition, particularly from developing countries to incorporating such items into the negotiating agenda.
   
   
   With regard to these new issues (investment, competition, environment) it will be necessary for further support to be garnered, chiefly by those countries which are insisting on their inclusion in the negotiating agenda (Japan in the case of investment, and the EU in the case of competition and the environment).
3. Concerning the strengthening of trade rules, to which Japan attaches great importance (including anti-dumping measures, etc.), while this received the support of many members present, countries including the United States did not make their position clear and therefore a consensus has yet to be reached on inserting this issue into the negotiating agenda. In addition to making efforts to increase the number of members who support this issue, the largest challenge will be to contrive to let the United States participate in the discussion of this issue, which it is opposed to negotiating.
4. Concerning the issue of "implementation" of the WTO Agreements which is regarded as important by developing countries, a policy was agreed on that Japan, the United States, the EU and Canada should conclude what they can do before the end of July and to respond to the remaining issues at the Doha Ministerial Conference in November, but it will be necessary to further coordinate this process cooperating closely with the Chairperson of the General Council of the WTO.