Not for the first time, World Trade Organization director general Pascal Lamy thinks the world is signaling that it is determined to complete a new global trade deal soon.
Last weekend at meetings of world leaders in Seoul, South Korea, and Yokohama, Japan, leaders from both the G20 group of developed and developing countries and Asia-Pacific Economic Co-operation said they want to see the talks that started in 2001 in Doha, Qatar, brought to a successful finish.
In a Nov. 15 speech in Geneva, Lamy said the message is clear.
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“Both instances sent strong signals of political resolve to conclude the Doha Development Round,” he said. “They recognized the 2011 window of opportunity to achieve this goal. They called for intensified engagement across the board to conclude the end game.”
But leaders at international meetings have for years been voicing support for a WTO deal without giving their negotiators the authority to make the necessary compromises to move the talks toward an agreement.
Lamy recognized that, even as he has proclaimed such leader statements in the past the breakthrough he needed.
“The challenge is now to translate this political will into negotiations here in Geneva,” he said.
One factor working in favour of Lamy’s optimism could be that early in 2011, the more WTO-friendly Republicans take control of the United States’ House of Representatives. For the past two years, Democrat-controlled Washington has shown little interest in the WTO talks.
Meanwhile, Canada last weekend agreed to start trade talks with India, a billion-person market for pulse, grain and oilseeds exports that Grain Growers of Canada says could be a valuable opportunity for Canadian farmers.
It is urging all political parties to support the Canada-India trade talks.
Trade minister Peter Van Loan is in India this week to help lay the groundwork.
“Both sides expect a timely conclusion of an ambitious agreement,” said a federal government announcement after prime minister Stephen Harper and Indian prime minister Manmohan Singh shook hands on a deal to start talking during the G20 summit in Seoul.
