Revival of Doha talks tops trade ministers' agenda

The issue of reviving the stalled global trade negotiations will be high on the agenda for trade ministers at the World Economic Forum meeting in Switzerland next week.

Pascal Lamy, the World Trade Organisation (WTO) boss, says they are likely to set a schedule for new high level talks. The Doha development round broke down over deep divisions on agricultural issues last year.

Earlier this week, the Canadian government announced it would challenge the United States on its multi-billion rand farm subsidy program. Hailed in 2001 as an ambitious plan to boost the global economy and lift millions of people out of poverty, Doha's stumbling block has been the issue of agricultural subsidies and tariffs.

While world leaders have promised a renewed commitment to getting Doha back on track in 2007, it is the Canadians move to challenge the US's multi-billion rand subsidy program that may just be the catalyst.

Groundwork laid for revival of Doha talks
Will the US cut its farm subsidies; will the EU drop tariff levels on agricultural products and will the developing world have to offer up its services sector in exchange for new deals from rich countries? These are the questions that will be under the spotlight at the talks.

Meanwhile, insiders at the WTO say that behind the scenes bilateral talks over the past six months have achieved much and that the groundwork has been laid for a revival of the talks and the Doha round.