New lingo heard at WTO
The World Trade Organisation’s eighth ministerial summit held in the luxurious environs of Geneva ended as expected: nothing achieved, and several thousand euros down Lake Geneva. As Nigerian minister Olusegun Olutoyin Aganga, the summit chairman, spelt out, there were “significantly different perspectives on the possible results that members can achieve”. In other words, the usual impasse between 137 developed and developing nations.
Since there was no formal resolution, none of the undercurrent bickering went on record. But it couldn’t be kept quiet. As usual, the United States wanted stronger developing countries like India open up their markets to agriculture, industrial goods and a lot more. India did not agree, of course, and in any case the US was not even offering a quid pro quo; if the US was allowed to dump its highly subsidised agriculture produce on this country, India’s farmers would die. The US also sparred with China over its punitive duties on the import of large American cars and SUVs.
More interesting were the catchy phrases — “plurilateral basis” and “early harvest” — heard in Geneva. “Plurilateral” was suggested by the developed bloc — suggesting that those countries which were willing should form a group and go ahead with discussions. The developing nations, banding under the “Friends of Development” banner, opposed it, saying this went against the principles of multilateralism and inclusiveness. The “early harvesters” wanted discussions first on those issues on which there was wide agreement; the rest could follow later. But there were no takers.
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