Bridges Weekly Trade News Digest • Volume 7 • Number 8 • 5th March 2003

Egypt To Host End-June Mini-Ministerial

EU MOVES ON ‘SINGAPORE’ ISSUES

On 27 February, an EU paper on considerations for modalities for the Singapore issues — investment, competition policy, transparency in government procurement and trade facilitation — was made available to WTO Members. This paper, submitted to the General Council, claims that the Singapore issues are in a state of clarification until the fifth WTO Ministerial in Cancun in September, after which negotiations will proceed. The EU considers them to be a "key element" of the Doha Round trade talks and "part and parcel" of the single undertaking. The paper lays out elements for modalities, i.e. for the scope of negotiations, the methodology to be followed during the actual process, and the end- results expected. It also proposes discussion elements on special and differential treatment for developing countries. The paper, WT/GC/W/491, is searchable at http://docsonline.wto.org.

Many developing countries have opposed negotiations on the Singapore issues, and have questioned whether the WTO would be an appropriate forum for this. Also, a coalition of European NGOs sent EC Trade Representative Pascal Lamy a letter in mid-February rejecting the interpretation that a negotiating mandate exists, and opposing an expansion of the negotiations (see BRIDGES Weekly 19 February).

ICTSD Reporting; "EU Sets Out Modalities Options For Discussing ‘Singapore Issues’," WTO REPORTER 3 March 2003; "EU Begins Laying Ground For Modalities Decision On Singapore Issues," INSIDE US TRADE, 28 February 2003.

Egypt has indicated that it will host a ‘mini-Ministerial’ gathering to further trade negotiations sometime between 28 June and 3 July this year. The meeting will take place in Sharm El Sheikh, and serve to prepare for the WTO fifth Ministerial conference in Cancun, Mexico in September. According to Egyptian officials, the meeting will attract the same ministers as invited to previous events in Sydney and Tokyo (see BRIDGES Weekly, 20 November 2002 and BRIDGES Weekly, 19 February 2003). In addition, however, they would probably push for greater attendance from African and Arab Members to have them put forward their particular objectives and concerns.

"Egypt Targets Late June Date For WTO Mini-Ministerial Gathering," WTO REPORTER, 4 March 2003.