The importance of negotiations in Geneva

摘要

Pascal Lamy took over as director-general of the World Trade Organisation (WTO) last month. Previously as European Commissioner for trade, Lamy showed his commitment to world trade liberalisation. At the time of his appointment Lamy said: "I believe that we have a crucial task ahead: to complete the Doha Development Agenda round of trade talks. This will be my immediate first, second and third priority so as to ensure that trade opening continues to contribute to development and that we place the interests of developing countries at the centre of the world trading system." On 14 September 2005, Lamy opened his first Trade Negotiations Committee meeting by saying that he hoped it would mark a new and more productive phase for the negotiations. He islooking to intensify the work on the core issues of debate in the runup to the Hong Kong Ministerial meeting in Hong Kong on 13-18 December 2005. Lamy is particularly keen to ensure that the development dimension is "at the centre of the negotiations". The agricultural discussions are of particular significance in this regard.