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The Doha Development Agenda - An Historic Opportunity
The global marketplace has evolved and expanded by leaps and bounds since the General Agreement on Tariffs and Trade (GATT) was created in 1947. World trade has grown from $80 billion in 1947 to $9 trillion today. Countries that fully engage in the international trading system are bound by a high degree of economic integration and interdependence. Shared economic interests in turn foster stability and peace. This is the founding principle and purpose of the original GATT established in the wake of World War II.
The system works. WTO members have experienced significant economic growth, generating confidence in the trading system as well as the means for middle income and developing countries to further integrate and benefit from participation in the global economy. The Doha Development Agenda, or Doha Round, is the latest round of negotiations in a rich history of trade liberalization and success under the world trading system. The potential gains from this round are unprecedented for countries at all levels of development.
ABCDoha believes the Doha Round represents a critical opportunity to advance the trading system and secure robust future economic growth of the U.S. and global economy. The World Bank estimates the elimination of trade barriers could lift as many as 500 million people out of poverty over the next 15 years, and enhance global economic welfare by more than $300 billion.
To maximize the benefits of this round, we must continue to set our sights high. An opportunity like Doha only comes around once in a generation.
Key Ministerial and Other Negotiating Documents
At its Fourth Ministerial Conference held in Doha, Qatar in November 2001, WTO members agreed to launch an ambitious new round of trade negotiations-the Doha Development Agenda, or Doha Round. As the round's name reflects, the Doha mandate places the needs and interests of developing countries, which comprise more than two-thirds of the WTO's membership, at the heart of the new negotiations. The Doha Ministerial Declaration set out a broad work program which also incorporated and expanded ongoing negotiations in the areas of agriculture and services.
With nearly 150 participants and topics of discussion ranging from exports of industrial products to agriculture subsidies to the treatment of services, the Doha Round is the largest negotiation of its kind in history.
- Doha Declaration,
Nov 14 2001 (
PDF)
- Decision
on Implementation, Nov 14 2001 ( PDF)
- July 2004 Package
( PDF)
- Hong
Kong Declaration, December 22, 2005 ( PDF)
Additional Resources
