World Trade Organization (WTO)
WTO Doha Round Bulletin
Week ending 22 October 2004 (Issue 2004/36)
- Dates for Sixth Ministerial Conference
- New Chairs of WTO committees
- Services Consultations and Visit of WTO Services Expert Hamdouh
- New Services Publication
- Forthcoming meetings in Geneva
Key Issues
Dates for Sixth Ministerial Conference
At a meeting of the WTO General Council on 20 October, members agreed on dates for the Sixth WTO Ministerial Conference. The Conference will be held in Hong Kong on 13-18 December 2005.
On 20 October the WTO General Council confirmed the appointment of several new chairs or negotiating committees, including:
Rules Negotiating Group - Mr Guillermo Valles Galmes, Ambassador of Uruguay
TRIPS Council - Mr Tony Miller, Permanent Representative of Hong Kong
Goods Council - Mr Choi Hyuk, Ambassador of the Republic of Korea
Working Group on Trade and Transfer of Technology - Mr Chitsaka Chipaziwa, Ambassador of Zimbabwe
On 12 October the Trade Negotiations Committee had also agreed to establish the Negotiating Group on Trade Facilitation under the Chairmanship of Ambassador Noor of Malaysia.
Services Consultations and Visit to Australia by WTO Services Expert
In preparing for the next important phase in the services negotiations, the Department is undertaking further domestic consultations over the coming month with services stakeholders in State and Territory capitals. The intention is to brief stakeholders on recent developments in the services negotiations, and to seek input into priority requests to other WTO Members.
Mr Hamid Mamdouh, Director Trade in Services Division, World Trade Organization visited Australia from 11 to 16 October. The visit provided a timely opportunity for domestic services stakeholders to engage a senior WTO Secretariat official on recent developments in Geneva and the future outlook for the services negotiations.
Mr Mamdouh held productive discussions with a range of services stakeholders including Commonwealth and State Government officials, services industry representatives, and non-government organisations in Sydney, Canberra and Melbourne. As part of the visit, he also participated in the UNESCO/OECD Trade in Education Services Forum, reviewing the current state of play within the WTO education negotiations.
The Department has released a new publication highlighting the important and dynamic role that the services sector plays in the Australian economy. The publication outlines Australia's strong services trade interests, provides examples of major services export sectors, and the methods used to pursue our services trade interests. The publication can be accessed at:
http://www.dfat.gov.au/trade/negotiations/services/australias_trade_in_services.pdf
Forthcoming meetings in Geneva
OCTOBER
25 Committee on Customs Valuation
25 - 26 Committee on Safeguards
25 and 27 Trade Policy Review Body – European Union
26 Committee on Trade-Related Investment Measures
26 Committee on Anti-Dumping Practices – Informal Group on Anti-Circumvention
26-27 Committee on Anti-Dumping Practices – Working Group on Implementation
27-28 Committee on Sanitary and Phytosanitary Measures
Contact Us
Trade Policy Section
Office of Trade Negotiations
Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade
BARTON ACT 0221
Fax: (02) 6261 3514
or e-mail trade.consult@dfat.gov.au
This bulletin is issued by the Office of Trade Negotiations, Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade. It summarises key WTO Doha Round-related activities over the past week.