HC Deb 09 April 2003 vol 403 cc300-1W
Mr. Key

To ask the Secretary of State for International Development what assessment her Department has made of Doha trade negotiations with respect to the 31 March deadline; and if she will make a statement. [107545]

Clare Short

The Government are disappointed that the 31 March deadline to establish modalities for a new Agreement on Agriculture was not achieved. Agricultural trade reform is critical for developing countries and central to the wider Doha Development Agenda. WTO members must now redouble their efforts to reach consensus by the fifth meeting of the WTO Ministerial Conference in September this year and the UK will continue to play an active part in seeking to bring this about. Regarding the 31 March deadline for WTO members to make initial market access offers under the General Agreement on Trade in Services (GATS), we welcome the tabling so far of offers by 13 WTO members, including some developing countries, and encourage other members to follow suit. As to the EU's initial offer, the Government have been working hard within the EU to agree an offer that will be meaningful for both developed and developing countries. Although the offer has not yet been finalised, it is well advanced and we expect it to be presented to the WTO very shortly.

Mr. Key

To ask the Secretary of State for International Development what steps her Department is taking to put new momentum into the Doha trade round; and if she will make a statement. [107550]

Clare Short

We are very concerned at the lack of progress in the current round of WTO negotiations. As I explained in a speech to Chatham House on 25 March 2003, failure in Cancun would be a major set back for both the world economy and poor countries. A full copy of the speech is available on my Department's website (http://www.dfid.gov.uk).

In order to inject political momentum into the round I am undertaking, together and in co-ordination with my ministerial colleagues. a series of activities both in public and in private to advocate the benefits of the round, push the negotiations forward, and ensure a successful outcome in Cancun.

The Government will continue to work to ensure that the promises for a 'development round' made in Doha become a reality.