§ Lynne JonesTo ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what the timetable is for implementation of the commitment reached at the Doha ministerial meeting on trade of November 2001 to cut export and trade-distorting domestic subsidies. [37858]
§ Ms HewittThe reference to export and trade-distorting subsidies can be found in the section of the fourth Ministerial declaration relating to agriculture. The negotiations on agriculture form part of the single undertaking in which virtually all the linked negotiations1306W are to end by 1 January 2005. The mandate given by the Doha declaration also includes a series of interim deadlines.
The negotiations on agriculture began in early 2000. Further key dates are 31 March 2003, when formulas and other "modalities" for countries' commitments are to be submitted, and the fifth ministerial conference in 2003, by which date countries are to have submitted comprehensive draft commitments.