CANCÚN WTO MINISTERIAL 2003

CANCÚN BRIEFING NOTES
Briefing notes on the ministerial and the main issues

These briefing notes describe the situation as it exists at the time of going to press (mid—August 2003)

They are designed to help journalists and the public understand the key issues of the Cancún Ministerial Conference. While every effort has been made to ensure the contents are accurate, they are not legal interpretations of the WTO agreements, nor do they prejudice member governments’ positions in the conference and in the negotiations.

Past WTO Ministerials:
> Doha, 2001
> Seattle, 1999
> Geneva, 1998
> Singapore, 1996

Further information:
> 10 Benefits of the WTO
> 10 Common Misunderstandings about the WTO
> The WTO in brief
> Understanding the WTO:
Introduction to the WTO

Director-General’s letter to journalists
Cancún should pave the way for timely DDA conclusion

The Doha Development Agenda
Doha launches negotiations, TNC oversees them

Agriculture
Where there’s a will, there MUST be a way

Services
Negotiations and other work

Market access, non-agricultural products
Still sorting out ‘modalities’

Intellectual property (TRIPS)
Negotiations, implementation and TRIPS Council work

Trade and investment
From bilaterals to a multilateral agreement?

Trade and competition policy
Dealing with cartels and other anti-competitive practices

Transparency in government procurement
Ready to negotiate an agreement, or not yet?

Trade facilitation
Cutting red tape at the border

Rules: anti-dumping, subsidies
Negotiations to clarify and improve disciplines

Rules: regional agreements
Building blocks or stumbling blocs?

Dispute settlement
Force of argument, not argument of force

Trade and environment
How the WTO relates to environmental agreements

Electronic commerce
Work continues on issues needing clarification

Small economies
Recognizing small economies’ trade challenges

Trade, debt and finance
WTO’s contribution to solving debt and financial crises

Trade and technology transfer
Studying whether the WTO should have more specific measures

Technical cooperation
A joint effort to build capacity in developing countries

Least-developed countries
Enhancing trade opportunities

Special and differential treatment
Grappling with 88 proposals

Implementation
Progress made but some difficult issues remain

Members and accession
Becoming a member of the WTO

Some facts and figures
Facts for the ‘Fifth’

Jargon buster
An informal guide to ‘WTOspeak’

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